Of all the romances in Gilmore Girls, one reigns supreme - and it's Emily and Richard Gilmore. Sure, they have their issues, but who doesn't, especially in this show? Despite a break, though, the Gilmores have been married for decades, and truly, deeply, love each other.
Their connection is obvious in so many ways - even if they aren't always the most affectionate couple. Casual public affection isn't really something in Emily's vocabulary, but they manage to show their love for each other in a thousand smaller ways. And of course, their relationship is a true partnership, where Emily's role in life is to be a wife to Richard - and she says as much. They may not be perfect, but there is no doubt that they were always meant to be together.
Love And War And Snow (S1, Ep8)
Emily and Richard are obviously part of the series from the pilot, when Lorelai first goes to ask for money to help with Rory's schooling, and Friday Night Dinners commence. However, the first episode that really starts to get into them as a couple, and not just Lorelai's 'strict parents' is this one, when Rory is with her grandparents at their house, and a snowstorm means that there is (gasp) no cook for the night. It's adorable watch Rory teach them about the joys of frozen pizza, and it's a humanizing episode for them, but it's also adorable to see that these are potentially the only two people left in the world with the same amazement over how to cook a frozen pizza.
Forgiveness And Stuff (S1, Ep10)
A far more emotional episode comes later in the season, when Richard has a heart attack. Emily's reaction is intense, as she struggles to deal with her fears (and takes it out on the hospital staff, unfortunately), but the real gut punch comes after Richard is recuperating, and Emily goes in to see him. Nearly sobbing, she gives him a stern command - that she has to be the one to die first, because she simply refuses to live without him. Turns out, cold hard Emily has a heart, and its name is Richard.
Red Light On The Wedding Night (S2, Ep3)
Emily continues to reveal her softer side, and how much she has always loved her husband, in this episode - where she attends Lorelai's bachelorette party. She ends up telling an incredibly romantic story about how, in the run up to her own wedding, she was so excited that she used to sneakily try on her wedding dress ahead of time, and just sparkle with the excitement of getting to marry Richard.
It's such an incredible story of what it feels like to marry a soulmate that it actually ends up convincing Lorelai that she doesn't want to get married. Accidental, of course, and the main takeaway is how in love with her husband Emily has always been.
Let The Games Begin (S3, Ep8)
This episode doesn't end well, as it centers on Richard sneakily getting Rory an interview at Yale - and she is furious, because this means she had no time to prepare anything, and was completely wrongfooted. But before all this blows up in their faces, the Gilmores are having an amazing day out at Yale, and reminiscing about how wonderful things were for Emily and Richard when they were young. It's clear that they have always had amazing chemistry, that they have an amazingly romantic history, and that they still see each other as the young and fun people they were when they met in college.
An Affair To Remember (S4, Ep6)
This is another slightly sadder episode, but one that really hammers home that Emily isn't just a rich housewife, but that she has been Richard's partner for decades - and that she considers the work that she does for them important. It's here that Richard and Jason have started a new business, and are planning a client event. As usual, Emily takes charge, and puts in an incredible amount of time and effort, before Jason convinces them to do things differently, and Emily has to cancel. She is clearly heartbroken, and feels suddenly useless, saying sadly "I do this for your father. I have done this for your father for the last 36 years". Soulmates aren't just about romance, after all. They are about partners.
Ted Koppel's Big Night Out (S4, Ep9)
This episode may end in sadness, as Emily realizes that Richard has been lying to her about staying in touch with his ex for their entire marriage, but at the start, it's another example of how perfectly these two mesh. They are at the Yale tailgate party, and from the cocktails to the food to the general level of excitement, Emily and Richard are entirely in sync. They have rituals, history, and they still have fun, and it's wonderful to watch.
Emily Says Hello (S5, Ep9)
In this episode, Richard and Emily are separated, which may make it a surprising inclusion. However, it's the final scene that really hammers home how Emily just couldn't work with anyone else.
She gets home from a date, and while the date was wonderful, appropriate, enjoyable, and essentially everything that a date should be, after she closes the door, she stands in the foyer and just breaks down into sobs. It's a heartbreaking moment, and one that proves that even the best date in the world isn't enough, if it's not with Richard.
Women Of Questionable Morals (S5, Ep11)
Richard and Emily are still separated here, with Richard living in the poolhouse, but this is one of the episodes where they really start to reconnect - after finding a stray dog on the property. This is soulmate material for so many reasons; from the fact that Emily's first instinct is to reach out to Richard to deal with the issue of the dog, to the way that they connect over taking care of it and trying to find owners, to the simple fact that they work perfectly together, and always have. It's clear from this moment that their separation isn't going to last.
Wedding Bell Blues (S5, Ep13)
This is one of the best Richard and Emily episodes of the series, as they have rekindled their relationship and are renewing their wedding vows. Admittedly, the focus isn't even on them, as it's all about Rory and Logan, and the Lorelai/Luke/Christopher love triangle, but watching how in love Emily and Richard are as they celebrate is pure soulmate magic.
Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life
Finally, the revival. Sadly, by the time A Year In The Life was filmed, Edward Herrmann (who played Richard) had passed away, so the character of Richard couldn't appear. However, this meant that fans were able to see Emily fall apart in her own grief for Richard, and reveal that she had no idea what she was doing in life without him. They had been partners for her entire life, from the time that they met in college, and they were so truly connected that Emily struggled to figure out how to live without him. Of course, in the end she finds her way, but she keeps her portrait of Richard, and never stopped loving him.