Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

Photo

All the caffeinated, book-reading and junk-food-eating souls rejoiced on November 25th when Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life was released to Netflix for our streaming pleasure. As I sat through Winter, Spring, Summer, and finally Fall, I couldn't help but feel nostalgic and wanted to go give my Mom a hug. The relationship between Lorelei and Rory is something most of us can only dream about. It makes me wish my Mom could stay awake long enough to share their story with me. While watching the original series, I always wanted to be like Rory and even saw parts of myself in her. She seemed to have it all though. I mean, who wouldn't want to go to Yale and be a renowned writer when they grow up?   PSA: Spoilers lie ahead.
Back in October, I went to a Luke's Diner pop-up coffee shop in Raleigh and it was so cool to see all the fans that loved the show just as much as me. #CoffeeCoffeeCoffee. What's even more special is that shows like Gilmore Girls aren't just television shows, they mean something to people. As I viewed the revival, I was taken back to moments in my life where I related or transported to places I want to go. Art is about perspective and being the admirer I am, the goodbye between Logan and Rory moved me. The final four words sent emotional disbelief through my body. And the continued corkiness of Stars Hallow made me laugh with warm-fuzzies. That is what its all about, getting the audience to feel something. Writers, Amy and Dan Palladino did a beautiful job once again of creating a script that made me have to catch my own breath after a dialogue with the Girls.

First I was Team Dean, quite frankly because there weren't any other contenders. And then I was Team Jess... and then I was most definitely NOT Team Jess. Along came The Life and Death Brigade and I've been Team Logan ever since. Their secret club is straight up magical. I was super happy to see Logan still in the picture for the revival and was shortly deflated after discovering he was engaged to another woman and playing nice with the family business. Even so, there is something about Logan that I think makes everyone swoon. Not just his looks, but the way he pushes Rory to be her best self and gives her the resources to do it, despite everything they have been through. That has to be some magic-type of love to experience with someone. "If you jump, I jump, Jack."
Some might criticize Rory for where she is in her life at 32, but isn't that reality? Even an Ivy league graduate can find themselves not knowing what comes next. However, I was not expecting Rory to not have a job with child on the way. But, who am I to judge? I found it surprising that Jess randomly came up with the idea for Rory to write a book about the story of her relationship with her mom. It was clear from his last scene that he will also always love Rory. He left me feeling like he had more to say to her.
Was anyone completely and utterly bored during the play? I'm still really confused as to why that was such a long part. I didn't think it was funny, more weird than anything. I suppose that is the definition of Stars Hallow. A little different, sometimes annoying, but always heart-warming. And Kirk never seems to disappoint... Oooober.
The amount of original actors and actresses in the revival was incredible. Even characters with the smallest parts made an appearance and I was quite pleased to see all of the Parenthood people too! ALL THE FEELS. Lauren Graham (Lorelei) was probably giving that whole-hearted smile (you know the one: where you can physically feel her love) of hers just as I was. 
If you haven't already, go back and binge the first seven seasons of Gilmore Girls and then sip your way through the revival. All are on Netflix. For those of you who have already seen both, what did you think? Will we see more of Lorelei and Rory in the future? I selfishly and respectively vote "YES!" "Where you lead, I will follow..."

Fuller House

Whatever happened to predictability? The milkman, the paperboy, evening TV? Well, they are all back after 29 years with a Fuller House. This revival of the family everyone loved and grew up with from San Francisco is back with most of the original cast, except for the Olsen Twins. I started watching last night and I must say, it is awesome. All the same feels of Full House, but updated with new cast members and storylines.  D.J. takes on the single mom role after her husband, a firefighter dies and is left with their three boys.  Sound familiar? While her Dad, Uncle Jesse, Aunt Becki, and Uncle Joey move to LA and Las Vegas to pursue their careers, D.J. is left to take care of her three boys on her own for the first time. Thats until her sister, Stephanie ditches "DJ Tanner" and trades spinning records for changing diapers to help out. Lets not forget the obnoxious Kimmie Gibbler... She has a daughter. Just let that one sink in.

As for the rest of the cast, they all look great. Uncle Jesse... Have MERCY! Him and Aunt Becki have aged like a fine wine. They did a great job casting D.J.'s son, Max. He is the cutest boy genius and has wit that made me laugh out loud. It was also very thoughtful to choose a set of twin boys to play her third son, Tommy. Although Michelle isn't present, the Olsen Twins will forever be a part of the Full House crew. Fuller House was perfectly and appropriately done. I absolutely loved everything about it. From the first episode to the last, they stayed true to its predecessor, "Full House" and pulled at your heart strings with references and one-liners from the old days.  You can now watch on Netflix since it premiered yesterday. Cue the violins, we have more lessons to learn!

SONS

via   All I can say is, I never thought I would be so fascinated by a show about motorcycle gangs, or should I say clubs. Many of you have probably watched Sons of Anarchy, but I just started a couple weeks ago. I got through season six and then was contemplating how I was going to watch the seventh and final season. Come to find out, Netflix is releasing season seven tomorrow and I'm beyond excited. However, it's a little bittersweet since that will be the end.    The motorcycle club culture is quite typical (or at least what I would imagine) in SOA, but some of the events I never thought would be shown on television. Just when you think you have seen it all, the writers completely blow your mind.   

via   Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) was born into the motorcycle and gun selling life, inherited by his late father. His father, John Teller was killed in an accident and left his wife, Gemma (yes, the Married with Children lady) and his best friend, Clay Morrow with Teller-Morrow, a motorcycle mechanic business.... But mainly, illegal gun selling. Like federal crime scale.   John left behind a fully published novel about his life under the phenomenon of "Sam Crow." At first I thought Mr. Crow was an actual person, but really it's a term for a way of life. Jax gets a hold of the novel and starts to think for himself, molding the Sons into more legitimate business opportunities with a non-violent demeanor.   

via

Its crazy how the Sons evolved through the seasons and who got to meet "Mr.  Mayhem" along the way. The first six seasons were one wild ride, so I am very anxious to start the final season. This show may even make you want to buy a Harley, some aviators, and a leather jacket! haha.

