bon voyage gilmore

• View history
• 7 Show references

Synopsis [ ]

STARS HOLLOW THROWS RORY A GRADUATION PARTY / CNN JOURNALIST CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR MAKES A GUEST APPEARANCE — Just as Rory (Alexis Bledel) lands her dream job as a political reporter, Luke (Scott Patterson) enlists the help of everyone in Stars Hollow to throw her a graduation party. Emily (Kelly Bishop) and Richard (Edward Herrmann) attend the huge party, where Rory makes a speech thanking Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and the whole town for giving her such a great start in life. Luke's thoughtfulness brings out an unexpected reaction from Lorelai (Lauren Graham). Finally, on the morning that Rory leaves Stars Hollow to start her career, Luke opens the diner before dawn to share a celebratory breakfast with the Gilmore girls.

After Rory is rejected from The New York Times , she sends out a multitude of résumés to other newspapers and plans a vacation with Lorelai —the two plan to visit various theme parks and ride roller coasters. Rory is still upset about her breakup with Logan , but Lorelai reassures her that the pain will decrease in time. Meanwhile: Lorelai figures her shot with Luke has come and gone. Luke meets with his sister, Liz , and tells her the same. He did, however, previously pick out an extra necklace (a backup for his present for Rory) and Liz notes it was really for Lorelai. Since the townspeople of Stars Hollow could not come to Rory's graduation, they have decided on a re-enactment the next week. Unfortunately, it is not to be, because Rory does get a job after all, covering Barack Obama—but the job starts in three days time, leaving Rory with barely any time to spend with her mother or her friends and neighbors in Stars Hollow. The re-enactment is canceled, but Luke soldiers on to throw a graduation party—for both Rory and Lorelai. He convenes an emergency meeting with the townsfolk, careful to keep it a secret from the Gilmore Girls. Lorelai busies herself shopping, packing, and planning for Rory's trip to keep her mind off her daughter's imminent departure.

Rory is perturbed by her mom's nonchalance toward the whole ordeal. It is Lane and Rory's last night together and they sit on Lane's porch reminiscing about first kisses and previous relationships. Rory expresses to Lane her anxieties about her abilities as a reporter and how she and her mom will hold up while being apart from each other. Lane reassures her, telling her that she is more than qualified for the job. Rory tells Lane that her friendship means the world to her and they share a bitter-sweet final good-bye. An alarmed Babette informs Luke that it will rain the day of the party, he refuses to eschew the party plans and burns the midnight oil to create makeshift tents. The whole town shows up to bid farewell to Rory, much to her and Lorelai's suprise. Kirk presents an honorary sash for her. Richard and Emily are also in attendance. Richard tells Lorelai that the graduation party is not merely for Rory—it is also a testament to Lorelai's skills as a parent and her impact on Stars Hollow: "It takes a remarkable person to have inspired all of this."

Starring [ ]

• Rory gets a job as a reporter for Barack Obama's campaign.
• The townspeople throw a going away party for Rory, lead by Luke .
• Luke and Lorelai kiss and get back together.
• The final scene of the series echoes the final scene of the first episode, where the camera pulls out from Luke's diner and into the street.
• "Celebrate" by Kool & the Gang
• "ABC" by The Jackson 5
• "Inside Out" by The Mighty Lemon Drops

Show references [ ]

• 1 Rory Gilmore
• 2 Jess Mariano
• 3 Logan Huntzberger

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• Relationships
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Gilmore Girls, Season 7, Episode 22 Recap: Bon Voyage

This episode originally aired on May 15, 2007 on The CW

Rory gets a job as a journalist following a presidential campaign. The entire town puts on a farewell party for Rory.

This final episode of Gilmore Girls aired on May 15, 2007 and brought a flurry of emotions, goodbyes, and new beginnings. As Rory embarks on her career, covering Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, Lorelai grapples with the impending emptiness of the Gilmore house.

The town, in classic Stars Hollow style, organizes a surprise farewell party for Rory, showing the tight-knit community’s love and support for the Gilmore girls. Unfortunately, the weather does not cooperate, and a rainstorm threatens to cancel the event. In a heartfelt gesture, Luke stays up all night sewing tarps together to create a giant tent, ensuring the party can proceed despite the downpour. His selfless act emphasizes his deep, unwavering love for Lorelai.

The party is a success, filled with poignant moments, bittersweet goodbyes, and genuine well-wishes. Lorelai is deeply moved by Luke’s effort to save the day and their ensuing interaction hints towards a romantic reconciliation.

The episode also revisits Lorelai’s relationship with her parents, Emily and Richard. Despite the ups and downs, they express their appreciation for Lorelai and how she raised Rory. The series comes full circle, demonstrating the growth and evolution of each character.

In the final scene, Rory and Lorelai sit at Luke’s Diner, sipping coffee, encapsulating the essence of their close relationship and the series as a whole.

Memorable quotes from this episode of Gilmore Girls :

• Rory Gilmore: Mom, you’ve given me everything I need.
• Lorelai Gilmore: …Do they make flasks for hot beverages? Rory Gilmore: Yeah, it’s called a Thermos.
• [last lines] Lorelai Gilmore: I’ll get you a thermos, that says “World’s Greatest Reporter,” to match your cap. Rory Gilmore: Oh yeah, about that, I meant to tell you, that I left that cap at home. Lorelai Gilmore: What? Rory Gilmore: Well, it wasn’t very flattering. Lorelai Gilmore: Well, how will people know you’re the world’s greatest reporter? Rory Gilmore: I don’t know. Lorelai Gilmore: I guess they’ll just have to read your stuff. Rory Gilmore: I guess so.

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‘Gilmore Girls’: The 30 Best Episodes, Ranked

By Haley Kluge

Haley Kluge

Senior Designer

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Amy Sherman-Palladino has said she pitched “Gilmore Girls” as a half-baked idea for a TV show: “There’s this idea of a mother and daughter, but they’re more like friends than mother/daughter.” Two decades later, Rory (Alexis Bledel) and Lorelai Gilmore’s (Lauren Graham) dynamic has become one of the most iconic relationships in TV history.

The titular Gilmore Girls — and their cast of eccentric Stars Hollow neighbors — captured the attention of audiences for seven seasons and a four-episode revival. Despite contract disputes that kept the original creative team away from the last season, both Sherman-Palladino and her husband, producer and director Daniel Palladino, reunited with their cast for the Netflix continuation limited series in 2016.

To celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the “Gilmore Girls” premiere, Variety revisited and ranked the best 30 episodes of the franchise.

(Season 7, Episode 22) Spoiler Alert: The series finale is the only episode from Season 7 to crack the top 30. After the Palladinos exited the series over contract disputes, the characters never found their footing with the new regime. While the Palladinos ultimately got to wrap the series on their own terms during the Netflix continuation series a few years later, “Bon Voyage” was the original sentimental send-off that fans had waited for. The episode is a love letter to the town and its people, as they rally together to throw Rory a going away party before she leaves for her first full-time job. 

Best last line: “I don’t think this is all for Rory. I think this party is a testament to you, Lorelai, and the home you’ve created here. … It takes a remarkable person to inspire all of this,” said Richard Gilmore (Edward Herrmann, who passed away New Year’s Eve 2014 and was unable to participate in the Netflix series).

Presenting Lorelai Gilmore

(Season 2, Episode 6) Rory is dragged into Emily Gilmore’s (Kelly Bishop) world when she agrees to be presented at a debutante ball. It’s an excuse to bring Christopher (David Sutcliffe) back into town — this time in a Volvo — and further establishes Lorelai and Chris’ chemistry before he admits to having a new girlfriend. Meanwhile, there is trouble for Richard as he realizes he’s being phased out at work. He takes his frustration out on Emily and her events, which shows the conflicts in their relationship. It’s one of the earliest times that viewers see cracks between the two, which eventually come to a head in Season 5.

Best Christopher/Lorelai Exchange: “Fine. May I have this dance?” Christopher asks Lorelai, who replies, “I don’t know. Do you have a trust fund? Always make sure.”

The Reigning Lorelai

(Season 4, Episode 16) Emily and Richard both begin to spiral after Richard’s mother Trix (Marion Ross) passes away. When Emily finds a letter from Trix begging Richard to leave Emily at the altar, she refuses to participate in Trix’s funeral and becomes a bit mad, and smoking and drinking in her robe mid-afternoon. This episode is iconic for nothing else than the complete unraveling of the Gilmore clan. Even in death, Trix makes Emily crazy.

Best Emily-Has-Gone-Mad-Moment: “Personally, I think we should just toss some cheese cubes in the coffin, stuff some toothpicks in her mouth, and let the people go to town,” she says.

I Get a Sidekick Out of You

(Season 6, Episode 19) Lane’s (Keiko Agena) wedding is her own, well-deserved episode. As one of the most consistent characters on the show, her wedding is time to celebrate her and her bandmate/husband (Todd Lowe). There is a lot of humor injected throughout the episode — including a mad dash through town to get seats at the wedding — and is a genuinely celebratory episode, despite Lorelai’s drunk meltdown speech during the reception.

Best full-circle moment: “I just discovered today that I’m simply the latest link in a chain of Kim women who hide their real lives under floorboards, away from their mothers,” Lane says, as she’s forced to purge the house of all Seventh-day Adventist references in anticipation of her Buddhist grandmother’s arrival. 

Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers

(Season 1, Episode 16) Rory and Dean’s (Jared Padalecki) three-month anniversary date turns sour when his confession of love goes unreciprocated. First heartbreak is wildly relatable, but also incredibly telling. Dean’s reactions show his insecurities that will eventually morph into his Jess-fueled jealousy, and Rory’s fear of reciprocation is a testament to her fear of unstable relationships (exhibit A: Lorelai and Christopher).

Best inside joke: “You want to explain the meatball thing?” Dean asks Rory after a waiter brings a to-go bag of a single meatball after their dinner. “It’s a mother-daughter thing,” she replies. Rory plans to bring home the extra meatball to Lorelai as a nod to “Lady and the Tramp.”

