Coffee, Coffee, Coffee
For millions in the United States alone, Gilmore Girls is a must-watch during the fall season. The witty banter and easy-to-follow plot makes it enjoyable for viewers without needing them to be overly engaged. Premiering in the year 2000, Gilmore Girls follows the lives of Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter Lorelai (or Rory) Gilmore. Lorelai, having gotten pregnant at the age of 16, chose to leave her wealthy parents with a baby of her own. Dropping out of high school, she climbed her way to a managerial role at a local inn before eventually opening her own. Seeming to be the opposite of her mother, Rory gets accepted into Chilton Preparatory School for children intending to go to Ivies. Together, the two live in a close knit community called Stars Hollow. Thus, the familial and homely feel of this show attracts many viewers with the comfort and festivity of Stars Hollow.Â
Oy with the Poodles Already!
While the nostalgia of Gilmore Girls attracts many, that’s not to say it’s without its share of drama. While part of the show touches on familial conflict between Lorelai and her parents, much of the chaos arises from romantic relationships. While not as present with Lorelai, Rory’s different boyfriends throughout the show express her growing and changing nature and are still a cause of debate for fans to this day. Each drastically different from each other, her main relationships involve Dean, Jess, and Logan. As each knew Rory during a different chapter of her life, the question of “Which boyfriend was best for Rory?” becomes exceedingly difficult. So let’s start at the beginning with Rory’s first ever relationship: Dean.
In this review, we’re strictly considering Gilmore Girls rather than the spin-off Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Rory and Dean’s relationship began in their sophomore year of high school, just before Rory’s transfer to Chilton. The pair, though opposite, quickly began dating and seemed to compliment one another nicely. However as time went on, it became clear that the two had very different plans for the future. Eventually, the two break up for good in their senior year of high school. Yet that’s not all to be said about Rory and Dean’s relationship. Fast forward about a year and a half, Rory and Dean get back together… While Dean’s a married man. All in all, this plot twist left viewers completely shocked and caused many to resent the two for their careless actions.
Rory isn’t all bored without Dean, though. Jess moves to Stars Hollow in the pair’s junior year as a mischievous teenager sent to live with his uncle. Upon arriving, he meets Rory and the two instantly click. Having a lot in common, they slowly begin to fall for each other, understanding each other in a way they can’t seem to find in anyone else. Their feelings for one another become so apparent that it becomes the catalyst that ends Dean and Rory’s relationship. The pair goes strong for many months, with Jess supporting Rory’s ambitions and Rory providing a positive influence on Jess. When Jess leaves town without a word, though, their relationship is forcefully brought to an end.
While the pair never get back together, when Rory infamously drops out of Yale, Jess is the one to guide her and is ultimately credited for getting Rory back to school and en route to her dream. In a town where Rory is constantly praised, Jess is never afraid to tell her like it is. That being said, many fans disapprove of the way Jess left Rory so suddenly, missing her graduation and valedictorian speech. However, this is forgiven as we see Jess mature throughout the show, writing his own book and thanking Rory for helping him turn his troublesome life around.
Ultimately, Logan is Rory’s boyfriend throughout her Yale years. A wealthy, playboy, party animal, Logan and Rory originally seem like utter opposites. In fact, Logan is the exact type of person that Lorelai tried to separate herself from all those years ago. Perhaps that’s what attracted Rory to him. The two balance each other out, though their differences are occasionally the cause for arguments. While the two are very supportive of each other, throughout the show it seems that Rory makes her worst choices when around him. For instance, when Rory’s upset over her journalism prospects, she convinces Logan to steal a yacht with her—and he does. While it’s clear Logan loves Rory, many fans debate whether love was enough in this case. It seems the pair were each on drastically different tracks as the final season ended with Rory rejecting his marriage proposal.Â
So, What’s the Verdict?
After it all, Rory ends the original show single—and maybe that’s for the best. Throughout the show, Rory’s boyfriends seemed to define her character and who she was. Over 20 years later, the question of who was the “best” boyfriend is still heavily debated. For fans, it seems that when Rory makes a mistake, it’s not a character flaw, but a product of whomever she’s dating at the time. It’s vice versa when she succeeds. For many, who they favor has to do with their own personal preferences and not who they believe is best for Rory. Henceforth, I argue that none of her boyfriends are best for her. Arguably, Rory needs time on her own to succeed and fail independently without tying her identity to another. In short, it was never a question—Rory is best for Rory.Â