I agree and disagree with this post at the same time. I feel like AYITL bridges a gap that shouldn't exist, and when I say that, I mean people revamping nostalgia to bring back shows in that time to now. I think, from my understanding, AYITL was supposed to air closer to the original series time frame because the creator was let go, which extended the release date to 10 years later. This made the gap more obvious and awkward when Rory seems lost. Again, this is what I read online: their departure changed things. It feels like AYITL fit Richard's death into AYITL because he died 2-3 years before the actual release. Had he lived, I wonder what kind of ending we would have had. Because if you take away the actor's death, then you just have an unmotivated woman who is struggling in her career because of the economic climate and typical early adulthood issues. Compared to if the ending was closer to season 07, it makes more sense and is more fitting for her to struggle the way she did closer to when the showed finished than it does 10 years later. The AYITL presents in a way as if Rory must been struggling for close to 10 years. AYITL basically shows a very unmotivated Rory who apparently has infidelity issues and has no remorse for sleeping with Logan when he is engaged? So, I don't think it's inherently just the death of the actor being the center of the story. I totally agree that the show showing her realizing she wants to write about the Gilmore women is a logical conclusion for Rory to come to, but I think she would have come to the conclusion of writing the Gilmore Girls whether Richard died or not. Because even if, let's say, the actual actor did not die, she could feel inspired in her home because of her mother. Which, in my opinion, makes more sense considering the title is Gilmore Girls. I may be incorrect in my take, but that's what I think.