Summary

  • Lorelai and Luke's relationship in Gilmore Girls starts off as a close friendship and develops into something more.
  • The Luke and Lorelai relationship timeline begins before the show even starts, with Lorelai becoming a regular at Luke's diner.
  • Season 4 is a pivotal season for Luke and Lorelai, as Luke realizes he is in love with Lorelai and they share their first kiss.

Gilmore Girls remains a popular hit and much of the series' run can be measured by the Luke and Lorelai timeline tracking their romantic relationship. The relationship that develops between Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) and Luke Danes (Scott Patterson) is one of the most beloved in the series. These two characters start as a coffee addict and a diner owner who see each other every day and slowly become close friends who realize that they have strong feelings for each other. It's a great character journey to witness.

Watch on Netflix

Though Gilmore Girls is really centered on the titular characters of Lorelai and her daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel), romance plays a huge role in the series. Lorelai hasn't had a successful relationship since breaking up with her daughter's father as a teenager, so her becoming willing to be in a serious relationship is part of her character's growth in the series. Though she has other relationships before she and Luke ultimately get together, Lorelai's best relationship in the series is certainly with the owner of the diner in Stars Hollow, and the Luke and Lorelai relationship timeline begins before the show even starts.

Related
Gilmore Girls: 14 Moments That Led To Lorelai & Christopher's Divorce
Lorelai and Christopher may have always loved each other in Gilmore Girls, but their relationship and quick marriage were full of red flags.

Before The Events Of Gilmore Girls

Luke and Lorelai First Meet In 1996

Luke pouring coffee for Rory and Lorelai in Gilmore Girls. 

Though it's not revealed until much later in the series, Luke and Lorelai's relationship timeline begins years before the show. When the two finally have their first date, it's Luke who provides the audience with the details. Luke and Lorelai first meet when she moves to Stars Hollow and needs a serious coffee fix in 1996.

Luke reveals on their date that he even kept the fake horoscope she wrote and gave to him at the diner. In it, she foretold that Luke would meet a very annoying woman, and he would need to keep her supplied with coffee to get her to go away. That became the foundation of their friendship: every morning, she would stop at the diner for coffee, and sometimes, she would even stop multiple times a day. Lorelai becoming a regular at Luke's diner is how the two get to know one another so well before the show even begins.

Season 1 Just Good Friends

Luke And Lorelai Have Flirty Banter

Luke and Lorelai at the hospital on Gilmore Girls
  • Season 1, Episode 1 "Pilot": Luke and Lorelai debate how much coffee she's allowed to have in Luke's first series appearance
  • Season 1, Episode 6 "Rory's Birthday Parties": Emily Gilmore comments on the sparks flying between Luke and Lorelai
  • Season 1, Episode 10 "Forgiveness And Stuff": Luke is the one to take Lorelai to the hospital to see her father
  • Season 1, Episode 14 "That Damn Donna Reed": Lorelai is the one to convince Luke to repaint the diner
  • Season 1, Episode 16 "Star-Crossed Lovers And Other Strangers": Luke's ex comes to town causing tension between them
  • Season 1, Episode 17 "The Breakup Part 2": Luke has a physical altercation with Dean while defending Rory and Lorelai
  • Season 1, Episode 19 "Emily In Wonderland": Lorelai tries to build a friendship with Luke's girlfriend
  • Season 1, Episode 21 "Love, Daisies, and Troubadours": Luke and Rachel break up while Max and Lorelai give a relationship a try

Season 1 of Gilmore Girls involves a lot of huge moments, from Rory first dating Dean to Rory and Lorelai getting to know Emily and Richard. It's also a big season for Luke and Lorelai. They slowly become more than just diner owner and customer, and it's clear that they've got a nice friendship. As the season progresses, they begin flirting more and more, and Lorelai starts looking at Luke differently and thinking that he's attractive.

At Rory's 16th birthday party, Emily comments on the sparks flying between these characters, and when Richard has a heart attack, Luke drives Lorelai to the hospital and stays to offer support. While Lorelai falls for Max, when Luke's ex-girlfriend Rachel comes to town, she can tell that Luke loves Lorelai. Fans can tell that these two will eventually confess their love from so early on in the show. Luke also gives Lorelai advice about not worrying so much about Rory and Dean's relationship, and she leans on him all the time throughout the first season.

