Usually, syndication is a wonderful thing, allowing us to relive the best moments of our favorite TV shows, or catch up on any episodes we may have missed - but sometimes, syndication isn’t so pretty. It can serve as an ugly reminder that the shows we love just aren’t what they used to be.

When new episodes and repeats are airing at the same time, it’s impossible to not draw comparisons. And trouble comes when the old outshines the new.

A case in point: Gilmore Girls. My favorite television show for years, it captivated me with its sweetness and beautiful mother-daughter relationship. This season has left me—and many viewers—feeling empty. Now that The Family Channel has started airing Gilmore Girl’s beginning episodes, it’s easy to see why. With its ease of storylines, natural character development, and celebration of love and friendship, the older episodes are a joy to watch, a reminder of what I, and so many others, loved about the show.

But they make the current episodes look even worse. When viewed side by side, you can’t help but notice today’s trend toward caricature rather than character, overblown plot lines, and ridiculous attempts at over-the-top drama. It’s as though the show lost trust in its simple formula, and feels it has to go to extremes to keep its audience.

That plan has obviously backfired. Gilmore Girls is already contracted for another season. Will the show bounce back to what it once was? Maybe the writers should start viewing the repeats…soon.