Rory’s Dance

(Season 1, Episode 9) Rory gets to show off her hunky boyfriend to her new classmates during Chilton’s school dance. It’s a nice, relatable milestone moment, but ultimately ends poorly as the two fall asleep and unintentionally miss curfew. The moment ends up exposing the generational dynamic between the three Gilmore women, as Emily is with Lorelai to witness the whole thing. Emily digs into Lorelai’s parenting style, and Lorelai become defensive — a reflex that stems from being told she’s a failure for becoming a teenage mom. Lorelai tries to be the disciplinarian and angry with Rory, but it’s clear that she is just embarrassed and ultimately trusts her kid. It becomes a hostile and embarrassing moment for all three and helps establish early on the differences in their relationships.

Best Emily Post/Emily Gilmore moment: “It certainly is not fine,” Emily announces when Dean honks from his car to pick up Rory. “This is not a drive-through; she is not fried chicken.”

Love and War and Snow

(Season 1, Episode 8) One of the most consistent themes of the series is Lorelai’s fixation with snow. During a particularly wintery night, Lorelai is walking around town and happens upon Max Medina (Scott Cohen). The two spend their first real alone time together, which ultimately sets up the romance with Max arc.

Best retort: “Rory, are you in any way malnourished, or in need of some international relief organization to recruit a celebrity to raise money on your account?” Richard asks when Emily is concerned about Rory’s dinner.

“I’m good,” she replies.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

(Season 2, Episode 7) “Like Mother, Like Daughter” is another generational episode. Rory is told she’s not involved enough in school activities, and accidentally joins Chilton’s secret sorority, The Puffs. Lorelai is told she’s not involved enough in Rory’s school, and somehow joins the school’s fall fashion show fundraiser. The mirrored relationship with the school is a testament of how far removed they’d like to be. Despite that, Lorelai ends up championing the fashion show, and even bring Emily along, culminating in a rare mother/daughter bonding moment as they dance to “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

Most accurate description: “You look like Nancy Reagan,” Rory tells Lorelai after seeing her outfit for the school fundraiser.

Rory’s Birthday Parties

(Season 1, Episode 6) Rory gets two parties for her birthday – each is a stark reflection of the different worlds in which she belongs. The first is a stuffy, formal affair thrown by Emily and Richard while the second is a joyful, celebratory bash hosted at home by Lorelai. Rory’s comfort zone is obviously her home bubble, but she knows she must learn to function in each. 

Best observation: “You’re pleased that the ice man looked at you like a Porterhouse steak,” Emily tells Lorelai after they see Luke.

Dear Emily and Richard

(Season 3, Episode 13) This recollection episode helps viewers understand how Lorelai and Christopher grew up. In a series of flashbacks, viewers get an insight into the world of the 16-year-old parents-to-be. It shows how Lorelai became the independent mother that she is, and is juxtaposed to Christopher becoming a parent again, as he and Sherry (Mädchen Amick) welcome their new baby, Gigi, into the world.

Best line: “It’s from my mother. It’s heavy,” Lorelai observes the package on her front porch. “It must be her hopes and dreams for me.”

Last Week Fights, This Week Tights

(Season 4, Episode 21) Luke (Scott Patterson) finally makes a move! After four long seasons, Luke asks Lorelai out for his sister’s wedding. During the reception, the two dance, and eventually, end the night with making plans again. The song they dance to ends up becoming the soundtrack to their wedding ceremony, which doesn’t occur until the Netflix series.

Best Luke moment: “I can be a movie guy. You like movies,” he says to Lorelai. He listens, he learns! He finally gets the second date.

Friday Night's Alright for Fighting

(Season 6, Episode 13) There was a brief hiatus of Friday night dinners after the Rory/Emily/Richard fall-out of Season 6. But the reunion brought one of the most well-edited, hilarious montages of the entire series. In a collection of quick cuts, the four Gilmores go from angry, happy, sad, delirious and back again in record time. By the end of the sequence, it feels as if all’s right with the world and the Gilmores have gotten their recent troubles out of their systems. It’s wickedly smart, and the edits alone tell viewers everything they need to know about the family dynamic. In addition to the Gilmore reunion, the episode reunites Rory and Logan (Matt Czuchry), when Logan comes in to save the day at the Yale Daily News.

Best dialogue: Every word spoken during the Friday night dinner scene.

Say Something

(Season 5, Episode 14) On the heels of Lorelai and Luke’s blowup during her parent’s vow renewal, the two officially separate. Lorelai spends the subsequent day wallowing, while the town is being divided outside. Taylor (Michael Winters) is splitting the town into pink and blue, and all of the townies are picking sides. Rory rushes to her mother’s side (with the help of Logan’s limo and his driver, Frank) to help and ends up braving the town to tell Taylor off. It’s the most broken viewers ever see Lorelai but brings out the best of Rory as her support system. 

Best townie-confrontation: “Where are they, Taylor?” Rory asks confronting Taylor about his blue/pink ribbon distribution. “Don’t play dumb — the ribbons! Take piano lessons or something.”

A Tisket, A Tasket

(Season 2, Epsiode 13) The annual basket bidding is the first of many quirky Stars Hollow events to make the list. Miss Patty (Liz Torres) is shamelessly trying to set up Lorelai and positions local men to bid on her pathetically assembled basket. But in standard fashion, Luke rescues Lorelai by outbidding the others. Meanwhile, Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) also outbids Dean for Rory’s basket, and jealousy begins to seep into the Dean/Rory relationship. It’s an early window into the relationships to come: Rory and Jess get their one-on-one time, and Luke and Lorelai are able to talk about substance outside of the diner world.

Best pop-culture reference: “I’d do a silly walk, but I’m not feeling very John Cleese right now,” Dean tells Rory as she goes to have lunch with Jess.

The Festival of Living Art

(Season 4, Episode 7) The Festival of Living Pictures is peak Taylor Doose. He assembles the whole town for an emergency town meeting, only to scramble to create “The Festival of Living Pictures.” It’s another cooky town event and positions Kirk (Sean Gunn) as Jesus Christ for several hilarious anecdotes. It also led the show to its only Emmy award ever, which was given for series non-prosthetic makeup. Besides that, Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) and Jackson (Jackson Douglas) welcome their son Davey in a home-birth. 

Best monologue: Kirk channels his inner-Jesus and starts quoting the bible. “You would fold? Due simply to hardship?”

Wedding Bell Blues

(Season 5, Episode 13) Emily and Richard have had their fair share of conflict over the years, but their reunion — and vow renewal — is a sweet one. Despite this, the 100th episode serves much more as a testimony to Emily and Lorelai’s relationship than Emily and Richard’s marriage. Emily invites Christopher to the vow renewal in an attempt to break-up Luke and Lorelai and is ultimately successful. While Luke and Lorelai’s relationship (temporarily) ends, Rory and Logan’s begins in the back room during the ceremony. 

Best interruption: “Grandma wants a picture,” Lorelai says after she barges into a Rory-Logan back room make-out.

“Of this!?” Rory says, half dressed.

The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton

(Season 1, Episode 2) Rory’s first day at Chilton is the first time we get to see her fully immersed in a world outside of Stars Hollow. Her pop culture references live in stark contrast to the other students and she’s a bit of a fish out of water. Even more so is Lorelai, whose comedic lack of clean clothes makes for one of the more entertaining first day of school outfits ever. 

Most relatable moment: “Laundry day,” Lorelai tells the headmaster as she arrives at the school in Daisy Dukes and a tie-dye tee.

Teach Me Tonight

(Season 2, Episode 19) “Teach Me Tonight” brings viewers “A Film By Kirk,” which in and of itself is enough to crack the Top 15 on this list. Even without it, though, the episode has major development for Rory and Jess: Rory is recruited by Luke to tutor Jess in a desperate attempt to straighten the kid out. But after a late-night session, the two take a drive for ice cream and crash her Dean-made car. The ripple effect of the accident is felt around the town. It leads to an explosive fight between Luke and Lorelai, Jess is sent away, Christopher swoops in to play dad and Rory becomes fiercely defensive of her actions. As the residential “good girl,” the town refuses to bestow any sort of responsibility on Rory for her participation in the crash. Instead, that is pushed to Jess and she maintains her reputation — despite her attempt to reallocate the responsibility on to herself.

Biggest Oscar snub: “A Film By Kirk”

I Can’t Get Started

(Season 2, Episode 22) Oy, with the poodles already! The second season finale is a big one for relationships: Sookie and Jackson secure theirs with a wedding, and Christopher and Lorelai have sex (again). It finally seems as if they’re in the right place at the right time — until Christopher’s girlfriend Sherry gets pregnant, which drives Lorelai into a bit of a spiral. Rory cheats on Dean by kissing Jess, leading her to run away to Washington D.C. for the summer and serving as a foreshadow for Rory’s long history of infidelity. 

Most quotable line: “ Oy, with the poodles already!” assembled by Rory and Lorelai.

A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving

(Season 3, Episode 9) After over-committing their schedules, Rory and Lorelai have four Thanksgivings to attend. Each dinner is uniquely different and allows audiences to see the dynamic shift from each household. The Kims are formal with the appearance of Dave Rygalski (Adam Brody) and tofurkey, Sookie and Jackson have a deep-fried turkey and lots of drunk relatives, Luke and Jess are casual and comfortable, and Emily and Richard are formal and stuffy as they host the girls and their French friends from out of town. There’s a spectrum of ease in each home, as we watch Rory and Lorelai navigate their comfort levels.

Best Paris Geller moment: “Who are all these jackasses who volunteered anyway?” she says after being rejected to volunteer over Thanksgiving. “They can’t all be students like me. They’re not all putting it on a college application. I get something out of it and these other people don’t get a thing. Talk about selfish.”

The Bracebridge Dinner

(Season 2, Episode 10) This episode is chock full of community. Lorelai invites her friends and family to the Inn for a period-themed dinner with costumes and old English. It’s one of the rare occasions where all of the town is together, and those characters are blended with Rory and Lorelai’s other life. Emily, Richard and Paris (Liza Weil) all join the festivities, too, which end with sleigh rides around the town. The episode gives a window into several relationship dynamics, as viewers get to see Richard and Emily communicate in a new way after Richard retires and doesn’t tell his wife. 