Season 2: Jess Comes To Stars Hollow

Jess' Introduction Creates A Tense Relationship

Luke and Lorelai fighting over Jess on Gilmore Girls
  • Season 2, Episode 1 "Sadie, Sadie": Lorelai struggles to decide whether she should marry Max
  • Season 2, Episode 4 "Road Trip To Harvard": Lorelai calls off her wedding
  • Season 2, Episode 5 "Nick & Nora/Sid & Nancy": Lorelai tries to give Luke parenting advice about Jess
  • Season 2, Episode 13 "A-Tisket, A-Tasket": Luke bids on Lorelai's picnic basket at a charity auction
  • Season 2, Episode 17 "Dead Uncles And Vegetables": Lorelai and Rory help Luke at the diner after his uncle dies
  • Season 2, Episode 19 "Teach Me Tonight": Luke and Lorelai have an argument about him that makes things tense into season 3.

Season 2 marks the debut of Jess (Milo Ventimiglia), which puts a bit of a damper on the Luke and Lorelai relationship timeline. After Luke's nephew Jess moves in with him, Luke and Lorelai's friendship becomes full of conflict. Lorelai thinks that Jess is trouble and Luke doesn't want to hear it, leading to several arguments throughout the season. Luke wants what's best for his nephew and sees the good underneath all the rebellion, and Lorelai wants to protect her daughter from him.

This is sad to see because after Lorelai breaks off her engagement with Max, fans can see that Luke is happy, and it seems like the perfect time for these two to finally start dating. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen just yet, and the two struggle to get along for quite a few episodes.

Related
10 Harsh Realities About Lorelai's Character In Gilmore Girls
Lorelai Gilmore is one of TV's most iconic and beloved characters, but there are certain realities about her that cannot be ignored.

Season 3: Luke Has A New Relationship

Luke Starts Dating Nicole

Luke and Nicole talking at the diner on Gilmore Girls
  • Season 3, Episode 8 "Let The Games Begin": Luke creates ground rules for Jess' relationship with Rory which Lorelai appreciates
  • Season 3, Episode 9 "A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving": Lorelai agrees to attend Luke's Thanksgiving dinner despite already being committed to three other dinners
  • Season 3, Episode 12 "Lorelai Out Of Water": Lorelai asks Luke for help learning about fishing to impress a date; Luke asks out Nicole
  • Season 3, Episode 22 "Those Are Strings, Pinnochio": While Lorelai is focused on Rory's future, Luke decides to take a fateful cruise with Nicole

Season 3 of Gilmore Girls sees Luke and Lorelai as good friends who work through their tension over Jess. Part of that is a result of Luke still treating Rory like his own daughter. Beyond Luke, Lorelai, and Rory still feeling like a small-town family, Luke and Lorelai both pursue other relationships during the season. It's a surprise when Luke marries Nicole, as it happens fast, and Nicole cheats on Luke, breaking his heart.

Viewers can tell that Lorelai doesn't love that Luke is with Nicole, just like he hated when she was engaged to Max, but she focuses on Rory's last year of high school and her plans to open up the Dragonfly Inn someday.

Season 4: Luke Realizes He's In Love With Lorelai

Luke And Lorelai Take A Step Forward

Luke and Lorelai dancing on Gilmore Girls
  • Season 4, Episode 1 "Ballrooms and Biscotti": Luke reveals to Lorelai that he and Nicole got married over the summer
  • Season 4, Episode 5 "The Fundamental Things Apply": Luke attends his first Gilmore Girls movie night
  • Season 4, Episode 8 "Die, Jerk": Lorelai attempts to confront Luke about his relationship with Nicole
  • Season 4, Episode 11 "In The Clamor and the Clangor": Lorelai finds out Luke and Nicole are living together
  • Season 4, Episode 17 "Girls In Bikinis, Boys Doin' The Twist": Luke discovers Nicole has been cheating on him while Lorelai dates Jason in secret
  • Season 4, Episode 19 "Afterbloom": Luke finalizes his divorce, and Jason and Lorelai break up
  • Season 4, Episode 20 "Luke Can See Her Face": Luke realizes that he's in love with Lorelai
  • Season 4, Episode 21 "Last Week Fights, This Week Tights": Luke asks Lorelai out
  • Season 4, Episode 22 "Raincoats and Recipes": Luke and Lorelai have their first kiss

Though, ultimately, Luke and Lorelai admit their feelings for one another at the end of season 4, this Gilmore Girls season still has plenty of bumps and other events in the Luke and Lorelai relationship timeline. Nicole is still a bit of a hurdle at the start of the season, and Lorelai also spends much of the season dating someone else. It takes the two of them having heart-to-hearts about things that aren't romantic to finally tell one another the truth of their feelings.

