The Untold Truth Behind A Year in the Life's Ultimate Plot Twist!

Summary

The 2016 revival of Gilmore Girls ended with a shocking twist: Rory Gilmore reveals she's pregnant, which was always planned by the creator.

The ending generated a variety of responses, with some critics believing it did a disservice to Rory's character and didn't match the overall tone of the series.

Although talks of a potential second season have taken place, it appears unlikely due to the cast and creators expressing their intention to pursue other projects, and the initial revival season not being as warmly received as anticipated.

The ending of the 2016 revival series Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life was originally planned during the show's original run but no longer worked. A Year in the Life takes place almost a decade after the 2007 ending, catching up with Lorelai, Rory, and Emily Gilmore. Each character is in a very different place - Lorelai is settled with Luke and considering starting a family, Emily is trying to move on after her husband Richard's death, and Rory is still struggling to establish herself in journalism. The warning from Mitchum Huntzberger that she doesn't have what it takes is proving to be true. The ending of Rory's journey in A Year in the Life leads to the highly anticipated last words of the series: "Mom?" "Yeah?" "I'm pregnant."

Seeing Rory Gilmore pregnant is a startling and complex ending, even though it may not have been completely unexpected. Amy Sherman-Palladino, the show's creator, had always known the final four words of Gilmore Girls, including the pregnancy storyline for Rory. However, the way it unfolds in A Year in the Life is different from how it would have felt in 2007. Sherman-Palladino left the show before its seventh season, so she never saw her original ending come to life. Despite some differences, Rory's love interests and overall story arc in the revival still align with what was initially planned, creating a build-up to the big reveal. However, it also feels as though Rory has been somewhat stagnant, as viewers are watching a 32-year-old Rory behaving how she was originally written at 22.

What Happened To Rory In AYITL?

The controversial ending of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life revolves around the unexpected revelation of Rory Gilmore's pregnancy, which lacked proper foreshadowing. At the start of AYITL, Rory returns to Stars Hollow with a newfound fame from her article in The New Yorker, but she struggles to determine her next path. After abandoning her initial book idea while in London, she decides to write about her own childhood in Stars Hollow, heavily influenced by her recent visit home. During this time, she also secretly continues her relationship with Logan.

Additionally, Rory briefly takes on the role of editor-in-chief at the Stars Hollow Gazette. However, the moment when she reveals her pregnancy to Lorelai after her marriage to Luke is rather anticlimactic. Assuming that Logan is the father, this twist in the AYITL ending is quite peculiar and ultimately does a disservice to Rory's character. Throughout the series, Rory has always been driven by her career aspirations, making it surprising to see her end up in a situation similar to her mother's, albeit not as a teenage single mother.

Gilmore Girls Recycled A 2007 Storyline

The A Year In The Life ending for Gilmore Girls is difficult to gauge how well it would have been received in 2007. While season 7 suffered due to Sherman-Palladino's departure, the finale did a good job of tying up loose ends, particularly for Rory. Prior to the final four words of the revival, Rory had the opportunity to meet her role model, Christiane Amanpour, and embarked on a journey to emulate her by joining Barack Obama's campaign. The focus was not on whether Rory would succeed as a journalist, but rather on the hopeful, ambitious, and open-ended nature of her ending.

Considering the show's emphasis on Rory's love life, it felt fitting for her character development to prioritize her career at the end. Having Rory become pregnant in Gilmore Girls would have brought the story full circle, especially given her age being closer to Lorelai when she had Rory. However, there are no guarantees that this storyline would have been successful back then. Nonetheless, it could have laid a more effective foundation for it to unfold.

