The characters on Gilmore Girls are often called quirky and they all contribute to the overall vibe of this funny and cozy drama. But while Luke is super popular thanks to the wonderful diner that he runs, and Rory and Lorelai are consistently entertaining and relatable, not everyone living in Stars Hollow has won the praise of viewers.
Fans tend to agree on the best and worst characters, as they enjoy watching Rory and Lorelai fall for their major love interests, but there are a few minor characters who don't seem as necessary. To debate these points, some Gilmore Girls viewers take to Reddit to share which characters they do and don't like on this beloved series.
Favorite: Emily Gilmore
Reddit user blaqskinnyjeans says "Definitely Emily" and explained, "She's hilarious! She's got this whole idea of class and high society but she's also got the same wit that Lorelai has (like mother like daughter!). She's also incredibly caring and thoughtful of others, even if it sometimes comes off as controlling and wrong."
It's no wonder that Emily is mentioned as one of the best characters, as fans have shared their love for Emily on Reddit a lot. Fans understand why Lorelai isn't that comfortable around wealthy people, but Emily's wish for people to be polite, charming, and sophisticated at all times makes her an entertaining character.
Least Favorite: Marty
Reddit user Em-Sakura-Chan doesn't love Marty and wrote, "Least favourite was Marty, the second time he showed up, that hole storyline annoyed me so much!"
It makes sense that not every viewer would enjoy watching Marty. His character arc starts off fairly promising as he and Rory meet when he's unfortunately not wearing any clothes at Yale. They form a friendship and everything seems okay, except for two problems: Marty has a crush on Rory that she doesn't return, and he's dating her friend Lucy. Fans don't really connect with Marty as he doesn't have a strong personality and Rory's other love interests mean a lot more to viewers.
Favorite: Kirk Gleason
Reddit user amyspace enjoys Kirk and wrote, "How has no one said Kirk?! He is by far my favorite character. I love that he was only suppose to be a deliver guy for DSL cable in one episode and became a core staple member for Stars Hallow."
There's a lot to love about Kirk: his hilarious relationship with cynical Luke, his sweet love for Lulu, his desire to get involved in different businesses on an almost daily basis. Gilmore Girls fans fully embrace how quirky the show is and Kirk is one of the more unique people to live in Stars Hollow. He does his own thing and fans appreciate and value him for it.
Least Favorite: Dean Forester
For Reddit user Alyazmalim57, Dean is a problematic character as "he is boring" and "doesn't respect Rory." The fan also thinks that Dean treats Lindsay poorly.
Dean feels like a clingy character on Gilmore Girls in many instances, and while he's a favorite love interest for Rory, some fans feel like he could be a lot nicer. Dean does have some issues with Rory's studying and dreams for the future, and instead of telling Lindsay that he wants a divorce, he cheats on her with Rory. While he and Rory care about each other, that's not enough to excuse some of his actions.
Favorite: Luke Danes
When several Reddit users took a poll, Luke was voted the number one best Gilmore Girls character, with Reddit user stellar_dust writing, "Aw, go Luke! Love that he ranked first place."
Of all the characters who populate this show, Luke will always be a fan favorite, as viewers have gotten used to his flaws and they appreciate that he knows that he has a lot to learn about love and life. From fighting with Taylor to supporting Rory and winning over Lorelai's heart, Luke just can't be beat as a fascinating character who is much nicer than he seems at first glance.
Least Favorite: Nicole Leahy
For Reddit user unfazedmama, Nicole is a least favorite character as "her and Luke had zero chemistry and their plot line just felt weird and out of place."
Luke's love interests, Lorelai and Rachel, are definitely compelling. But for many fans, Nicole just isn't that memorable. It never feels like Luke loves her in a genuine manner, and when she cheats on him, it's even worse since it didn't feel like a necessary relationship in the first place. It's much more fun watching Luke and Lorelai fall in love with each other and experience highs and lows throughout the whole show.
Favorite: Paris Geller
Reddit user keepyourhopesuphigh loves Paris and explained, "My favorite is Paris. I wouldn't want to be friends with her but I love what she brings to the show!"
This is an interesting point, as it's true that Paris can be a tough pal to have. Fans see a ton of conflict between Paris and Rory even when they do become friends as Paris always wants to be better than other people. But fans can tell that despite Paris's seemingly cold personality, she's kind and caring toward Rory and that's what counts.
Least Favorite: Trix Gilmore
Reddit user Squeegie_Beckenheim doesn't like "Gran/Trix" and explained, "I hate the way she treats Emily and frankly everyone she sees as 'below' her. I hate how Richard never stood up to her when it came to how she treated Emily, and only stepped up when she turned it on him."
While Trix is a memorable part of Gilmore Girls, as her presence on the series offers up context for why Emily is so strict yet vulnerable, it makes sense that not every viewer would like her. Trix is definitely mean and since she doesn't have a redeeming moment when she apologizes or acts much nicer, it's hard to get on board with her character.
Favorite: Lorelai Gilmore
Of course Gilmore Girls fans love Lorelai, but for Reddit user Dorothy-Snarker, they love her because they can relate to her so much. The fan wrote that Lorelai taught them "It's okay to like something because I like it. I only have to answer to myself. I always hated how judgemental Lorelai was, just she did teach me a lot about being myself and walking to the beat of my own drum.
Fans relate to both Rory and Lorelai for different reasons, and it's nice to hear how much Lorelai inspired a fan. Lorelai might struggle with running the Dragonfly Inn and she might fight with Sookie and have trouble with Luke, but ultimately, she's a wonderful character who stands tall.
Least Favorite: April Nardini
Reddit user metaporpoise doesn't like April and wrote, "Granted i just cringe at that whole situation, mostly how luke handled it.. i could’ve gone without her."
When asking Gilmore Girls fans who their most problematic character is, April will often top that list. It's true that viewers dislike how Luke hides her from Lorelai and how he is too stressed out about having a child to go through with their wedding. But for some, April should be less condescending and she should care more about other people.