Top 10 Rory Gilmore Moments That Make Us Yell at Our TVs

Though her plans ultimately change, Rory’s lifelong dream is initially to go to Harvard. Somehow, she didn’t get the message that it takes more than good grades to get in. Now, despite the fact that she’s studied up about everything Harvard-related, she apparently missed anything about the application process. When she is told that extracurricular activities actually matter, Rory has one of her characteristic meltdowns with some extra ableism sprinkled on top. Having prided herself on being different from other kids, like many teenagers do, this realization that she has to make an effort to stand out hits especially hard. She never really had to do that before.

In the sequel miniseries, “A Year in the Life,” Rory Gilmore has had a rough go of it, and is struggling career-wise. She finds a potential answer in an idea for a memoir about her and her mom, Lorelai. To say Lorelai is not receptive would be an understatement. In fact, she can barely keep her composure as she listens to Rory tell her how her own life story will make a great book. Rory, in turn, can’t even believe it when Lorelai actually tells her “no.” It would have been refreshing to see Rory Gilmore honestly reckon with not being as special as she thought. Unfortunately, in this instance, she’s just as stubborn and unable to take no for an answer as always.

Rory’s first boyfriend was arguably not right for her. Dean is generally a nice enough, good looking, and caring guy. But many would agree he and Rory don’t have the most compatible personalities or interests. That’s fine, except for the part where she doesn’t bother to tell him she likes someone else. Again, this is teenage stuff. Dean isn’t perfect either. After all, no one is all that emotionally intelligent as a teen. But Rory knows she’s crushing on Jess for a long time before she and Dean break up, to the point where she gets pretty shameless about it. Dean would not be the last boyfriend she took for granted, either. Remember Paul? That’s okay, neither does she.

Look, we get it — reigniting old flames can be tempting. But not when neither of you are actually single! Alas, the parade of bad decisions Rory makes in the Netflix sequel series continues with her affair with Logan Huntzberger. Logan’s now engaged and Rory’s with Paul, but that doesn’t stop either of them. They even have a cutesy name for their affair: Vegas. What happens there, stays there. It’s such a frustrating development for both characters that does nothing to advance their stories at all. The weirdest thing is that Rory seems oddly proud of herself, like she’s still a teenager getting kicks from being bad. We just know she can be better than this, and it hurts to watch.

Lorelai Gilmore got pregnant and left home at sixteen. She made sure to raise her daughter in a town that’s so cute and safe it’s almost comical. She encouraged her to pursue her dreams, and made some big personal sacrifices to make her attendance at an elite private school happen. So, you’d think that Rory would show up for Lorelai’s one day in the sun, her graduation from community college. Well, you’d be thinking wrong. Rory hangs out in New York with a boy – Jess – for the day instead. Due to circumstances she thinks are totally beyond her control, she misses her mother’s graduation. Traffic? On the way back from New York City? Who could have predicted that?

Rory Gilmore and Lane Kim definitely have a strong bond at the start of the series. But even before their paths start to diverge, Rory isn’t an amazing friend. While she’s off trying to figure out which boy she likes, Lane is fighting to be heard and understood in her family. Once Rory goes to Chilton and gets a boyfriend, Lane is left behind. Rory doesn’t seem to understand, but then again, accountability isn’t her strong suit. When she finally does show interest, it’s after she takes some kind of personal offense to Lane becoming a cheerleader. Throughout the series, Rory is often simply too busy for her supposed best friend, even when Lane really needs her.

If at first Rory didn’t succeed, she made it someone else’s problem. When her article doesn’t make the cut at the Yale Daily News in this episode, she decides she’ll give them a piece to remember. Her response is to review a ballet recital, calling attention to the lead ballerina’s weight. While Lorelai’s certainly no better in this regard, there’s a reason the expression is “say it, forget it; write it, regret it.” Rory’s review spares the dancer no insult. Soon, the ballerina tracks Rory down and rightfully gives her a piece of her mind. The moment just shows how completely unprepared Rory is to actually deal with the consequences of her own actions.

When her boss at the newspaper she’s interning for tells her he’s not convinced of her talent, Rory reacts by going completely off the deep end. She convinces her boyfriend, Logan – who’s also the son of the aforementioned boss – to steal a boat with her. Logan doesn’t need much convincing, but Rory is the architect of the plan. Once again, she’s faced with the shock of being held accountable – especially a little later on in the series when the judge sentences her to community service. So much of Rory and Lorelai’s relationship is about Lorelai trying to keep her daughter from becoming the spoiled and privileged prima donna she didn’t want to be. The great irony is that, unfortunately, she kind of becomes that anyway.

Maybe it’s only child syndrome, but Rory never really learns how to share. After she leaves for college, Dean marries a woman, Lindsay, whom Rory doesn’t necessarily like. His life changes, but he and Rory aren’t able to leave each other in the past. Pretty much as soon as the opportunity presents itself, the former couple jumps into bed together, only to be discovered by Lorelai. As Rory spins out trying to justify herself, Lorelai can’t believe what she’s hearing – and honestly, neither can we. Even if the signs have been there the whole time, this is among the biggest, most frustrating checkpoints on Rory’s way to becoming completely unmoored from any sense of accountability.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

When She Says No to Chilton, “Pilot”
Rory Changes Her Mind About Attending an Elite School Because of a Guy

When She Bribes Someone, “An Affair to Remember”
Rory Decides Her Public Study Spot Under a Tree Belongs to Only Her

When She Bombs an Interview, “Spring”
A Potential Employer Rudely Expects Rory to Come to a Job Interview Prepared!

*note for VO: obviously, this is meant to be sarcastic

When She Gets with the Wookiee, “Spring”
She Goes to Get a Story, She Finds a One Night Stand Instead

When She Writes About Logan’s Party, “Introducing Lorelai Planetarium”
Once Again, Rory’s Writing Comes Back to Bite Her

Her confidence shaken by one, admittedly important, piece of feedback from her boss, Rory follows up her decision to steal a boat with dropping out of school. And she’s ready to throw a tantrum when challenged on the move. The most frustrating thing about it is her complete inability to understand her mother’s point of view. To suddenly throw her mom’s lack of college experience in her face seems cruel, even for a young woman struggling to figure herself out. It’s even harder to stomach when you remember all Lorelai has sacrificed leading up to all of this. “Gilmore Girls”’ premise revolves around Lorelai making sure Rory could pursue the Ivy League education she so desperately wanted, and for what?!