It's things like Luke being the one to lend Lorelai the money to renovate the Inn that prove how much he cares about her. Unlike her mother, Luke doesn't expect to get anything out of the loan, just that Lorelai pays him back when she can. It's one of the many times in the show that Luke takes care of Lorelai and one of the moments that allows her to see him for more than just the grumpy guy who pours her coffee.

In the season 4 episode "Last Week Fights, This Week Tights," Luke and Lorelai dance together, and Luke realizes that he's in love with her. He knows that Lorelai is the one for him and that he doesn't have to be scared anymore. He asks her to go out with him and fans definitely swoon remembering this sweet moment.

It's relatable that Luke feels strongly about Lorelai for a long time, and it's really nice to see him finally working up the courage to ask her out. This is the moment that everyone has been waiting for, and it seems like nothing can get in their way, but of course, there are still three more seasons of Gilmore Girls.

Season 5: A Magical First Date And Finally In A Relationship

Luke And Lorelai Spend Season 5 Dating

Luke and Lorelai sitting at a restaurant on Gilmore Girls
  • Season 5, Episode 3 "Written In The Stars": Lorelai and Luke have their first official date
  • Season 5, Episode 5 "We Got Us A Pippi Virgin": Lorelai invites Rory and Dean to double date with her and Luke
  • Season 5, Episode 10 "But Not As Cute As Pushkin": Luke allows Lorelai to know the secrets of his "dark day"
  • Season 5, Episode 13 "Wedding Bell Blues": Luke argues with Rory's father and finds out that Lorelai's mother believes she and Christopher still belong together
  • Season 5, Episode 14 "Say Something": Lorelai and Luke break up
  • Season 5, Episode 15 "Jews And Chinese Food": Luke builds sets for a community play because he misses Lorelai
  • Season 5, Episode 19 "But I'm A Gilmore": Lorelai asks Luke for help in the Inn's kitchen when Sookie is on bedrest
  • Season 5, Episode 22 "A House Is Not A Home": Lorelai proposes to Luke

In season 5 of Gilmore Girls, Luke and Lorelai share a magical first date at a restaurant where Luke reveals that he kept the horoscope Lorelai wrote him when they met. In a sweet scene, Luke tells Lorelai "I'm all in" and she can tell that their flirty friendship is finally becoming something more. After this date, the two beloved characters are finally in a relationship, and their banter continues, which is great to see.

Luke has watched Lorelai come into the diner thrilled about many love interests, and it's satisfying that these two soulmates have found their way to each other. Luke and Lorelai might have a bumpy relationship timeline, but they do find happiness.

Related
Gilmore Girls: Lorelai & Chris Had To Happen For Her To End Up With Luke
Gilmore Girls made the right choice having Lorelai marry Christopher in the final season, as she and Luke wouldn’t have ended up together anyways.

Season 6: Luke And Lorelai Are Engaged

While Engaged, Luke And Lorelai Face Numerous Hurdles

April Nardini meeting Luke in the park on Gilmore Girls
  • Season 6, Episode 1 "New And Improved Lorelai": Luke agrees to marry Lorelai
  • Season 6, Episode 12 "Just Like Gwen And Gavin": Luke puts off telling Lorelai about April
  • Season 6, Episode 13 "Friday Night's Alright For Fighting": Luke neglects Lorelai while getting to know April
  • Season 6, Episode 17 "I'm OK, You're Ok": Lorelai learns Luke is going to chaperone one of April's field trips
  • Season 6, Episode 20 "Super Cool Party People": Luke has to call Lorelai for help with a party for April and her friends
  • Season 6, Episode 22 "Partings": Lorelai is tired of postponing their wedding and gives Luke an ultimatum; when Luke doesn't answer Lorelai she turns to Christopher for comfort

The sixth season of the show is a tough one for this popular pair. Though Luke and Lorelai are in a loving relationship at the start of the season, there are even more hurdles in their path to happiness, this time from another character's introduction. April Nardini (Vanessa Marano) debuts in season 6.

