Rory Gilmore is one of the most unusual characters on Gilmore Girls, and there are plenty of eccentric people in Stars Hollow. Rory goes through a lot of personality shifts as she moves through her teenage years and starts college. She stays true to her love of learning, though, and some fans would say she's a good person at her core.
Teenagers are not one-size-fits-all, but Rory makes a number of typical teenage choices as she grows. At other times, Rory shows surprising wisdom and maturity. What are some of her most and least "teenage" moments?
Wise Beyond Her Years: Continuing Her Friendship With Lane
The first few episodes of Gilmore Girls are mostly about Rory's move to Chilton for her high school education. Her family life, hometown, and budding relationship with Dean are also established. Lane Kim is introduced as a big part of Rory's life, but it would be easy for the two friends to grow apart with Rory attending school in another town.
Rory is lucky that Lane wants to continue the friendship, even though Rory doesn't always pay enough attention to Lane. Sticking with Lane is a huge blessing in Rory's life for years to come, so maintaining the friendship is one of her wisest decisions.
Typical Teenager: Feuding With Paris
Another teenage girl comes into Rory's life in the first season: Paris Geller. Devoted fans know how close Paris and Rory become once they get to know each other, but the classmates aren't always good friends.
Paris can't stand Rory when Rory first arrives at Chilton, and Rory isn't too fond of Paris's attitude. The girls are seen bickering right in the middle of a class because they know that they are each other's competition. Rory's behavior in her early feud with Paris is just typical high school drama, but thank goodness she gets over it.
Wise Beyond Her Years: Telling Emily About Her Childhood
After Emily and Richard Gilmore make the arrangement to pay for Chilton in exchange for Friday night dinners with Lorelai and Rory, the grandparents start to take a more active role in their granddaughter's life. Rory is so excited to show Emily around Stars Hollow in the first season, insisting on a complete walking tour through all the town's best attractions.
A particularly poignant moment is when Rory shows Emily the potting shed. This small spot by The Independence Inn is where Lorelai cared for Rory as a baby. Though Emily is upset to see how her daughter and granddaughter lived, it is the right thing for Rory to take her there. Rory leads her grandmother to the site without meaning to trouble her, but it is still deep and insightful of Rory to open up to Emily about her childhood.
Typical Teenager: Missing Her Mom's Graduation To See A Guy
The end of the second season includes a big achievement for Lorelai as she graduates from her business school program. Rory is so proud of her mom and encourages her to walk in the ceremony. The problem is, Rory decides to ditch school and takes a bus to New York City to see Jess on the same day as the graduation.
She thinks she'll have plenty of time to get back, but the reality is, Hartford is three or more hours away from the city by any means of transportation. When the bus stalls due to a nearby accident, Rory is running late and misses the graduation entirely. She feels badly about it, but there's really no excuse.
Wise Beyond Her Years: Transparency About Her Boyfriends
Rory starts dating Dean pretty quickly in the first season, and she's a little embarrassed to talk about him with Lorelai. Lorelai does a pretty good job to stay cool about Dean, but the mom still invites him to a movie night. Rory is nervous about this at first but ends up relaxing a little as she and Lorelai hang out with Dean.
Rory also wants Lorelai to know Jess and even Logan, to an extent. Her mom has issues with both of those boyfriends but makes small attempts to learn about who they really are. Despite all of Rory's questionable dating choices, it is smart of her to be transparent about who she is with. These relationships become a part of Rory, and it's important for the people in her life to understand that.
Typical Teenager: Behaving Childishly At The Dance Marathon
The infamous dance marathon of season three brings all of Rory's Jess versus Dean drama to a boiling point. Rory and Lorelai get all dressed up for the dance marathon, but there's as much conflict as there is dancing. Jess and Rory can't stop looking at each other.
While dancing with Dean, Rory can't stop thinking about Jess. This is the last straw for Dean, and while Rory is not obligated to stay with him, she doesn't handle the situation well, either. Her jealous looks are all part of her tormenting teenage relationship struggles, in this situation.
Wise Beyond Her Years: Making A Decision To Attend Yale
Choosing a college is a big deal for Rory, the girl who has always dreamed of going to Harvard. When it's decision time, Rory ultimately disregards her long-held Harvard fantasy and goes with the school that she thinks will be best for her.
The connection with her grandfather and Yale is an underlying factor, but Rory wisely makes a decision about her undergraduate studies all on her own. The decision to go to Yale takes her on quite a journey, and it wouldn't have been the same if she had chosen differently.
Typical Teenager: Going Back With Dean When He's Married
Rory ironically tends to make more "teenage" choices as she starts to exit her teen years. Rory's choice to willingly flirt and sleep with Dean when he is married is one of her worst of the whole series.
While teenagers don't typically deal with marriages in their romances, they do make relationship choices that can hurt themselves and other people. This is definitely one of those cases.
Wise Beyond Her Years: Reconciling With Lorelai
The silence between Rory and Lorelai is deafening when they are in their infamous fight. Lorelai doesn't approve of Rory's life choices, and Rory wants to be an adult and act independently of her mother.
Both women have trouble seeing the other's side, but they find their way back together and call a truce. On Rory's part, it is mature and reasonable to reconcile with Lorelai. She knows that her mom has her best interest at heart, and both women need their relationship to be in working order.
Typical Teenager: Stealing A Yacht
Once Rory starts socializing with Logan and then dating him, her teenage moments are escalated to a whole new budget. One of her most immature moments is when she drags Logan away from a family party and proceeds to steal a neighboring yacht.
The decision has big consequences and marks a rough part of Rory's life. Even though she's college-aged, the yacht saga is a careless move that smacks of youth and rebellion.