Babette Dell is Lorelai Gilmore's quirky neighbor and confidant on Gilmore Girls. She lives next door with her husband Morey in a small red house that was specifically made for her small stature. And with bright blonde hair and a raspy voice, Babette can be seen and heard from a mile away. Her voice is so loud that she often talks to her husband from Lorelai's house!
Over the years, Babette has proved herself a loyal and dear friend to both Lorelai and Rory. In many ways, Babette has a maternal side that's always looking out for the Gilmore girls. But as loving and fun as Babette is, there are plenty of times being her neighbor has its downside.
Great Neighbor: She Followed Rory & Lorelai's European Adventures
When Lorelai and Rory reconciled after their Yale fallout, they followed through with their trip around Europe. It was something the women planned for years but was put on hold indefinitely when Rory essentially chose her grandparents over her mother. But when the women finally went away, it was everything they imagined it would be.
When they came back to Stars Hollow, they were greeted by a panicked Babette. Rory gave Babette their itinerary but when they didn't come home when they were supposed to, Babette feared the worst. She called "all" of the US consulates in Europe to keep an eye out for the Gilmore girls. It was sweet that she thought of them even while they were abroad.
Overrated: Her Nosiness Can Stir Up Trouble
Babette is nosey on her own but when she's with Miss Patty, the nosiness is kicked up to a whole other level. Living in Stars Hollow means everyone knows everyone and one person's business is everyone's business. With Lorelai being a lively woman with a lot of baggage, having a woman like Babette next door can spell trouble.
Even though Babette loves Lorelai, she loves to gossip and has talked about Lorelai's private issues with others. She always knows when Lorelai or Rory has company and tries her best to weasel herself into the situation to find out what's going on for her own benefit.
Great Neighbor: She Goes All Out For The Holidays
Halloween is to Babette what snow is to Lorelai. When fall rolls around, Babette goes all out. She's that one wacky neighbor who doesn't disappoint come the spooky season. She has the house everyone wants to see and Babette loves the attention. What's even funnier is that Babette's quiet husband will do anything to make her happy and goes along with her outlandish Halloween ideas because it's for the better of the holiday. Who wouldn't want a theatrical neighbor who loves the holidays?
Overrated: Is She Capable Of Independence?
It's hard to tell if Babette asks for help because she genuinely needs it or if it's because it's a chance to talk to people and get the scoop on Stars Hollow gossip. As lively and fun as Babette is, she's not the most independent woman.
She's constantly asking Morey, Lorelai, or Luke for assistance. In the episode where Lorelai and Sookie are trying to make a comeback after the Independence Inn suffered from a fire, Babette was being more of a nuisance than helpful. Michele needed Babette and Miss Paty to answer phones and work the computers but Babette didn't know how to do any of it and required more help than she gave.
Great Neighbor: She Treats Lorelai & Rory Like Family
When Rory goes away to college, Lorelai is in uncharted waters. She's never been away from Rory for this long and it's weird not having her in the house.
To help distract Lorelai from missing her only child and best friend, Babette bought Lorelai bulbs to plant. She told Rory that she was looking out for her mom and that gardening was a great way to distract her from her feelings. This friendship also helped Lorelai when Rory ran off with her grandparents. Babette treated the Gilmores like family and knew when Lorelai needed her.
Overrated: She Spreads Information About Her Loved Ones
As much as Babette treats Lorelai and Rory like family, she can also be quite disrespectful to them. She listens to rumors or gossip about the Gilmore girls and doesn't always shut down nonsense. She instead furthers the gossip session by saying what she's seen or heard. There are plenty of times when Lorelai needed an ally instead of someone dishing about her private life.
Great Neighbor: She Looks After Lorelai's House When She's Gone
Lorelai doesn't travel too often but when she and Rory are out of the house it's always nice to know that it's been looked over by a trustworthy neighbor. Babette is always around and loves being able to help Lorelai when she's in need. Watching over Lorelai's house proves how close these neighbors are and how much Lorelai trusts Babette and Morey.
Overrated: Babette Can Make Her Issues Lorelai's
Babette doesn't ask for much as a neighbor but when she has issues, she tends to make them Lorelai's issues as well. In one episode, Jess stole one of Babette's garden gnomes (Pierpont) as a joke but Babette didn't find it funny. She made a point to warn Lorelai about the company her daughter was keeping. At the same time, however, it's Babette's personal property that was messed with, so she had a right to be upset.
Great Neighbor: She Support's Lorelai's Adventures
Through all the drama, breakups, makeups, tears, and laughs, Babette is always around. There's nothing Lorelai could do as a neighbor that would get Babette on her bad side. Babette stepped in as a mother figure and a friend to Lorelai. She helped Lorelai with the Independence Inn and the Dragonfly Inn, looked after Rory, took care of the Gilmore home, and was there for Lorelai after every heartache. Babette is more than a nosey neighbor; she's a true friend.
Overrated: Was She More Of An Annoyance Than Helpful?
What's the point of having nice neighbors if they're more of a handful than helpful? There are plenty of times where Babette asks for Lorelai's help, and it hasn't always been easy on Lorelai. Lorelai has a hard time as a single mom and business owner as it is; she doesn't need any more complications or upsets from those that live next door.