Review: 'Gilmore Girls' Revival Proves the Comedy Is Really a Tragedy

— -- In "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life," viewers got the ending they should have received in 2007.

Show creator Amy Sherman-Palladino left before the final season, and the return was her chance to see her vision for this story through. She, along with her husband and executive producer, Daniel Palladino, cleaned up the unsatisfied mess season 7 left with many fans.

The show incorporated every bit of Stars Hollow nostalgia a "Gilmore" fan could want, while still moving the narrative forward. Every nod to the past seven seasons fits seamlessly in the now-present lives of these characters and fictional town.

"Gilmore Girls" fans have quoted, "Oy, with the poodles" for years, while women successfully pitched the series to their boyfriends as a clever, pop-culture referencing comedy. But watching the four-episode revival, which premiered on Netflix Friday, knowing now how the story was always meant to be told, it arguably all comes together as a beautifully clever tragedy.

Don’t get me wrong, it is funny. If you have any sense of humor or care for these characters at all, you will laugh. But hidden beneath the fast gabs of comedy is honesty as they navigate some of their toughest moments. The bits of comedy exist as relief -- consistent, well-written relief -- as life continues to happen to the Gilmores.

The Death of Richard Gilmore

Stakes are raised often on television by killing off of a beloved main character, but for this show the death of Richard Gilmore was very real as actor Edward Herman, who portrayed him onscreen, died in 2014.

Unlike many shows today, we weren't tortured with heartbreak. There was no long funeral service of anguish; no one fell into deep depression or spent long amounts of time in mourning. Instead, grief came in and out throughout the entire year.

We first see pain in onscreen wife Emily's struggle with being a widow. She began trying to figure out her purpose in life after years of being a dedicated wife, by going through all of her things and throwing out what doesn't "bring her joy." Her daughter Lorelai entered the home, seeing an anxious Emily in jeans. Yes, jeans -- a departure from the glamorous matriarch's normal attire.

As Lorelai gave her the usual hard-time, Emily said, "I don't know what to do or where to go. I forgot which side of the bed to sleep on. I was married for 50 years, half of me is gone.” And just like that, "Gilmore" girls everywhere teared up.

The women mourned Richard's death in the moments that matter. Subtlety throughout the show, we saw them tap the "it's the whole wall" portrait of him with a kiss. The grief built over time, as real grief does. When Lorelei found herself uncertain of her decisions, past and future, that's when the punch really came and kept coming. After her search for coffee ended on the top of a mountain, she picked up her cell phone, called her mother to tell her the story of her favorite birthday.

"He asked, 'Tell me right now, Lorelai, why aren't you in school?' and I tried to think of something. Some lie that would make sense, but I couldn't. All I could think was that yesterday I had a boyfriend who loved me and today I didn't, and I started to cry," she said.

"I waited for him to yell at me, to punish me, to ground me forever. To tell me how disappointed he was in me, and nothing came. And finally I got up enough courage to look up at him," Lorelai told Emily with tears streaming down her face. “And he was standing there with a pretzel. A giant pretzel, covered with mustard. And he handed it to me and he said, ‘Let’s go.’ And he took me to the movies."

It's at this moment that viewers realize Richard Gilmore isn't dead. His legacy of kindness, stubbornness and caring is very much apart of Lorelai, Rory and Emily -- and it lives on in them.

Luke and Lorelai

Lorelai's habit of relationship sabotage finally came to an end. From the first moment Lorelai and Luke were onscreen together, viewers knew they belonged. The ultimate "will they, won’t they" couple finally tied the knot. The show picked up with the two living together, revealing they have been partners ever since the series ended, but still not married.

While there are many contributors to the decision to get married, it may have been the death of Richard, her father, that gave it the biggest push. The state of their relationship became a big frustration for her mother, Emily. With the passing of her father, Lorelai was able to get the clearest picture of her parents' partnership. Seeing how her much of a team her parents were, Lorelai began to long for something similar in Luke as she started to feel her mortality.

While Luke believed her internal questioning was leading Lorelai to break up with him, he gave a speech her father would be proud of.

"This, right here, is all I will ever need," he began. "I never thought in my wildest dreams that it would happen. That you and me, that we would happen. But we did."

Lorelai responded by telling Luke they should get married. He had the ring ready. As the stress of the wedding got their feelings out of whack, the two decided to marry the night before and party with the town the next day in the town square decorated to perfection by Kirk. Yes, Kirk the irrational, uncontrolled townie known for badly performing at a string of random jobs.

The Circle of Life

Rory is having a baby. I hope that was as weird to read as it was for me to write. When I first heard, the campaign from Lauren Graham (Lorelai) and Alexis Bledel (Rory) to all the binge watchers not to ruin the last four words, I admit I was confused. "Gilmore Girls" has never been a show fueled by cliff hangers.

The season ended somewhat where it began with Lorelai borrowing money from Emily to continue her life dreams and making a commitment to Friday night dinners.

In the final act, we see the Rory and Lorelai sitting together after the secret wedding. Then, we hear this:

Rory: MomLorelai: Yeah?Rory: I'm pregnant.

While each woman -- Rory, Lorelai and Emily -- is in a new stage life, this is the point where we see so clearly that they have become one another. We saw early signs of it as Rory and Lorelai fought over Rory’s upcoming project, writing a book about their life story. Defending herself, Lorelai used an Emily tactic against Rory.

Rory told her mother in response, "No, that's not how you and I work. We don't do the passive aggressive thing, that's how you and your mother work. You're supposed to to be on my side."

Lorelai replied, "It's my life, Rory. I went through all this effort for many, many years making sure people only knew what I wanted them to know, and now you're going to lay it all out in a book?"

The season's ending is what solidifies the circle of life, as it's not clear who the father is. but it's more than likely Rory's ex-boyfrind Logan, based off previous episodes. Amy Sherman-Palladino has said Rory’s relationship with Logan is symbolic of Lorelai's relationship with Christopher, Rory's father. By that comparison, Rory's other ex, Jess, fills in the role of Luke as he is last seen staring at her through a window.

Many think this ending means there are more seasons in store for this revival. But if this ending has taught viewers anything it's to never think you know Sherman-Palladino’s next move.