Best conspiracy theory: “Someone recruited him,” Lorelai says about their rival during the build-a-snowman competition. “Promised him a handsome sum, financed his theatrical snowman accoutrements, so he could snatch victory away from a deserving local in order to bag the contest prize [a set of U.S. quarters] for himself.”    

(Season 1, Episode 1) The pilot establishes the Stars Hollow that viewers come to will know and love. It acts as the foundation as it introduces the world, the relationship dynamics and gives viewers the first taste of their second home for the next seven years. Its quick dialogue and pop-culture references immediately set the tone for the remainder of the show – within the first two minutes, there’s reference to Jack Kerouac, RuPaul and West Side Story alone. Besides that, viewers get the pleasure of meeting the cast of Stars Hollow — including Luke, Emily, Richard, Sookie, Michel (Yanic Truesdale), Lane, Mrs. Kim (Emily Kuroda), Dean and more.

Best exchange: The first dialogue of the series between Lorelai and Luke: “Please, Luke. Please, please, please,” she says.

“How many cups have you had this morning?” he replies.

The Lorelais’ First Day at Yale

(Season 4, Episode 2) This episode shows the unwavering relationship of the Gilmore Girls. Even when it comes to going to college down the road, Lorelai and Rory can’t bear to be separated. Rory struggles during her first night on campus, and Lorelai swoops in to throw an epic first dorm night at Yale. While their relationship might not be the healthiest (having mom throw a dorm party seems a bit helicopter-y), it makes for some good bits, as Lorelai makes them rank all of the fast food and delivery guys. Also, Paris is back (and she brought her life coach). 

Best catch phrase: “Copper boom!” which arrives from a series of misheard sentences between Lorelai and Rory.

A Tale of Poes and Fires

(Season 3, Episode 17) This episode is one of the best for the Stars Hollow townies. Kirk is printing topical t-shirts of subjects he sees around town (“Babette ate oatmeal!”) and the traveling Edgar Allan Poe Society is passing through with extreme quirk. The humor is juxtaposed with a crisis, as Lorelai’s Independence Inn burns down. But as she scrambles to accommodate her guests, it gives viewers a glimpse into her ability to manage an emergency and opens the door for her to open her own inn. And, after exhaustive pro/con lists, Rory finally settles on attending Yale. 

Best Babette moment: “Hey Michel, I just hit the “F4” and the “Num Lock” key and the one with the little apple on it, and it’s freaking out like it’s on acid or something,” Babette (Sally Struthers) says, searching for technology help.

The Road Trip to Harvard

(Season 2, Episode 4) On the heels of her breakup with Max, Lorelai physically runs away from her problems. She and Rory pack up the car and hit the road, making their way to Boston. En route, they visit the Cheshire Cat and its iconic wallpaper and eventually land at Harvard. It’s the first time that they get to envision Rory at her dream school and gives both of them a sense of joy to replace the wedding-sized hole. The men in the show come and go, but this episode cements that the Gilmore Girls always stay together.

Best declaration: “I am a grown woman!” Lorelai says.

“Says the woman with a ‘Hello Kitty’ waffle iron,” Rory replies.

You Jump, I Jump Jack

(Season 5, Episode 7) “You Jump, I Jump Jack” features the best version of the Logan-Rory dynamic: Logan’s role as Rory’s college boyfriend is ultimately to push her outside of her comfort zone. His antics and wild-child sensibilities are unfamiliar to her, which ultimately get her out of her meek minded, small-town ways. Her willingness to join alongside him sets the scene for their adventures to come and helps shed the layers of her good-girl exterior. Even without their banter, the carnival-like backdrop is so far outside of the “Gilmore Girls” norm that it makes the episode feel special. 

Best advice: “It’ll be a fun, it’ll be a thrill,” Logan tells Rory before their Life and Death Brigade stunt. “Something stupid, something bad for you. Just something different. Isn’t this the point of being young? It’s your choice, Ace. People can live a hundred years without really living for a minute. You climb up here with me, it’s one less minute you haven’t lived.”

Lorelai’s Graduation Day

(Season 2, Episode 21) Rory and Jess always have had a magnetic attraction and turns out it spans state lines. When Rory ditches school to go see Jess in New York, she accidentally misses Lorelai’s business school graduation. While her absence is missed by her mother, it opens up the opportunity for a tender moment of pride with Emily and Richard. The two are physically moved by the ceremony and are able to celebrate as their daughter walks across the stage the way she never could when she was younger.

Best stream of consciousness: “I am sick. I’m ill. I’m cracked. This is not who I am. If I were to write this down in my diary and I would read it, I would be like, ‘Who is this freak? This isn’t me. This isn’t my diary.’ I wouldn’t do this. I wouldn’t skip school when I have finals coming up to go see a guy that isn’t even my guy and end up missing my mother’s graduation, which I wanted to be at so badly. That’s someone else. That’s someone flighty and stupid and dumb and girly. And, I mean, I missed your graduation, which is the worst thing I could have possibly done. I mean, I hurt you and I had to spend hours on a stinky bus next to a guy that was spitting into a can, just thinking about all of the minutes that were going by that I wasn’t at your graduation and they were hurting you, and they should have been hurting you because it was so selfish of this person who wasn’t me to do what she did,” Rory says to her mother.

Raincoats and Recipes

(Season 4, Episode 22) Four seasons of build-up culminated into the Season 4 finale episode when Luke and Lorelai finally get together during the opening of the Dragonfly Inn, and Rory loses her virginity to her married ex, Dean. It’s an early slip-up for the golden child of Stars Hollow but sets up that she will make many bad decisions (stealing a boat, quitting Yale, cheating with Logan, etc) still to come. While the episode sets the scene for Rory’s long-running arc, more importantly, it establishes Luke and Lorelai as a couple.  

Best interaction: “What are you doing?” Lorelai asks Luke. “Would you just stand still?” before their first kiss.

They Shoot Gilmores, Don’t They?

(Season 3, Episode 7) “Gilmore Girls” is at its best when it’s hosting an obscure Stars Hallow function. During the 24-hour dance marathon in this episode, Lorelai’s desperate attempt to beat Kirk leaves her with a broken heel and Rory a broken heart. The Rory/Dean/Jess love triangle finally comes to a head when Dean dumps Rory on the dance floor, and Lorelai ends the episode physically supporting Rory as she leans on her in the wake of their breakup. The backdrop of the episode is 1940s inspired, but the milestone of first heartbreak feels timeless.

Best moment: With Kirk making his victory lap to the theme of “Rocky” in the background, Rory collapses into Lorelai’s arms after her breakup.

Those Are Strings, Pinocchio

(Season 3, Episode 22) The third season finale positions everyone on a new path. Most notably, Rory says goodbye to Chilton, while simultaneously closing the door on Jess, and Lorelai finally acquires the Dragonfly and is on track for her long-time dream of opening her own inn. It’s a turning point in the show, and it contains one of the most touching moments in the series when Rory delivers her graduation speech. The emotional tribute embodies all that is good about the series: the relationships, the people, the generational connections and the support of a town. It’s wildly sincere, in a show that is otherwise known for its wit.

Best line: Rory’s graduation speech, in which she thanks both her grandparents and her mother: “My second [world] is populated with characters slightly less eccentric, but supremely real, made of flesh and bone, full of love, who are my ultimate inspiration for everything.”

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Gilmore Girls Series Finale Recap: Bon Voyage

A round of applause and a very special thanks to Whirl for her weekly recaps of GILMORE GIRLS .  Sadly, this is the last recap as the world of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore ends…well as least as we know it.  They will always live on in our hearts.  Where you lead…I will follow.

I haven’t yet had a chance to watch last night’s episode, but I will later on tonight…armed with a box of kleenex, because there will be crying – oh yes, there will be crying.

Title: “Bon Voyage” Original Airdate (Season Finale Date): May 15, 2007 GMMR Recapper: Whirl

Well it’s hard to believe but it’s true, Gilmore Girls has ended. After 7 years, amazing characters, a rocky season and the beauty that was Luke Danes it’s time to say goodbye. I’m happy to say they did it better then I imagined, so let’s get to it shall we?

Lorelai drives up to the Dragonfly Inn pulling along a pajama clad Rory. Seems Christina Amanpour, a fancy CNN correspondent is staying at the Inn and Lorelai wants to show Rory.  Too bad her daughter didn’t believe her so she didn’t change out of said pajamas. Michel begs Lorelai not to embarrass herself by approaching Amanpour but she does it anyway. It goes smoothly and she introduces her to Rory who is awe struck. Of course Mz. Fancy Newspaper Lady is impressed by the young prodigy so she hands over her card and suggest Rory send her some writing samples before she heads out to catch her cab. Okay really…I want Rory’s life.

Back at home Rory is stamping envelopes and Lorelai is planning their road trip. Mother and daughter are heading cross country to ride on different roller coasters. I wasn’t aware of their speed fascination but okay then. That is why Rory is stamping envelopes, she’s sending out over 70 resumes so she can relax on the trip. The ladies turn their attention to the status of their love lives. Rory is having a hard time with the Logan break-up, the heartache is coming in waves, but Lor promises it will only get better. I haven’t broken up with a lot of millionaire heartthrobs who wanted to marry me so I’m no help on this topic. As for Luke (sigh) Lorelai is certain they’re done because he hasn’t reciprocated to any moment where she’s put herself out there. She wants a guy who can show that he loves her, and beside they’re better as friends. Oh and Lor has just told Rory about her big town square graduation reenactment ceremony/party. To say Rory isn’t happy about it is putting it mildly.

Liz has come into the diner to see Luke, because Doula has missed him. Who wouldn’t?  Actually she wants to pawn off her kid for a couple hours and get something nice to wear to Rory’s party. Luke’s too busy ordering the food and getting things ready so he can’t look after his niece. Liz wants to know what the deal is with him and Loreali, but he insists that nothing is going on. If those two aren’t married with 2.5 babies in the next 45 minutes I will be most unimpressed.

