As far as TV dramas go, Gilmore Girls is fairly realistic. When Rory is a teenager, she follows a logical path toward success, attending a fancy private school, entering the dating world, and hanging out with her cool mom. Lorelai juggles dating, raising Rory, and opening her own business while navigating a tough relationship with her parents.
When Netflix brought back the beloved show for the 2016 revival A Year In The Life, fans were interested to see if Rory was an esteemed journalist, if Lorelai and Luke were married, and what was going on with Sookie, Lane, Michel, and Paris. While some plotlines made perfect sense, others don't match what fans know of the characters and their personalities and motivations.
Most Realistic: Rory Experiencing A Career Low After College
As soon as fans got to see the 'Fall' episode of A Year In The Life, they saw that Rory wasn't doing well in the field of journalism. She had a small piece published in The New Yorker, but as the episodes progressed, that was about all that happened. Rory tried to write a book with a celebrity, which didn't get very far, and she didn't have luck with story pitches, either.
This was tough to see, as Rory had made so many journalism mistakes earlier on the show. Fans were shocked to see Rory doing so poorly but it's fairly realistic that someone would struggle in their career in the years after college. It can take years to get traction.
Least Realistic: Luke Not Understanding Surrogacy
Fans wanted to know if Luke and Lorelai had a child of their own, and it turned out that they both wanted one but never really talked about it. They met with Paris at her impressive fertility and surrogacy clinic, and Luke kept saying that he was creeped out by the whole process. It turned out that he didn't know what it meant to have a surrogate.
This is one of the weakest and most unrealistic parts of the revival. Why wouldn't Luke know what surrogacy was? And why wouldn't he and Lorelai have a more detailed discussion about it? It was hard to believe this storyline.
Most Realistic: Emily And Lorelai Having Trouble In Therapy
When Emily asked Lorelai to go to therapy with her, Lorelai was shocked but willing to go. She wondered if this could finally save their relationship and give them a forum to air their negative emotions.
It was super realistic that Lorelai and Emily would have a tough time when they went to a therapist together. They spent decades not discussing their problems or feelings, and it would have been unrealistic if a therapist could magically fix everything for them. At least they got some closure in the final episode when Lorelai and Luke agreed to visit Emily in Nantucket on a regular basis.
Least Realistic: Sookie Taking Off With Little Communication
Sookie's A Year In The Life storyline involved being away from Lorelai, working at Dan Barber's Blue Hill Farms. She stayed away longer than she said she would, and it was heartbreaking for her best friend.
Fans were excited to see Sookie again and this wasn't what anyone bargained for. It was not only tragic that Sookie would have left the Dragonfly Inn, but it was unrealistic that she would have taken off without properly explaining to Lorelai how long she would be gone. When they finally had a chat, it felt like too little, too late, and it didn't reflect the close friendship that they shared.
Most Realistic: Rory Working For The Town Newspaper
While home in Stars Hollow and realizing that her career was floundering, Rory began working for the Stars Hollow Gazette. She didn't make money but felt it was a good next step.
While it's too bad that Rory's career wasn't going well, it makes sense that she would make this decision. She had always felt tied to her tiny town and this was a way of giving back and showing that while she had grown up and moved away, she would always keep this place and its residents in her heart. This is an aspect of Rory that viewers have always respected and appreciated.
Least Realistic: Luke And Lorelai Postponing Their Wedding
Fans that while Luke and Lorelai got engaged at the end of season 5, they didn't tie the knot, as April came into Luke's life. It seemed like there was excuse after excuse and no one was sure why they kept postponing this special event.
It was strange to see that Luke and Lorelai still weren't married yet and that they seemed to keep putting off their wedding day. They did get married at the end of the four episodes, but it was a very long wait, and fans were definitely confused.
Most Realistic: April Struggling With College Life
It was hard for fans to like April Nardini, as many would say that her know-it-all attitude is a big turn-off. But despite April not being a popular character, it would have been strange if Luke's daughter hadn't been in the revival at all, so it was nice to see her spend some time at Luke and Lorelai's home. April told Rory that she was struggling in college, felt like an imposter, and was worried about the future.
This is one of the most realistic parts of the revival, as everyone struggles with these feelings at one point or another, especially during young adulthood. April was at a formative time in her life and it was sweet that she felt comfortable telling Rory, suggesting the two had a bit of a bond.
Least Realistic: Rory Forgetting That Paul Exists
Since Rory's love life has always been a huge part of the show, fans were curious if she would be with Jess or Logan in the revival, as it seemed clear that Dean had definitely moved on.
Instead, Rory was dating Paul, and in several scenes, she kept forgetting that he existed, leaving him at Luke's or not ing that she invited him over. This is hard to believe, as Rory can be self-centered, but she's generally a polite, kind, organized person who has been taught to respect others. Would she really act this way?
Most Realistic: Michel Moving Onto Another Opportunity
Gilmore Girls fans always loved watching Michel interact with Lorelai and Sookie at the Independence and Dragonfly Inns. In the revival, he shared the sad news that he was leaving and moving onto another business. Lorelai knew where he was coming from and while it was awful for her to imagine running the business without him, she got it.
This was a realistic yet bittersweet storyline, as fans knew that he wanted more from his career and that he felt he had done all that he could there. While Michel would be missed, viewers were glad to see him making the right move for him.
Least Realistic: Rory And Logan Having An Affair
Instead of getting back together properly, Rory and Logan were sneaking around in the revival, as he was engaged. Rory kept flying to London to be with him, and it was very intense and dramatic.
Many fans feel Rory and Logan are meant to be, but it seemed unrealistic that Rory and Logan would want to conduct themselves this way. They had been in a serious relationship before, and it would have at least made more sense to properly rekindle their flame and even get married themselves rather than carry on an affair. It was tough for viewers to understand this storyline.