It’s been 25 years since Gilmore Girls first introduced the world to Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, but Amy Sherman-Palladino’s dramedy masterpiece seems to have only grown more beloved since it first brought us to Stars Hollow. The series centers on a fast-talking mother-daughter duo, played so memorably by Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel, and has captivated audiences over the years. With the series streaming on Netflix (along with the four-episode continuation Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life), longtime fans can celebrate the 25th anniversary with a rewatch, while new viewers can discover its charms for the very first time.
Gilmore Girls is the ultimate comfort show — a warm blanket of family, friendship, and romance, stuffed with snappy dialogue and taking place in the eternal autumn of small-town Connecticut. No matter the season, we could all use some of that comfort. Here’s a list of some of the most essential episodes of the series, guaranteed to make you want to return to Stars Hollow for more.
BONUS | Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life: “Fall”
After the show concluded in Season 7 without the Palladinos at the helm, fans wondered if they’d ever get the ending they deserved. Nine years after the series finale, viewers received closure in the form of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. “Fall” stands out in the mini-series as a warm farewell, including a much-delayed wedding, a reunion between Lorelai and Sookie, Jess getting one last look at Rory, an emotional mending between Emily and Lorelai, and, yes, even those much anticipated final four words. In “Fall,” Sherman-Palladino gets to end her magnum opus on her own terms in a final moment that’s as fitting as it is shocking.
