Summary

• Rory's inability to handle criticism in Gilmore Girls stemmed from her upbringing filled with constant praise and a lack of tools to cope with negativity.
• Mitchum's blunt about Rory's journalistic capabilities proved to be accurate, leading her to flounder in her career in Gilmore Girls.
• Despite her potential, Rory's failure to accept and improve ultimately hindered her progress as a journalist throughout the series and into the revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

Although it's been 17 years since Gilmore Girls wrapped up its final season, there's been a controversial moment in the series that's stuck with me. Gilmore Girls ran for seven seasons, and in 2016, the main cast reunited for a four-part miniseries, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. While some have criticized the show for its lack of dramatic tension, it's impossible to ignore its lasting impact and popularity, particularly as a mainstay on streaming and as many viewers' go-to show for a comfort binge-watch.

In Gilmore Girls season 5, Rory's (Alexis Bledel) bright future took an unexpected turn when she received some less-than-stellar from her boyfriend's father, the media mogul, Mitchum Huntzberger (Gregg Henry). So used to being praised for all she did, Rory was incapable of taking Mitchum's . Instead of processing his criticisms and working on self-improvement, Rory, instead, decided to tank her finals at Yale, steal a boat with Logan (Matt Czuchry), and go into event planning and marketing with the DAR. Maybe, then, Mitchum was right about Rory after all.

Mitchum Huntzberger Might Be Blunt, But He Wasn’t Wrong About Rory

Logan's Dad Told Rory She Didn't Have What It Takes To Be A Journalist, And He Was Right

Mitchum wasn't exactly the nicest man, but the show made an effort to highlight that his media empire was booming and that his vast experience was widely respected, despite his very direct approach. Whether out of guilt or obligation, Mitchum extended an internship opportunity to Rory, giving her the chance to get hands-on experience in a real newsroom. Rory approached the internship in her usual Rory way, gathering information about her new boss, and quickly adjusting to the rhythms of the busy office.

So, as a good mentor, Mitchum offered to give Rory on her performance, a very normal and responsible thing for someone in a position of power to do. She welcomed it expecting that she was about to get praise as she always had. Assessments aren't always positive, however. is meant to get a better understanding of how you're doing, regardless if you're doing good or bad. Sadly, Mitchum's review of Rory's internship performance was less than stellar, which she didn't take lightly.

Mitchum: I've worked with a lot of people over the years, interns, new hires. I've got a pretty good gut sense for people's strengths and weaknesses, whether they have that certain something to make it in journalism. It's a tough business, a lot of stress. And I have to tell you, you don't got it. Now, guts can be wrong -- mine's been wrong before -- but not often.

...

Rory: But I thought I was in a really good rhythm with everyone here.

Mitchum: I'm not saying you're not competent. You're smart, you're terrific at anticipating needs. Actually, you'd make a great assistant.

In a media environment, getting rejected time after time, having your work edited and your favorite lines tossed out repeatedly are all just part of the job. Getting negative and angry responses from readers, publishers, and editors is a part of being a journalist. Mitchum was spot-on in identifying that Rory didn't "have it" to become a journalist, but she did make an exceptional assistant, as evidenced by her performance at the paper.

Even in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, Mitchum offered to help Rory with her career, suggesting that he genuinely wanted to see her succeed.

Rory’s Upbringing Made Her Incapable Of Taking Criticism In Gilmore Girls

Rory Was Only Ever Heaped With Praise

Rory didn't always have an easy ride despite being a Gilmore. Lorelai (Lauren Graham) shared stories of how they struggled financially, forcing her daughter to work extra hard to get top grades so she could get accepted into Chilton. Despite this, Lorelai still did a great job of raising Rory, offering her daughter the kind of that she never felt she had growing up in Gilmore Girls. In doing so, however, Lorelai inadvertently raised Rory to be incapable of accepting anything negative. She didn't give her daughter the tools to cope when things went awry.

While this was great for building her confidence, it turned Rory into someone unable to handle the slightest criticism, even though it came from a good place.

The praise was further compounded when her grandparents, Richard (Edward Herrmann) and Emily (Kelly Bishop), perceived Rory as incapable of making any mistake. She was perfection, and they frequently told her how she could do no wrong. While this was great for building her confidence, it turned Rory into someone unable to handle the slightest criticism, even though it came from a good place. This is deadly for any writer, let alone a journalist whose work will be constantly picked at and criticized.

Rory Was Still Flailing In Her Career In The Gilmore Girls Revival, Proving Mitchum Right

Years Later, Rory Still Couldn't Get Her Career On Track

After Rory received Mitchum's , she quit Yale and stole a boat as an act of rebellion. She had to deal with the fallout of her actions, but instead of getting back on track to be a writer, she opted to go the easy route to move forward by planning events for her grandma's DAR organization. Rory's actions proved Mitchum right. She could have accepted the and worked on the aspects that he mentioned or even used that overconfidence to go out into the world to prove the man wrong.

Instead, when Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life returned in 2016, Rory still wasn't the next Christiane Amanpour, as she'd always dreamed of. In fact, Rory's career was flailing. In the Gilmore Girls series finale, she shared that she was going on the campaign trail for then-Senator Barack Obama. Surely, if she had what it takes to be a journalist, she could've leveraged this experience into a reasonable career, particularly since that senator would run for president and get elected twice. Mitchum Huntzberger wasn't the nicest guy, but he was right about Rory.