Even almost 20 years after it ended, the show remains popular, especially for its heartwarming portrayal of mothers and daughters. While the Netflix revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, didn’t fully satisfy many fans, it sparked renewed interest and opened the door to possible future installments or spin-offs.
As more people discover Gilmore Girls, both its strengths and weaknesses are becoming clearer. A common criticism is the show’s tendency to underdevelop its supporting characters. This is especially noticeable with Michel, the only main Black character, who often became the target of jokes about his French heritage and accent. Another frustrating issue for viewers is the character of Paris Geller, who had a compelling and intelligent personality that the show didn’t fully explore.
Paris Geller Had an Underrated Gilmore Girls Evolution
Despite some flaws, the show remains a defining force in the dramedy genre, largely thanks to its memorable supporting characters. Many characters beyond the Gilmore family have deeply resonated with fans, and a common complaint is that Paris Geller wasn’t given a satisfying storyline. While she’s a crucial figure in Rory’s journey, the show sometimes sidelines her, reducing her complex character to comedic relief and unimportant side plots that don’t feel true to who she is.
When Gilmore Girls begins, Paris initially sees Rory as a threat to her academic standing at Chilton. Throughout high school, Paris and Rory have a complicated relationship, swinging between friendship and rivalry, often because of Paris’s strong will and tendency to misjudge Rory. A turning point comes after Paris is rejected from Harvard, and Rory offers her comfort, leading to a genuine friendship. By the end of high school, Paris recognizes that Rory has always pushed her to strive for her best, changing how she views their relationship.
A common realization among viewers is how flawed the two main female characters were, especially as the show went on. This is particularly noticeable during their college years. Rory, for example, made some significant errors in judgment but often didn’t take responsibility, framing them as simply part of growing up. While Rory criticized Paris for her own questionable choices – cheating on Jamie and then dating a professor – Rory later began a relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Dean, while he was married. Paris didn’t necessarily fault Rory for getting involved with a married man, but she did point out that Rory’s ambitions and Dean’s lifestyle were incompatible.
Fans adore Paris because of her unwavering honesty. She always gave direct advice, even if it wasn’t what people wanted to hear. While she sometimes could have been more considerate, her strength and resilience made her a remarkable character. Though she often criticized Rory, Paris clearly believed in Rory’s intelligence and potential, pushing her to succeed even when facing personal challenges. She saw Rory as capable and wanted her to strive for the best.
Paris Didn’t Receive the Attention She Deserved in Gilmore Girls
Recent seasons of the show have been criticized by fans, particularly for storylines that many disliked. A particularly unpopular plot point involves Rory dropping out of Yale after Mitchum Huntzberger discourages her journalism aspirations, suggesting she’d be better suited for a secretarial role. During this difficult time, she also faced consequences for stealing a boat with Logan Huntzberger, completing community service while balancing her grandmother’s DAR events and socializing with Logan and his friends.
While Lorelai was often the most critical of Rory, Paris didn’t approve of Rory’s decision to leave Yale, repeatedly questioning when she’d go back to school. Paris clearly believed Rory had made a mistake and wasn’t shy about saying so. She also felt Rory lacked alternative plans beyond getting a degree and becoming a journalist. However, unlike Lorelai, Paris didn’t shut Rory down; she continued to challenge her and encourage her to get back on track, believing someone as smart and ambitious as Rory should pursue an education and a career.
One of the most ridiculous storylines involving Paris Geller happens when she evicts Rory from their apartment. This occurs after Rory gets the editor position at the Yale Daily News, a role Paris had lost. While Paris was definitely too critical of the newspaper’s writers and struggled with the responsibilities of leadership, it’s important to remember that Rory had just returned to Yale after a break. Paris felt hurt because she had supported Rory’s decision to go back to school and had even offered her a place to stay when she couldn’t find housing elsewhere.
Paris consistently pushed Rory to excel academically because she thrived on intellectual competition. However, as the show went on, Paris’s increasingly outlandish behavior felt forced and indicated the writers had lost direction with her character, relying on her old, teenage tendencies. She began to serve primarily as a plot device to advance Rory’s story, like when she caused Rory to move in with Logan. Fortunately, Paris received a satisfying conclusion, finally pursuing her lifelong dream of medical school and staying with Doyle only after he promised to support her ambitions and career.
Paris’ Reunion Could Have Done Her More Justice
For many who enjoy shows that blend humor and drama, especially in the fall, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life was a highly anticipated revival. The reunion showed Paris Geller thriving as a New York businesswoman who ran a fertility and surrogacy practice. Despite her success, she was navigating a separation from her husband, Doyle, and often found herself away from her two children, depending on a nanny. Interestingly, she seemed to be a more present parent than she felt her own parents had been.
A particularly frustrating moment in A Year in the Life happens when Paris becomes visibly flustered upon seeing a former high school crush. It feels like a step backward for her character, implying she still harbors feelings for someone who wasn’t very important in her life. This detail undermines the strong foundation the revival built for Paris, which had established her as a confident and successful woman who had everything under control. It suggested a surprising lack of maturity for someone who was clearly thriving in her career and personal life.
A strength of A Year in the Life was showing Paris Geller achieving more success than Rory Gilmore. Though both were smart and well-educated, Paris felt more grounded and practical – she even had a detailed list of career options mapped out for herself and Rory as they approached graduation. Importantly, Paris was a surprisingly good friend, always pushing Rory to succeed without putting down her aspirations. Her combination of honest advice and encouragement, even when delivered bluntly, made her a fantastic character who deserved more attention in the show’s storylines.
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2025-11-01 03:07