From the famous theme song "Where You Lead" to charming Stars Hollow, fans love every part of Gilmore Girls and look back on the 2000s series fondly. But while there are memorable episodes, nostalgic storylines, and everyone wishes that they could order coffee at Luke's diner, not every season of the show is perfect.
Fans generally prefer a TV show's earlier seasons to later ones, as these tend to have the most well-plotted episodes and character development. When comparing seven seasons of Gilmore Girls to each other, along with the Netflix revival A Year In The Life, it's exciting to see which seasons are better than others.
Season 7
The seventh season of Gilmore Girls is widely considered to be lackluster. Since creator Amy Sherman-Palladino wasn't involved, fans don't love it as much as previous seasons, and it's hard to have the same enthusiasm for it as seasons 1 to 6.
While the major storylines did get wrapped up and Luke and Lorelai got their happily ever after in the final episode, there's not as much here to love. Rory and Paris finished their final year of college, Rory told Logan she didn't want to get married, and Lorelai married Christopher, which many fans thought was bizarre. The humor wasn't classic Gilmore Girls and while fans have nostalgia for the show, they don't typically think very fondly of this group of episodes.
Season 6
Season 6 of the show was much better than season 7, but it still had some moments that were tough for fans to get behind. The biggest problem with this season? Lorelai and Rory stopped talking, and Rory even changed her cell phone number.
It's hard to love a season that kept the Gilmore girls apart since, of course, their relationship is at the heart of this beloved show, and their dynamic was always funny, fresh, and heartwarming. Some other big things happened in this season, from Jess and Rory meeting up again to Luke and Lorelai's wedding being put on hold because of his discovery of his daughter April. This was definitely a fairly sad season and both Rory and Lorelai had turmoil in their personal lives, so it doesn't quite have the same warm-and-fuzzy vibes as previous seasons.
A Year In The Life
The revival A Year In The Life was full of humor and sadness, and while it had some funny jokes and big moments, it's not considered as great as the original show.
Fans generally liked some episodes better than others, with the episode "Summer" having problematic fatphobic comments, and some moments seeming totally random, from the Stars Hollow musical to an interlude featuring the Life and Death Brigade. It was heartwarming to see Rory and Lorelai again, and it was fun to see Rory reconnect with her exes Dean and Jess, but fans didn't love watching Rory fail in her professional life. She didn't feel like the same beloved character who was super ambitious and would stop at nothing to do well in school and work.
Season 5
The fifth season of Gilmore Girls can't be ranked higher as it ends on a tough note, with Rory stealing a yacht and dropping out of Yale. Fans are still unsure about this plotline.
Other than that shocking finale, season 5 has some great moments between Rory and Logan, as this was the season when their relationship took off. Meanwhile, in Stars Hollow, Luke and Lorelai finally began dating. There are many episodes showcasing their love for each other, and in season 5, they went on their first date and proved their commitment to each other.
Season 4
Season 4 is definitely a beloved season of Gilmore Girls, as this is when Rory started attending Yale, and Lorelai and Sookie geared up to open the Dragonfly Inn. It was exciting to see both mother and daughter start new parts of their lives, and they were both very relatable here, as they were equal parts scared and thrilled.
There are some stand-out episodes here, from "The Lorelais' First Day At Yale" when Lorelai slept over in Rory's dorm room to "Luke Can See Her Face" when Luke finally realized he loved Lorelai. The finale "Raincoats and Recipes" was also very entertaining as Lorelai and Sookie had a test run of their inn and Rory made the surprising choice to sleep with Dean.
Season 2
A TV show's early seasons are often the highest quality and that is true of Gilmore Girls, as season 2 can be ranked fairly high.
This season saw Rory coming into her own more as she supported her mom ending her engagement to Max. The two went on their famous road trip to see Harvard and stay at a bed-and-breakfast, Rory met Jess, Sookie and Lorelai held a big dinner, and Sookie and Jackson got married. This season has the classic humor that fans love, as Emily even had a great time at a spa that she went to with Lorelai, and fans loved watching Jess banter with the other characters.
Season 3
Season 3 of Gilmore Girls is the show's second-best. Rory applied to college and imagined what her life would be like once she left Stars Hollow, and she fell in love with Jess while realizing that their romance would probably fizzle out. Viewers could never forget when Jess phoned Rory but said nothing, as they didn't have an actual break-up.
This season also features several well-known moments: Dean breaking up with Rory at the dance-a-thon, Rory ordering a giant pizza for her mom's birthday, and Rory deciding to go to Yale rather than Harvard. Fans got emotional as Rory finished Chilton and asked Emily and Richard to pay for Yale, keeping the popular Friday Night Dinners in place.
Season 1
While the first episode of Gilmore Girls has some moments that didn't age well, it's still considered a great introduction to the characters, the quirky town of Stars Hollow, and this fast-talking TV world.
The first season of the show is widely considered the best. This is what fans think of when they think of Gilmore Girls: Lorelai begging Luke for coffee in the pilot, Rory starting at Chilton and meeting Paris, Rory and Dean beginning their relationship, and Lorelai and Luke flirting all the time. Rory and Lorelai also started attending Friday Night Dinners and got to know Emily and Richard a bit better. Lorelai had to cope with her hurt feelings about how her parents treated her, and vice versa. Viewers also loved watching Rory spend time with her best friend Lane. The first season is also popular thanks to classic moments like Lorelai smelling snow and showing Max around town, and Lorelai inviting Dean over for a junk food and movie night.