After all this time, the ever-iconic Gilmore Girls is still front and center in pop culture and is THE show to binge every fall. There's still a lot of debate surrounding who is the *best* of Rory Gilmore’s BFs (it’s Logan, BTW), but few people are discussing how truly insufferable the main character is.
The pride and joy of Stars Hollow fades as Rory transitions into college and becomes selfish, dull, and someone who I think isn’t a great writer…like at all. And I'm not the only one who thinks so — The Tabreported that Rory's unequivocally the worst character. So without further ado, let me present Gilmore Girls 101, with lesson plans in all things Rory Gilmore and her many, many faults based on overwhelming evidence from The Taband my own revelations.
She misses her mother’s graduation to hang out with Jess.
Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix
Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore, Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
All Rory had to do was attend this one event for Lorelai — the single mom who raised her and aside her pride to get her the best education — and she failed to show up when it mattered most. Did she really need to see Jess in New York that day? I don’t think so.
She's not a very good friend to Lane.
Rory treats Lane as dispensable, like a side character in her life who's sole job is to support her through each up and down of life. Even when Lane mentions that she doesn't like feeling second to Rory's latest BF, not much changes — even well into the reboot.
She doesn't seem to respect other people's relationships, including those who are literal married.
Obviously, it takes two to tango — but that doesn’t excuse Rory's role in sleeping with Dean, a married man. Said affair is certainly the start to her downward spiral, one that unfortunately takes many others down the hole with her. It's bad enough that she's complicit in the affair with her high school ex, Dean, but it's her attitude after that that really solidifies her skewed moral compass.
Post-sex, Rory claims Dean was “hers," despite the fact that he is quite literally...not.Thought that was enough adultery? Not for Rory — she sleeps with the soon-to-be-married Logan!
Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix
Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore, Matt Czuchry as Logan Huntzberger in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
Rory clearly has a thing for taken men — especially ones she used to be in a relationship with. Forgetting your current BF is bad enough, but cheating on him with the man whose proposal you turned down is a new low. We'll never forget you, Paul!
She literally stole a yacht just because someone said something she didn't like.
OK — it makes sense to be angry if someone (especially your boyfriend's dad) tells you that you're not cut out for your life's goal in a professional setting. But dang! You don't have to steal a yacht! Come on, Rory.
She straight up fat-shamed a dancer in a newspaper article.
Do we even need to say more? Do better, dude.
Her white privilege reaaaaaally jumped out in the later seasons.
Yale got a little hard, and boom! She moved into the pool house at her grandparents' house and joins the DAR. And when Paris shows up after finding out all her parents' money is gone, Rory just sheds a tear for her own misfortune. First Lane, now Paris? This girl really needs to learn how to be a friend.
Her professionalism and overall perspective on work is..............questionable.
Remember that white privilege we mentioned? Instead of accepting a job that would pay for her needs and support her, Rory decides she'd rather take a chance on a fellowship at the New York Times. Rory does not receive the fellowship, and returns to the original offer to see if the old job is available. It's not.
Her career-based self-entitlement in the reboot.
It’s shocking that this woman has had a decade-long career in journalism, and still doesn’t know how it works. Not only does Rory compromise her integrity by sleeping with a source, but she (somehow) believes she’s entitled to a job after writing one article, arrives at a job interview completely unprepared, freaks out when she doesn’t get the job she wants, and for some reason thinks Condé Nast should seek her out for a job? It's delusion at it's finest.
OK — time for the key takeaways. 1) Rory’s questionable internal ethical code of conduct needs some editing and 2) We'll still be watching Gilmore Girls this fall. No matter how insufferable she may be, Rory's life in Stars Hollow still makes for pleasant, wholesome TV — and we need some of that in our lives.
At the end of the day, despite her flaws, Rory does care deeply for her Stars Hollow community. She’s always willing to lend a helping hand when needed, or listen to the many fantastical ideas of Kirk and tirades of Luke. And for that, she’s still loved by many.
Do you have any hot takes on Rory Gilmore? Let us know in the comments and stay updated on all things pop culture with Brit + Co.
Lead image courtesy of Saeed Adyani/Netflix.
