John’s “Gilmore Girls” Season 2 flashback review, johnvhansen.com, June 10, 2014
“Gilmore Girls” Season 2 (2001-02, WB), episodes 1-16 — “Gilmore Girls” (7 p.m. Tuesdays, WB) may be more a lot more chipper than “Once & Again,” but that’s not to say it’s less realistic. It’s just that Sherman-Palladino sees the world through a uniquely observant and humorous lens, which is why “Gilmore Girls” is currently the best show on TV. In this second season, Sherman-Palladino has taken the central strength of the show — the adorableness of Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) — and shaken it up, as if challenging viewers to not love the title characters.
The season opened with Lorelai breaking off her wedding engagement to Max, then turning down Rory’s dad Christopher for the billionth time because he’s “too irresponsible.” It’s no wonder that diner owner Luke (Scott Patterson), who is clearly in love with Lorelai, doesn’t make a move: he can sense that courting Lorelai is the path to a broken heart.
Meanwhile, Rory has been enthralled by bookish outcast Jess (Milo Ventimiglia), at the expense of her loyal boyfriend Dean (Jared Padalecki). In the first season, “Gilmore Girls” pointed out all the great things about a mother and daughter being so similar. Now, with Lorelai’s shortcomings cropping up, one hopes that Rory can sidestep at least some of her mother’s traits. Even Lorelai, in one of the show’s trademark moments of surprise pathos, is quick to point out to her overbearing but well-meaning mother Emily: “Rory isn’t going to turn out like me, mom.” A+
— John Hansen, ” ‘Once and Again,’ ‘Gilmore Girls’ redefine family TV,” NDSU Spectrum, April 12, 2002