The beloved Gilmore Girls is primarily about the bond between mother and daughter, but it’s the romantic relationships in the series that fans can’t stop talking about. Lorelai and Luke’s romance was a long time coming but Rory’s relationships have always been a little more dramatic.
One couple that doesn’t get nearly enough love is Sookie and Jackson. They’re one of the most consistent relationships in the series and have one of the healthiest bonds. From their time working together to bickering over picnic baskets, Sookie and Jackson have some of the most relatable moments on screen.
They Bicker Without Breaking Up
No couple is perfect. Miscommunications and annoyances come up that can either make or break a couple. Sookie and Jackson let their grievances out but didn’t let it destroy them.
Their small arguments are some of the best on the show, especially since they resolve them through discussion and understanding. If anything, they feel better at the end of the day because they don’t let their issues boil over.
Not Every Couple Is Ready To Have A Baby
Part of Gilmore Girls’ charm is how relatable it was. Lorelai as a single mom was refreshing for viewers in the early 2000s. And just as Lorelai wasn’t ready for kids when she was a teenager, Sookie was also not ready for kids when Jackson was.
Jackson always had a goal of having four kids in four years, which did not sit right for Sookie. Likewise, plenty of couples could relate to Sookie and Jackson’s conflict over this important subject.
They Respect Each Other's Quirks
Adorably, it was Sookie and Jackson’s quirks that brought them together in the first place. Sookie’s obsession with cooking and ingredients meshed well with Jackson’s obsession with farming his crops. Watching Sookie taste-test his hybrid fruits and vegetables was a hilarious routine that only they appreciated. Their sarcasm with each other was something that worked well on their relationship and was envied by viewers.
Moving In Together
In "A-Tisket, A Tasket," Jackson became infuriated when he mentioned that his lease for his apartment was coming to an end and Sookie didn't seem at all interested in moving in with him. Funny enough, Sookie didn't think twice about this big change and was focused on other things. Once they hashed it out, they both admitted that they were ready for the next step in their relationship and agreed that moving in together was what felt right.
Double Dates
One of the most common things that Sookie and Jackson do at the start of their relationship is going on a double date with friends to ease the tension.
First dates can be nerve-wracking, so Sookie had Lorelai accompany her on a date with Jackson and his cousin, Rune. The date didn’t end well for Lorelai and Rune but it made Jackson and Sookie fall for each other even more.
Wedding Planning Woes
Sookie and Jackson adored each other but they weren’t the best at communicating their long-term feelings (i.e. moving in together, having kids, etc.). Because their engagement was a spur-of-the-moment decision, they wanted their wedding to be as relaxed as possible. A small, simple wedding in Stars Hollow was perfect for them.
But as soon as Emily Gilmore got involved, Sookie was bit the wedding bug. She began planning an extravagant, over-the-top wedding that wasn’t conveyed to Jackson. It was off-track and off-brand for them. Jackson (with Lorelai’s help) eventually got through to Sookie regarding their wedding but this is common for newly engaged couples.
Men Take Second Place In Lorelai & Sookie's Friendship
One of the best things about Jackson and Luke is that they don’t try to change Lorelai or Sookie or their friendship. Both men know that there's no coming in between them and that their friendship takes precedent. There were numerous times where Lorelai and Rory needed Sookie’s help on short notice and she has dropped everything to be there for them. And luckily for her, Jackson has always been understanding and non-judgmental.
They Protected Each Other
It doesn’t matter if Sookie is in an argument with someone at work or if Jackson is running for Town Selectman; they always support each other. They’re a couple who is able to bicker and complain but protect each other from things that bring them down. With Sookie especially, Jackson has even gone after Rory for hurting her feelings.
For Lorelai’s birthday, Rory wanted a massive pizza big enough to feed the whole town. Instead of going to Sookie to make the pizza, Rory went somewhere else. In her defense, she viewed Sookie as a guest and wanted her to enjoy the party instead of catering it, but Jackson reminded her that Sookie was Lorelai’s best friend and enjoyed cooking. There’s nothing she wouldn’t have done for Lorelai.
They Have Realistic Communication Problems
As honest as Sookie and Jackson are with each other — they're much more forthcoming than Lorelai and her relationships — they do keep secrets from each other. One of the biggest secrets kept was after the birth of Sookie and Jackson's second child, Sookie planned on Jackson getting a vasectomy. She never talked it over with Jackson, nor was he on-board with the idea. Considering it was his body, he deserved to have a say in the decision and to have his wife be honest with him about her desire to stop having kids.
The Topic Of Cheating
Cheating is a topic that comes up for many on-screen couples. On Gilmore Girls, Rory worried about Logan being with other women, and Luke hated the idea of Lorelai being with Christopher. Sookie and Jackson also talked about the topic of cheating a few times in their relationship but it was often with a humorous tone. Sookie once went out for food with an old friend of hers without realizing that said friend viewed the outing as a date. She had to come clean to Jackson in a very awkward conversation about accidentally going on a date with another man. Jackson also claimed Sookie "cheated" on him when she chose someone else's fruit over his. They were always honest and sweet about a very touchy subject.