Although Gilmore Girls fans have a few problems with the Netflix revival A Year In The Life, from Rory's character being totally lost to Lorelai and Luke not getting married until the very end, there are some great throwbacks to the original series. The joy of watching a revival is catching up with familiar characters and hopefully finding a few smart easter eggs, and fans are reminded of many things while watching the four episodes that each focus on a season.
From a charming scene between Rory and Dean to some nostalgic moments in Stars Hollow, there are many parts of Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life that remind fans of the beloved and popular mother/daughter drama.
Rory Finding Cornstarch At Doose's Market
Part of Rory and Dean's Gilmore Girls relationship is when Dean kisses Rory and she takes cornstarch off a shelf and races out of Doose's Market.
When Rory bumps into her ex in the same location in A Year In The Life, she shows Dean a box of cornstarch, which is funny and sweet. Dean has moved on and has a family now, so this means more to Rory than to Dean, as Rory is looking back on her life and thinking about the future.
Rory And Lorelai's Banter
When A Year In The Life opens, Rory has just gotten off a plane and arrived in Stars Hollow, and Rory and Lorelai are enjoying some nostalgic and familiar banter. The mother and daughter talk quickly and manage to get in several pop culture references.
When Rory says that she feels tired because "Haven’t done that in a while" and Lorelai says "Felt good," fans can't help but feel emotional, enjoying seeing these beloved characters back together again.
Lorelai Bringing A Guest To Friday Night Dinner
While Friday Night Dinners are a meaningful part of the show, as Rory, Lorelai, Emily, and Richard share life news, sometimes fight, and sometimes have a nice time, it's even more interesting when someone else is there for the meal.
In the revival, Lorelai ends up bringing Kirk to Emily's house, which is a funny and quirky scene. While fans might not love every part of A Year In The Life, it's nice and nostalgic seeing Kirk sitting there with his stubborn and childlike personality.
A Snowy Stars Hollow
There are many beloved Gilmore Girls episodes featuring snow, including season 1's "Love And War And Snow" when Lorelai famously says "I smell snow."
The first line of A Year In The Life is "I smell snow," which makes fans feel emotional right away. In the first episode "Winter," fans also get to see beautiful Stars Hollow totally covered in snow, which makes Lorelai and viewers very happy.
Jess Helping Rory Out Of A Funk
Rory might try to inspire and motivate Jess when they're dating in high school. But by the time that she has dropped out of Yale and Jess is working in book publishing, Jess realizes that he could help Rory see her dreams and potential.
There is a compelling callback to this season 6 moment in the Netflix revival. Jess helps Rory by telling her that she's "still a contender" and it might be cool to write a memoir based on what she has gone through, especially since her life with Lorelai is so fun, quirky, and interesting.
A Stars Hollow Festival
Fans love the Stars Hollow festivals as they brighten up the town even more and seem like a really good time.
The episode "Spring" features an international spring food festival, which allows viewers to feel some nostalgic once again, which is definitely important since that's part of the fun of watching these newer episodes. It's great seeing the town residents still enjoying spending time together.
Lorelai Talking About Coffee
There are some sad quotes in A Year In The Life, but there are also some funny and heartwarming ones, including when Lorelai talks about her favorite drink.
When Lorelai says, “Everything in my life has something to do with coffee. I believe in a former life, I was coffee," it's a perfect callback to all of the times that she has discussed this hot beverage on the original series. Coffee helps Lorelai feel confident and like she can get through anything.
Rory And Paris See Francie At Chilton
In "Spring," Rory and Paris go back to Chilton to give some inspiring speeches to students. While Rory does a solid job, Paris is so harsh that she scares everyone, which is fun to watch since it's a reminder of her strong personality.
When Rory and Paris bump into Francie in the school bathroom, they learn that the secret society The Puffs is still around and Francie is still a member, which is a fun callback to the original series. Fans love thinking about the hilarious storyline when Rory and Paris are woken up in the middle of the night and sneak into Chilton with the others.
Lorelai Attends A Town Meeting
Fans love the Gilmore Girls town meetings, as quirky town business is often discussed there, and viewers also like seeing Taylor lead the meetings while becoming frustrated every few seconds.
When Luke and Lorelai attend a town meeting in the revival, it's a nice throwback to the many times when Lorelai is annoyed by what Taylor is saying and confused by the decisions that are being made on behalf of the town.
Kirk's Business Ideas
When Kirk tells Lorelai that he has started yet another business, this time a ride sharing service called Ooober, this reminds fans of the many businesses that this quirky character has been passionate about over the years.
Even though Kirk has one car that doesn't seem to work very well, and this idea might not work out, fans enjoy seeing that Kirk is still the same person he has always been. Kirk believes in himself and enjoys being a part of Stars Hollow life.