--- title: "Gilmore Girls: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls" critics_score: 82 critics_reviews: 7 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Gilmore Girls (2000): what the critics said Critics' score 82 from 7 reviews: 7 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. Every one of the seven reviews is favourable, and they agree on why. The praise clusters on Amy Sherman-Palladino’s dialogue, which most critics describe as fast, dense with pop-culture references and smarter than the small-town setting suggests, and on the mother-daughter relationship at its centre, with Lauren Graham singled out more than once. Stars Hollow itself gets nearly as much credit: several reviews treat the town and its supporting cast as the reason the series rewards rewatching. The spread is narrow, from good to very good, and no review dissents outright. The reservations concern the later years rather than the early ones. Den of Geek and /Film both place the second season at the peak and find the later seasons losing their spark, with /Film calling the plotting contrived. Variety, reviewing the 2016 revival, notes structural problems and too much fan service. Readers should also note that several of these reviews cover that revival rather than the original run. ## The Hollywood Reporter — Ray Richmond Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 24 November 2016. The original review hails the pilot as a genuine gem, fresh and real family drama with sparkling chemistry between Lorelai and Rory, smart writing by Amy Sherman-Palladino, and quirky characters. Praises the authentic mother-daughter relationship and heart. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/gilmore-girls-review-i-first-episode-i-season-one-i-949820/) ## Radio Times — Eleanor Bley Griffiths Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 25 November 2016. The critic describes it as a glorious, comforting return that preserves the feel, quick-fire dialogue, and complex female relationships, with raw emotion around grief. Singles out the performances and humor amid nostalgia and drama. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/gilmore-girls-review-a-glorious-return-to-stars-hollow-combines-nostalgia-and-drama/) ## Variety — Maureen Ryan Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2016. The critic finds the revival comforting TV, praising the return of the witty dialogue and strong performances, especially Lauren Graham's, while noting some structural issues and overindulgence in fan service. They single out the emotional depth in family relationships and grief over Richard's death. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2016/tv/reviews/gilmore-girls-review-a-year-in-the-life-netflix-lauren-graham-alexis-bledel-1201917166/) ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 18 November 2016. The review calls it one of the fastest-talking, smartest shows, with wit, warmth, and meat in the relationships. Praises the return of the cast and the pleasure of the small-town setting and dialogue, noting it grapples with aging but remains enjoyable. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/gilmore-girls-year-life-review/) ## Paste — Gillian Bennett Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 7 October 2025. The critic celebrates Gilmore Girls' lasting appeal 25 years on, praising its sharp pop-culture-laden dialogue, timeless focus on both adult and teen perspectives, and the cozy community of Stars Hollow as key to its rewatch value. The series' strong friendships and escapist qualities are highlighted as particularly resonant amid modern life's pace. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/the-wb/gilmore-girls-25th-anniversary-streaming-legacy) ## Den of Geek — Kirsten Howard Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 February 2026. The critic ranks all seasons of the series, praising its cozy small-town charm, rapid-fire witty dialogue, and emotionally honest family and romantic relationships while noting that no episodes are truly bad thanks to the delightful supporting cast. Season 2 is ranked highest for deepening characters and flaws, while later seasons are critiqued for losing spark or uneven pacing. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/gilmore-girls-seasons-ranked/) ## /Film — Caroline Madden Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 June 2024. The critic ranks the seasons of Gilmore Girls, highlighting its rapid-fire witty dialogue, quaint charm, and strong mother-daughter bond as enduring strengths. Season 2 is singled out as the peak for its engaging love triangle and small-town quirks, while later seasons and the revival are critiqued for contrived plots and lost spark. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1598997/gilmore-girls-every-season-ranked/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md