To the devoted "Gilmore Girls" fan, an episode of Amy Sherman-Palladino's sweet and savvy series is like a warm blanket or cup of cocoa on a cold night, and for many, it's hard to imagine life before Kirk's hilarious mishaps or Emily Gilmore's telling glances. Fans were blessed enough to get a sweet but much-too-brief reboot a couple years back, but like Lorelai with coffee, many have still found themselves craving more in the time since then.
Similar to many shows from the aughts (we're looking at you, "Friends"), "Gilmore Girls" is frequently looked back at through nostalgic rose-colored lenses. It's hard to deny the show's lasting impact – the fandom continues to loudly love the series. And for a good reason; Sherman-Palladino has blessed us with complex women characters, snappy dialogue, and insatiable family drama, among so much else. But like any show from the aughts, its legacy has been put under a microscope, too. It isn't necessarily a deeply problematic fave, but in retrospect, it's hard to deny the show's neat glaze over matters of race and class, as well as some manipulative behavior from its beloved characters. Still, Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham will always have a special place in many a heart thanks to their years as Rory and Lorelai.
While this is by no means meant to discourage you from a cozy rewatch of "Gilmore Girls," if you're craving more strong friendships and small-town drama but need a break from Lorelai and Rory's shenanigans, there are plenty of similar shows to enjoy. If you've been longing for a new version of the nostalgia and familiarity of Stars Hollow, read on to see our favorite shows like "Gilmore Girls" that'll warm up even the curmudgeonly Luke Danes.