The Reverse Character Development of Rory Gilmore

By Camilla Bekbossynova

When we think about one of the most beloved comedy-drama television series of the 2000s, the first show that comes to mind is Gilmore Girls.

Known for its iconic motherdaughter duo and heartwarming relationships, the show was a huge success back in the day and continues to be watched by millions of fans all over the globe. The show is set in a small town called Stars Hollow and follows Lorelai (a young mother) and her intellectual teenage daughter, who she named after herself. Both characters have fleshed out personalities and a plot outside of their relationship. In the pilot episode, we’re introduced to the residents of this small-knit town, and it’s safe to say that most of us fell in love with the characters, story, and chemistry between the cast members as soon as they appeared on the screen. When I first started watching the show, I immediately fancied Rory because she was the embodiment of perfection: ambitious, smart, and gifted. She was someone many of us connected with because, unlike many other characters, she was also relatable. Rory loves everything most people do: reading, studying, and coffee. She has moments where she’s awkward around new people and says or does the wrong thing. Nonetheless, she was still someone many people looked up to and even idolized. We watch her journey as she attends a prestigious school in Hartford from season one through season three.

Rory is a quintessential gifted kid. Even though she works hard and puts in the hours, she likes studying. She especially loves reading and hopes to become a journalist after she’s done with her education. She mentions how she has a yen for traveling and hopes to visit places like Paris, Rome, London, Prague, Istanbul, and Fez. What I like about Rory is that unlike her peers at Chilton, she reads for personal enjoyment. Books challenge and thrill her, and she devours every single page she reads. Quoting her speech, “I live in two worlds. One is a world of books.” There’s nothing wrong with reading books in order to gain knowledge, but I think making Rory a recreational reader made her seem more human and real. During the first three seasons, Rory was essentially an interesting and admirable character. But everything went downhill after she graduated high school. In a span of a couple of episodes, Rory Gilmore went from being the sweetest girl in the whole world who wouldn’t hurt anyone to a spoiled and cheating woman. What caused this sudden change of character? Many thought it was unexpected and came out of nowhere, but it was slowly building up from the second season when Rory had previously cheated on her boyfriend Dean and allowed the entire town to villainize him. This showed viewers that Rory was ready to sacrifice a long-term relationship for a guy who she’s known for a hot second. I don’t blame Rory for being attracted to Jess because the heart wants what it wants. But she should have had the decency to break up with her boyfriend before pursuing another man. I think a big mistake on her part was choosing Yale over Harvard. I never understood the reasoning behind her choice because Harvard has been her dream since she was four years old. It made no sense why she casually changed her mind. The fear of leaving her family behind ruled over her emotions. Yale was the safe option, but it held her back. She never fully allowed herself to experience life outside of her small town and her relationship with her mother. As I mentioned above, Rory’s downfall began in season four. During her college years, Rory started acting like a different person. She had a spoiled attitude, refused to recognize her privilege, and started an affair with a married man. In Rory's defense, I have to say that most actions seemed out of character for her. I wasn’t the only one who noticed this, and viewers were quick to call out the writers for the character inconsistencies and plot holes. It was never properly addressed, but Alexis Bledel (Rory Gilmore) says, and I quote, “I remember getting that script and thinking this is so out of character.”

However, Rory was still a beloved character for many fans during her lowest moments. People had an emotional attachment to her, and they still had hope for a redemption arc in future seasons. The breaking point for fans struck when Rory decided to drop out of Yale. For the past four years, we’ve been watching this brilliant girl work her way to the top, only to see her give up as soon as she received an ounce of criticism. After her decision was made, she moved in with her grandparents, started fighting with her mother, and became the worst version of herself. Her boyfriend, at the time, supported her dropping out of Yale nonsense, as did Richard and Emily. Instead of knocking some sense into her, they let her do whatever she pleased, and when she made mistakes, she never suffered any real consequences.

Sometime later, an old friend pays her a visit, and he is the only person who has the ability to influence Rory. Jess had met Rory when he was a troubled teenage kid. Everyone in town, including himself, assumed he wouldn't make it out in the real world. With no education, no support system, or trust fund, who would've thought otherwise? But Jess was the one who made something of himself while Rory spent her time on Logan and worthless functions. When Jess asked Rory if she graduated early, it showed viewers her reverse character development. Jess wholeheartedly believed that she was done with college already, and he never expected to hear that she quit school. Looking at this new person in front of him, he knew that this wasn't the Rory he used to know. Overall, her story was disappointing, to say the least, but it also seems logical. If we take into account her upbringing and the environment she grew up in, I think it's understandable why she couldn't take the pressure anymore.

Lorelai, Richard, Emily, and most people surrounding Rory, put her on a pedestal. They coddled her since she was a child, which is why she crumbled when she received valid criticism for the first time in her life. In everyone's eyes, she could do no wrong. So when she finally stumbled, Lorelai couldn't accept it. If it was anyone else in her place, maybe the initial reaction would have been different. I tried seeing this situation from Rory’s perspective. As a writer myself, I can’t imagine what it must've been like to hear that you don't have what it takes to make it in the industry. I’d be lying if I said that it wouldn't have crushed my confidence. But looking at this situation realistically, I understand that the world is rough. For the most part, people won’t believe in you or see the potential in your work. Mitchum said, “And if she’s got what it takes, she’ll bounce back.” Rory could have proved that she is capable, and she had that spark and passion in order to become the next big journalist. Instead, she did the exact opposite, which confirmed that she wasn't good enough.

Rory is the most accurate representation of a burnt-out gifted kid. I think we’ve all seen this happen before: a kid is praised for being naturally good at everything, and when they realize that they're not that special or unique, their soul breaks. Having said all that, it’s hard to tell who's wrong or right. Every single character, including Lorelai, did what they thought was best for Rory. In this case, everything got piled up and fell apart, which led to her downfall. The show abruptly ended in 2007 without giving fans a proper epilogue to the story. But the last scene did give us a sense of closure. In 2016, Netflix confirmed that the cast and crew were coming back on set for a small revival. To say that the viewers were excited would be an understatement. After the poorly written ending of season seven, people were expecting to see growth from Rory.

The reality didn't live up to the expectations since the writers treated the revival as their chance to continue the show. Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life is set almost a decade after the series ended, and somehow, there was no development from anyone, especially Rory. They essentially ruined her character and made her unbearable. She still got her way with everything, continued being obnoxious and selfabsorbed. On the other hand, we see her previous partners, who were considered not good enough for her, living a happy life. It’s quite ironic how both Jess and Dean matured and turned out to be more successful than Rory herself. But I strongly believe that she needed to go through those periods in her life to grow as an individual. The changes might not be obvious in the revival episodes, but not everyone learns from their mistakes immediately. I hope somewhere down the road, Rory can change for the better. I also understand that people have always hated nuanced characters who have multiple layers to them. People label them as annoying or boring because they portray human feelings that aren't always positive. Her struggles, fears, and problems felt real. Good education and big dreams don't guarantee a perfect, problem-free life. And as I grow older, I start understanding Rory and the decisions she made along the way. Maybe she wasn't everything we expected her to be, and she didn't get a perfect ending as most shows like these do. But it portrayed human emotions, problems, and decisions that allowed the viewers to connect with Rory Gilmore.