Gilmore Girls: Stop Being Smart!!!

[miloismine]

Yes, this is a smart show, and that's super, but I don't like it how they made both Lorelai's daughter and Luke's daughter almost genius like.  I thought it was nice how Lorelai would talk about how mature and intellegent Rory was at age 4, but the fact that April's Mother could say the same about April just annoys me. I'm not talking about just smartness but rather the genius level Rory and April are both at.

why whenever anyone reproduces in this show they get a smarty?? STOP!

[harvestmoon52]

Well, them being smart is what makes the show. Any alterations and our beloved show might turn into crap.

[gilmore-girl]

So the characters are smart whats wrong with that?

[wmushell]

1st you have Rory who is like this genius child who is mature in contrast to her mother

Lorelai is incredibly intelligent.  One absolutely needs to be smart to be that witty!  I'm guessing you're young, so you probably don't get that Lorelai isn't able to own her own business based on looks alone either.

2nd there is Jess who is the bad boy who actually is really smart and reads a lot

One has nothing to do with the other.

3rd (and this one set me over the edge) April, who is this brainiac child genius (you think the writers could have come up with something different)

Somehow I think you'll pull through.

I think it's annoying how they make so many of the GG characters very smart
why whenever anyone reproduces in this show they get a smarty?? STOP!

Hmmm.  I'm not really sure of the validity of this thread.  However, I will say KNOWLEDGE = POWER.  A little tip from me to you.  As you get older you will learn, I hope, to value intelligence and not be threatened by it.

[miloismine]

Lorelai is incredibly intelligent.  One absolutely needs to be smart to be that witty!  I'm guessing you're young, so you probably don't get that Lorelai isn't able to own her own business based on looks alone either.



 As you get older you will learn, I hope, to value intelligence and not be threatened by it.

Ok, first of all i meant is thar Rory is more mature then Lorelai, not that shes dumb.

Second, if you disagree with me, fine.  But do not patronize me.  I'm not "threatened" by intellegence, but rather want them to mix it up a bit because this trend is going to be uninteresting in time.

[1orelai]

You know I have noticed this as well, and it was really bothering me last night. 
Opening this thread was very brave of you.
I am glad you did this thread *pretty sticks you*

[wmushell]

I'm not "threatened" by intellegence

Yikes!  It's spelled intelligence!!!

I honestly think the topic of this thread leaves you open to criticism.  Did you really think everyone was going to agree with you?  You must've understood, when you started it, that people could possibly challenge your ideas.  And, it's great if people agree with you as well, like 1orelai did.

[miloismine]

wow you're fast at responding

[Dani257]

Well, not everyone is supersmart on the show.  Even if you only look at the younger set.  The only truly "dumb" characters were probably Louise (and I think she had a kind of upper crust street smart) and Madeline.  I'd add Tristan, but that may be my bias talking there.   But, what about Lane?  A talented person of average intelligence, but I never got the impression that she was a scholar.  In fact, they did sort of reference it in an early episode, where she was listing occupations she wasn't destined for based on her schoolwork.  Wish I could remember the quote so I could at least name the episode.  According to Dean (who is smarter than some give him credit for) his grades were in the B range with a few C's and the occasional A's.  Not a dummy, but no candidate for Mensa, either.  And, aside from the fact that he graduated from a prestigious school, we don't have any concrete evidence of how smart Logan is (I have my beliefs, but I can only give subjective examples).  So, one blatant example of a dumb person (Madeline -or at least a ditzy one, not sure if those terms are interchangeable), two of people of average intelligence, and three that you named (4 if you count Paris, which she's Paris.  She has to count) of extremely intelligent people.  So, I don't really see it as the show making carbon copies of the same type of character.

Not to mention when you go beyond just saying "they're smart" they're very different in their intelligence. Jess and Rory may both be book smart, but Rory thrives on structure and classes and lectures (insert rant on Rory ever dropping out).  Jess is more of an independent learner, and would rather read things on his own and not have anyone guide his ideas, even if they have a PhD in their title (especially, maybe).  Paris is way more analytical, and school for her is a means to an end.  To many ends, since she's a type A personality with many goals in life. She likes learning, too, but for her, the drive is as important as the smarts.

And, of course, April was created to be reminiscent of Rory.  But, I think they failed, because April seems to be more like Paris.  Paris with 50% anal retentiveness taken out. 

For myself, I'd rather all dumb characters be few, far between, and recurring once in a blue moon. 

[miloismine]

yes, i definatly see where you are comming from, I just don't like April. Why did Luke get a smart kid like Lorelai did?? That is my big question.

[Loridhhp]

Wow Dani257! Well said! I think it's good to show characters with intelligence as well as street smarts which is the kind of intelligence that comes from experiencing life and learning the lessons it teaches us every day. I applaud Gilmore Girls for showing characters that can not only think on their feet but make the same mistakes that everyone else does. Book smarts does not necessarily mean smart in the relationship department. Our Girls may be smart but they are flawed and THAT'S what makes them so endearing. O.K. rant over.

[flex151]

I see your point miloismine, I was incredibly annoyed that they modeled April after Rory, but to be quite honest I'm mostly annoyed that April exists at all, and I have yet to think of one good reason why they needed her in the first place. But I should take that to the April Unappreciation thread (I've been meaning to..)

Very well put Dani, I am once again blown away by your hit-the-nail-on-the-head commentary.

[Dani257]

yes, i definatly see where you are comming from, I just don't like April. Why did Luke get a smart kid like Lorelai did?? That is my big question.

Because they wanted to remind people of Rory.  They wanted Lorelai to not be able hate April (not being able to hate the person indirectly responsible for her relationship problems just brings more angst) and how could she when supposedly, she gets taken back to when Rory was that age, whenever she sees April?  Sometimes these things are done to facilitate the plot.  

Although, I still say April is more of a mini Paris than a mini Rory.  But, I know they want me to think that she's Rory reincarnated.


 

Very well put Dani, I am once again blown away by your hit-the-nail-on-the-head commentary.

*shuffles feet*  Aw shucks.

[organic_cats]

Them being smart is very refreshing! Particularly when today's shows usually contain teenagers who could care less about school.

And it does not in any way make the show seem less real, because about 5O% of high school students have A-averages.

[CeliaGilmore]

I like that many of the characters are smart.  It makes it different from other shows on TV (as someone pointed out).  And also, you have to figure that considering half of the time the show is set at Yale, and before that, Chilton, a prep-school, there are going to be some smart people.  And about April, my mom is convinced that it is all a ploy to eventually get rid of Rory and replace her with April, like Luke and Lorelai's daughter, so that would make sense (although I really try not to think about it).