Friday night dinner and Rory’s not there, at least not yet. She met with that online magazine guy Hugo Gray for drinks, hoping to make more contacts on the job scene. Emily is not impressed about it and hopes the girls will stick around for after dinner drinks to make up for it, Lorelai gives a maybe…which universally means no. Also Emily thinks that Lor should add a spa to the services they have at the Inn, but Lor says she’ll “think about it”. Again this means no.

Before they can chat anymore Rory rushes inn all excited, she got a job. Say wha? Not only that but she leaves in 3 days of Iowa. One of Hugo’s writers dropped out of following Barak Obama on the campaign trail so Rory took the job, so she’ll be traveling the country on Obama’s campaign trail. Fancy! Richard is excited, Emily is nervous, and Lorelai puts on a brave face but she just looks scared. Lor promises that they’ll stay for drinks after dinner.

In the morning the girls stop in at Luke’s before hunting for all the things Rory will need for her tour of duty. When Lorelai lets Luke know that the party must be cancelled Kirk overhears and is crushed. Actually everyone is crushed by it. I think more crushed that there is no party then the fact that Rory’s leaving.

Luke’s at the Inn to see Sookie, he wants to throw the party anyway the next night as a surprise for Rory. And for Lorelai? Yes, and for Lorelai too. This gets Sookie very excited, not only for the party but for Luke’s grand gesture. Think he doesn’t love you now Lorelai? Just you wait.

Lorelai and Rory are working on their to do list and decide to stop by Miss Patty’s to see if she has a seat cushion Rory can borrow. The girls are surprised to find the door locked and Miss Patty reluctant to let them in after making up an excuse. Confused the girls head on their way, no realizing most of the important town folk are hiding in the darkness. It’s an impromptu and unofficial town meeting to get this party started. Everyone bands together willing to do whatever it takes, well everyone except Taylor but that is to be expected.

In the town square Rory and Lorelai are having a lengthy debate over whether or not Rory should take a fanny pack with her. Oh God no. Meanwhile people have started carrying things in for the party, realized the girls are standing right in front of them and moved them out again. The ladies never notice as they head their separate ways, Lorelai to do more errands and Rory to spend some time with Lane.

Lane and Rory are spending some quality time on Lane’s porch reminiscing about their younger days. Zack pulls her inside saying that they need to get Rory home because they can’t set up the town square for the party if she’s sitting outside. Lane isn’t getting pushed around, because it’s her last night with her best friend, so if it has to wait it has to wait. When Lane goes back outside Rory has had 2 minutes to digest what is happening and she’s starting to freak out. Also she’s upset that Lorelai isn’t upset, shouldn’t she be sad that her daughter is leaving? God Rory, don’t you know your mother at all? It’s classic Lorelai behavior. Lane assures her that Lorelai is probably holding it in and that Rory will do wonderful. Rory hates that everyone assumes that she’ll do amazing, it’s too much pressure. What if she is a horrible reporter? Well people know you and they know that if you aren’t great at first that you’ll work at getting better. Rory thanks Lane for her friendship and that even though she doesn’t technically have a sister, she’s always felt like she had one. Lane agrees. No I can’t start crying already, do not do this to me already!

Rory comes home to find Lorelai ironing all of her daughter’s clothes so they’ll all fit in her suitcase. Rory tells her mother that she doesn’t get how she can be okay with everything. Lorelai just says that it’s too soon. If she starts to think about it she’ll fall apart and she can’t do that right now. It’s too soon. Rory helps her mother iron and I just clutch my Kleenex box a little tighter.

Everyone in town is setting up for the party and Luke is running the show. Babette comes running up saying that her ankles have swelled up so you know what that means! She’s pregnant? Nope, it means rain and her ankles never lie. There is no where to move the party and its 1am, too late to find a tent to use. Looks like the party is off, but it was a nice idea.

In the middle of the night Lorelai has come into Rory’s bedroom. She sits on the edge of her bed, tucks her in and just touches her daughter. The range of emotions that go across her face is beyond moving and I’m sobbing at this point.

Luke’s in the diner sewing what looks like tents together. Are you kidding me? The man is making a giant tarp. Why oh why are you a fictional character? He reaches into a drawer to find some scissors and pulls out the box containing the necklace he got for Lorelai. Looking thoughtful he sticks the box in his back pocket.

True to Babette’s ankles it’s pouring down rain. Rory is upset that she can’t get a hold of anyone in town. They realize why when they drive up to the square. There is a patchwork tarp and everyone in town is underneath clapping, holding signs and cheering. Rory asks her mother if she did it but she admits she had no idea. The camera pans to the faces of all the towns’ people we love and I can’t help it I’m a blubbering mess. Kirk presents Rory with a sash that bares her name. He made it himself out of some of his mother’s nightgowns and poor Rory is delighted/disgusted. Ladies and Gentleman may I present Kirk, hands down one of the greatest characters of all time!

Lorelai spots her parent so he heads over to talk to them. Richard thinks the whole event is not only a testament to Rory but to Lorelai as well and the life she has built in this town. Richard says that he regrets…Emily interrupts telling him not to get too emotional blah blah but Lorelai gets what he is trying to say. We all do. And it’s beautiful. Will I ever stop crying? Emily wants to know if Lorelai thought anymore about the spa idea but Lorelai says it’s just not her thing.

Rory takes the stage to make a speech but has a hard time talking about the town as thanks them for all they’ve done over the years for her. But really she wants to thank her mother, who is everything to her. Lorelai just cries along with her daughter. Speech finished its time to get the party going.

The party is well beyond full swing so Lor tries to get some food but is pulled aside by her mother who says its time for her and Richard to go. Emily suggests getting an outdoor tennis court for the Inn, her and Richard would even lend her the money for it. Oh I see what Emily is doing. Lor suggest that they discuss this topic at Friday night dinner. Emily is surprised and delighted her daughter is still going to come but Lor says she’s just gotten used to it. Richard approaches with Rory and they get ready to say their goodbyes. Any hope of my tears stopping is vanished when Emily says: “It’s a pleasure to be your grandmother Rory Gilmore.” This episode is just too perfect, why must it end?

Once Lorelai is alone Sookie lets her know all that Luke did to make this party happen. Right away Lor heads to find him passing all our great Star’s Hollow characters doing what they do best, being themselves. Where have these writers been all season long? The rain has stopped and Lor catches Luke as he exits the diner. She thanks him for everything but he says it was nothing. She just gives him that look and he says that one thing every woman wants to hear:  “I just like to see you happy.” After that they gravitate into a kiss (Hallelujah) as the camera pans to the crowd partying away in the distance.

The next morning at 5am and Rory is packed and ready to go. Lorelai admits that she feels cheated; she thought that she had all summer to instill some wisdom into her daughter about the working world. She starts spouting off information: Don’t be to shy. Don’t wear shorts. Don’t sit at the front of the bus. Rory stops her, assuring her mother that she’s given her everything that she needs. Lor says its time to head out but Rory says it’s too early. Actually they have one last stop to make.

The girls are sitting at Luke’s, thanking him for opening just for them. Luke and Lorelai flirt with each other and Rory (and the entire world) can’t help but notice. As Luke heads to the back to fix their food Rory compliments her mother on the necklace she is wearing. Awww…it’s the Luke necklace! The camera pulls out as we watch mother and daughter banter away one last time and Luke in the backround. End scene/season/series.

That’s a wrap folks. I have to admit it ended a lot better then I had anticipated. It’s nice to know that the last episode was able to hold up to the shows original standards. Star’s Hollow was an amazing place to hang out in for an hour every week and it will be greatly missed.

In the meantime thanks to any and everyone who ever read the GG recaps. It’s been a blast to do and I enjoyed ever moment of it. Well mostly 😉 And certainly a massive thank you to GMMR for the faith and the fun. Now I need to figure out something to do on Tuesday nights. Maybe bowling? See you on the flip side.

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21 Comments

21 Responses to “Gilmore Girls Series Finale Recap: Bon Voyage”

Whirl – thanks for the wonderful recaps! I’m really going to miss this show, but I agree it probably was time. I also was worried that the finale would leave too much undone, but I actually thought it was perfect. It makes me think that they really did know deep down that they weren’t coming back. I’m glad with the way it ended because it allows us to imagine that everyone is still living on in Stars Hollow and Rory is on her way to becoming a big name reporter. With all the ups and downs of this season, I loved the finale and will continue to love this show through reruns and DVD watchings. I also can’t wait to see what’s up next for Lauren Graham, Scott Patterson and Alexis Bledel. I’ll certainly be following their careers from here on!

I was a sobbing mess last night and am a sobbing mess again right now which means that you dun good. I will miss the GG. I will forever have a special place for all the Stars Hollow denizen in my heart.

And oh yeah, can I get me a Luke somewhere?

My only regret about this episode is that April wasn’t in it and to be honest, I’m not that disappointed about it. I thought it was a beautiful episode. I even teared up a little – me, the one with a heart of stone. 😉

Oops, almost forgot to add…

Thank you so much for your wonderful recaps, Whirl! I hope gmmr has you recapping something else next season! 🙂

First, fantabulous job with recapping, Whirl! Nice work.

Second, I’m still a little depressed today over the fact that GG is over. The finale was beautiful and I was crying and laughing the whole time.

Thirdly, add me on to the waiting list for a Luke, mmkay?

What a wonderful way to end the show. I will miss the Girls and all the crazy Stars Hollow characters. Was I the only one hoping Dean would show up, at least for a moment?

Thanks for the great recap. I agree, it was much better than I thought it would be. The episode was the perfect ending to a perfect show (even if we didn’t get a Luke and Lorelai wedding). The show has always been about the girls and their relationship and I’m glad they kept that focus to the very end. Bon voyage, Gilmore Girls! You will be missed!!

okay now i’m crying all over again haha.

thanks so much for doing these awesome recaps, i’ve loved reading them =)

I teared up a couple of times. I too was hoping (though I knew it wouldn’t happen) for Dean to come back. It’s too bad Paris wasn’t in the last episode. The last scene was perfect. How it faded away just like the first scene in the first episode.

