Given that the name of the show is Gilmore Girls, you'd think that each episode would be a 50/50 split between the travails and triumphs of both mother and daughter. But, just as in real life, things aren't totally even and situations become all about one person or another.
There were indeed times when storylines made it seem as though the title should have been changed to "The Rory Show" or "Life with Lorelai," with the other Gilmore appearing to be a supporting character as opposed to a co-star. Even when that happened though, the series was still on brand, in that "where you lead I will follow" way, because Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) were always there for each other in one way or another.
Rory's Quest For Harvard
Harvard, Harvard, Harvard was the Gilmore version of Marcia, Marcia, Marcia. When the younger "Girl" focused on this, it was very easy to forget that anywhere else in the world existed. Her bedroom was already decorated in Crimson Tide memorabilia before even applying.
In fact, when she was little, Rory took cheerleading at Miss Patty's and would only rah-rah for...you guessed it, Harvard. An entire episode was devoted to the university, and it seemed like a done deal until she visited Yale.
Young Lorelai Is Pregnant
"Dear Emily and Richard" starts out with Rory being asked to stay with step-mom Sherry (Mädchen Amick) when she goes into labor with daughter GiGi (who she abandons two years later when she moves to Paris).
The episode is hijacked by Lorelai's reminiscing of the day she gave birth. In flashbacks, viewers learn the backstory of 16-year-old Lorelai (Chelsea Brummet) who learns before a party that she is pregnant. She then decides not to marry Christopher (Phillip Glenn Van Dyke) and ultimately runs away from home to raise her new baby solo.
Rory Goes Missing
A late season two episode may be titled "Lorelai's Graduation Day" but it should have been called "Rory and Jess Take New York." Her mother is getting her diploma from business school, so Rory invites her grandparents to attend the big event. It's a good thing they were there since Rory cut school on impulse to meet Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) in Manhattan and misses her bus back to make the ceremony in time.
Something similar happened when Rory and Dean (Jared Padalecki) went on a date and innocently fell asleep causing her to be out all night. Her whereabouts once again became the focus of the episode.
Lorelai The Entrepreneur
Lorelai had worked at the Independence Inn since she was 17 and the mother of a one-year-old. She eventually made a career for herself there becoming the manager.
Is there any doubt that when the hotel was going to be sold, and Lorelai and Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) planned to take the plunge and open their own establishment--the Dragonfly Inn--that it would be all-consuming and all about Lorelai? Throw in that she and her chef BFF were suddenly at odds, and fans could pretty much say, "Rory who?"
Rory Leaves Yale
After Logan's dad tells Rory she doesn't have the stuff to make it as a journalist, she turns in her Bulldog credentials, and what seemed like countless episodes were spent watching her emotionally unravel, which included becoming estranged from her mother and moving in with Emily (Kelly Bishop) and Richard (Edward Herrmann).
Her grandmother gets her a job with the Daughters of the American Revolution, much to Richard's chagrin because he wants for her to be more than a debutante. Rory eventually came to her senses and returned to Old Eli.
Lorelai Finds Out About April
Luke (Scott Patterson) had a daughter. The diner owner once had a relationship with Anna (Sherilyn Fenn) which produced a child, April (Vanessa Marano.) He finds out about her but waits to tell Lorelai.
Drama ensued because she felt lied to, which bothered her more than finding out Luke had a child in the first place. This does not stop her from taking over because the new dad does not know what he's doing. Also, Lorelai's testimony helps Luke win joint custody.
The Saga Of Rory And Paris
This was one oppressive relationship. Starting with Rory's arrival at Chilton, any episodes that involved her and Paris Geller (Liza Weil) interacting had all the earmarks of a car wreck--you just couldn't look away.
They went from enemies (over Tristan) to frenemies (they had the same academic path in common, but competed) to roomies (where Paris' crafting table took over the room) to besties (with Paris wishing her the best as Rory leaves Stars Hollow). The journey was long and often exhausting, while also at the forefront of the show.
Lorelai Goes Hiking
It all started with Lorelai reading a copy of Cheryl Strayed's memoir "Wild." Next thing you know, she's hitting the Pacific Crest Trail with too much gear and without her mini-me. Totally out of character, the non-nature lover meets a group of other women setting out to follow in Strayed's 2,600-mile, life-changing footsteps.
After sitting around the campfire listening to the others, with whom she hadn't really connected, talking about hoping the trip helps them learn to stand on their own two feet, Lorelai changes her mind and never goes through with the 3-week hike. She had already learned at 16 what it takes to be an independent woman.
Rory Gets A Boyfriend
Whether it was Dean, Jess, or Logan (Matt Czuchry) when Rory became involved, he (whoever he was) became her world and the viewers' as well. Dean was a good guy, but not as smart or ambitious as she was and Rory knew that if she stayed with him, she'd end up living a simple life in Stars Hollow instead of seeing the world as a journalist.
Even though Jess was on her intellectual level, he was just too angry, insecure, and troublemaking for a good do-bee like her. Logan was rich, handsome, and a newspaper scion, but she really couldn't count on him because he was selfish and preoccupied with rebelling against his family. Still, these were all the focal points of the show when they happened.
Lorelai Gets A Boyfriend
Just as with her daughter, when Lorelai got a love life it had a "made you look" quality that got so intense fans were amused and drained simultaneously--especially since it was always evident that she'd rather be on her own. Even though Christopher was the father of her child, first love, and almost-husband, he wasn't for her. Jason "Digger" Stiles (Chris Eigeman) was too much a part of her parents' world.
Max Medina (Scott Cohen) was too much of a grown-up for her. Throw in storylines with Jon Hamm as Peyton Sanders and Billy Burke as Alex Lesman and it's a wonder how Rory had more than a cameo. Fans all exhaled when her soulmate Luke eventually became her husband.