The countdown is on for the debut of Netflix's "Gilmore Girls" revival series, "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life," with less than three months separating fans from the new adventures of our favorite mother-daughter duo. But while there's plenty of excitement about these new episodes, there's also a tinge of sadness, too, since one key member of the original "Gilmore" crew will not be there: actor Edward Herrmann, a.k.a. Grandpa Richard Gilmore, who passed away in 2014.



"Gilmore" creator Amy Sherman-Palladino already revealed that Herrmann's death would be written into the show, with the loss of Richard weighing heavily on each of the Gilmore women and inspiring some serious introspection on the part of Emily (Kelly Bishop), Lorelai (Lauren Graham), and Rory (Alexis Bledel). Even the seasons theme of "A Year in the Life," with its opening on the bleakness of winter, represents the seismic shift in the show's dynamic. Now, Graham and Bledel are discussing just how much that real life-inspired storyline has impacted the new series.



In an interview with People, the onscreen mother and daughter revealed what it was like to step back onto the Stars Hollow set. They were excited to work with Bishop again ("She puts our characters on edge," Bledel explained), but deeply felt Herrmann's absence.



"He would have loved this ," Graham told People. "His death was just a loss for us personally. It's given the show a new complexity and depth. It's a nice tribute to him."



We can only imagine. We'll keep a box of tissues handy while we're binge-watching.



"Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life" hits Netflix on November 25.