Ever since one of the greatest dramedies on television hit Netflix earlier this month, Gilmore Girls has been one of the internet’s favorite topics of conversation. You can find quizzes. You can find lists. You can stumble upon endless fights over the best of Rory’s boyfriends. (Some of which have happened right here.)
We already did a Gilmore Girls series—affectionately known as Gilmore Guys—here on the blog earlier this summer, which featured guest posts from some of my Gilmore loving friends. As soon as that series ended, I started getting comments, emails and Facebook messages on how I should extend that series.
Thus, this two-part (incredibly subjective) mini-series about the best episode from each season of Gilmore Girls.
Note: If, thanks to Netflix, you are currently binging your way through Gilmore Girls for the first time, a) congratulations on an AWESOME life choice and b) this may get a bit spoiler-y. You’ve been warned. Here we go!
The Best Episode from Season 1: Rory’s Birthday Parties (Ep 6)
Why it’s the best: What I love about this episode is it cements, once and for all, the real crux of Gilmore Girls—Lorelai’s relationship with her parents, especially her mother, as contrasted with her relationship with her daughter. We get to see Emily’s sudden realization that she’s missed out on her daughter’s life. We get to see Rory struggle in between her mother’s world and her grandparents’ world. And, let’s not forget, we get this moment:
Honorable Mentions
Double Date (Ep 12): One word: Roon. Also, adorable and incredibly uncomfortable Sookie and Jackson on their first date. Also, Luke on the brink of, oh, you know, maybe actually asking out Lorelai. Except, never mind…
Love, Daisies and Troubadours (Ep 21): One thousand yellow daisies, people, one thousand yellow daisies. Also the troubadour drama is fun. And as much as I love Luke, by this point in the series, Max has really grown on me.
The Best Episode from Season 2: Lorelai’s Graduation Day (Ep 21)
Why it’s the best: I surprised myself with this pick. Because if you asked me to name one of my all-time favorite GG episodes, I’d probably say A-Tisket, A-Tasket from Season 2. And yet when it came time to pick my favorite S2 episode, I couldn’t veer from Lorelai’s Graduation Day. For one thing, I LOVE that Rory stepped outside her normal “do everything just so” lifestyle to skip school and travel to New York to see Jess. Moreover, I LOVE Jess. (Obvs to anyone who has talked to me about GG for more than two seconds.) I enjoy seeing Lorelai’s parents be proud of her for once.
But more than anything, what I adore about this episode is the scene with Rory and Lorelai at the end, where Rory is frantically apologizing for missing Lorelai’s graduation. I love that mother-daughter moment so much…there’s a ton that happens in that scene solely through an exchange of fabulously written dialogue.
And, just because it bears repeating, this time with visual aid: Jess and Rory.
Honorable Mentions:
A-Tisket, A-Tasket (Ep 13): This is one of my favorite GG episodes in general because it’s just adorable. Lorelai begging Luke to buy her basket and Luke begrudgingly complying. Sookie and Jackson and one of the cutest proposals ever. Lane breaking down and Mrs. Kim saying, “You’re sure he’s Korean?” And best of all, of course, Jess outbidding Dean—who, by this point, has become insufferable.
Teach Me Tonight (Ep 19): You might think I love this episode because, again, I love Jess. Have I made that obvious? And it’s true, I enjoy Jess in this episode and especially how he encourages Rory’s reporting dream. But what I really love about this episode is seeing Luke and Lorelai fight. It’s punchy. It’s believable. It works well to keep them apart awhile longer and carry on the necessary tension. Plus, seeing how strongly Luke feels about his nephew is pretty great. And of course, there’s also this.
(I promised myself I’d only include two honorable mentions for each season, but I have to squeeze in that the finale for this season has what might possibly be Rory’s best moment in the entire series. I could describe it, but let’s just relive it, okay?)
The Best Episode from Season 3: They Shoot Gilmores, Don’t They? (Ep 7)
Why it’s the best: This is just hands-down one of the greatest episodes in all of Gilmore Girls because we get to see Stars Hollow at its wacky best. A 24-hour dance marathon is the perfect showcase for the eccentric ensemble of townspeople. Kirk shines, as always, as do Taylor, Miss Patty, Babette and Morey, and Mrs. Kim. Let’s not forget Dave Rygalski who we’ve all come to love by this point. Yes, I looove the Rory/Jess and Luke/Lorelai moments in this episode—SO MUCH—but it’s really the set, the cast and the quirkiness of Stars Hollow that make this episode brilliant.
A) I so enjoy the line where Luke says, “Do I look like a cobbler to you?” And B) I REALLY want Lorelai’s dress from this episode.
Honorable Mentions
Haunted Leg (Ep 2): One of my favorite Emily Gilmore moments of the whole series is when she finally stands up for Lorelai and tells Christopher (who, I’m sorry, is just SO whiney–I know, people love him) to leave the house. Perfect moment. Plus, Kirk asking out Lorelai is just perfect comedy.
Swan Song (Ep 14): I had a really hard time deciding between this episode and A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving, which is awesome and hilarious and so many other things. But Swan Song won for the moment because, um, the whole premise never gets old: Jess getting beaked by a swan. But what really does it for me in this episode is how it sets up the rest of the Rory/Jess storyline. That’s one thing early seasons of GG do sooooo much more skillfully than the latter seasons—actually set up major plot points and character decisions rather than allowing the somewhat spastic developments that take place later in the series (yep, much as I love the show, I can admit it had its flaws).