After learning that he has a daughter named April, Luke wants to put his wedding to Lorelai on hold. She agrees but knows that he doesn't seem interested in getting married at all, as he keeps making excuses. While everyone always wanted Lorelai to marry the cute and grumpy diner owner in Stars Hollow, it seems less likely to actually happen. Things get even worse as Rory and Lorelai have a terrible fight at the end of season 5 and stop talking for several months, pushing the wedding back even more.

Season 7: Broken Up... And Back Together

The Final Season Gives Luke And Lorelai A Happy Ending

Luke and Lorelai talking in the Gilmore Girls finale
  • Season 7, Episode 1 "The Long Morrow": Lorelai believes her engagement to Luke is over after sleeping with Christopher, Luke breaks up with Lorelai
  • Season 7, Episode 4 "'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous": While Luke focuses on taking care of April, Lorelai starts dating Christopher
  • Season 7, Episode 8 "Introducing Lorelai Planeterium": Luke calls Lorelai for help when April is sick
  • Season 7, Episode 11 "Santa's Secret Stuff": Luke asks her for help in getting custody of April
  • Season 7, Episode "Farewell, My Pet": Lorelai and Christopher have a real talk about her feelings for Luke
  • Season 7, Episode 20 "Lorelai? Lorelai?": Lorelai invites Luke out for the day with her and Rory; Lorelai sings "I Will Always Love You" during karaoke for Luke
  • Season 7, Episode 22 "Bon Voyage": Luke and Lorelai get back together

Season 7 is a sad one for Luke and Lorelai. After realizing that Lorelai and Christopher still have unfinished business, Luke is heartbroken, and he doesn't think that his and Lorelai's romance can withstand it. Gilmore Girls fans just want this couple to stay together, as Luke's cynicism and Lorelai's zest for life work so well, and they are truly a perfect match. Luke helps calm Lorelai down, and she helps him become more optimistic and social.

Season 7 sees the two largely apart from one another. It's not until the end of the season that it's made clear that they are truly meant for one another. In the season 7 finale, they finally talk to each other again, and after a romantic kiss, viewers can be certain that they won't be apart again. It's a happy ending for the Luke and Lorelai relationship timeline, but it gets picked up again in the revival series.

A Year In The Life: Luke And Lorelai Are In A Mature Relationship

Luke And Lorelai Finally Get Married

  • Episode 2 "Spring": Luke finds out that Lorelai has secretly been attending therapy and argues with her about trust issues
  • Episode 3 "Summer": Lorelai tells Luke that she needs a break from him in the wild to think about her future
  • Episode 4 "Fall": Lorelai and Luke finally get married

In the revival A Year In The Life, Luke and Lorelai are having trouble as they have started talking about why they didn't have a child. This is a topic that they both felt strongly about, and yet they just pushed it aside. While Luke has April, he hasn't been able to be a big part of her life, and Lorelai has Rory, but she's now an adult. The topic provides a wedge between them for part of the revival as they don't address their real issues.

Lorelai attempts to work out her issues on her own, not telling Luke she's been attending therapy with her mother, and trying to isolate herself on a hike. In the end, she realizes that her relationship with Luke isn't one of the problems in her life, and she still wants to marry him.

Gilmore Girls fans are really glad to see the couple finally get married, and it's been a really long journey to get here. They come to terms with the choices and mistakes they have made, and they know that it's time to make this commitment to each other. Luke and Lorelai's relationship timeline finally has its happy ending in A Year In The Life.

Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life is available to stream on Netflix.

  • Gilmore Girls Poster
    Gilmore Girls
    Summary:
    In the fictional town of Star's Hollow, single mother Lorelai Gilmore raises her high-achieving teenage daughter Rory. Mother and daughter rely on each other throughout their own life changes, romantic entanglements, and friendships.
    Release Date:
    2000-10-05
    Cast:
    Lauren Graham, Scott Patterson, Sean Gunn, Keiko Agena, Matt Czuchry, Alexis Bledel, Yanic Truesdale, Kelly Bishop, Melissa McCarthy, Edward Herrmann, Liza Weil, Jared Padalecki, Milo Ventimiglia
    Genres:
    Comedy, Drama
    Seasons:
    7
    Writers:
    Amy Sherman-Palladino
    Network:
    The WB
    Story By:
    amy sherman-palladino
    Streaming Service(s):
    Netflix