Must…Stop…Crying!!!!!!!

Such a great episode. Much thanks Whirl for your recaps – always witty and your devotion to Luke is unparalled. Between this and VM – I feel a big TV void in my heart. Thank God there is Brother and Sisters!!!

Thanks everyone for the sweet comments. I don’t know if I’ll be back…that’s up to the Master GMMR, but thank you all the same.

RIP Gilmore Girls.

I haven’t actually watched the last episode? I want rory and logan together 🙁

I love the Gilmore Girls! They are now showing the episodes in scotland on E4. i wish it didnt end! they should bring it back =).

I do not like very many American actresses, but I love Lauren Graham. I hope she continues in movies, but I saw her in a new television series, so I hope it is sucessful for her.

I am truly delighted to glance at this webpage posts which contains tons of useful facts, thanks for providing suhh statistics.

We just finished watching all 7 seasons (we watched them all in 3 months) and the finale was awesome. It’s too bad that Rory never ran off with Logan…..but what a fantastic series. I hated to see it end.

Seven years too late. Dean in Maryland

Right there with you, Dean. I had never watched the GG regularly.. only caught a few episodes.. but once Netflix added the show to its lineup, I knew I wanted to watch it. Just finished watching the series, tonight. I agree with you. I thought the finale was fantastic and a nice tribute. I did like Rory and Logan, together.. so that was a bit of a shame.. but still… I loved the series finale.. and it ended exactly where it should have – in Luke’s Diner.

I am a grown man. But all those moments of pride everyone is showing to both Rory and Lorelei just got to me so hard. When Richard speaks about Lorelai.. the way Lorelei was when she was ironing the clothes.. crying at Rory’s bedside.. Emily getting to continue Friday night dinners..

It was all great. I used to watch the show semi-regularly back in high school since my brother and sister were big fans (even have all of the DVDs). Since it was on Netflix, I went ahead and finished it up. This is how you do a series finale. Perfect.

I’m not going to say I enjoyed the show the whole way through. But the last few episodes of this final season were fantastic. Bravo.

XXX Adult Webcams

[…] And in case you want to make sure you’re caught up, check out Give Me My Remote’s recap of Bon Voyage. […]

Thank you thank you than you . It’s 2015. We didn’t get the channel Gilmore Girls was on in the country. I found it on reply daily. Fell in love. Only issue is that if there was sport on it wouldn’t be shown. So your recaps kept me going!!

How exciting to hear about the 4 90 minute movies coming out! all I can think though is LUKE HAD BETTER BE THERE!!! I don’t know what I’ll do if he isn’t! !

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Gilmore Girls – Season 7, Episode 22

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• After 8 years, we finally know Gilmore Girls’ final 4 words. They’re … complicated.

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Netflix’s Gilmore Girls revival is providing closure in a lot of ways. But for obsessive fans of the show, the most important one is that it’s finally telling us what the final four words are.

During Gilmore Girls ’ broadcast run, showrunner Amy Sherman-Palladino would tell reporters that she knew exactly how she planned to end the show, down to the final four words. But Sherman-Palladino was ousted before the show’s last season, and she didn’t get to use her planned final four words. Until now.

In the months leading up to the revival, speculation ran rampant. Vulture ran a list of possibilities (best one: "We're ALL Gilmore girls"). The Gilmore Guys podcast created a recurring segment with its own jingle called “What are the final four words?” (best one: “See you Friday?” “Friday.”).

Now the speculation is over. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life has been live on Netflix for more than 24 hours. We know what the final four words are.

And they’re … a little disconcerting.

Spoilers follow for all of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life .

Here are the final four words. Do not keep reading if you don’t want to know what they are.

In the last scene of “Fall,” the last episode of A Year in the Life , Lorelai and Rory are sitting in the iconic Stars Hollow gazebo after Lorelai’s impromptu midnight wedding to Luke. Lorelai is blissfully sipping champagne; Rory, next to her, looks nervous, and her champagne bottle is untouched. Finally, she turns to Lorelai:

“Mom?” “Yeah?” “I’m pregnant.”

Lorelai turns to Rory, mouth open in astonishment, and the episode cuts to black. And that’s the end.

Fans have been speculating about some version of this scene for years. The Gilmore Guys got so many variations on “I’m pregnant!” / “Me too!” in their final four words segment that they stopped accepting them. So it’s not a choice that comes completely out of left field. But it is a choice that comes with some baggage.

The ending of “Fall” stands in contrast to the ending of the show’s broadcast run

Part of that baggage comes with the fact that “Fall” is not Gilmore Girls ’ first series finale. Its first series finale was 2007’s “Bon Voyage,” and that episode gave Rory a very different ending to her arc.

In “Bon Voyage,” Rory gets her first real job as a reporter, after devoting herself to that goal for the past seven seasons. Sure, she had some ups and downs — there was the time Mitchum Huntzberger told her she didn’t have what it took to be a journalist, so she stole a yacht and dropped out of school — but becoming a reporter was her dream. So Rory got past the Mitchum thing. She went back to school and got a part-time newspaper job.

Rory has always wanted to be Christiane Amanpour — she told her high school headmaster so on the second episode of the show. That was her ideal life: to “travel, see the world up close, report on what's really going on, be a part of something big.”

So “Bon Voyage” opens with Rory finally meeting her hero, Christiane Amanpour, and it ends with her finally landing a real job as a journalist. It’s not the prestigious New York Times job she was pulling for earlier in the show, but it’s still a plum gig: She’ll be covering Barack Obama’s presidential campaign for an up-and-coming online magazine.

It’s a lovely, straightforward, and mildly sentimental culmination of years of hard work and planning from Rory, and years of sacrifice and encouragement from Lorelai. At last, Rory is going to achieve her dreams. She’ll go out, see the world, and write about what she sees. She’ll be a part of something big.

But that’s not the ending Amy Sherman-Palladino had planned for Rory.

Gilmore Girls has a pattern of getting its ambitious girls pregnant

In “Fall,” Rory’s pregnancy announcement comes shortly after she decides to redirect her career. She’s been freelancing, but she’s struggling to land a steady job as a journalist, so instead, she decides, she’ll write a book about her life with her mother. She even gives the book a title: Gilmore Girls .

So there’s no possibility that Rory will have her baby but continue on as the high-flying foreign correspondent she always dreamed of being, the one “Bon Voyage” suggested she could easily grow up to be. She’s restructuring her life entirely, leaving behind her cosmopolitan fantasies of seeing the world and embracing instead a more settled, domestic existence. She’ll be a mother; she’ll write about her own mother.

It’s an ending that feels at once fitting and unsettling. Rory has always had a quiet, homebody-ish personality, and the show has suggested more than once that as smart as she is, she might not really be suited to a career as an international correspondent. It’s never been entirely clear that Mitchum was wrong when he told her that she didn’t have it, so maybe she doesn’t, and maybe it’s a good thing for her to turn her talents to another kind of writing.

But it’s also never been part of Rory’s plan to be a mother. She’s never talked about wanting to have children, and she was actively squeamish around Sookie and Sherry when they were pregnant. And she spent seven seasons talking about how much she wanted to be a reporter. Isn’t this ending, on some level, a betrayal of all her hopes and dreams? Is Rory being punished for having ambitions that stretched beyond the safe and cozy streets of Stars Hollow?

It’s especially off-putting considering the ending granted to Rory’s best friend, Lane. Lane spent her time on the show dreaming of escaping her mother’s strict rules. She wanted to be a drummer in a rock band and go on a world tour, and she worked hard to achieve that goal. But in the show’s seventh season, Lane got pregnant and had to cancel her tour plans.

In A Year in the Life , Lane’s still playing in her band, but not full-time. She’s paying her bills working at her mother’s antique store. Like Rory, Lane’s putting aside her cosmopolitan ambitions to live in the small town where she grew up, raise her children, and work with her mother.

It’s an odd, grim pattern. Why aren’t these girls ever allowed to fulfill their professional ambitions? Why must they be forced to stay home and have babies when that was never part of their plans?

But as off-putting as this ending might be as the culmination of Lane and Rory’s arcs, it makes perfect sense as the ending of Gilmore Girls .

Rory’s ending fits into the cyclical family story that is the heart of the show

Gilmore Girls is a generational show. It’s about how the entire family was traumatized when Lorelai got pregnant at 16 and ran away, and about how they have been terrified of repeating the same mistakes with Rory.

Over the course of Sherman-Palladino’s time at the show, Rory obsessively recreates that primordial family trauma, trying to create a better outcome, first for her mother and then for her grandparents. She starts small. In the pilot, she toys with the idea of sacrificing her education for a boy, a move that Lorelai instantly compares to her own teen pregnancy. “You’re me,” Lorelai says with disgust as she tries to talk Rory out of her plans.

And then in later seasons, Rory takes up with Logan, who is in both personality and looks nearly identical to her father, Christopher. Rory deliberately models her first kiss with Logan on Lorelai’s first kiss with Christopher. And when she subsequently drops out of Yale and moves in with her grandparents, Lorelai tells Richard and Emily that at last, they have a chance at a do-over. In Rory, they have “a new and improved Lorelai,” a biddable, people-pleasing Lorelai who they can shape into a debutante and marry off to her nice, feckless, rich blond boyfriend, the way they wanted to with the first one.

Rory doesn’t, in the end, marry Logan. But she does get pregnant with his baby, just like Lorelai did with Christopher.

As a character, Rory may have been devoted to journalism. But as an archetypal figure, Rory’s drama was all about navigating the enormous familial rift caused by her own birth. In the end, the only culmination of her arc would have to come from truly and at last continuing her mother’s story. She had to get pregnant to complete the circle.

“Bon Voyage” served Rory’s personal journey. “Fall” serves the journey of the Gilmore family.

