A Fangirl’s Favorite Episodes of Gilmore Girls: A Ranking
Coffee, fast pace talking, pop culture references, oh my! Like a majority of the population, I am completely obsessed with the modern television classic, Gilmore Girls. I’ve grown up with this show, and it is my ultimate comfort watch. After countless rewatches, I started to ask myself, “Which episodes are the best?” While a very divided topic amongst the fandom, and I’m sure some of my picks will confuse some, these are my personal favorites! So grab yourself a muffin and your Luke’s mug, let’s jump right in!
Honorable Mentions: “The Festival of Living Art” (Season 4, Episode 7), “You Jump, I Jump, Jack” (Season 5, Episode 7), “Rory’s Dance” (Season 1, Episode, 9), “Wedding Bell Blue’s” (Season 5, Episode 13), “Presenting Lorelai Gilmore” (Season 2, Episode 6). “Nick & Nora/Sid & Nancy” (Season 2, Episode 5)
10. “Pilot” (Season 1, Episode 1)
The one that started it all! The first episode of Gilmore Girls does a great job of setting up what’s to come over the next seven seasons. We’re introduced to Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, mother and daughter living in the small (fictional) town of Stars Hollow. When Rory is accepted to an elite prep school, Lorelai must revisit her past in order to get the fundings. It’s the beginning of everything! The girls strong relationship, the Friday night dinner’s, various cups of coffee throughout the day, it all began here! A good start to a great show!
9. “Dear Emily and Richard (Season 3, Episode 13)
When Sherry goes into labor and asks Rory to be with her, Lorelai has memories of when Rory was born. Flashbacks show us Lorelai at 16 discovering she’s pregnant, deciding not to marry Christopher, and ultimately deciding to leave home. For me the strongest thing about this episode is the flashbacks. I would have loved a spinoff about young Lorelai! Seeing her relationship with Christopher as well as her relationship with her parents added so much more depth to her character. But the scene that always gets me is Emily finding the note that Lorelai left. The heartbreak on her face says it all. Chills every time.
8. “The Bracebridge Dinner” (Season 2, Episode 10)
Lorelai invites some of their friends from Stars Hollow to an Elizabethan feast at the inn, complete with costumes and horse-drawn sleigh rides! Meanwhile, Rory is dealing with a budding rivalry between Dean and Jess, and Richard reveals that he has retired. My goodness I wish I could have attended this dinner! Seeing Jackson in costume makes me laugh every time! The best I can explain is that this episode is just a lot of fun! Oh, and the Bjork snowman is great!
7. “Kiss and Tell” (Season 1, Episode 7)
Dean kisses Rory in Doose’s Market. She says thank you and runs off with cornstarch. Lorelai invites Dean over to watch a movie after finding out. This episode is a classic! From Rory’s iconic line, “I got kissed, and I shoplifted” to the movie night with Dean, this has lots of laughs and awkward moments. The only thing I don’t like is the conversation between Lorelai and Dean. Boy, did I want to smack Dean when he said, “Can I talk now?” Signs of things to come? Maybe but their first kiss is pretty cute and iconic.
6. A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving (Season 3, Episode 9)
Ever try to squeeze in four dinners on Thanksgiving? Well, the Gilmore Girls do it and it’s very entertaining. The wide array of dinners makes for an interesting day. Add to that the discovery that Rory has applied to multiple schools and Lane’s first kiss with Dave and you’ve got a great episode! As someone who has gone to three different places on Christmas, I can totally relate to the struggle of having to eat multiple big meals. This is also one of the most aesthetically pleasing autumn episodes. I just love the chaos of it all!
5. Those Are Strings, Pinocchio (Season 3, Episode 22)
Now for an episode that truly breaks my heart. As Rory graduates from Chilton, the girls prepare for a summer trip to Europe, opening a new inn, and the future at Yale. If you don’t cry during Rory’s valedictorian speech, are you even human? It’s in this moment that Rory seems to be maturing. She thanks her family for all of her success and she officially ends things with Jess. She’s excited for her future and knows she’ll get there with her mom by her side. An emotional episode that makes me cry every single rewatch.
4. Raincoats and Recipes (Season 4, Episode 22)
The fan favorite episode! Before anyone argues with me for not putting this in the top spot, just know that I do adore this episode. As the team prepares for the soft opening of the Dragonfly Inn, the growing romance between Lorelai and Luke finally comes to a thrilling moment! Meanwhile, the tension between Rory and Dean grows even stronger…sadly. While I understand it’s a big moment for Rory, I will never like the fact that she sleeps with Dean while he’s still married. Her excuse to Lorelai is really immature and I will never let it slide. However, the relationship between Lorelai and Luke saves the episode! Their first kiss is perfect and everything I could have hoped for. Kirk interrupting it is extra funny! Plus all of the mishaps that happen at the inn just add to the tension of the situation.
3. I Can’t Get Started (Season 2, Episode 22)
It’s Sookie and Jackson’s wedding and there’s no shortage of drama! Paris runs for student body president and picks Rory as her VP. Lorelai and Christopher start to rekindle their relationship but some shocking news changes things. While everything so far makes this a fun and dramatic episode, nothing will compare to the biggest moment of the episode…THE KISS. Rory suddenly kisses Jess upon his return to town and it changes everything! The spontaneity of the kiss makes me squeal! (Is it obvious that I’m Team Jess?)
2. Lorelai’s Graduation Day (Season 2, Episode 21)
Another tearjerker. As Lorelai finally graduates college, Rory skips school to visit Jess in New York City. While I love the Rory and Jess moments in the episode, the real highlight is Richard and Emily attending the ceremony. Despite Emily’s overbearing efforts, the look on her face watching her daughter receive her college diploma just warms my heart. Even though they don’t always see eye to eye, in this moment they are both proud of their daughter and she is happy to finally graduate.
- They Shoot Gilmore’s, Don’t They? (Season 3, Episode 7)
Here it is, my all time favorite episode. It’s the annual Stars Hollow Dance-a-thon and tensions are running high! Lorelai is determined to win against Kirk, Sookie and Jackson are having an argument, Lane shares a small moment with Dave, and Jess is getting on Dean’s last nerve. There is so much I love about this episode. For one, the dance-a-thon is my favorite town event! The small moments between Luke and Lorelai are great (he fixes her shoe!), and while Rory’s heartbreak after being dumped is sad, the start of her relationship with Jess finally begins! I could go on about this episode but I’ll save you the five page essay on this one episode.
What’s your favorite episode of Gilmore Girls? I’d love to hear! Thanks for reading! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going begin my 1,000 rewatch of my comfort show!
