Right now, America is split into two kinds of people: those who think of November 25th as the day after Thanksgiving (or Black Friday), and those who think of November 25th as National Gilmore Girls Revival Day. The latter camp, a band of die-hard fans who have been waiting years to see what’s been going on since we last left Stars Hollow, will finally have their dreams realized next week, when Netflix premiers Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.
For months, Netflix teased fans with scant images of returning cast members and a nostalgia-inducing trailer that reintroduced us to Rory and Lorelai’s fast-paced banter – but with smartphones. Fans went nuts when the streaming site finally released a full trailer for the upcoming series, which offered glimpses at beloved characters like Emily Gilmore, Luke, Paris, and, of course, Kirk. Now, Netflix has unveiled a flood of new promotional material to remind viewers of the upcoming Gilmore Girls revival event - and the company has taken a uniquely familial approach to doing just that.
In a new promotional trailer, Netflix and Gilmore Girls encourage fans to watch the series with their mothers. “Plan a Netflix date night with Mom,” the teaser implores, amidst images of Rory and Lorelai’s favorite junk foods and a well-trained Paul Anka. The series also released a promotional image of Lorelai and Rory mid-binge-watch to drive the point home, along with three stills from the series itself. These images also feature the show’s iconic mother-daughter pairs: Lane and Mrs. Kim, Lorelai and Emily, and Lorelai and Rory. You can check out the photos below and watch the new Gilmore Girls promo, above.
This marketing technique is not just adorable, it showcases a real understanding of the Gilmore Girls fanbase. Since the series was on air from 2000 to 2007, many millenials grew up watching episodes with their mothers, and then relived the nostalgia when the full series came to Netflix in 2014. As Thanksgiving is a time to be with family, it’s pretty genius that the show is encouraging multiple generations of viewers to tune in together, and it wouldn’t be surprising if mother-daughter pairs all over the country were already planning to do just that.
Though much of the Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life promotional material thus far has focused on the show’s more comedic aspects, it’s the real heart of Gilmore Girls that’s allowed the show to retain so many loyal fans for over a decade. From schmaltzy Stars Hollow traditions to Rory’s high school and college graduations, Gilmore Girls offered fans the opportunity to grow up in small-town Connecticut right alongside its characters. Now, it appears the series will walk fans through the aftermath of adulthood, from Rory’s career crisis to Emily’s life post-Richard. Though we haven’t seen Stars Hollow in years, it’s almost like we never left.
With original creator Amy Sherman-Palladino back at the helm, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life promises to give fans the revival they deserve. And with a lot of marketing dollars behind the project – and a killer insight into the show’s demographic – Netflix is eager to welcome fans back into the Gilmore family.
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life premieres on Netflix on November 25th, 2016.
Source: Netflix