This is not the ideal ending, but it might be the best available

In a perfect world, Gilmore Girls would not have to choose between a satisfying ending to an individual character and a satisfying ending to the whole show. They would both be seamlessly intertwined, and what was good for Rory would be good for the show as a whole. The fact that the final four words feel on any level like a betrayal of the rest of Rory’s arc, however structurally inevitable they may be, is a significant weakness on the part of the show.

But in the world we live in, it’s more important to continue the cyclical generational story of the Gilmore family than it is to let Rory fulfill her personal dreams. If Sherman-Palladino had to choose one or the other, she chose correctly.

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Last Ditch Effort

I came to la to be a tv writer. i have a blog instead., review: gilmore girls – season 7, episode 22 “bon voyage”.

Welcome to the very last review of the original run of the Gilmore Girls ! I can’t believe I did it.

I’m avoiding address this FINAL REVIEW thing and how I feel about it until the end. Let’s do the review thing so I don’t get all sappy and (more) boring (than normal).

Lorelai makes Rory get out of bed to come to the inn because Christiane Amanpour is sitting in the lobby reading a book. Rory doesn’t believe her but she’s there! She’s sitting! I’m glad they were able to get her to do this cameo because Rory has been talking about her since the beginning. Because Rory is a character on a television show Amanpour gives her her card and offers to look at her work.

Rory and Lorelai are planning a trip around the country to ride all the rollercoasters. Lorelai takes this opportunity to tell Rory that she has to reenact her entire graduation ceremony because she lives in a town full of insane, bored people. She tells her that she has to wear her cap & gown again. If I remember correctly our gowns were loaned to us and we had to return them before leaving the ceremony. I bet Yale kids get to keep theirs.

Rory is late to Friday Night Dinner because she’s having a drink with a contact. When she arrives she tells everyone that she’s got a job! She’s working for that guy she met at Smarmy’s party as a political reporter following the Obama campaign. Honestly, this is probably better for her than her living in her grandparents’ apartment and taking cabs to work every day. Sleep in crappy hotel rooms and make no money! DO IT!

The people of Stars Hollow could not give two shits about Rory’s job. They’re pissed that there won’t be a reenactment party and they do their best Children of the Corn impression to illustrate their displeasure:

Since everyone is devastated by the news that they will not be able to attend a weird Stars Hollow party, Luke decides that he wants to do something nice for Rory (and, by default, the town.) He enlists Sookie’s help in throwing Rory a surprise going away party. Sookie thinks this means he LURVES Lorelai. He does, but, come on. It’s for Rory. It’s not “I’m doing something nice for this kid so her mom will fuck me” nice. Is it? Oh God. What if that’s it? What if that’s why Luke wants to do a Nice Thing?

I doubt it, though. He’s always cared about Rory.

The town holds an impromptu meeting and Taylor picks now to stop being an unrecognizable pod person and start being the stickler for the rules that we all know and love. But since this party involves Rory, Princess of Stars Hollow, the townspeople tell him to shove all his rules and regulations and do whatever they want in the name of Gilmore.

They start getting ready for the party while Lorelai and Rory spend the majority of their time being sad about Rory leaving. Luke sews a bunch of tarps and ponchos together in the diner so he can try and salvage the party. There’s no way he’d have it done by the next morning if he was working by himself, and the rest of the townsfolk have decided to disappear when he could use a few extra hands.

The next day Rory and Lorelai drive up on a huge tent where everyone is waiting for them with signs.

I like this picture because it looks like Zach is really concentrating as he runs through the obviously manufactured rain. You can see the California sunshine in the background!

Once the girls get to the tent we spend a good two minutes panning over all the characters that we’re never going to see again (at least until the revival.) I was sitting here wondering if the last scene we’d ever get of Edward Herrmann was the one from Friday Night Dinner at the beginning of the episode and then this popped up:

No lie, I legit teared up. It’s going to be terrible to watch the revival episodes without him in them.

Spacey Grandpa tells Lorelai that this party isn’t just for Rory. It’s a testament to everything Lorelai has built-in Stars Hollow. (Well, yeah. She became queen of a town in a country without a monarchy. That’s quite the feat.) He gets choked up when he tells her that she’s a remarkable person.

Too many tears.

Taylor gives a gross speech about birthing Rory into the world that everyone would be better off forgetting going forward. That night, Judgy WASP Mom wants to loan Lorelai money for the inn but it becomes obvious that she only wants to see her and she’s worried that she never will now that Rory is leaving. So Lorelai tells her they’ll talk about it at dinner on Friday night. Spacey Grandpa doesn’t say anything, making his words to Lorelai the last that Richard Gilmore ever speak.

CRYING. OH GOD. CRYING.

Rory walks them to their car and Sookie takes the opportunity to tell Lorelai that Luke planned the entire thing. Lorelai goes to track down Luke to thank him and he says that he just wanted to see her happy. But he says it with this expression so it kind of sounds like “I wanted to see you happy before I wear your skin as a suit”:

Then they kiss.

The next morning Rory and Lorelai have Luke open the diner early so they can have coffee and eat pancakes. All the while he’s thinking “SKIN. SKIN. SKIN.”

The show ends with the same shot as the pilot – the girls in the diner as the camera pans out.

That’s it. The end.

I think what I can say about this show overall is it’s a quiet, quirky little show that had a surprising amount of heart. It’s completely different from what I originally thought it was back when it aired (the promos didn’t do it many favors.) Am I a fan of the show? I guess. I’m still not in love with it. I like it but I don’t think I could call myself a “Gilly,” the term coined by the Gilmore Guys to refer to the dedicated Gilmore fan base.

I’d like to answer the question that the Gilmore Guys have posed to fans about the revival: What do you think the final four words of the series will be? I think they’ll be, “Because we’re Gilmore girls.” I know it sounds strange. But I think they’ll come after Rory and Lorelai and maybe even Judgy WASP Mom have had a conversation about the future – how will they know they’re going to be ok? How do they know if everything will work out for them? Rory or Judgy WASP Mom will say, “How do you know?” and Lorelai will shrug and smile and say, “Because we’re Gilmore girls.”

I want to close out this review by thanking each and every person who has ever read one of my reviews. Whether you’ve read every single one or just happened across a random one before saying “WTF is happening here?” and clicking away, THANK YOU. This has been one hell of a journey and knowing that other people are out there enjoying (or not!) these reviews has meant a lot to me. Special thanks to those who have messaged me or commented on the reviews themselves.

HUGS FOR EVERYONE!

See you for the revival!

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38 thoughts on “ review: gilmore girls – season 7, episode 22 “bon voyage” ”.

I think your overall “wrap-up” of the show really captures the essence of the watching experience. Above meh but below any lasting impression. T’was an interesting read!

Thank you so much for these reviews! I started the show in February of 2021 and just finished the series. I read all of your comments from the time I found them. I found myself looking forward to the end of each show to hear your thoughts! They were highly entertaining. I would even pause the show to read your review to see if you saw the same odd character moment, awkward line, or shared my opinion on smarmy. Loved every bit of your writing! Thanks again!

Thank you!!

It was just one of those dumb shows. Great job by Melissa McCarthy though. Wow!

*ROUND OF APPLAUSE* Reading all of your reviews has been a truly enjoyable experience. Obviously I don’t agree with all of your views (maybe because I am a die hard “Gilly”?) but I respect them and admire your style of writing. You really made me LOL (literally, not the overuse of the term) on many occasions and that’s just what I needed. We also got to learn a little about your life, making you not just a random blogger, but a real person. So no matter how many times you call yourself fat and say that you like cats more than people, I think you’re an amazing individual. Looking forward to the revival reviews! Xoxo

Aww, thanks! I can’t believe you made it through! Thanks for reading!

I’ve read most of your girlmore girls reviews and I enjoyed your perspective of the show! Sometimes I felt you were a little harsh, and I didn’t always agree with your opinions, but I could always see where you were coming from. This show has a lot of flaws no doubt, but I love it anyway for all it’s quirkiness and wacky loveable characters. I’m glad you said in the end you did actually like the series after all! I’m glad you made it through to the end, reviewing every single episode is quite a feat so well done! 🙂 I’m looking forward to hearing your views on the revival later this year (by the way, I think my favorite part of your reviews were the hilarious nicknames you gave all the characters – they were all spot on!)

Thanks so much!

I just finished watching the whole series myself. I agree with your overall impression of the show: it was okay without being brilliant. I really enjoyed your reviews. I’ll check back after revival!

Just wanted to chime in with the rest of the readers and say that your reviews made watching GG that much more enjoyable! I agreed with most of your observations and they truly made me laugh out loud (esp the nicknames), even when the episode itself was quite boring. Thanks for putting all this work in and can’t wait to visit this delightful blog with the scrolling fishy background again when the revival hits!! 🙂

Thank you so much! I’m looking forward to the revival!

I to enjoyed your take and agree the 7th season finished better then it started. Loved your nicknames and writing style. Keep on writing and I’m looking forward to the next 4 episodes!

Thanks! I’m excited to see what happens in the revival.

I was watching the series finale today and found myself wondering why they didn’t just move the party to the school gymnasium when rain was forecast. We know everyone would have fit in there because they did during the dance-a-thon in season whatever. (Also, even IF Luke could have sewn all those tarps together by hand in one night, the way they were mounted on posts, they would have filled up with rain and dumped water all over everyone.) Stupid season seven is stupid. (end rant)

Thank you so much for these reviews. I haven’t laughed this hard in ages. I love that you pointed out the lack of communication between all of the characters. I wanted to yell at her when she was in the doomed “relationship” with Jess. When he came to Yale to ask her to run away with him why did she just stand there screaming “no” at him over and over again and then let him storm out. Heart ripped to shreds after he did the very un-Jess thing and was honest for once with her about his feelings towards her. Argh! I thought Jess was a dick too and I think the writers just didn’t do their relationship any justice. I wanted so much more from them as a couple. But I think she could’ve understood him a bit better. He had a fucked up childhood. He is defensive. He puts up barriers. He has trust issues. Yada yada. But I agree with you. Just run away with him for a few months, have wild, unbridled Jess sex. Live in NEW YORK CITY for fucks sake. And then go running back to Yale after he undoubtedly screws everything up. But he was never in his comfort zone in Stars Hollow and I think NYC Jess would be way more relaxed and fun. But Rory in that scene…all the hate in the world.

