Gilmore Girls - Rory, the O.G. Annoying Millennial

When Gilmore Girls first aired, Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) was the rare teenage girl character who always had her nose in a book and was super close with her mom, Lorelai (Lauren Graham). It’s safe to say that most who watched the original series imagined that after Rory’s graduation from Yale, her arc would only continue its upward trajectory. So it came as a surprise when, in 2016’s Gilmore Girls revival A Year In the Life, the young Ms. Gilmore hadn’t exactly become a raging success; instead, she was a portrait of a faltering millennial. But if you look closer, the original series holds clues as to what went wrong for Rory. Here’s our Take on what Rory’s failures teach us about the importance of forging your own path and taking responsibility for your mistakes early on.

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[MariaLuisa-lerf]

I think Rory's downfall is pretty realistic. She grew up being adored and treated like a saint by everyone, so when she went to college and started living in the "real world" she realised she just wasn't that special and crackled. Tbh I think that if her relashionship with Jess had worked out things would be different, since he was one of the few people who called out Rory on her bs.

[PhoenixNailsss]

Honestly, Paris wasn't socially intelligent but she was everything Harvard would want and worked to get there, she should've gotten in.

[samedhaarora]

The best development was Jess. His story from 'I hate everything' rebel to a mature adult with an actual job is immaculate.

[jennamichie]

Rory really was the daughter that Emily and Richard wanted. Reliant on them, basically full of herself, but smart enough to go to the best schools like they did. I guess in someway Lorelei saw that stuff as bad and turned away, that’s why every time she runs into an issue with her mom she runs right to her grandparents because they fill up her ego in someway

[ThunderTaker]

I hate how much Gilmore Girls tries to portray Lorelei and Rory as poor, just because you didn’t live in excess, doesn’t make you underprivileged.

[Lecintel]

I liked it how they didn't sugarcoat it and showed that people don't always end up successful by the age of 30

[idkidk]

Rory is the character that doesn’t think she is privileged because of her upbringing. Ever since her mom got in touch with her grandparents, she got comfortable and ran to them for everything. It’s not surprising that Rory turned out the way she did.. No one called her out on her mess most of the time and she got used to be praised by everyone in her life.

[judithduran]

I love when Logan checks Rory on her privilege. Logan knew who he was and wasn’t about to have rory talk shit

[marianneshepherd]

Tbh Paris was my favorite character, whilst she had the same privileges (wealthy, good schools) she completely understood the importance of being driven and hard work. Unlike Rory it was often implied that she didn't have a deep relationship with either of her parents, instead her nanny comes to support her at her graduation bringing along her children (or grandchildren) who Paris knows and has also developed relationships with. In the 'Year' episodes its obvious that her hard work has paid off as she is very successful (there are still some imperfections with her life but she acknowledges them and you feel that she will put in the work to move forward).

[Randomnamerandomnumber]

The thing I don't like about the pregnancy with Rory is that it feeds into the idea that you grow up once you become a parent. That's not true, and is a dangerous way of thinking.

[chamab.]

Rory was the type of girl who wanted to struggle but not really struggle. She liked the look and feel of it but as long as she had a safety net. I’ve heard some say Jess was better because he called her out on her sh*t but so did Logan. Rory was the only one who didn’t see it.

[littlebandgeek]

I think class was a HUGE part of Rory's downfall. Let's not forget, she turned down a permanent, full time writing job with a salary and a 401K at a less well known, less prestigious newspaper for a chance at a 6 month, unpaid internship with arguably one of the most famous newspapers in the world. Any person who needs a job to pay rent and bills knows that's a pretty easy decision to make, but Rory turns up her nose at it because she has no concept of money due to constantly being bailed out by Emily and Richard.

[elizabethh]

I wouldn’t call the Gilmores “upper middle class.” They’re definitely established old money.

[trinaq]

The way Rory repeatedly forgot about Paul in the revival irked me. Then I realised that she was so used to being fawned over in her small town, that once she got to college, and realised that everyone was just as smart as her, she couldn't take it, and used him as a crutch.

[stuffwithsoph]

Rory lost me immediately when she kept dragging Dean along despite liking Jess

[yoyo]

My favourite character is Lane, she managed to do things by herself learning independency by taking a job, married the guy she loved, having two babies, following her dream in music and having to continue her family's business which during the whole show was a good way to make money.

[gertrudessle]

As the show progressed, I couldn't help getting more and more uncomfortable with the way Rory was acting. She was amazing in the first seasons, but then she became a bad person, entitled to getting her way and never taking responsibility for her actions. That's the saddest thing ever to me

[SonniesOriginals]

For me, Rory's downfall really started when she dropped out of Yale in season 5/6, but her weaknesses are even hinted at in earlier seasons, like when she had a meltdown in Chilton because she failed one test. I think Lorelai was so focused on providing her opportunities and making sure she got everything she wanted that she never properly taught Rory how to deal with the one thing we will all inevitably encounter: failure. Sometimes even being smart and doing your best is not good enough to secure success.

[wutanglza]

Honestly as a young girl I saw Rory as a role model, to just work diligently and do what I'm told, and thought that everything else would fall into place. Now I find myself in a similiar situation, with some of the same bad traits. Only difference is boys/men didn't magically fall in love with me, and my shyness wasn't seen as "adorable" and my parents/grandparents didn't have money, still I somehow ended up entitled and with that same mentality, that I was "supposed to be successful". I take this video as inspiration to work on myself.

[macailab]

Logan was 100% on the "you're one of us" speech. She was judging and looking down on her friends, peers, and boyfriend yet while they were growing up and setting goals she was stuck on the judgment box and "I'm not one of you" trope. I loved that moment when Logan ripped the bandaid off and showed her the privilege she has.