As well as leaving me wanting more because, let's face it, six hours is not enough after such a long wait and those last four words are the start of something new, A Year in the Life also left me feeling a lot of other stuff. I've become so invested in these characters and the town of Stars Hollow that it was like reconnecting with old friends, which made me happy, sad and - in some cases - a little angry.
So, here are my initial thoughts on the series - beyond the idea that they need to start filming yearly revivals and get on that now - which do include a few spoilers (although I'll try not to be too specific):
Richard
More than that, he had always reminded me of my Grandad Ron, who passed away the same year. In fact, I had watched Gilmore Girls when getting back from our honeymoon and I had found the fact that Richard reminded me of him really comforting, which is why I think that was finally the year that my husband bought me the full Gilmore Girls boxset for Christmas.
While I wish this revival had happened years sooner so I could have seen one more new storyline involving Richard, I think they really did justice to both the character and the actor in the revival. His presence was strongly felt and still had such an impact on his family, which is no less than Richard and Edward deserved. You also knew that when the characters said they missed him, the actors were feeling that keenly too. This is probably why references to Richard made me sob like a baby so many times.
Lane
Lane deserved SO much better than she got in the show. So what, she has twins young and that is all she does with her life? We all know that in the Gilmore Girls universe having a kid young isn't the end, after all, Lorelai still managed to achieve things and work toward a goal.
Lane was an amazing character. She's smart, funny, has amazing music taste, talent and knowledge and she needed so much more character development that she got. When I found out that she hadn't really progressed far from where she was left off, I was absolutely gutted. Every other character got a chance to grow and build on what we knew about them from previous series, but it feels like Lane was just an after thought.
I don't think I'm going to get over how crap Lane's story arch is for a long time.
Paris
However, the fact that she freaked out so badly when she saw Tristan was a bit meh. I know it was realistic, after all, high school has a way of making us revert to our awkward teenage selves no matter how strong and confident we are. I just wanted her to go up and kick him instead, because Paris deserves to feel amazing within herself. It did work though, as Paris wouldn't be Paris without some neurosis.
I'm really glad that Paris stayed true to herself and that she and Rory are still so close. You keep smashing that glass ceiling Paris.
Emily
Emily has gone from being uptight, snarky and angry to someone who is funny, caring and loving. Granted, she hasn't lost any of her barbs, but they just don't sting people quite as much. We've seen her walls come down over seven series, with A Year in the Life seeing them very much crumble with the loss of her husband of 50 years.
What I really love about Emily's revival storyline is it is all about her finding out who she is on her own. Yes, she's totally thrown by Rochard's death but she also moves forward and tries to figure things out rather than simply wallowing. She is active and still so strong, going for what she wants. Emily goes on such a journey through the year that is depicted, and while she still misses Richard, it looks like she finds some happiness without him and really does change for the better. I think Richard would have been proud.
Rory
While those four words may have thrown a hell of a spanner in the works, you just know that they aren't going to undo the hard work that Rory put in over the year to try and work things through. They've also made me want to see so much more, as Rory's journey is really only just beginning.
When it comes to Rory's boyfriends, I was always team Logan. However, after seeing that he could make Rory his bit on the side while engaged to another woman - yes, I know she broke his heart and this arrangement was her choice too - it made me realise that he was in a totally different place in his life and hadn't grown up enough to be Rory. He's far too much like Christopher so it will be at least another decade and at least one divorce until he works things out.
I loved Dean's little cameo as it really showed that there is always a bond between first loves, no matter what you go through in life. I like that he figured things out, had the family he always wanted and ended up being happy, especially after the whole disastrous young marriage. What Rory said to him was true too, he was an important part of her life and was vital to making her the person she is.
I was never team Jess, but now I am. Come on man, just tell her how you feel and then you can both be happy and write books together. He has grown up so much and has dealt with all those issues that made him such an angry teen. It definitely looks like he worked through his issues and got everything together. On top of that, he gave Rory direction when she was lost and that makes me love him.
Rory still has a long way to go and it was actually ideal that we saw her stumble even in her 30s as it was real and endearing.
Lorelai
She's always been my favourite character for so many reasons, far too many to go into, so her storyline in this was definitely my favourite. We got to see that she still had growing up to do and it actually made me feel better about the fact that you don't need everything figured out and a bunch of plans at the ready, even when you're in your late 40s.
While her relationship with Rory was still as great as ever and they made us feel like the show was picking up where it left off, it was her relationship with Emily that really got me. Yes, they still have their issues - why would you use that story at your Father's funeral? - but they are also really supportive of each other and have worked out their rhythm. For me, this is the relationship we've really been following all these years.
Then, of course, there's Lorelai and Luke. You can forget Romeo and Juliet, this is real love and romance. From day one, I knew that these guys needed to be together, so yes, I cried like a baby in the last ten minutes of the revival. Everything about them works even when it doesn't seem to and they have been through so much together. Luke said it all perfectly when Lorelai came back from her 'Wild' experience - the book not the film - they had watched and waited for each other for so long. I'm so glad that she finally got out of her own way and let herself be happy.
So there you have it, my initial thoughts on Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Basically, it made me both happy and sad cry, love every minute and wish the show would never come to an end.
If any one needs me for the rest of the day, I'll be in Stars Hollow.