who Rory should end up with, with viewers fiercely in the camp of Team Dean, Team Jess, or Team Logan.
This, of course, turned Gilmore Girls actors Jared Padalecki, Milo Ventimiglia, and Matt Czuchry into three of Hollywood's biggest heartthrobs, but they weren't alone. Several other 2000s shows aimed at teens featured young, attractive stars whom fans couldn't get enough of. Two of the most popular were teen drama series One Tree Hill and The O.C. In addition to their success, both of these shows featured actors who had prominent roles in Gilmore Girls.
Chad Michael Murray & Adam Brody Left Gilmore Girls For Other Opportunities
They Went On To Star In One Tree Hill & The O.C.
On Gilmore Girls, Chad Michael Murray played Tristin DuGray, a cocky rich kid at Chilton Prep and an early antagonist of Rory's. Though he frequently teased her, giving her the unflattering nickname "Mary", it was clear that Tristin carried a torch for the youngest Gilmore.
I'm Convinced Rory & Logan's Story Was Originally Supposed To Include A Different Gilmore Girls Character
Rory and Logan have an epic love story in Gilmore Girls, but there's an earlier character who checked many of the same boxes as Logan in the story.
It looked like Tristin could have had a bigger role on the show, but when he was abruptly shipped off to military school, it raised a few eyebrows. Murray revealed on the I Am All In with Scott Patterson podcast that he decided to leave because more acting opportunities became available. Shortly after his Gilmore Girls departure, the acyor booked One Tree Hill. Murray would play Lucas Scott for six seasons of the show, and he became one of TV's biggest stars in the process.
Just like Dave, the actor left for California, as he was cast to play Seth Cohen on The O.C.
Another 2000s television icon is Adam Brody, who played Lane's love interest, Dave Rygalski, in Gilmore Girls season 3. Though many of us may disagree with Brody's assessment that Dave wasn't Lane's boyfriend, he became a fan-favorite character for how doting and caring he was to her. However, Brody's time on Gilmore Girls was cut short. Just like Dave, the actor left for California, as he was cast to play Seth Cohen on The O.C.
Chad Michael Murray on Gilmore Girls |
|
First Episode |
Season 1, Episode 2, "The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton" |
Last Episode |
Season 2, Episode 9, "Run Away, Little Boy" |
Adam Brody on Gilmore Girls |
|
First Episode |
Season 3, Episode 3, "Application Anxiety" |
Last Episode |
Season 3, Episode 20, "Say Goodnight, Gracie" |
Though Seth was meant to be the nerdy character whose attractiveness paled in comparison to bad boy Ryan Atwood's, fans locked onto Seth's sweet, dorky personality. Brody has taken this onscreen persona to the bank, and he will use it again in Nobody Wants This season 2, which will see him reprise his role as Noah "Hot Rabbi" Roklov.
Murray's Tristan Had Great Chemistry With Rory
Their Relationship Could Have Caused Trouble For Her & Dean
Enemies-to-lovers romances can be full of red flags because nobody wants a likable heroine to date a jerk. Tristin certainly was that when we first met him on Gilmore Girls, but over time, he softened a bit. A big reason for this is because he legitimately had feelings for Rory and realized he wasn't going to impress her with his good looks and money.
It looks like Rory was starting to like Tristin too, and if he wasn't sent away, it felt like Gilmore Girls would have explored a potential romance between them. This would have caused huge problems with her boyfriend at the time, Dean, who was already wary of Tristin.
It would have been very interesting to see Tristin have to contend with Jess.
Honestly, that would have been perfect because we could have explored the whole storyline of Dean being threatened by privileged men in Rory's life long before Logan arrived on the scene. Then we wouldn't have been forced to watch it play out in season 5 when Dean had long since served his purpose and was dragging the show down. Plus, it would have been very interesting to see Tristin have to contend with Jess.
Lane Deserved Her Happily Ever After With Brody's David
Her Awful Gilmore Girls Ending Is A Crime
Chad Michael Murray was great on Gilmore Girls, but the loss of Adam Brody is the real heartbreak. With renewed interest in the actor after Nobody Wants This blew up, so did Dave Rygalski on social media. There are myriad TikTok videos singing Dave's praises for being "the standard", and comparing him favorably to other romantic heroes like Ryan Gosling's Noah Calhoun in The Notebook. Much of this stems from the storyline in which Dave read the Bible in one night in an effort to appease Lane's mom and get her blessing for him to take Lane to prom.
It was with Dave that Lane finally got the storyline she deserved, as previously she had been nothing more than Rory's annoying sidekick. But when Dave left, so did Lane's chance at a decent Gilmore Girls ending. Sure, it was fun watching her come into her own as she toured with her band, but having her end up with the immature Zach just reminded us of her superior relationship with Dave.
What's worse is that she got pregnant with twins after the first time she had sex. It almost seemed like Gilmore Girls was punishing her when they should have given her a superior partner. If a second Gilmore Girls revival ever happens, I'm holding out hope for a Lane and Dave reunion.
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Gilmore Girls
9/10- Release Date
- 2000 - 2007-00-00
- Network
- The WB
- Writers
- Amy Sherman-Palladino
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUYIn the fictional town of Star's Hollow, single mother Lorelai Gilmore raises her high-achieving teenage daughter Rory. Mother and daughter rely on each other throughout their own life changes, romantic entanglements, and friendships.
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One Tree Hill
6/10- Release Date
- 2003 - 2012-00-00
- Network
- The CW
- Showrunner
- Mark Schwahn
Cast
Chad Michael Murray
James Lafferty
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUYSet in the fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina, One Tree Hill chronicles the complicated and intertwined lives of its residents. Following half-brothers and rivals Lucas and Nathan Scott as they compete both for positions on their school basketball team and for the affection of their fellow students, Tree Hill's community is built around community spirit and the complex workings of the ever-growing Scott family.
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The O.C.
7/10- Release Date
- 2003 - 2007-00-00
- Network
- FOX
- Showrunner
- Josh Schwartz
Cast
Mischa Barton
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUYWhen troubled teen Ryan (Benjamin McKenzie) is taken in by his public defender (Peter Gallagher), he suddenly finds himself on the right side of the tracks. The O.C. follows as Ryan tries his best to fit into the affluent California community while navigating the relentless drama of teen life, but his new home of Newport Beach is a town filled to the brim with secrets and scandal.
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