The Netflix Reboot Was The Finale Gilmore Girls Never Needed

Rory's attempt at a career in journalism in the Gilmore Girls revival proves unsuccessful, leading her to find solace in writing her and Lorelai's story. This could have potentially served as a satisfying conclusion to A Year in the Life, but it takes an unexpected turn with the last-minute revelation of Rory's pregnancy. While there are no indications throughout the series that Rory desires motherhood, Gilmore Girls ultimately comes full circle, as she finds herself destined to follow in Lorelai's footsteps (albeit with more ease). There's nothing inherently wrong with wanting children or balancing both career and family, but the ending feels tonally out of place. Rory's pregnancy seems somewhat melancholic compared to the feel-good nature of Gilmore Girls, which is beloved for its comforting qualities.

The concept of Rory Gilmore's unexpected pregnancy clashes with one of Gilmore Girls' major letdowns: Lane Kim. Similar to Rory, Lane had aspirations of becoming a rock star and traveling the world - only to find herself facing an unplanned pregnancy, giving birth, and watching her husband pursue the very dream she had once desired. Paris manages to juggle it all, but mainly because she possesses an unstoppable determination. As a result, the ending of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life once again falls victim to the show's tendency of transforming its ambitious women into mothers. Instead of the hopeful conclusion of the original series, it feels somewhat disheartening for this reason.

A Year In The Life Was Probably The End Of Gilmore Girls

The Gilmore Girls cast has been questioned about the possibility of a second season of Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life. However, they have all chosen to remain politely noncommittal. Reading between the lines, it seems clear that none of them are particularly eager to extend the story of Lorelai and Rory for another season. Milo Ventimiglia, who portrayed Jess Marino, provided a particularly negative assessment (via US Weekly):

Perpetuity is not possible for anything. It is necessary for you to acknowledge that there comes a time and a moment when your beloved show is on air and you get to witness the stories of these characters. However, these characters eventually have to move on. The actors who portray them and the writers who create their narratives have to progress to new projects.

Lauren Graham (also speaking to US Weekly) stated that she is always open to a potential comeback, but solely due to the professional advantages it may offer. She explained that the opportunity exists, however, it must be evaluated if it is creatively justified or meaningful. She remains uncertain about that aspect. Nevertheless, from a technical perspective, the possibility is there. At present, Netflix has not expressed any intentions to renew "Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life." Additionally, given the considerable amount of time that has passed since the first season of the revival in 2016, the prospect of a return seems highly improbable. The fact that the initial season of the "Gilmore Girls" revival did not achieve the expected level of success further diminishes the likelihood. Sadly, this means that fans will most likely never witness a more gratifying conclusion for Lorelai and Rory. Will Rory be capable of providing a stable life for her child? Will her book detailing her escapades with Lorelai yield beneficial results? Regrettably for avid "Gilmore Girls" enthusiasts, the opportunity to discover the answers is likely never going to materialize.

Did The A Year In The Life Ending Hurt Gilmore Girls' Legacy?

Despite some critics being disappointed with Rory Gilmore's life choices in Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life, the series still delivered the nostalgic experience that devoted fans of the original show were seeking. In fact, it continued to provide that same sense of nostalgia, and the conclusion of A Year In The Life did not diminish the lasting impact of the Gilmore Girls' legacy.

This is mainly because the brief glimpse into the lives of these beloved characters reignited audience interest in revisiting the storylines they cherished. Even though the original ending of Gilmore Girls was preserved in A Year In The Life, it has generated a renewed enthusiasm among fans for further tales within the same universe. When new narratives aren't being developed, fans gravitate back to streaming platforms to rewatch the original series.

In 2022, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Gilmore Girls was ranked among the top streaming shows worldwide. Unsurprisingly, Stranger Things took the first spot, with a staggering 52 billion minutes of the series being streamed. In comparison, Gilmore Girls secured the ninth position with 20.8 billion minutes streamed. This achievement comes six years after the release of A Year In The Life on the streaming platform and two years after its television airing on the CW, when the network obtained the rights during the 2020 Hollywood shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the passage of time, Gilmore Girls maintains its strong presence, successfully competing against dominant streaming shows, a testament to its devoted fan base who revisit the beloved series time and time again.