The beloved television series Gilmore Girls has undoubtedly captured the hearts of viewers, but even its most loyal fans can identify a variety of story arcs that failed to deliver meaningful resolutions. Throughout its run, the ensemble cast showcased impressive acting abilities, yet numerous plots left intriguing characters unexplored or merely glanced over. A prime example is Lorelai’s romantic involvement with Jason “Digger”Stiles, which prompted viewers to debate whether her spirited personality was better matched with someone like Digger or the more reserved Luke. However, Digger’s abrupt departure left fans wondering how this relationship might have reshaped Lorelai’s perspective on love and life.
Unfortunately, the 2016 Netflix revival, titled A Year in the Life, offered scant appearances from key characters like Dean and Sookie, partially due to the actors’ commitments but also suggesting a lack of consideration for their narrative development since the series concluded. Frequently, Gilmore Girls prioritized far-fetched storylines over the development of cherished characters and captivating arcs, leading to the emergence of ten plotlines that could have easily been omitted from the series altogether.
10
Lorelai’s Relationship With Alex
Billy Burke’s Short-Lived Love Interest Seemingly Vanished Between Episodes
Lorelai’s brief romance with Alex, played by Billy Burke, debuted in season 3, specifically in episode 11 titled “I Solemnly Swear.” Unfortunately, this relationship fizzled out quickly, concluding just three episodes later in “Swan Song.” The plot struggles to justify why they separated, as the pair shared many commonalities, including being single parents running small businesses. Their connection deepened with a charming fishing date, followed by a spa trip, but this romantic gesture ultimately felt wasted as Alex disappeared without explanation shortly after.
9
Logan’s Near-Fatal Accident
Logan’s Life-Altering Injuries Barely Lasted A Week
Critics often hold the revival responsible for damaging Logan’s character, but the issues emerged much earlier. In season 6, episode 20, titled “Super Cool Party People,” Logan suffers life-changing injuries during a reckless Life and Death Brigade stunt. While this could have been a transformative moment for his character, his physical woes dissipate almost immediately, impacting neither his outlook nor his story arc. This turn of events adds little depth and simplifies the season’s drama into mere spectacle.
8
Rory And Dean Dating In College
Rory And Dean’s Reunion Never Really Added Up
Though Rory and Dean’s affection has its admirers, their reunion during college felt forced and unnecessary. Their teenage romance initially showcased youthful charm and tension, especially with Jess’s arrival causing their split. However, Rory sleeping with the married Dean, leading to their rekindled romance, introduced a conflict that stemmed from a relationship already fraught with issues. Dean’s transformation from an innocent teenager into an increasingly abusive adult is troubling, raising severe red flags for modern audiences.
Their romance extended too long, with Dean displaying toxic behavior—lying to Lindsay and belittling her for answering his phone—in the season 5 opener, “Say Goodbye to Daisy Miller.” This toxicity undermined any audience support for their relationship and prolonged a narrative arc that had already diminished in quality.
7
Francie’s Entire Subplot
This Chapter Of Chilton Drama Felt Forced And Unnecessary
Initially, Paris’s character evolved from antagonist to companion for Rory, necessitating a new school villain. That role fell to the forgettable Francie Jarvis, cast with Emily Bergl. Despite her portrayals of snobbishness and brief appearances in A Year in the Life, the Francie subplot emerged as vacuous and lacking. The inconsequential hiccups regarding Chilton’s telescope purchases or dances reflect an uninspiring attempt at drama that missed the mark for viewers seeking substance.
6
Luke Hiding April Nardini From Lorelai
Luke’s Season 6 Screw-up Didn’t Fit With His Character
The narrative surrounding April Nardini remains polarizing among fans, primarily due to Luke’s prolonged exclusion of her from Lorelai’s life. April’s character displays parallels with Rory’s precocious nature, yet Luke’s decision to hide her feels forced and inconsistent with his persona as a straightforward character. As a self-proclaimed everyman, Luke struggles with even mild secrets, making his prolonged deception seem implausible.
This storyline becomes particularly problematic when Luke’s decision leads to contentious issues in seasons 6 and 7, eventually fostering the infamous Lorelai and Christopher reunion that left fans bewildered. Had Luke been open about April earlier, perhaps viewers wouldn’t have been subjected to another convoluted part of the plot.
5
Jackson’s Town Selectman Campaign
Jackson’s Subplot Was Entirely Superfluous
While the ensemble cast of Gilmore Girls includes memorable supporting characters, not every subplot enhances the series. The community at Stars Hollow is central to the show’s charm, yet Jackson’s campaign for Town Selectman feels largely unnecessary. Despite the warmth fans may harbor for Sookie’s husband, the entire narrative surrounding his political aspirations plays out as background noise that viewers ultimately find inconsequential.
4
Lorelai’s Season 6/7 Relationship With Christopher
Even Lorelai’s Actor Disliked This Infamous Twist
While Jackson’s subplot had its irritating moments, it pales into insignificance compared to Lorelai’s reunion with Christopher in season 6. Although their reunion earned some laughs through the ensuing conflict with Luke, the subsequent storyline felt entirely superfluous. This plot twist, albeit potentially engaging at earlier points in the series, failed to resonate in the final stages as fans genuinely doubted Lorelai would choose Christopher over Luke.
3
Lorelai’s A Year in the Life Pacific Crest Trail Hike
The Revival’s Weird Lorelai Subplot Literally Went Nowhere
In the 2016 revival, one of the most bizarre storylines involved Lorelai’s misguided attempt to hike the Pacific Crest Trail after being inspired by the film Wild. The series aimed for humor, focusing on Lorelai’s lack of outdoor experience, yet the subplot ended up feeling aimless and irrelevant. Despite containing some of the revival’s better moments, including the touching rapport between Lorelai and Emily, the hiking storyline itself contributed little to the overall narrative.
2
Marty And Rory’s Awkward Friendship And Its Fallout
Marty And Rory’s Relationship Was Bizarre And Pointless
Marty brought a quirky, endearing vibe to the show upon his introduction, sharing a unique rapport with Rory. However, like Alex before him, he soon became an afterthought, lacking meaningful development. His return as Lucy’s boyfriend, while pretending not to recognize Rory, intensified the absurdity of his storyline. The lack of explanation for Rory’s complicity in this charade made for an awkward and unenjoyable plotline, ignoring the opportunity for Rory to acknowledge their history at any moment.
1
Lane’s Unwanted Pregnancy
Lane’s Pregnancy Might Be The Cruelest Gilmore Girls Twist Ever
While many of the plots mentioned above might seem trivial, one storyline stands out as particularly heartbreaking: Lane’s unintended pregnancy. The series often portrayed Lane as a free spirit who defied her traditional upbringing, but her unexpected pregnancy after an uncomfortable first experience with Zach felt hasty and poorly conceptualized. This narrative misstep is arguably the most tragic, as Lane’s situation is treated dismissively, rendering it a darkly comedic plot point unworthy of her character’s growth.
If any plot in Gilmore Girls deserves a retcon, it is this unfortunate twist, as it casts a shadow over both Lane’s character and the series as a whole.
The original Gilmore Girls series is available for streaming on Hulu, with the revival edition accessible on Netflix.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
Leave a Reply