Many critics and fans faulted the seventh and final season of Gilmore Girls, the quirky, fast-talking, highly-caffeinated dramedy about a mother and daughter duo who act more like best friends. Certainly the tepid reaction to the final season had something to do with the noticeable absence of show-runners Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, the brains behind Gilmore's unique wordy dialogue, witty pop-culture references, and dynamic portrayal of family relationships and small-town life. When contract negotiations with Warner Brothers went sour in 2006, the Palladinos bid farewell to their beloved Gilmore Girls presumably earlier than they had hoped.

To some degree the complaints against Gilmore's last year are valid. The once-snappy banter has become a bit duller and seems less natural. The once-sharp-and-original plotlines seem to be losing steam. However, to be fair, the show started losing its groove even before the Palladinos relinquished creative control. In my opinion, Season 6 was the year of the dreaded "jump-the-shark" moments. Season 7 was burdened with the unfortunate task of trying to pick up the pieces. The result is a season that starts out rocky, slowly finds its footing, and ultimately ends gracefully and true to form. And heck, Gilmore Girls at its worst is still better than half the shows on television.

This season finds smart-girl Rory (Alexis Bledel) finishing up her senior year as a Yale University journalism student, facing the tough job search, and major life decisions concerning her longtime boyfriend, the wealthy Logan Huntzberger (Matt Czuchry). I particularly enjoyed Rory's storylines this year. Since season one, Rory Gilmore has been the one character on television whom I could relate to the most. She was an intelligent, goal-oriented young woman who actually loved to read and write"”and wasn't a complete un-hip nerd. She was my age, and held journalistic aspirations (like me). I loved that even though she's a talented girl, not everything necessarily comes easy for her. When she rejects a job offer to hold out for her dream job"”a fellowship at the New York Times"”she deals with harsh realism when the fellowship rejects her. That's the real world, and it's refreshing to see it accurately portrayed.

And yes, Season 7 plays the clichéd marriage proposal card when Logan asks Rory to marry him right before graduation. But, instead of a picturesque happy-ending, Rory rightfully answers no. A female character NOT willing to settle down with a dreamy guy dripping in wealth, and deciding to pursue her career instead? Bravo, Gilmore Girls!

If Rory has got her mind in the right place this season, her mother Lorelai (the Emmy-deprived Lauren Graham) is a bit mixed up. After a six-year flirtation-turned-romance-turned-engagement with diner owner Luke Danes (Scott Patterson), the two call it quits and Lorelai finds herself in bed with Rory's father Christopher (David Sutcliffe) shortly after. For fans of Lorelai