‘Gilmore Girls,’ Season One: 5 Must-See, Absolutely Essential Episodes

In the very first episode we’re introduced to the mother/daughter/best friend combo that is Lorelai and Rory. It’s revealed that Lorelai had Rory at sixteen, left a life a privilege for one of independence, and has an estranged relationship with her parents, Emily and Richard. When Rory gets accepted to the prestigious Chilton School, though, Lorelai must put her pride aside and ask her parents’ for the one thing she swore she never would: money.

Pilot episodes are usually hit or miss — they try to squeeze in massive amounts of information about every character in just forty-three minutes — but Gilmore’s truly stands out. I mean it’s the episode where we first meet Dean, the OG Dean who is sweet, maybe a little stalker-ish, and doesn’t cheat on his wife with a girl he never got over. The episode with the very first Friday Night Dinner, with the ever present Lorelai v Emily bickering matches. And, above all, it’s the episode that gives us our first glimpse at the lovable, albeit grumpy, diner owner, Luke.

At the end of the episode Luke pleads with Rory, “Rory, please put down that cup of coffee. You do not want to grow up to be like your mom.” Rory responds by summing up the premise of the show in a few short words, “Sorry, too late.”

[Watch “Pilot” on Netflix]

Dean kisses Rory! Rory says thank you! And steals cornstarch! Lorelai asks Dean out for Rory! Wait, what? Yes, after Rory receives her first kiss courtesy of Dean — and after Lorelai finds out about it way after the fact — Lorelai asks Dean to come over to casa-de-Gilmore to watch a movie. The problem? The younger Gilmore had no idea of her mother’s plans. Let the awkwardness that ensues be a lesson to never go on a first date in your living room with your mom present.

While picking up supplies for their junk food fueled movie night, Lorelai and Rory ogle Dean at the market, one of the first concrete moments that we see these characters as best friends, rather than mother and daughter. Quickly switching into mother-daughter roles, Lorelai gives Rory the confidence boost she needs before Dean comes over to watch Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

The episode is a constant flip between two versions of Lorelai: the mom who gives Dean a “don’t hurt my kid” speech and the best friend who leaves the room so the teens can watch the movie alone. It’s a delicate balance that both creates conflict in later seasons and is one of the reasons why we love the characters so much to begin with.

[Watch “Kiss and Tell” on Netflix]

After riding up on a motorcycle and telling Lorelai to take her top off in the previous episode, Rory’s father Christopher Hayden spends some time in Stars Hollow. He meets Dean, expresses regret at not being a bigger part of Rory’s life, and attends an explosive Friday Night Dinner with both the Gilmores and the Haydens in attendance. Before he leaves he proposes to Lorelai, who turns him down with a “nope” and a reference to Metallica and The Off Spring.

This episode sheds some much needed light on everybody’s state of mind when Lorelai got pregnant all those years ago. We find out that Lorelai and Christopher missed out on their, or their parents’, dreams for a college education, that Christopher is struggling rather than prospering in business, and that Lorelai hates President Bush.

Amongst all the fighting — both verbal and nearly physical when Richard lunges at Christopher’s father — we get a rare and cherished moment of sweetness from Emily Gilmore when she tells her granddaughter, “I know you heard a lot of talk about various disappointments this evening and I know you’ve heard a lot of talk about it in the past. But I want to make this very clear: you, young lady, your person and your existence have never ever been — not even for a second — included in that list.”

[Watch “Christopher Returns” on Netflix]

Rory and Dean celebrate their three month anniversary with a fancy dinner, an adorable pink dress, and the standard three month anniversary gift: a boyfriend-built car. While sitting in the car that Dean is building for Rory, Dean says the revered three words every girl (supposedly) wants to hear. Rory responds with “I love the car.” The two break up and Rory runs into the waiting arms of Lorelai. Meanwhile, Emily tries to set Lorelai up with a boring, but respectable, man.

The episode expertly showcases first love, first heartbreak, and the unbreakable mother-daughter bond. While Rory has heart emojis in her eyes, Lorelai is sad missing Max — Rory’s teacher and Lorelai’s on-and-off love interest — yet Lorelai puts all of that aside and celebrates her daughter’s success in love. And when that success comes tumbling down, Lorelai is there to pick up the pieces.

[Watch “Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers” on Netflix]

The iconic season one finale features both the girls’ getting their happily ever after. Max proposes to Lorelai with a thousand yellow daisies, which were, of course, delivered by Kirk at the protest of Michel. Rory, who was low-key stalking Dean the last few episodes, puts his broken heart back together when she exclaims, “I love you, you idiot!” in front of her whole school. The episode ends with a cheesy, albeit highly adorable, shot where both of girls’ run through town into each other’s arms with glee written all over their faces.

The finale wraps up the first season of Gilmore Girls on a happy note, but not a conclusive one. Questions — Will Lorelai say yes to Max? Does Dean really forgive Rory? Did we make up that spark between Luke and Lorelai? — still hang in the balance. Season two brings new love interests for both the girls, more townie delightfulness, and even more Gilmore family conflict.

[Watch “Love, Daisies, and Troubadours” on Netflix]