#jess as a secondary character is also allowed to develop in a happier way

[ksfd892]

This thought isn't fully developed, but having seen various discussions regarding Liz and Jimmy lately, I started pondering about their role in the show, and other slightly questionable themes.

Regarding whether or not Liz was retconned, I don't think she was exactly, but I DO think ASP wanted to make her likeable (or at least sympathetic) so she leaned into the more funny/kooky side rather than some of the poor parenting which was previously established. Despite the fact that Liz and Jess both tell the viewers that she had a string of bad boyfriends and drank during his pregnancy, none of this is really focused on.

Similarly, when Jimmy goes to see Jess, runs out on him and then later refuses to even allow his son to stay the night, these aspects aren't focused on. They are there, most explicitly with Jess breaking down on the boardwalk and telling Jimmy he 'has nothing' and that he is like him after being told Jimmy is a 'screw-up', yet the focus is more on Jimmy's eclectic life with his fun girlfriend, kid in the closet and house full of music and memorabilia. Presumably had Windward Circle happened more of Jimmy's character would be explored, but I suspect the emphasis would be on Jimmy now, and him learning about Jess, rather than his running out on him as a baby.

Finally, a theme which personally frustrates me (as I know it does others) are random proposals which are used to fix arguments. Lane and Zach don't address any of their issues but Zach gives her a sweet proposal in the diner so apparently it doesn't matter. Interestingly, this doesn't happen with Lorelai and Max - in fact, it's the opposite, which I believe is due to Lorelai being the main character. GG is mainly about people, and how complex and flawed we are as we move through the world, and therefore a cute proposal isn't going to fix it. In contrast, Lane and Zach are secondary characters, and so their relationship and marriage is given less attention, as with Sookie and Jackson and Liz and TJ. This is a slight side note but ASP seems to have a surprising conservative streak in this sense, in that characters in relationships are considered almost cowardly if they DON'T get married. Either way, the sweetness/kookiness of these sudden marriages play into these themes with Liz and Jimmy and, perhaps, Anna later on.

To wind it all up, it seems to be part of the screwball nature of the series. ASP loves elements of screwball comedies, most notably the fast talking, but these random proposals and funny side characters are part of it too. The show uses this focus first and the potentially sadder or more serious lens second and so, with characters such as Liz and Jimmy, humour is the priority.