When thinking about a fictional character who would make a perfect best friend, Lorelai Gilmore on Gilmore Girls seems like a contender. Broke up with a long-time love? She would be ready with ice cream and wine, ready to wallow. Needed a pep talk or a laugh? She would pull jokes and one-liners out of thin air and cheer her friend up in no time. Lorelai is the kind of TV character who people wish was real.
Lauren Graham is beloved for portraying this character, but even though Lorelai is so popular, there are moments when she lets her self-centered nature take hold. While there are many episodes when this character is an amazing friend, there are just as many when she needs some advice on how to be a better pal.
Good Friend: She Wanted Sookie To Find Love
Although the evening in the season one episode "Double Date," was pretty terrible, Lorelai did want Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) to find love. She told Sookie to ask Jackson (Jackson Belleville) out on a date because she could tell that whenever Jackson sold Sookie produce, sparks flew.
Lorelai cared deeply about Sookie and wanted her to find happiness, and it's really sweet that she encouraged her like this. Sookie and Jackson's relationship is very sweet.
Wasn't: She Got Upset Instead Of Talking Things Out With Sookie
Lorelai completely freaked out in the season two episode "The Ins and Outs Of Inns" and told Sookie that they shouldn't open an inn. She said that although they had always planned on going into business together, it wasn't going to work out and they should quit while they were ahead.
While Sookie had some less than perfect characteristics, she always tried to be there for Lorelai, and she didn't deserve this treatment. Lorelai has a tendency to run away from her thoughts and feelings instead of actually talking to someone.
Good Friend: She Let Kirk Sleep Over
Kirk (Sean Gunn) is either the most annoying or most adorable Stars Hollow resident, depending on the Gilmore Girls fan. There are definitely some minor or secondary characters who fans disagree on. One thing is for sure, though: Lorelai was always very nice to Kirk and was sometimes even like a parental figure to him.
In the fifth season episode "To Live and Let Diorama," Kirk didn't have a place to live, and Lorelai let Kirk sleep over. This led to some hilarious scenes, as she got right into mom mode and told him how to behave.
Wasn't: She Didn't Treat Michel The Way She Should Have
Yanic Truesdale's Gilmore Girls character, Michel, always had sassy and hilarious quotes, and he really wanted to be close with Lorelai.
Sure, they did re-connect in the Netflix revival, but Lorelai never treated Michel as well as she should have. He always took a backseat to her friendship with Sookie and she acted like she simply had to deal with him. She didn't seem to really appreciate or respect him.
Good Friend: She Tried To Be A Pal For Rory's Friends, Too
Lane Kim's goal was not to get in trouble with her mom, and this character, played by Keiko Agena, looked up to Lorelai a lot. She sometimes acted like she wished Lorelai was her mother since she was tired of hiding her love of music, cool clothing, and junk food.
Lorelai was always a good friend to the people in Rory's life, from Lane to Paris Geller (Liza Weil). She would sometimes give them advice or let them hang out at her home, knowing that they needed a break from real life and a safe place to land. Not everyone would do this, and it was always moving.
Wasn't: She Wasn't Supportive When Luke Was Raising Jess
It wasn't easy for Luke Danes (Scott Patterson) when his nephew Jess Mariano (Milo Ventimiglia) came to live with him in the second season of the show. He tried to be a parental figure but he had no experience.
Lorelai could have been a lot nicer and more supportive of this change in Luke's life, but she was pretty judgemental instead. She got mad at Luke because she didn't like the bad attitude that Jess had from day one. She could have had a much different attitude and given him good advice.
Good Friend: She Was A Solid Part Of Stars Hollow
Stars Hollow seems like a mostly great place to live and Lorelai was always at the core of the action.
Because she attended town hall meetings and got to know all of the townspeople, Lorelai seemed like a great friend to have. She was friendly with everyone from Taylor Doose (Michael Winters) to Gypsy (Rose Abdoo) and she was there to lend a helping hand when someone needed it. She also participated in a lot of town events from plays to festivals.
Wasn't: She Wasn't Really That Social
Rory and Lorelai are both popular characters, and it's definitely true that they mostly spend time with each other. Lorelai wasn't a great friend on Gilmore Girls because when examined, she really wasn't a very social person.
Sure, she attended events in the town and would chat with people who she saw on the street, but she and Michel and Sookie didn't seem to hang out a lot. Lorelai could have made more time for the people in her life.
Good Friend: She Always Supported Sookie's Culinary Dreams
It was always fun watching Sookie in the kitchen at the Independence Inn and, later, the Dragonfly. She would fly by the seat of her pants, knocking pots and pans over in her rush to get something cooking, and sometimes she would make creative dishes like muffin tops (because that's the best part, of course).
Lorelai was always super supportive of her friend's culinary skills and dreams. She let Sookie run with whatever she wanted to make, and when Sookie left to go work with Dan Barber at Blue Stone Farm, she was sad, but she understood why Sookie needed to do that.
Wasn't: She Could Be Bitter And Moody
While it's true that Lorelai evolved over the show's 7 seasons, she has some character flaws, and that involves being bitter and moody.
There were many times when Lorelai would be in a mood and wouldn't be very nice to Sookie, Michel, or anyone else who crossed her path. In order to be a good friend, it's necessary to put aside whatever is going on and ask how someone's day is going, and Lorelai wasn't always into doing that.