Similar or the Same?

[ultra_fic]

So, Gilmore Girls and Hart of Dixie certainly have their similarities, up to the point where they were even filmed on the same set, so Stars Hollow and Bluebell are practically the same place. They have similar plot points and episodes sometimes too, similar humour and such, which works for me and is largely why I like both shows so much, but I just rewatched one particular episode of Hart of Dixie and I've realised it isn't just a little similar to a Gilmore Girls episode, it's very, very similar, in a slightly jumbled way...

HoD episode 2x9 is called Sparks Fly and concerns a Basket Auction for charity, extremely similar to the concept of GG ep 2x10 A-Tisket, A-Tasket with the slight difference that HoD has girls bidding on boys and GG has boys bidding on girls. Seriously though, check out all the extremely similar things that happen...

(1)
- In GG, Sookie wants Jackson to win her basket, but Kirk gets in the way, leading to Jackson having to bribe Kirk for the basket and date.
- In HoD, Wade wants Zoe to win his basket, but Magnolia gets in the way, leading to Zoe having to bribe Magnolia for the basket and date.

(2)
- Rory & Jess go on a date in which she tricks him into eating gross food and laughs at his expense.
- Tansy & George go on a date in which she tricks him into eating gross food and laughs at his expense.

(3)
- Jess (deliberately) wins Rory in the auction, and when her boyfriend (Dean) objects, she says she has to go because it's the rules.
- Lemon (accidentally) wins Lavon in the auction, and when his girlfriend (Ruby) objects, he says he has to go because it's the rules.

(4)
- Lorelai & Luke end up on a date (without meaning for it to happen to start off with) and it's equal parts cute and awkward because we all know they should be together but they're not.
- Lemon & Lavon end up on a date (without meaning for it to happen to start off with) and it's equal parts cute and awkward because we all know they should be together but they're not.

On top of all this, in HoD, George makes up some fake lawyer stuff to get Tansy her dog back from her ex's new girlfriend which is so, so like that one scene in the film Legally Blonde where Elle makes up Latin law stuff to get Paulette's dog back from her ex.

So, I guess what I'm wondering is, were the writers just having a blank day and ripped off a bunch of stuff from GG and also Legally Blonde OR is this just the mother all of coincidence clusters??

(It's also possible that when I rewatch my favourite TV shows a lot, I start seeing more detail than is strictly necessary! lol)

Comments

[pianogurl330]

I've heard good things about Heart of Dixie but I have never watched.

[ultra_fic]

Hart of Dixie is sooo good. Seems to me that most folks who like Gilmore Girls find they like Hart of Dixie too. I was almost put off from giving it a try because of the fact the main character was a doctor and I'm a little squeamish with medical stuff sometimes, but aside from two minor blood-related moments in the very early episodes, it's not like that at all. Very character-driven, lots of small town fun like GG, many romances and love triangles, lots of humour, and nothing too heavy, for the most part. I highly recommend it :)

[pianogurl330]

Ohh that sounds right up my alley! I'll have to check that one out now! Have you seen Virgin River on Netflix? Similar premise of a doctor moving to a small town and lots of drama to be had, romance, and campiness.

[ultra_fic]

I believe Hart of Dixie streams on Amazon? I'm sure that's what a friend told me. Another friend told me about Virgin River, which does sound cool, but I'm not much of a streamer - don't have Netflix, Amazon Video, etc. - so I can't watch it, unless they decide to make DVDs sometime, I guess.

[pianogurl330]

Thanks for the info! I'll do a search on there or my roku to see where it's at. Gotcha! If it ever winds up on DVD that's another cute, feel good show.