Btw, I am only up to season 5 but I just binge read all your reviews. Which feels a bit like cheating but I couldn’t help myself. I’m looking forward to the reboot and your reviews. Thanks for taking the time to put so brilliantly into words what I was thinking every damn episode. B

Thanks for reading! I’m so glad other people are thinking the same thing. It makes me feel less crazy 😉

I finished the show today. While watching it for the past few weeks, I read all of your reviews and thoroughly enjoyed them. Agreed with you every time. I hated so many things that Lorelai and Rory did on the show over the years. But the final few episodes showed how much heart the show has. Hated watching the show many times but I’m going to miss it so much. Does that make sense? I can’t wait for the revival. I’ll miss Richard for sure. He’s probably my favorite character. Hope you’ll review the revival too.

Thanks for reading! I will definitely be reviewing the revival. 🙂

Jen, I’ve been doing my own Gilmore Girls rematch and started searching for episode reviews. Your reviews quickly distinguished themselves with your sense of humor and became my favorites. I started looking specifically for yourrs as they crack me up. I love your names for the characters, particularly Broody. Oh BTW, I was initially team Logan and was surprised that you didn’t like Smarmy. On rewatch, I find that you’re right, Rory can do better than those three.

Aww, thanks! 😀

hi Jen. I read your reviews earlier this year and was frantically looking for your blog today after watching the new episodes today…can’t wait for your take!

Thanks Rob! I’ve done “Winter” and will get the other up soon.

Hi Jen Stumbled across your blog and read all your reviews of GG. Loved your take on it, the snark and heart. It made watching this show much more fun!

Thanks for these recaps! I came to the GG party very late (started the first season around Thanksgiving 2016 and just finished the last ep of season 7 last night) and needed some sassy recaps/reviews! Yours are perfect because they have (obviously) been written fairly recently… looking forward to reading your take on “A Year In The Life!”

Thanks Kim!

Thank you Jen for your deliciously snarky and insightful reviews – I just finished bingewatching all 7 seasons and I couldn’t have gotten through it without you. It felt like I had a wise sister to debrief with me after every episode, and the whole time, I would be nodding furiously and saying, “YES!!!” Thank you for sharing my appreciation for Paris (a woman’s place is in the house … and senate!) and the wonderful Ed Herrmann, and for making me feel less bad for hating on Lorelai and Rory at times (ok fine… and Luke, Smarmy, and Jackson “I’m going to lie to my wife about getting a vasectomy”…and don’t even get me started on Floppy). You’re awesome, and I wish you all the best!!

Thanks Jo! I’m glad someone else agrees with me about how Jackson is the literal worst!

Hi Jen! I’m a year late to this, but i just wanted to say a huge thank you for these reviews. Your witty, sarcastic, and unbelievably detailed (back-to-front posters!) recaps are brilliant. I’d only ever caught a few eps and the revival with my little sister before, so thought maternity leave (I’m in the UK so I’ve had a few months of TV-watching between nappy changes!) was a good time to commit to a full watch-through. I felt quite sad about finally finishing Season 7 yesterday as it really does feel like the end of an era. While that last episode was lovely, generally Season 7 was baffling and strange. I’m looking forward to re-watching the revival knowing what I know now (like that Smarmy is truly awful; the sadness for Lane not getting to escape and follow her music dreams; and just how truly awful Jackson is – I mean, seriously. I know Melissa McCarthy was pregnant at the time, but could they not have treated that faux vasectomy story with a little bit more outrage? Ughfghfjhjdhf). Your blog has proven inspirational and I’m going to finally sort out my own at some point in 2018 in-between the nursery run and work 🙂 Keep writing; you’re awesome! x

YAY! I’m so excited that you decided to start your own blog! Link it in the comments! (Sorry this reply is late!)

Absolutely loved every review 😂😂😂

Thanks for everything! I read almost every review while watching the entire Gilmore Girls series for the first time. I’m Rory’s age and in college, and I surprisingly found that I related to a lot of what she went through in the show like living in a small town, having close mother relationship, valedictorian and college life, and boyfriend stuff of course LOL). It was interesting to hear your viewpoint on everything as well. So happy that Luke and Lorelai were back in the end!!! And Logan had his ups and downs but overall I thought he would have been a good guy for Rory. Still kind of glad she turned him down since she was so young and uncertain about things. I really enjoyed your reviews and now I’m on to the revival!!

Very late to the party but after rewatching all episodes of the OS and reading your blog for the whole ride, felt like I had to tell you how much I enjoyed these reviews! Watching the revival now and looking forward to reading those too : ) Thank you for writing and sharing!

Hi! I’m in high school and I started reading your reviews about a year ago. I just wanted to say that you’re an amazing, funny writer and you definitely made me see one of my favorite shows from a new perspective 😁

Hi! Thanks for reading!! 🙂

Terrific effort….but for this last episode, it’s kinda UNNERVING to hear about the revived 4 part series as part of your review. (I’ll finally watch the 4 episodes in a few days…I’m late in watching (and paying for) all of these internet only shows I have AMAZON PRIME VIDEO and CBS ALL ACCESS…barely watch my huge pre-digital TV anymore.

your reviews gave me LIFE. as i said in a previous comment, i was obsessed with these and read all of them and commented all my thoughts up until the middle of season 5 (when i realized that it probably wasn’t that good for me HAHAHA) but i’m so grateful to read these and i love seeing other people’s thoughts. since i’m obsessed with reactions, i did a time lapse of me watching the last episode HAHAHA and now i’m writing this with tears in my eyes. my whole family has been watching this show together since JANUARY and now it’s SEPTEMBER. i’m so scared to be letting go of this show that we bonded over, it’s my favorite thing on earth. i have so so so many thoughts on this episode too. first of all, babette and kirk and all those people were being so selfish and only thinking about themselves when they learned they couldn’t do the re-enactment. and of course i tried so hard not to absolutely sob but tears were streaming down my face at the last appearance of richard. he was such an amazing character and i’m so so so sad that he passed. i think i’m the only one in my family so emotionally attached to this show that it’s all they think about. i could be doing so many better things than writing this right now but i need to get my thoughts out. i honestly don’t even know how to say all my feelings except for WOW. i told my parents that we couldn’t watch the revival yet bc i’ve already cried enough and i’m gonna absolutely lose it at richard’s funeral. but thank you SO much for these reviews and i appreciate them so much!!

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We say goodbye to Gilmore Girls and these reviews

“Unto The Breach,” season seven, episode 21, originally aired 5/8/2007  

Imagine the high bar of writing and creating a beloved show’s finale. I remember the unbelievable hoopla surrounding the last episode of Seinfeld , say, only to have that episode, with the four main characters winding up in jail for being such assholes, leave us with an example of an extremely tone-deaf way to wrap up a series. At the other end of the spectrum, we have the tearjerking moment of Hawkeye taking off in a chopper, viewing the goodbye that Hunnicutt left for him. Mary and the WJM-TV news crew getting fired. Sam Malone turning off the lights at the bar for the last time.

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Not saying that “Bon Voyage” is of that caliber exactly, but as series finales go, it’s pretty great. The revival came back because of the Palladinos’ unresolved feelings over that final season, and I did enjoy it, but honestly, I didn’t have any lingering resentment (except for one moment, noted below) after the last episode of Gilmore Girls’ season seven. It ended as it began, which is to say, almost perfectly.

Before we get there, though, let’s plow through Rory’s graduation and marriage proposal, pretty much a housekeeping episode to wrap everything up before the finale. Lorelai and (ugh) Christopher are at peace. Paris and Doyle are off to India, with not a word from Rory about how much Paris’ friendship has meant to her, only the other way around. Richard and Emily’s song was adorable. And Logan, in an ill-advised move, decides to propose to Rory at her graduation party.

They’ve been dating for three years, right? So how could Logan spring something like this on her, knowing her usual slow decision-making process, which usually includes a lot of pro and con lists? I actually believe that the proposal was a plot device to get Logan out of the picture to leave Rory’s future unbridled. (Love Lorelai and Rory taking a ride in that romantic carriage instead.) So long, Logan. See you in London.

You know I love Emily Gilmore, but she’s pretty unbearable these two episodes, furious that Rory isn’t going to jump at such a solid proposal right out of school, the way she did. In both instances, it’s Richard who saves the day, by pointing out that Rory’s graduation is a celebration of Lorelai as well, and encouraging her to take her well-deserved moment.

We even get our last few moments of Stars Hollow quirk, as Kirk hangs in a box, David Blaine-like, over Luke and Lorelai quarreling about Logan’s proposal, which is really about them. As with Rory and Logan, it was the marriage part that messed them up, not the relationship part. But Rory’s right not to cut off all of her other options at only 22, and Logan takes the ring (where did Rory have the ring stashed anyway? In her graduation cap?) and strides off into the sunset, to Emily’s certain consternation.

“Bon Voyage,” season seven, episode 22, originally aired 5/15/2007  

Again, when you’re saying goodbye to a series, it’s nice to work that goodbye into the actual characters. That’s why those M*A*S*H and MTM finales work so well, because we know the characters (and the actors) are as torn up as we are.

So I’m willing to accept the fact that the entire town is going to roll out to say goodbye to Rory Gilmore. And, like Richard points out again, in another tear-jerking moment, the party is for Lorelai as well. She created this new life for herself when she was only a teenager, and it turned out amazing, after all.

Emily is again cranky this episode, complaining about the short notice of the party, but I think she’s just reacting. She’s the one who realized that this was the final Friday-night dinner with all four of them, and the wordless despair that then hung over the table was extraordinary, because it was the last Friday night dinner for all of us. And the relief on Emilys face when Lorelai says she’ll still come to dinner (and Lorelai’s tiny smile when she realizes that Emily’s spa efforts are just an attempt to keep those dinner going) is just lovely. We end the series knowing that the Gilmore ties are as strong as ever.

