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'Gilmore Girls' may be one of the most original family drama series on this little thing called the TV. Really, my only gripe with the show is that it's not in wide screen--which really isn't saying anything about the show itself; it'd just be nice to see a little bit more of Stars Hollow. The writers are smart, and I love that they use that intelligence to give us some smart women. Perhaps even moreso, I love that the intelligence of the show goes to show that indulgence in popular culture isn't for the simple minded. Like some other favorites of mine (namely 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'), 'Gilmore Girls' provides plenty of role models for both men and women, boys and girls. Role models for the girls should be self explanatory, but the role models for the guys are what I'm more interested in since that's my personal gender (by both birth and choice, if I had a choice... which I didn't, but still). Luke is great--he's independent, he's a "man's man", he's a normal guy--and his friendship with Lorelai--a smart, independent, unconventional, loving mother--is a great example of men respecting women for their good (non trashy) qualities.
Anyway. That's my little free-association of what I like about Gilmore Girls. I haven't been through the whole series, but I'm currently on my way thanks to the complete series collection.
Pros of the set (not necessarily a review of the show)
+ The Box itself (not in terms of the graphics) is great. The season folders are easy to access.
+ The episode guide is very useful; you can easily find which disc contains which episode.
+ The folders that contain the seasons have nice pictures on them; the pictures look very sharp, and the patterns (colors, sometimes even print that looks like a fabric) look very bright and really 'pop' off the page
+ Gilmore-isms. I find myself wanting to use it more and more; I haven't used it much yet, but I flipped through it and it contains succinct little blurbs of information for each of the pop culture references--on top of that, the guide tells you which episode contains said reference.
+ Cheaper than tracking down all the individual seasons (not taking into account promotional sales)
+ Takes up less room on the shelf when compared to the individual sets, and makes for a nice display
Cons
- Cardboard slots can be hit or miss, but a Discgear selector can be an alternate storage method. (I have two of these, holding my Buffy, Angel, Alias, The O.C., and Gilmore Girls sets, as well as some trilogy box sets:
Discgear Selector 100-Disc HD Disc Storage System - Black
)
- Where are all the pictures? I'd have preferred to see more pictures (including behind-the-scenes) in the episode guide
- Although the box is neat, it's difficult for storage depending on where you want to put it. If your shelves aren't high enough, you'll have to store it sideways.. but then the picture is sideways, and it'll look strange.
- No bonus DVD with new bonus materials. I don't know what they'd have put out, but it'd have been nice to see something similar to the extra disc that came in the 'Buffy' or 'Alias' complete series sets. The regular release special features were nice but fairly short, and it'd have been nice to see a special retrospective cast roundtable, or even some gag reels.
- The package design is okay, but it doesn't seem to fit with the show. I'm only up to season 3, but I don't understand the white background and the pastel colors. Plus, the design team used the front cover image on both sides. A little redundant. They could have at least used different pictures of Lorelai and Rory to put on the spine. Furthermore, the back is completely blank (there was a piece of paper stuck on the back but is mainly only used as a "sales pitch", showing prospective buyers whats included in the set).
Overall, my gripes are slim. The set was a great deal, I inspected most of the discs and although they look a little scratchy, none of the scratches look to affect playback (I've seen many DVDs and as such it's safe to say that I can gauge these things fairly accurately).
This set will be sure to entertain for a long time. It's a show that the whole family can watch together and be entertained without being embarrassed. (Watching an R rated movie with the parents rarely goes well).
Final grade: A- for the lack of a bonus DVD and the odd cover design.
UPDATE 1 September: One of the discs on my set would not play. None of my DVD players could read it, therefore I couldn't watch the episodes (it was the last 2 episodes of season 4). Luckily a friend of mine has the sets, otherwise I'd have been out of luck. I'm still ecstatic with the set, and the show, but it's something to consider. I've since tested all other discs and there aren't any problems. Even the ones with minor scuffs/scratches, no discs have skipped.
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Reviews with images
The True Stars Hollow Experience
Okay folks,since I didn't find any details -other than on amazon- about the DVD Set, I thought I'd write some down.My set arrived yesterday!Why I didn't write then you ask? Well, I didn't have enough money to pay for customs, so the post man didn't give it to me.For those of you living in Germany: Be prepaired to pay 29,38EUR on arrival. IF you have bought your set off amazon for 160$. They actually add the shipping to the calculation basis. Yes, not as cheap as you wish.Since I don't know how to add pictures here, let's try telling you what it looks like in writing:The outer box is made of plastic, the inner box, holding the set DVDs is cardboard. The season sets are cardboard too.There is a magnet inside the overlapping lashes of the outer box that closes it.The episode guide as well as the gilmoreism book are paperback, no hardcover.I have not had the time to search for any easter eggs, but I doubt there are any since everybody says the DVDs are exactly the same as in the set boxes. I wouldn't know, because I don't own the individual sets.From the fancy episode guide thingy you get I can tell this much:SEASON 1Disk6 Bonus materials:Welcome to the Gilmore Girls-Series creator and cast describe how this family-favorite series evolved.-Gilmore Goodies and Gossip - Rory's Dance-On-Screen factoids-Gilmore-Isms-A look at many of the show's witty and memorable wordplays.-(I remember that there was this "blooper wheel" on the Season 1 DVDs, but it is not listed in the ep guide. Does anybody remember if it was hidden somehow?)SEASON 2Disc 7 "Sadie, Sadie" - unaired sceneDisk 8 "Presenting Lorelai Gilmore" - unaired sceneDisk 10 "There's the rub" - unaired sceneDisk 12 "I can't get started" - unaired sceneAlso on Disk 12Bonus materials:A Film By KirkInternational Success - How other countries welcome the girlsGilmore Goodies & gossip - A-tisket, a-tasket-On Screen factoids-Who wants to argue?-The season's best shouting matches-SEASON 3Disk 16 "Swan Song" - unaired sceneDisk 17 "Say Goodnight, Gracie" - unaired sceneDisk 18 "Those are strings, Pinocchio" - unaired sceneAlso on Disk 18Bonus materials:All Grown Up- Cast stories of childhood experiences-Who wants to fall in love?-The season's best romantic moments-Our Favorite '80s-Favorite dance moves-SEASON 4Disk 19 "Ballrooms & Biscotti" - unaired sceneDisk 22 "The reigning Lorelai" - unaired sceneDisk 24 Bonus materials:Gilmore Goodies & Gossip-Fun facts bonus version of "Girls in bikinis, boys doin' the twist"-Who wants to get together?-The season's most romantic moments-Stars Hollow Challenge-Trivia Quiz-SEASON 5Disk 26 "You jump, I jump, Jack" - Commentary by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel PalladinoDisk 30 Bonus materials:Gilmore Girls Turns 100-Taking stock on reaching five years and 100 episodes-Behind the scenes of the 100th episodeWho wants to talk Gilmore?-The season's wittiest wordplay moments-SEASON 6-No Bonus-SEASON 7Disk 38 "The great stink" - unaired sceneDisk 42 Bonus materials:Gilmore FashionistasA Best friend's peek inside the Gilmore Girls with Keiko AgenaWho wants to talk boys?-The season's best boys montage-Season MontageKirk's tour of Stars HollowSo all in all you get what everybody else already owns plus a cute box that does not fit on your DVD shelf with the other DVDs since it's way larger though.I am glad I bought it but for those of you who already own the DVD sets... don't bother. Just like my fellow reviewers already told you: There's nothing new.Still, I'm glad to have it and I give this box 4 stars.It would have gotten 5 if there had been any additional extras.
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