Gilmore Girls: 10 Of The Worst Things Rory & Lorelai Did To Each Other

While Rory and Lorelai share almost everything about their lives with each other on Gilmore Girls, their relationship isn’t quite as rosy as it seems to be at first. It’s fun that they can talk about anything while eating junk food and watching movies, and it’s inspiring that Lorelai does everything within her power to make Rory’s life happy. But between bad fights and moments when they don’t see eye to eye, the mother/daughter duo sometimes have trouble understanding each other.

It’s always tough to watch Rory and Lorelai experience tension within their otherwise charming relationship. Sometimes, these beloved characters hurt each other and their bond seems to be on thin ice.

10 Rory And Lorelai Stop Speaking For A Long Time

The saddest part of season 6 of Gilmore Girls is that Rory and Lorelai take some time away from each other. Fans still dislike remembering the iconic mother and daughter ignoring each other, not hanging out, and not even talking on the phone.

Of all the ways that the characters have hurt each other, this has got to be the most painful. Lorelai can’t believe that Rory is making so many big mistakes, and Rory just wants her mom to understand why she’s left Yale.

9 Lorelai Warns Dean And Is Too Harsh With Jess

When Lorelai realizes that Rory and Dean are serious about each other, she lectures Dean and warns him that the people of Stars Hollow will cause him a lot of pain if he hurts Rory. This seems like a strange speech to make and it’s definitely an overreaction, especially since teenagers are likely going to date and breakup and it’s a rite of passage.

Lorelai is also wrong for treating Jess so harshly. She could see the situation from his POV and realize that he’s dealing with an emotional and tough time in his life. While Lorelai and Rory are always close, Lorelai can be harsh toward her boyfriends or potential partners.

8 Lorelai Gets Engaged To Max Too Quickly

A lot of fans think that it’s strange that Lorelai would begin a relationship with Rory’s English teacher Max and not think about how tricky this could get for Rory. But what about how fast Lorelai and Max decide to get married?

The couple starts dating a few episodes into season 1 and they get engaged in the season 1 finale, and it seems like they’ve only been together for a few months. It seems like Lorelai could think about how this situation will affect Rory a bit more carefully.

7 Lorelai Refuses To Tell Rory Why She Left Max

In “The Road Trip To Harvard” Gilmore Girls episode, Lorelai and Rory joke around at a cheesy inn, Rory sits in on a Harvard class, and they both think about the big changes that are approaching in their lives.

But this is a strange plotline as Lorelai, who has always prided herself on being close with Rory and sharing everything, won’t tell Rory why she didn’t want to marry Max. While she explains that it feels wrong, her explanation remains vague, and it’s like Lorelai can’t decide how much she should really share with her daughter.

6 Rory Disappears Without Telling Lorelai Where She’s Going

In the season 1 episode “P.S. I Love…” Rory is devastated after breaking up with Dean and disappears. While she goes to Emily and Richard’s house and is totally safe, she doesn’t tell Lorelai anything, which is definitely cause for concern.

Rory could think more about Lorelai’s feelings here and let her know that she needs some time to herself and that she’ll come home when she feels better. Or she could talk to Lorelai about her feelings, which might be a better solution. After all, it’s Lorelai who shows Rory how to wallow a few episodes earlier.

5 Rory Doesn’t Go To Lorelai’s Business School Graduation

Rory is so invested in her friendship with Jess that is slowly turning romantic that she doesn’t go to Lorelai’s business school graduation at the end of season 2.

This is one of the worst things that Rory does to her mom, as this is such a big moment and something that Rory should be there for. It’s impossible to imagine Lorelai not going to one of Rory’s Chilton events, and it doesn’t make sense that Rory wouldn’t make this event a priority.

4 Lorelai Never Really Addresses Christopher’s Absence

Christopher’s clingy Gilmore Girls moments are always more memorable than the times when he is mature and kind, and he weaves in and out of Rory’s life throughout all 7 seasons and in the Netflix revival A Year In The Life.

While Lorelai definitely knows that Chris isn’t a wonderful dad, she and Rory never seem to have a real, serious, heart-to-heart talk about the difference between Rory’s expectations and the reality of what Christopher is able to give her. This would help Rory a lot and it seems like a failure on Lorelai’s part.

3 Rory Should Be Able To See Richard And Emily Without A Deal

Luke’s Diner, the charm of Stars Hollow, winter scenes, and Friday Night Dinners are all staples of Gilmore Girls that fans would miss a lot. But even though Rory and Lorelai’s Friday evenings at Emily and Richard’s are both perfectly funny and dramatic, it’s too bad that Lorelai doesn’t find a way to get along with her parents before making the deal that they will cover Rory’s Chilton tuition.

While Lorelai has a right to be disappointed that her parents didn’t support her decision to have Rory and not marry Christopher, they love Rory and seem to have come around a bit, and it seems like they would have been open to being part of Rory’s life much earlier.

2 Rory Often Pits Richard And Emily Against Lorelai

Rory makes mistakes at Yale, including leaving school, and she also uses this situation to pit her mom against her grandparents. Rory likes that Emily and Richard understand where she’s coming from and that they want her to live with them, but this isn’t very nice or fair to Lorelai, who knows that Rory is suffering.

Rory understands the tough family history between Lorelai and her parents, so it’s a shame that she makes this decision, which only makes it even harder for Lorelai to get along with Emily and Richard.

1 Lorelai Hates That Rory Plays Golf With Richard

The season 1 episode “Kill Me Now” sees Rory learning how to golf and having fun at Richard’s club. But while this is a school requirement, Lorelai gets incredibly upset and envious.

It’s a shame that Lorelai takes this personally, as she should want Rory to connect with her grandfather, and this is only going to help Rory succeed at Chilton.

About The Author

Aya Tsintziras
(1730 Articles Published)

Aya Tsintziras is a freelance writer who writes about pop culture and TV. She has a Political Science degree from the University of Toronto and a Masters of Journalism from Ryerson University. She loves coffee, reading, working out, and watching TV. She lives in Toronto with her husband.

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