 

The Killing

via

What do you know? Another crime show I was sucked into on Netflix, The Killing. The series was part of amc, but they didn't renew for a forth season. So, Netflix picked it up to be part of their original series shows. Netflix has all four seasons available for your viewing pleasure. 

"Who killed Rosie Larsen?" is the burning question in everyone's mind through seasons one and two. Everyone is a suspect and the investigation of her disappearance is up for grabs. Rosie was a 17 year old girl who went missing one weekend while her family was on vacation. Could it be someone from part of the mayoral campaign? Or the candidates themselves? A secret friend or acquaintance of Rosie's? What about a family member? Or even an employee of the family business? You will have to watch and find out what Detectives Sarah Linden and Steven Holder discover... all while dealing with their own personal life issues and obstacles.

via

 The show seemed a lot more realistic having the investigation drug out for two seasons. Most shows find the killer or criminal throughout one episode. I also liked how it took place in Seattle, Washington because most crime shows take place in much larger cities, mainly Chicago and New York City. It was a nice change of scenery, even if it was gloomy and rained EVERY episode. 

The second two seasons hit closer to home for Detectives Linden and Holder when a cereal killer strikes again and his personal grave yard is revealed. I enjoyed the chemistry between the detectives as the seasons progressed. At first I thought Detective Holder was kind of a punk, but he proved that he had a lot more in him as a person and investigator. He was even quite funny.

In the end, its a detective's job to find the truth and the Linden-Holder combo did that in the best way the knew how. Giving it their all, despite their own safely and struggles.

The Walking Dead

Now that I am done with House of Cards, I needed a new tv show to watch on Netflix. I landed upon amc's The Walking Dead. I thought that it was going to be super cheesy because of the whole zombie looking things, but I've gotten hooked. There are three seasons of it on Netflix and four season on DVD now, so I've kept pretty occupied. After finishing season three, I've decided that it's a mix between ABC's Revolution and Lost. 

How would you feel if you woke up in an abandon hospital, hooked up to IVs, and discovered that you were all alone. On top of that, there are these zombie looking "walkers" ready to feed off of you at any chance they get. Hence the title, they are literally walking dead. Rick prevails to get himself out of the hospital, after a gun shot wound that got him there in the first place. That was before everything changed. He is now in search of his wife and son. They are no where to be found at their home, but all the pictures are gone, so he believes that she took them and they are still alive. He just has to find them. 

As he makes his way to Atlanta, Rick is hit in the face with the reality of his current world. Walkers everywhere. Good thing he was a cop in his previous "normal" world because he was able to stock up on guns to kill these walkers with a shot to the head. That is the only way to kill them, or kill them again I suppose. Rick finds other life in Atlanta and that is when his new world and life start.

via

I'm trying to figure out how to watch season four, since it isn't on Netflix yet. I've read that it is going to be streamed starting in Fall 2014, before the season five premiere. We can't wait!

Craigslist Joe

I will tell you what, Netflix is such a great tool. Recently, I came upon a few gems because of it. Craigslist Joe, in one word, is inspiring. This documentary illustrates how Joe Gardner relied solely on Craigslist for a month.

As most may know, the site offers free advertising space to buy, sell, giveaway, etc., just about anything you can think of. I actually got my first job out of college off of a job posting on Craigslist. Each ad is broken up into category and location.

Joe uses the site to find meals, shelter, entertainment, transportation, exercise, and friendship. 

The things we see in the media these days makes me wonder, but Joe's documentary made me feel like there is still good, even great... among the evil. He restored my views on humanity as a whole. Not that my views were entirely bad to begin with, of course.

It was amazing how people were opening up their homes to a complete stranger. I think it helped that he had a camera man with him, but still. I couldn't believe all of the stuff that people post on Craigslist either. Joe was able to road trip across the United States and BACK by finding people who just wanted companionship on a long drive. He was able to seek out free meal postings or "work for food" ads. He even tried a free breakdancing class in Chicago. Got a free haircut. Helped out at a homeless kitchen. Etc., etc.

 For all you PR majors out there, if you are having some type of fundraiser (I know because we did a lot of these at UNI), throw an ad up on Craigslist because it will be seen by someone. Who knows what could happen. It obviously won't be your main strategy, but it could draw in a few people that wouldn't have heard of it otherwise. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising, as we all know.

One man that he encountered was of Iraqi descent. He recalled growing up in poverty and experiencing starvation, but stood proud of his family's perseverance in accomplishing their American Dream. This family opened their arms up to Joe when he needed a place to stay for the night. I was left with an interesting thought after this leg of Joe's journey. This Iraqi man and his family receive negative comments because of 9/11. "Go back to where you came from." The thing is, they weren't part of it and if they were to go back to Iraq, they would be told the same thing. Why? Because they are Americans. Most importantly, they are people. We are all humans and need to help each other out every once in a while.

Always remember that the little things, the little acts of kindness go a long way. Craigslist Joe was a great example of how even in a time of economic hardship, kindness and helping out go a long way. Worth an hour or so of your time.