Comments 19
It’s been a year or two since I last watched the whole series through, so I probably can’t choose a favorite episode from each season. But I would count A-Tisket, A-Tasket and They Shoot Gilmores, Don’t They? among my favorite episodes of Gilmore Girls. =)
Author
Those are two of my favorites, for sure. I never get tired of those episodes. 🙂
I loved your choices! But there are so many great ones, I’m having a hard time choosing a favorite. Plus, I’m going through for the 2nd time so we’ll see. I do love the episode where Luke shoves Jess in the lake then freaks out b/c he shoved him in. That’s priceless.(Not b/c it’s Jess, just b/c it’s hilarious!)
I love that ep too, Jesse! But what sticks out to me is Luke’s “jam hands” speech. So funny!
Author
YES the jam hands speech!!
Author
Luke shoving Jess in the lake is one of my absolute favorite moments…it’s perfect…
So many to choose from in the early years! I love Cinnamon’s Wake (S1) for the mere fact that no one in town thinks its crazy to have a wake for a cat, Emily in Wonderland (S1) which gives more insight into Emily/Lorelai/Rory relationship, plus Emily calling the boy band “The Backside Boys”, The Bracebridge Dinner (S2) because the entire town in one spot is just gold, Dear Emily and Richard (S3) so angsty, so sweet and A Tale of Poes and Fires (S3) because shirts that say “babette ate oatmeal” (which you can find online btw).
Author
Cinnamon’s Wake almost made my honorable mentions for season 1. I love that one…I love Max when he’s convincing Lorelai to go on a date…he out wordsmiths her. 🙂
And yes the Bracebridge Dinner was another one I so wanted to include in S2. Love it…it once again puts Stars Hollow’s wackiness on perfect display.
Oh goodness, this is too difficult. I’ve always loved the dance marathon episode. At that point, I was SO sick of Dean. Never was a fan of his.
The early episodes are the best. The later seasons….*sigh*. Sometimes I like to pretend they don’t exist
Ha!
Signed,
A Loyal Jess Fan
Author
From one loyal Jess fan to another, YAY! And I so hear you on being sick of Dean. I thought he was okay in the beginning but he gradually got more and more blah and whiney and jealous and [insert other unattractive qualities]/
Early episodes are definitely the best, I agree.
LOVE me some Gilmore Girls. I adored this show when it was on. I rewatched several episodes at the first of October and was struck by how old I was. Because suddenly Luke was hotter than any of Rory’s guys.
Some of my fave eps are:
Season 1 – Kiss and Tell – I like it because it shows how Rory and Lorelei are able to grow their relationship with effort. It isn’t automatically perfect, but because they laid good groundwork they were able to work through this big change. Plus the whole shoplifting thing and the deal with the lemons. Cracks me up.
Season 2 – Like Mother, Like Daughter – I thought this whole episode was hilarious. Such a contrast of the two sides of their lives smashing together. (the second half of the season wasn’t my fave b/c I have never been a big Jess fan. Sorry. Don’t throw anything at me!)
Season 3 – The whole season was just general Gilmore Goodness to me. I didn’t have a stand out episode.
What fun! Can’t wait for next Monday.
Author
Haha, I hear you on the age thing. I mean I think I’ve always thought Luke was the most attractive, but lately I’ve really loved Max who used to feel SO old to me. And now I’m like, dude, I’d date him. 🙂
I like your picks, too, and I won’t throw anything at you for not liking Jess. He certainly had faults…lots of them. I can’t help it, though, I just love the guy. I think he’s funny and smart and wounded and fabulously written. I like that the writers let him sort of fall apart…it felt right for his character…but then later on, we get little peeks at his eventual success and that’s just fun.
Newbie alert here! This means I’m only on season two, but the lunch box auction episode is hilarious – begging Luke!? That was priceless and I also loved the episode of Luke hunting for a new apartment – “…let me know when you’re done; we’ll hold hands and skip.” 😉
The daisy episode… aww. So cute – and while I know Luke is ultimately the soul mate, Max was a great guy. Oh, and the birthday party episode – SO GOOD! (The dialogue between Rory and her mom about Emily’s party is priceless and those moments when Emily realizes all she missed are some of the most poignant.) Fun post, as usual, Melissa.
Author
I love that you’ve made it to season two! The bid on a basket episode is awesome, isn’t it? (sidenote: I may have borrowed the basket auction thing for my next book. 🙂 ) And YES I love the apartment hunting episode too…especially, like you said, the end. Definitely one of THE best Luke/Jess moments.
Max IS a great guy. Every time I’ve gone back to watch the early seasons, I like him more and more. He’s definitely the most mature of all the men on the show, that’s for sure.
Ok. Every time I see a post on your blog about GG I think to myself, I need to watch this show. Every. single. time. So why haven’t I yet? Sigh. I have no clue!
Author
Yes you NEED to watch it. It’ll change your life.
Okay, that was *slight* overstatement. But it IS witty and fun and I DO highly recommend it…obviously…sine I write about it all the time. 🙂
I LOVE Gilmore Girls! I watched the whole series last year and now I got my mom and even my brother to watch with me! I love the double date episode! It’s probably one of my favorites! I think you totally nailed part 1! 🙂
Author
Yes, I love that your brother is watching! I know a fair number of guys who love the show…some who will admit to it, some who won’t. 🙂 Yes, I never get tired of watching the double date episode…Roon is particularly hilarious in it. Soooo funny. And I love Sookie and Jackson–by far the most stable couple on the show!
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