14 years ago on October 5, 2000, the world was graced with the fast-paced, caffeine addicted Rory and Lorelai Gilmore. It felt like just yesterday that the town of Stars Hallow banded together at the town square to send Rory off to D.C. as she went off to cover the Obama campaign of 2008. With 7 seasons and 154 episodes, we’ve seen break-ups and make-ups, fights and first kisses and lots of coffee, to celebrate the 14th anniversary, here are the top 14 best Gilmore Girls’ episodes… in no particular order.
Warning… spoilers ahead!
The Lorelai’s First Day at Yale (Season 4, Episode 2)
Rory’s first night at Yale makes you reminiscent of your own first night at college. After moving in and getting her room set up, Rory becomes scared of spending her first night really away from Lorelai. Like the best TV mom, Lorelai comes to the rescue and sleeps on Rory’s floor while having a pizza and movie party with the rest of the girls on her floor.
They Shoot Gilmore’s, Don’t They? (Season 3, Episode 7)
Although the episode ends in heartbreak, this episode shows off the flair of Stars Hollow during their annual 24-hour dance marathon. Dressing up in 1940’s attire and basically consuming coffee every hour, the Gilmore’s compete against Kirk, who’s won the past four years, to win the coveted trophy.
A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving (Season 3, Episode 9)
Lorelai and Rory take on the ultimate task of attending four Thanksgiving dinners in one night. From sitting in on the Kim family dinner, to helping Sookie put up with Jackson’s deep-frying urges and going to Luke’s for the annual dinner, the Gilmore’s end their night at Richard and Emily’s. The place they least want to be. Thankfully, with their rationing at each night, they still have time to go back and eat the rolls.
Those are Strings, Pinocchio (Season 3, Episode 22)
It’s Rory’s graduation day! Not only is it exciting to see her final day at Chilton, but her heartwarming valedictorian speech to her mom never fails to make viewer’s eyes well up.
Bon Voyage (Season 7, Episode 22)
Although it left viewers off with a cliffhanger and lots of questions, this farewell to the Gilmore’s and Stars Hallow is bittersweet. It’s nice to see Rory succeed in her career, but what viewers really want to know is… Do Luke and Lorelai ever get together?!
The Road Trip to Harvard (Season 2, Episode 4)
After calling off her engagement to Max, Lorelai decides to go on an impromptu road trip to Boston with Rory. They spend the night in a ridiculously weird bed and breakfast, but most importantly, they tour Rory’s (hopefully) future school, Harvard. This episode brings back all the feels to when you were touring schools and that excitement you got when entering the college dorm or buying out all the spirit wear in the bookstore.
Written in the Stars (Season 5, Episode 3)
This is a crucial episode because it’s the first time viewers get to meet the infamous Logan Huntzberger, the boy you hate to love. Viewers also get their wishes as Lorelai and Luke finally go on their first date. Although everyone in the real world loves the relationship, the people of Stars Hollow have nothing good to say about it.
You Jump, I Jump, Jack (Season 5, Episode 7)
This is about the time where viewers fall in love with Logan Huntzberger. While writing an expose on Yale’s secret society, The Life and Death Brigade, Rory attends a get-together with the members, including Logan, in a secluded part of the woods. After a weird night of dressing up in period costumes and speaking without using the letter e, the “brigade” pulls their big event which includes dressing up to the nines and jumping off a tall stack of scaffolding holding an umbrella. As romantic as it sounds, NOT, we get to see Logan and Rory connect after a stellar Titanic reference.
Raincoats and Recipes (Season 4, Episode 22)
This episode made all Luke and Lorelai fans rejoice! During the test run of Lorelai and Sookie’s inn, the Dragonfly, friends and family come out to Stars Hollow to stay the night. There are awkward moments between Richard and Emily who are on a trial separation, and hilarious moments like when Kirk had night terrors and ran out of the Inn butt naked, but the best moment of all was the moment that everyone has been waiting for since season one… Luke and Lorelai finally have their first kiss!
Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out (Season 6, Episode 8)
After a long period without him, resident bad boy Jess surprisingly shows up at Richard’s and Emily’s to find Rory to give her some exciting news. When he finds out that Rory dropped out of Yale and has basically thrown away her future for a career at the DAR, he flips out. With his return, Jess shows viewers that although he may have been a sucky boy before, he now is definitely better boyfriend material than Logan.
That Damn Donna Reed (Season 1, Episode 14)
Just like normal couples do, Rory and Dean are watching old episodes of The Donna Reed Show with Lorelai. Like always, the girls talk over the show and make fun of the way Donna Reed acts. Of course, Dean has to intervene and voice his approval for ‘50s housewives, which ultimately leads to him fighting with Rory. To prove her point, Rory decides to dress up in ‘50s attire and give her own flashback to the times and be a housewife to Dean for the night.
Pilot (Season 1, Episode 1)
Who could forget about where it all started? This episode is awesome for many reasons. Not only did it start the cultural phenomenon that is still in existence today, but it introduces the viewers to the wonderful town of Stars Hollow. Introducing each character and showing off their quirks, except for Kirk who oddly goes by Mick for the first few episodes, we meet the characters and town we all aspire to live in.
A-Tisket, A-Tasket (Season 2, Episode 13)
It’s another Stars Hollow tradition: the annual charity picnic basket auction. We see boys completing for both Rory and Lorelai and we also see Jackson not competing for Sookie’s basket! (gasp!) But in the end, this episode is a favorite because eventually Sookie and Jackson have their happily ever after and ultimately end up engaged.
I’d Rather Be in Philadelphia (Season 7, Episode 13)
Although sad because Richard has his second heart attack of the series (the first was in season one), this episode shows great character and relationship development with Logan coming to the rescue for Rory and Luke, not Christopher who is actually with Lorelai, comes in to comfort the Gilmore’s in this family matter.
As the Gilmores would say, “Life’s short, talk fast,” but pull up Nextfix and watch this cult classic even faster.