In a recent episode of Scott Patterson's (Luke Danes) Gilmore Girls podcast, I'm All In, he revealed that he had "intel" that the show was ending after season 7. While castmates of his were shocked by the cancelation, fans on Reddit agreed that the later seasons of Gilmore Girls weren't the show's best and it was leading towards a conclusion.
Although Gilmore Girls eventually got a revival miniseries, A Year in the Life, to show where the characters ended up, it didn't compare to the original show. The debate on what season of Gilmore Girls is the best versus what season is the worst is a ionate topic for diehard fans. Each season had highs and lows, but Reddit agreed that the later seasons don't compare to the early ones.
The Best Seasons
Season 2
According to a lengthy Reddit thread, season 2 isn't the series' best season but it's not the worst either. In season 2, Max was too clingy and Lorelai called off the wedding, Jess was new in town, Rory was dating Dean, and Paris and Rory became closer.
Redditor Someone-w-issues called season 2 "sacred." Another , Mizbizsav, did a rating of all of season 2's episodes and calculated that season 2 scored a 6.76 compared to season 1's 7.37. Worththewait96 agreed that season 2 was good but not as good as season 1, writing, "I definitely prefer season 1 over season 2. I like the first half of 2 overall better than the second."
Season 4
In season 4, Rory started Yale as a college freshman, Lane loved the popularity of her band, and Luke asked Lorelai to be his date at his sister's wedding. In the series finale, Lorelai and Sookie's Dragonfly Inn opened, and Luke and Lorelai started their relationship timeline with their first kiss. Season 4 was full of potential.
Reddit Tizercat shared a humorous tweet, writing "Why season 4 is the best season." The tweet read "If you aren't convinced that season 4 is the best season of Gilmore Girls just that it's the only season where Christopher doesn't make an appearance." Lindsuille agreed with the tweet and wrote, "I love [season 4] because it comes back to the cozy, bookish feeling of season one."
Season 1
Although it was the start of Gilmore Girls, season 1 had big twists and surprises. It was the introduction of Stars Hollow, Rory's start at Chilton, the beginning of Friday night dinners, and the early development of Lorelai and Max.
With so much happening, Jdpm1991 told Reddit that it was the "best season." They wrote, "I just love the calm atmosphere the show has before the major drama begins in season 2." Florastise agreed, writing, "100% agree with season 1 being the best, but for me, it's because it has the most comforting feeling and is the most nostalgic. I literally get a warm fuzzy feeling in my stomach when I watch it."
Season 3
In multiple Reddit threads, fans agreed that season 3 of Gilmore Girls beat the others. At this point in the series, Rory and Dean's relationship timeline was hanging by a thread when Rory kissed Jess at Sookie's wedding. If that love triangle wasn't dramatic enough, Lorelai feuded with her parents when Richard pushed Rory to go to Yale and Emily was mad that Lorelai paid off her debts, canceling Friday night dinners.
Fikafikafika shared that season 3 was their favorite because "You've already settled into all the characters." Likewise, Drumma1316 agreed, writing, "It's a pivotal season in that a lot of characters make life-changing decisions that drive seasons 4 and 5."
The Worst Seasons
Season 5
Fans of Rory and Logan's relationship loved season 5 because it was the start of their dramatic friendship and romance. Similarly, Lorelai and Luke moved past their decades-long friendship and became officially an item (for a short time). While these two aspects of season 5 were beloved, other parts of the season let fans down.
Redditor 3rdgilmore stated, "For me it's season 5, Rory's character started to go downhill, Luke and Lorelai's breakup, and the beginning of Lorelai and Rory's fight, and obviously Rory in jail." While season 5 was chaotic, it wasn't as poorly rated as the final two seasons.
Season 6
The main characters crumbled in season 6. Lorelai and Luke were engaged but their relationship was plagued when Luke found out he had a 12-year-old daughter. When Luke refused to elope with Lorelai, she ended things and slept with her ex, Christopher.
As disorderly as Lorelai's relationship was, her bond with Rory was worse. Rory dropped out of Yale in season 6, causing a huge rift in their relationship. Lorelai was no longer the "cool mom" in Rory's eyes. ChIoeprice told Reddit that season 6 was "terrible." "I am appalled at how much the quality of the show has gone downhill," they wrote. They noted how disappointing Rory's character had become and how upsetting Luke's storyline as a new dad was.
Season 7
A majority of fans agreed that season 7 was the worst season in Gilmore Girls. It was the only season without Amy Sherman-Palladino or Daniel Palladino writing and it showed. Lorelai and Christopher got married on a whim (even though she still loved Luke), Lane got back from her honeymoon only to find out she was pregnant, and Rory and Logan attempted a long-distance relationship. The only promising thing was that season 7's finale ended happily for Lorelai and Luke.
One Redditor wrote "Honestly, I think what I hate the most is how boring it is. There's no good to temper the bad." In particular, Lane's outcome was something that upset fans the most. Cyneburg8 wrote, "[Lane] barely got any freedom and was never to live her life being a drummer in a band touring the world. I wished that for her so badly." Although Rory got a job and Lorelai ended up with Luke, season 7 was a dud.