Too long have I lived without the “Gilmore Girls” as a part of my weekly viewing habit. There are so few shows I watch during their initial run anymore. Because my time availability isn’t what it was, each season I pick a couple of new shows to replace those favorites that have ended. This particular show didn’t make my list for several reasons. First, I had the impression it was like every other drama out there. Second, it reeked of being a ‘chick show.” Though I’ve always been well-rounded enough to enjoy just about any style of show (as long as it’s good), I do have the habit of sticking to tried and true favorites. I kept hearing about “Gilmore Girls”, and became remotely familiar with the characters, but opted to wait until its inevitable DVD release.

A few months back, the 1st season DVD set made its way into our household, so I finally set aside some time to watch a few episodes. It took a couple of episodes for me to really start getting into it, but it was evident from the start that it wasn’t typical in any way. I was struck immediately by the writing, which was filled with sharp and witty dialogue. The banter between some of the characters is often quick, and peppered with all manner of cultural references. But beyond that was the instant chemistry between stars Lauren Graham (Lorelai) and Alexis Bledel (Rory). The mother / daughter relationship is believable as well as enviable. How many of us would like to find a balance between being our children’s parents as well as their friend. Sometimes it’s darn near impossible.

In a nutshell, “Gilmore Girls” follows the lives of the Gilmore’s as they survive the day to day challenges of a single mother living with her daughter. Lorelai feels she’s knows all the ins and outs of being a teenager, and expounds that knowledge on Rory. After all, she went through her own period of rebelliousness, going so far as to have a baby at 16. Rory has her own mind, though and wants to use it. They fight, they forgive and they love each other, just like a real relationship. They have the ‘support’ of Lorelai’s wealthy parents, played wonderfully by Kelly Bishop and Edward Hermann, who feel that they are the ones that know everything. Add to this some of rather offbeat friends and acquaintances and living on the sleepy New England town of Stars Hollow and you’ve got yourself an above average nighttime drama.

As we made our way through the 21 episodes that made up the 1st season, we found that the series was smart and funny without becoming overly schmaltzy. We thoroughly enjoyed all the relationships between family and friends, even going so far as to recognize some our own friends amongst this group. We also loved the fact that the series never really bogged itself down with soap opera like situations. The plotlines and story arcs never really became too far-fetched, and all the characters acted accordingly.

As good as the cast is overall, it is Graham and Bledel that are the glue that holds the show together. Both are fine actresses, and not to sound condescending, but they are both certainly easy enough on the eyes to give even the toughest guy a reason to watch. Bledel especially, with her porcelain doll features, is absolutely lovely. And though he’s not quite as easy on the eyes, Edward Hermann is always a welcome addition to any cast, movie or TV.

Watching most of the episodes from the new release of the 2nd season, I’d be hard-pressed to catch any lax in quality, either in the overall look of the series or the writing. As a matter of fact, the storylines seemed to improve over the freshman season. The addition of Milo Ventimiglia to the cast as the rebellious loner Jess was a good move on the part of the creative team. Rory’s attraction to him over the course of the season makes for some great moments.

Warner Brothers has opted to release the 2nd season in a six-disc collection, much like the 1st season set. I really like the packaging, which utilizes a book like holder that opens up to reveal the discs. This fits nicely into the sturdy slipcase. There is also a small booklet enclosed that gives viewers brief synopsis of all the included episodes.

As far as extra features go, there aren’t many, but what is included will certainly appeal to fans of the series. There is a look at the show’s international appeal, which includes some scenes dubbed into other languages. But the featurette goes beyond this by allowing the creators to explain how difficult it is to translate, due to the cadence of the dialogue as well as many of the cultural references. This is followed by a ‘clip’ featurette of some of the best arguments from the season. I’m not a real fan of these types of features since I’d rather see the scenes in the context of the show. Next up is one of my favorite features that has begun ‘popping up’ on some DVD. However, the ways it is done here is a little different. The episode “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” includes a pop-up video style of trivia and facts, but instead of just putting them in the episode as an alternate track, they added the episode in a second time on the final disc, with the trivia edited in. I’m not sure why they did it this way, but they did the same thing in the 1st season set. If you’re a major fan, you’ll enjoy some of the deleted scenes that are spread out over the 6 discs.

The last two extras are the most unusual. In the case of “A Film by Kirk”, this little gem alone is almost worth getting the whole set. In the series, Kirk is played by Sean Gunn and his character is rather odd. He shows up from time to time with different jobs, and admittedly he is a little scene stealer. The brother of screenwriter James Gunn (‘Scooby-Doo”, “Dawn of the Dead -2004”), he first showed up in the series in bit part, which grew as time passed. I understand that by the third season, he finally gets a last name. This little black and white short film, presumably made by Kirk is hysterically funny. Finally, we have a little booklet enclosed in the set that acts as a guide to Gilmore-isms. It points out some of the more obscure pop culture references and explains them to the culturally impaired.

I found “Gilmore Girls” to be a pleasant surprise, certainly a gem amongst the morass of awful nighttime dramas available. And yes, it did technically end up being more of a ‘chick show’, just like I thought it would be. But I’m still enjoying it nonetheless.

Episodes:
Sadie, Sadie…
Hammers and Veils
Red Light on the Wedding Night
The Road Trip to Harvard
Nick & Nora / Sid & Nancy
Presenting: Lorelai Gilmore
Like Mother, Like Daughter
The Ins and Outs of Inns
Run Away, Little Boy
The Bracebridge Dinner
Secrets and Loans
Richard in Stars Hollow
A-Tisket, A-Tasket
It Should’ve Been Lorelai
Lost and Found
There’s the Rub
Dead Uncles and Vegetables
Back in the Saddle Again
Teach Me Tonight
Help Wanted
Lorelai’s Graduation Day
I Can’t Get Started

Starring: Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Melissa McCarthy, Keiko Agena, Yanic Truesdale, Scott Patterson, Kelly Bishop
Extras: Unaired Scenes, A Film by Kirk, Gilmore Goodies and Gossip: On Screen Factoids, International Success: How Other Countries Welcome the Girls, Who Wants to Argue? The Season’s Best Shouting Matches, Gilmore-isms Booklet
Specifications: Full Screen
Studio: Warner
Release Date: 12/7/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Gilmore Girls: Season 2 an A.