Why We Hate Rory Gilmore
Rory Gilmore: We've all wanted to be her at one point or another. The Gilmore Girls aesthetic is the epitome of fall. I’m sure we’ve all daydreamed about stepping into their world, living the academic aesthetic, surrounded by books, and sipping coffee in Luke's Diner.
The show starts off with magic. Lorelai is a dream mom, and Rory is the girl we all want to be. She’s smart, witty, liked by everyone around her, and has a bright future with her academic aspirations. However, in the show's later seasons, we come to see Rory in a different light.
Image Courtesy: The WB
This Gilmore girl’s most noticeable and, frankly, frustrating flaw is her sense of entitlement. At the beginning of season 4, Rory arrives at Yale for her freshman year. As she explores the campus, she discovers a tree in a quiet courtyard that she plans to use as her study tree. However, the next day, she finds a student sitting there. Rory, in all her entitlement, confronts the student, declaring that the tree is "hers” and that he should evacuate her study space. This becomes a significant moment in the show, symbolizing Rory's initial struggles to adapt to the realities of college life.
Image Courtesy: The WB
We see toxic traits in Rory again when she befriends her ex-boyfriend, Dean. This is a pivotal moment where we witness Rory's questionable choices and behavior. After breaking up with her previous boyfriend, Rory finds herself reconnecting with Dean. Their chance encounter at a party in Stars Hollow sparks a renewed friendship. As their interactions continue, it becomes clear that Rory and Dean's feelings for each other are reigniting. They begin to see each other in secret and eventually cross the line by having an affair while Dean is still married to Lindsey. Rory tries to defend this by claiming he’s "her Dean," implying that he somehow belongs to her, but her justification falls flat because, well, he's married!
Things only get worse from here as Rory becomes romantically involved with Logan Huntzberger and falls deeper into the “trust fund” world, as she likes to say. She often criticizes and talks down upon her “trust fund” peers, claiming they have everything handed to them. However, what Rory fails to acknowledge is that she's also part of this world, and her family's name, money, and connections have played a significant role in her privileged life. Rory's entitlement becomes more pronounced when she decides to steal a yacht after receiving her first piece of criticism. This impulsive and rash decision showcases her blatant disregard for consequences, and it demonstrates her detachment from the reality most college students face.
Image Courtesy: The WB
While Rory has often been portrayed as the perfect girl next door who can do no wrong, her transition to adulthood reveals a stark lack of discipline. With no one to provide a reality check, Rory's self-image as a perfect angel remains unchallenged. She has no inner compass telling her that maybe she shouldn’t sleep with a married man, drop out of Yale, or steal that boat with her rich boyfriend. Lorelai does her best to be a great mom and friend to Rory, but let’s be honest: Rory needs more than a good movie and coffee buddy; she needs discipline.
In the world of Gilmore Girls, Rory may have started as the girl we all aspired to be, but as the series unfolds, we witness a transformation that leaves us conflicted. Rory’s sense of entitlement, lapses in moral judgment, and lack of self-awareness challenge our admiration for her character. Her journey into adulthood is marked by questionable choices and a failure to recognize her own flaws. We watch as she falls short of the image we held of her, and it's hard to deny our disappointment as she strays further from the path of the Rory we once admired.
Anyway, I now realize my mistake. I’ve spent so long identifying with Rory that I’m certain I’ve overlooked one very important character- Lorelai Gilmore. I am now placing all my hopes and dreams into this character instead.
P.S.- Justice for Lane.
Image Courtesy: The WB
Strike Out,
Julia Melo
Boca Raton
Julia Melo is a content writer for Strike Magazine Boca. Born in Brazil and on the same day as Queen B(eyoncé), this Virgo loves anything art, fashion, and nature related. In her free time you can find her either lost in a good book or hanging out with friends. You can reach her on insta @juliaamelo__ or email juliaamelo99@gmail.com
