The most dedicated fans of Gilmore Girls may enjoy seeing Lorelai and Rory get dressed up for special events, certain fans on Reddit believe the celebratory episodes are overrated.
Redditors have vocalized their opinions about why some of the most pivotal moments in Rory's love life, as well as Luke and Lorelai's relationship, shouldn't be rewarded for being dysfunctional or chaotic, even if those episodes are entertaining. Certain episodes remain universally popular, but others with a high ranking on IMDb are labeled as overrated by Gilmore Girls fans on Reddit.
"Last Week Fights, This Week Tights"
Season 4, Episode 21
Liz and TJ's Renaissance wedding created a romantic setting for Lorelai and Luke to share a slow dance, to the ethereal sound of Sam Phillips singing "Reflecting Light." Even though this moment and this song are widely celebrated throughout the Gilmore Girls fandom, the episode, "Last Week Fights, This Week Tights," has a lot to unpack which some fans on Reddit can't get past.
As Redditor shc00075 explains, "I love Luke & Lorelai, but the Rory/Dean stuff overshadows and ruins it for me." After an awful date, Rory needs a ride home, and out of all her options, she decides to call Dean, and they eventually run into Jess at Yale. Rory thrived as a single college freshman, but the writers decided to revisit her past relationships for unnecessary drama.
"Raincoats And Recipes"
Season 4, Episode 22
Everything is running smoothly at the test run for the Dragonfly Inn, until Lorelai's ex-boyfriend Jason Stiles shows up, and misleads Luke, Emily, and Richard to believe that he is still dating Lorelai. Despite initial confusion, Luke and Lorelai are able to share their first kiss.
While many fans were happy Luke and Lorelai were finally together, the elation quickly turned to disappointment when Rory lost her virginity to Dean. Lorelai appropriately calls Rory out for sleeping with a married man, but the damage was already done. This selfish decision is considered one of Rory's biggest mistakes by fans on Reddit and changed the way fans perceived her character.
"They Shoot Gilmores, Don't They?"
Season 3, Episode 7
Stars Hollow is beloved for its small-town charm, eccentric residents, and themed events. One of the most memorable is the 24-hour dance-a-thon in the third season, which Lorelai was determined to win, with a drowsy Rory by her side. The retro hairstyles and costumes transported fans to simpler times, even if the drama of teen romance kept the storyline grounded in the 2000s.
While many fans view this as one of their favorite episodes, Jess' snarky attitude gets under Rory's skin, and he is later rewarded for his bad behavior. As Redditor Gaius_Octavius_ says, "It is insane that Rory wants to date him so much that she embarrassed everyone." For most viewers, Rory dating Jess seemed inevitable, but they should have been considerate of Dean and Shane's feelings.
"Teach Me Tonight"
Season 2, Episode 19
Jess was labeled as a troublemaker the moment he stepped foot in Stars Hollow. Despite the fact that he is really well-read, he refused to participate in his class and was on the brink of failing. When this is brought to Luke's attention, he recruits the smartest student he knows, Rory, to tutor Jess. It doesn't sound like the worst plan, but it ends in disaster.
The unexpected accident and the major argument between Luke and Lorelai were heartbreaking to watch, but while Redditors female_gazing09 and orbythegreat both cited this as one of the most overrated episodes, for most fans, "Teach Me Tonight," is redeemed by Kirk's short film, which is shown as a preamble to the town's movie night.
"I Can't Get Started"
Season 2, Episode 22
The finale of the second season brought together the ensemble cast for Sookie and Jackson's wedding, which featured special guests Emily, Richard, Christopher, and Jess. Through romantic rendezvouses, high school politics, and one of Lorelai's best quotes, this episode earned a high ranking from fans on IMDb, but not without criticism.
According to a poll on Reddit, several fans think the episode, "I Can't Get Started," is overrated, including Redditor shc00075 who doesn't get the hype, and believes the episode is, "just... fine." Although it created a lot of excitement for fans of Lorelai and Christopher, as well as Rory and Jess, it was all too good to be true.
"I Get A Sidekick Out Of You"
Season 6, Episode 19
Yet another wedding episode that fans believe is overrated is called, "I Get A Sidekick Out Of You," which features multiple ceremonies and a one-of-a-kind reception for Lane and Zack. The fast-paced episode includes fun moments with Kirk's Yummy Bartenders and the Hep Alien reunion. However, Lorelai and Rory are not as effervescent with Luke and Logan out of town.
The night takes a turn when Lorelai starts downing tequila shots, and Christopher doesn't stop her from making a drunken toast. Like many fans, Redditor Sara_Sorta says, "I skip the toast every rewatch. It's too much." After Lorelai spirals, and Logan lands in the hospital, the negatives, unfortunately, outweigh the positives in this episode.
"Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out"
Season 6, Episode 8
Jess makes a surprising return in the sixth season and appears to be a bit wiser. He gives a copy of his short novel called, "The Subsect" to Rory. Their friendly reunion is interrupted by Logan, who goes far beyond his standard level of condescension. Many fans on Team Jess appreciate how this episode shows his character's growth, and his ability to call out Rory's laundry list of uncharacteristic decisions.
Redditor Frazzledsoul points out, "If you are not that invested in Jess or his relationship with Rory, you probably aren't crazy about it." While the episode allows Jess and Rory to get reacquainted as adults, it also shows the ugly, villainous side of Logan, which is probably why his fans believe this episode is overrated.
"Rory's Dance"
Season 1, Episode 9
From the gorgeous dress that Lorelai makes for Rory, to the Emily and Lorelai get into one of their biggest fights.
The complicated dynamic of Lorelai and Emily's relationship is palpable throughout the series. While some fans appreciate how their mother/daughter relationship is orchestrated, others find it hard to watch their cutthroat argument. One Redditor states, "I love and hate this episode. It's almost excruciating to watch Emily tear Lorelai apart."
"Friday Night's Alright For Fighting"
Season 6, Episode 13
The erratic string of Friday night dinner fights between Emily, Richard, Lorelai, and Rory has ironically caused a lot of controversy among the fandom. On Reddit, fans debate whether the disted style of filming is a realistic way to capture a family argument, or if the tactic distracts from the point that nothing discussed is ever resolved, as Redditor LadyCatherineDeBourg explains.
While some fans prefer the fight scenes at the end of the episode, others prefer to watch Paris unravel in her bunker at the Yale Daily News, as Rory, Logan, and the staff work together to get the newspaper published on time. Despite these opposing yet valid points of view, Redditor Frazzledsoul says, "I am completely puzzled by that episode's popularity."
"You Jump, I Jump, Jack"
Season 5, Episode 7
The vintage aesthetic, set, and costumes for Rory's first Life and Death Brigade event are visually captivating, and many Team Logan fans note this as one of his best episodes. However, "You Jump, I Jump, Jack," also features problematic details that pertain to Luke's storyline.
Even though Richard and Emily were both obscenely condescending to Luke after discovering he was dating Lorelai, observant fans on Reddit were most concerned with Lorelai's behavior. Redditor reduciscope asks, "Can we just talk about how Lorelai pushes Luke to drive drunk?" Lorelai encouraged Luke to drink heavily around her parents, then insisted he drive home quickly. Between Luke's insinuated drunk driving and Logan and Rory jumping off a tower, this overrated episode is full of reckless decisions.