After ending in 2007 to critical acclaim and a resurgence on TikTok the character of Rory Gilmore has been the subject of debate specifically the split in her character halfway through the show. Series 1-3 Rory has the reputation of a being perfect. Her main attributes are being innocent charming and above all an ambitious reader and academic. She goes to a private school with an ‘old money’ aesthetic, she joins the school paper she references everything from Sylvia Plath to Dostoevsky. Leading to ‘early series Rory’ being idolised online there are whole mood boards created around her: what did she wear, what does she read, who’s her best boyfriend (Logan obviously) even the fictionalised small town she lives in worships her for her brain and the amount of coffee she pours into it.
But the audiences’ good will towards Rory starts to strain in season four when Rory gets to Yale, an ivy league school of her dreams. One of the unforgivable sins of Rory Gilmore in series four is losing her virginity to her ex-boyfriend while he was married. When her mum, Lorelai, finds out about this and criticizes Rory she responds, "but he’s my Dean" this is the phrase splashed across comment sections as the moment Rory was ‘ruined’. The final nail in the coffin was Rory the academic, career driven, wonder girl dropping out of Yale and running off to live a cushioned life with her grandparents due to her boss at an internship doubting her ability; only getting snapped back into academic life with her ex Jess’ iconic speech.
Rory she responds, "but he’s my Dean" this is the phrase splashed across comment sections as the moment Rory was ‘ruined’.
Even with all these moments I wonder, is Rory all that bad? Personally, I find later series Rory much more interesting to watch. I love a flawed protagonist and other people do too think of Walter White and Dexter both universally compelling characters (and Rory’s not even making meth!). I think the shift in production and expectations of the show had something to do with it people identified with Rory in the first series and now they feel they have to identify with someone who’s making bad choices and lost her innocence, but I find she becomes much more human and after all these years isn’t it worth something that she’s still a character we love to hate?