Liz Torres Credits Gilmore Girls' Young Mother-Daughter Relationship For Its Early Success
Since its premiere in October 2000, "Gilmore Girls" has been a quiet force to be reckoned with. When Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel), her mother Lorelai (Lauren Graham), and the other residents of Stars Hollow graced The WB for the first time, they premiered opposite "Friends," which was entering its seventh season. It was hard to compete with the engagement of Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) and Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), but the creation of Amy Sherman-Palladino held its own. Not only did it run for an impressive seven seasons, but it also returned for the highly-anticipated, four-part revival, "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life," which dropped on Netflix in 2016.
There are many aspects of "Gilmore Girls" that allow it to resonate with the masses. From the quaint, small-town feel to the romantic drama of Rory and her variety of suitors, including Dean Forester (Jared Padalecki), Jess Mariano (Milo Ventimiglia), and Logan Huntzberger (Matt Czuchry), there's something for everyone. There's an entire thread on Reddit dedicated to why "Gilmore Girls" is the comfort show of so many fans. u/thebond_thecurse said, "It's cozy, funny, clever, nostalgic." u/MintChiffon added, "It literally lowers my anxiety levels."
According to Liz Torres, who brings dance instructor Miss Patty to life on the show, there's another reason why "Gilmore Girls" survived against "Friends" and continues to be consistently watched: the mother-daughter bond between Rory and Lorelai.
Liz Torres said it was refreshing to see Lorelai navigate parenting at a young age
When "Gilmore Girls" hit the air in 2000, there was really nothing like it on television. Other shows of the era included "Malcolm in the Middle," "Jackass," and "Curb Your Enthusiasm." But "Gilmore Girls" brought something fresh to audiences, something that many had never seen depicted on-screen.
In a 2016 interview with The TV Addict, Liz Torres said, "I don't think there had been a show with a mother that young. Lauren [Graham] was so young; those issues were fresh during that time. There were so few shows that were directed at the heart of women like that."
The dynamic between Lorelai and Rory is quite special. Since she got pregnant with Rory as a teenager, their small age gap allows them to share a true friendship that goes beyond the typical parent-child bond. Unlike other TV moms, Lorelai enjoys countless light-hearted moments with her daughter. One of the most popular of such moments includes their daily meals and coffees at Luke's Diner.
Many viewers have fond memories of watching "Gilmore Girls" with their own mothers. Now that they're older, they hope to establish a Lorelai-Rory connection with their children. On Reddit, u/CreativeJudgement3529, who has a young son, said, "I just am so excited to have a relationship with him. To be his mom, his advocate, and eventually his friend when he gets older. I love Lorelai and I relate to her."