Gilmore Girls may be a TV show about the mother/daughter connection between Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel), but the relationship between Lorelai and her mom Emily (Kelly Bishop) is given a lot of screen time as well. Emily might be the complete opposite of her daughter, living a fancy life with Richard (Edward Herrmann) and keeping up appearances, but she's still a funny, charming part of the series.
Emily is given a lot of good material, but not every plotline is well-crafted. Read on to find out Emily Gilmore's five best and five worst storylines on Gilmore Girls.
Best: Emily Takes Rory To Europe
One of Emily's best storylines is when she takes Rory to Europe in the fifth season. She knows that Rory would love nothing more than to travel and see more of the world, since she hasn't gotten a lot of chances to do that, besides backpacking with Lorelai after graduating from Chilton.
It's fun watching these two characters in Europe, even if it does feel like it would be a lot funnier and more endearing if Lorelai had gone, too, and everyone had been getting along.
Worst: Emily And Richard Separate
In the fifth season, Emily and Richard actually split up, which isn't something that Gilmore Girls fans would ever expect to happen. And the storyline isn't handled very well, resulting in a confusing narrative.
It never really makes sense that these two characters would break up since they've been married for so long and they're really good together. They have a solid life that they've created together, have the same friends in common, and love to travel. It would have been more interesting to see this couple work things out in a mature way instead of just ignoring each other and acting too stubborn.
Best: Emily Wants To Purchase A Plane And Acts Vulnerable
Emily does have some good storylines on the show, though, including the sixth season episode "The Prodigal Daughter Returns." She's dreaming of purchasing a plane, and she and Lorelai have a hilarious conversation with Emily saying, "Just let me buy my plane, Lorelai. Let me be frivolous and shallow, won’t you, please?"
It's nice to see Emily struggling a little bit since she often puts up a front of being super prim and proper. She lets her guard down and explains to Lorelai that she feels bad that Rory dropped out of Yale and realizes that this was all a big mistake. It's good to see her get so vulnerable.
Worst: Emily Throws Rory A Surprise Party
In the season one episode "Rory's Birthday Parties," which is an excellent episode, Emily really screws up by throwing Rory a surprise party. She figures that anyone would love having a fancy, extravagant birthday bash, and doesn't even think to ask Rory what she would want. But Rory hates it as she's having trouble at Chilton and doesn't feel comfortable around the rich kids.
It's clear that while Emily doesn't know Rory very well, Lorelai knows her daughter perfectly, and the contrast of the two parties is pretty striking as Lorelai throws a more casual celebration. This is one of Emily's worst storylines because she should stop thinking about herself and start thinking about Rory's shy, quiet personality.
Best: Emily Has To Deal With Richard's Season One Heart Attack
Richard has a heart attack in the season one episode "Forgiveness and Stuff," and Emily, understandably, is distraught at the thought of having to live without her beloved husband.
The way that Emily deals with this health crisis is one of her best storylines. She proves that she does have feelings and that she's not so stuck up all the time when she says to Richard, "I did not sign on to your dying. And it is not going to happen. Not tonight, not for a very long time. In fact, I demand to go first. Do I make myself clear?" Emily also yells at everyone at the hospital and gets what she wants, which is hilarious.
Worst: Emily Is Always Hiring (And Firing) New Maids
Emily has a reputation for never being pleased with the people that she has hired to work in her house. It's a running joke on the show that she seems to have a new maid pretty much every day, or at least every week.
These are always her worst storylines, though, especially in the revival when she doesn't speak the same language as her maid and has their family move in, too. It's pretty offensive that Emily treats people this way and always acts like no one is good enough for her.
Best: Emily Decorates Lorelai's Old Room For Rory
Emily always wants the best for Rory and she's definitely a great grandma. In the season one episode "Emily In Wonderland," she takes it upon herself to decorate Lorelai's old room and make it so lovely that Rory will want to hang out there.
This is one of Emily's greatest storylines since, again, she's totally doing something that makes sense to her but doesn't really work for Rory... but the fact that she isn't self-aware is kind of charming in its own way. Emily is doing all this work because she feels badly that Rory hasn't grown up in the lap of luxury like Lorelai did.
Worst: Emily Wants Rory To Join Her At The DAR
While it's pretty bad that Emily allows Rory to live with her instead of insisting that she absolutely has to go back to Yale and start dealing with Lorelai again, she does something that seems just as silly: she wants Rory to join her at the DAR.
Yes, Emily upholds her reputation and wants to be a member of The Daughters Of The American Revolution, but even she must be able to tell that this is no place for Rory. The two characters are so different and at various points in their lives, and it's just a distraction for Rory.
Best: Emily Finds Herself After Richard's Death
While it's fair to say that the Gilmore Girls Netflix revival A Year In The Life had some less than wonderful storylines, Emily was treated very well. She is trying her best to move on after Richard's death, and it's so moving and emotional to watch this unfold.
First, she wears jeans and gives away what doesn't "spark joy" as she gets influenced by Marie Kondo. Then Emily moves to Nantucket and starts fresh. She even starts giving tours at a museum which is a surprising move for the character but one that ultimately feels perfect.
Worst: Emily Doesn't Allow Lorelai To Attend Her Famous Holiday Party
In the season one episode "Forgiveness and Stuff," Lorelai is miserable because she has basically been banned from attending her parents' famous holiday party.
Because of the argument between Emily and Lorelai after Dean and Rory fall asleep together after the Chilton dance, Emily doesn't let Lorelai come to the Christmas bash. This is one of Emily's worst storylines, if not the worst one of all. She should understand how hurtful that is and she should see things from Lorelai's POV a lot more often.