|
The Movie: Television continues to be something of a volatile industry - for every hit, several shows (often quickly) don't make it. Once again, consumers in this day and age have many choices for entertainment, leaving television to be forced to up the ante in terms of providing content. Great comedies and dramas are now few-and-far-between, while only a few reality shows ("Amazing Race") offer any value. While I have never gotten a chance to watch "Gilmore Girls" very much, I have gotten drawn into the series while watching on DVD. The show has been one of the biggest hits for the WB channel and will be one of the "starting lineup" for the new merger channel of WB and UPN, the CW. The show takes place in a small town in Connecticut and focuses on a 32-year-old mother, Lorelai (Lauren Graham, finally finding her place to shine after a series of supporting roles) and her 16-year-old daughter, Rory (Alexis Bledel). The two operate as sisters and best friends instead of the traditional mother/daughter pairing, but they're there for each other and Lorelai really listens and respects her daughter. When Rory finds herself accepted into a private school early in the series, Lorelai sees her chance to offer her daughter the kind of experiences that she didn't have - which also means heading to the wealthy parents she'd broken off talking with to try and ask for money. Given their return to involvement in their daughter's life in an early season, Lorelai's parents want to see her and Rory more often. The show does remind me somewhat of "Dawson's Creek" in ways - the small-town setting, the witty dialogue that doesn't seem particularly realistic - but I have to say that I enjoyed "Gilmore" more. The show doesn't seem as if it focuses on an "issue" each week, but slides into issues and topics as a result of developments and interactions between characters. The unrealistic aspects of the witty dialogue are easy to overlook because the humor is often genuinely funny (some of the one-liners are really terrific) and the emotional moments between characters genuinely moving. The supporting characters are funny and well-played, especially the inn staff that Lorelai often nearly goes crazy trying to manage. The performances are superb, as well. Lauren Graham is wonderfully likable as Lorelai. Warm and witty, you want her to succeed in trying to get the best for her daughter. She shifts easily between portraying a woman who tries to be a mature, responsible mother and someone who is a wonderful friend to her daughter, listening to her ideas and loving being able to share in her bright, intelligent daughter's experiences while she grows up. The two have great chemistry and are really one of the finest mother/daughter TV pairings in a while. The sixth season of the series was the final one for co-creators Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino, leaving producer David Rosenthal ("Spin City") to take the reigns, starting this Fall when the series returns on 9/26/06. The sixth season opens with Lorelai proposing to Luke and not on speaking terms with Rory, who is living with her grandparents and facing community service for stealing a boat. While Lorelai and Rory make-up and Rory gets back on the right track, Lorelai's relationship with Luke hits rocky patches, especially when he finds out that he has a daughter. The season continues the whip-smart dialogue and delivery that past seasons have offered. The performances also continue to get better as the actors have now been in their character for five years and their relationships continue to change and develop. The show's ensemble is terrific, as while the leads carry the series nicely, the supporting players add great personality and spark to the show. With the departure of co-creators the Palladinos, it'll be interesting to see if "Gilmore" retains its flavor when it returns for its 7th season this Fall. Season 6 110. 6- 1 13 Sep 05 New and Improved Lorelai 111. 6- 2 20 Sep 05 Fight Face 112. 6- 3 27 Sep 05 The UnGraduate 113. 6- 4 4 Oct 05 Always a Godmother, Never a God 114. 6- 5 11 Oct 05 We've Got Magic to Do 115. 6- 6 18 Oct 05 Welcome to the Doll House 116. 6- 7 25 Oct 05 Twenty-One is the Loneliest Number 117. 6- 8 8 Nov 05 Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out 118. 6- 9 15 Nov 05 The Prodigal Daughter Returns 119. 6-10 22 Nov 05 He's Slippin’ ‘Em Bread... Dig? 120. 6-11 10 Jan 06 The Perfect Dress 121. 6-12 17 Jan 06 Just Like Gwen and Gavin 122. 6-13 31 Jan 06 Friday Night's Alright For Fighting 123. 6-14 7 Feb 06 You've Been Gilmored 124. 6-15 14 Feb 06 A Vineyard Valentine 125. 6-16 28 Feb 06 Bridesmaids Revisited 126. 6-17 4 Apr 06 I'm OK, You're OK 127. 6-18 11 Apr 06 The Real Paul Anka 128. 6-19 18 Apr 06 I Get A Sidekick Out of You 129. 6-20 25 Apr 06 Super Cool Party People 130. 6-21 2 May 06 Driving Miss Gilmore 131. 6-22 9 May 06 Partings The DVD VIDEO: The sixth season "Gilmore" episodes are once again presented in their original 1.33:1 full-frame aspect ratio by Warner Brothers. The picture quality is a bit of a step up from the debut season's offerings. Sharpness and detail is generally about broadcast quality, as the picture appeared crisp and fairly well-defined for the most part. Some scenes appeared a tad soft at times, but not terribly so. Some minor grain and shimmering were the only real concerns present during the episodes. A trace or two of pixelation were also spotted, but hardly were a distraction. Colors remained bright and vivid, with no smearing or other faults. Flesh tones were also largely accurate and natural. SOUND: The episodes are presented in 2.0 audio. Dialogue and music remained crisp and well-recorded, with no concerns. As expected, there's not a great detail of audio activity present in this dialogue-driven drama. EXTRAS: A promo for the CW network and a DVD "Fall Preview" of Warner Brothers TV shows. Final Thoughts: "Gilmore Girls" continues its fine run with a strong 6th season that sees the characters growing and developing in stories that continue to be inspired and enjoyable. The DVD set for the season offers little in the way of supplements, but fine audio/video quality. Recommended for fans. |