Other than Rory getting a job covering Barack Obama, the big news of the finale is the reunion of Lorelai and Luke, and I have to say, it’s a too-short moment that has always bothered. me. I do like the way Lorelai says “Luke” with about 1,000 “I love you”s steeped in there, realizing that he may not be the best with big talk or romantic gestures like Valentine’s Day presents, but he cares about her more than anyone else in the world. He wants her to be happy, and will create a chuppah, an ice-skating rink, and a giant overnight tarp (still not sure how that played out exactly) to make that happen.

But we’ve seen Luke and Lorelai kisses before, and for a reunion kiss, this one was pretty weak. Especially compared to the first one . And then , too quickly, we get that weird camera zoom above their heads to the party? What was that about? Eleven years later, it still bugs me.

In the end, the show was best when it was just about the two Gilmore girls, and the best, most poignant moments this episode consist of Lorelai letting herself realize their impending separation. The ironing scene. The moment when Lorelai goes into Rory’s room to watch her sleep there for the last time (good luck with that one, parents). The ending when Lorelai is rattling off all sorts of last-minute advice and Rory tells her “You’ve given me everything I need.”

Parenting is the hardest job in the world, and just when it seems to be less hard, it’s over. The nice part of the revival was that we got to see Rory and Lorelai hanging out and chattering again. But Rory’s statement, and even the girls’ final cute conversation, lets us know that no matter what happens, time and distance will never break the bond they’ve forged over a lifetime together. Y’know, maybe this finale deserves to stand among the all-time greats after all.

Stray observations

• Why does Lorelai not realize that her brushing off the karaoke as “it didn’t mean anything” is directly related to Luke blowing her off afterward?
• This week in Gilmore entitlement: For all Paris has done for you, Rory Gilmore, a little appreciation or a “you’re going to do great things too” would have been nice. You don’t have to be so startled by that hug, either.
• Final best Gilmore Girls outfit: I like Lorelai’s graphic red and black dress at the Christiane Amanpour meeting.
• Final worst Gilmore Girls outfits: The short sleeve hoodies and cardigans even make pretty Rory Gilmore look kinda dumpy. Her last-ever outfit, with the red blouse under the short-sleeve white sweater, is one of the worst things she’s ever worn.
• Worst-ever Gilmore Girls outfit: Still goes to Lorelai’s vest for Rory’s morning-after-jail breakfast in season five.
• Best-ever Gilmore Girls outfit: I didn’t get to review this episode (my all-time favorite) but my heart belongs to Lorelai’s vintage wear at the dance marathon in season three.
• “Spas are exploding.” “Sounds dangerous.”
• Friends, please permit me this indulgence at the close of these 44 weeks and 88 episodes to tell you about the day I met the Gilmore Girls. It was my first day of my first Television Critics Association press tour, and I went straight from the airport that morning to the Beverly Hilton. Fortunately, I made it in time for the Gilmore Girls Netflix panel, which included both Palladinos, Scott Patterson, and the titular girls themselves. I’ve mentioned before that I started crying right there in the ballroom where the Golden Globes are, as I couldn’t believe that I was actually in the same room as these people from my favorite show. When I got TiVo, the very first show I put in my queue was Gilmore Girls, let’s put it that way. After the big panel, there were breakouts into smaller meeting rooms, and I got to go to the one with the Gilmore girls. As this whole event was my first time being surrounded by actual celebrities, I was stunned how beautiful they were in person. Yes, I know all the stars had hair and makeup people and stylists, putting them in sharp contrast to schlubby journalists like myself who had just gotten off a plane, but words like “porcelain skin” and “crystalline turquoise eyes” come to mind. I parked myself right next to Lauren Graham, and when I introduced myself, she said, “Oh, I know you, didn’t you write something about The Catch ?” I just had, so while it makes sense that Lauren Graham would read it because the series starred her boyfriend Peter Krause, my internal squeeing level was off-the-charts. I sat across from Alexis Bledel, who had just married Vincent Kartheiser, and I couldn’t stop myself from staring at the rock she got from Pete Campbell (unsurprisingly, it was significant). Anyway, happy to report that they were both as lovely in person and personality and they are on the show. (Here’s the result from that day , just fyi.)
• One last indulgence, I promise: Never say never, but this may be the last thing I ever write about Gilmore Girls. Just want to thank you so much for spending your Saturdays with me and reading. It meant the world to me to be able to write about this show and discuss with you all, even during the [shudder] Christopher era. Now I may have to go back to season one and start watching the series all over again. With my own kids this time.

Gilmore Girls (TV Series)

Bon voyage (2007).

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This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts .

Maybe, just maybe, this was the only way ‘Gilmore Girls’ could have ended.

And that’s a good thing.

With all the positive strides the show has made in the last few episodes, I found myself hoping that the rumors would turn true and the CW would get another season out of it. Even a shortened one.

But after seven years as television’s hippest – and most critically acclaimed -- mother-daughter twosome, Lorelai and Rory ended their journey in a touching finale that drew the show to a comforting close.

The focus of the hour, like so many of the best ‘Gilmore’ episodes, was on the girls, as they planned a roller-coaster-seeking summer of fun. When Rory unexpectedly landed a job, however, they slowly began sobering up to the idea of having to go their separate ways.

But not before the girls (and the show) finally overcame long-term hurdles in dumb love (Rory turned Logan down – hurray!), surprise daughters (April gave Lorelai an alleged reason to dump Luke and then moved far, far away) and meandering (see any and all episodes involving Rory and the Daughters of the American Revolution).

As things began to wrap up for ‘Gilmore Girls,’ the show returned to feeling like one helluva coffee fix with friends: a sassy, low-key affair, high on caffeine and free of melodrama.

Tuesday’s finale was light on its feet and poignant in all the right spots. Lorelai tried hiding her separation pains as she manically helped Rory pack for her new job on the road, until Rory questioned her distance and Lorelai confessed, ‘It’s too soon.’

For fans who have followed Luke and Lorelai’s will-they-or-won’t-they relationship since Season 1, the inevitable resolution came in a single, urgent kiss. A brief but super-charged moment, it was more than enough to satisfy.

Yet cast members Kelly Bishop (who plays Emily Gilmore), Liza Weil (Paris) and Scott Patterson (Luke) have gone on record with their disappointment over the abruptness of the show’s cancellation and the lack of closure in the finale.

In fact, the series’ ending was all about new beginnings. Instead of closure, viewers were given reassuring glimpses into the future.

Lorelai volunteered to continue Friday-night dinners with her parents sans Rory. She and Luke are back together. And Rory is about to kick-start her journalism career as an online reporter covering the Barack Obama campaign.

Viewers who tuned in for one last stroll through Stars Hollow couldn’t have been disappointed either. Though Emily and Richard were sidetracked – but gave a wonderful song-and-dance sayonara to Rory in the penultimate episode – Rory’s best friend, Lane, got a proper and deserved send-off. The now mother of two and Rory hung out on the porch talking about their future as adulthood loomed. Kirk spent his last odd night a la David Blaine in a glass box suspended above the town. And Babette (Sally Struthers) got to run through town shrieking at the top of her voice one last time.

The goodbyes are bittersweet, but the void the show leaves in primetime is the real reason to mourn: a mother and daughter who communicated intelligently, fiercely and, at their best, with creator Amy Sherman-Palladino’s trademark rapid-fire wit.

It’s anyone’s guess how the series would have ended had Sherman-Palladino remained at the helm. But I do believe the ‘Gilmore Girls’ has bowed out with grace.

-- Denise Martin

'Gilmore Girls' Season 7, Episode 22: Bon Voyage

Directing and writing credits: “Bon Voyage” is directed by Lee Shallat Chemel, written by David S. Rosenthal. I can officially say that even after a thoughtful revisit, this is my least favorite season of "Gilmore Girls." Although it's nice to see some characters experience real growth, the writing doesn't have the magic Palladino spark. Love them or hate them, Amy and Dan write dialogue that is immediately identifiable and unlike anything else on TV (notwithstanding the 2001 rumors that Amy Sherman-Palladino is Aaron Sorkin's pseudonym). Even worse than wrecking the lives of Sookie and Lane, S7 is just so fucking dull. Here's a short list of things I did not give a single shit about:

• All plots related to Logan's vague internet company
• Christopher and his brain injury
• Richard's heart issues
• Men in general
• Anything Stars Hollow-related that doesn't involve Babette and/or Miss Patty

Oh, and thanks to the "Gilmore Girls" subreddit for unearthing this cringey interview with Rosenthal from 2001. I had no idea he was the type of bro douche who wrote an entire play about wanting to bang Heidi Klum. Barf.

Most batshit crazy outfit: No shade to Christiane Amanpour as I know khaki is her signature color and I suspect these might be her real clothes, but I hate her jacket. It would probably look better if she wore it open with a tucked shirt underneath or maybe rolled up the sleeves. The long cut shortens her legs and the cuffed sleeve creates unnecessary volume in the arms which doesn't work with a fabric this stiff. And truthfully, no one, not even a foreign war correspondent, needs titty and hip pockets; however, if she feels they're necessary, who the fuck am I to say otherwise? Someone should introduce her to those dumb Fendi accessories that contain tiny pockets for no reason.

Lorelai continues her reign of terror with weird midsection choices. Instead of a giant belt , we get this red color blocking situation with a contrasting tie-waist. It's not hideously unflattering, I just don't care for it. It's like she fell asleep on the beach with only her stomach exposed and got a gnarly sunburn.

Other Lorelai low points include: her white zip-up anchor hoodie, the reemergence of her Forever 21 graduation necklace, and yet another bargain bin Anthropologie top. Rory rewears her short-sleeve green Juicy Couture track jacket for one final time. On a positive note, I've always liked her blue Friday night dinner dress from Erica Davies's Development line.

Most irritating Rory or Lorelai moment: If Rory thinks for a single second that Lorelai is "fine" and not internally freaking the fuck out over her impending departure, she's been asleep at the wheel for twenty-two years. This feels like yet another character inaccuracy made to service the plot and I don't care for it. Mere episodes ago , Lorelai was hitting her hard with the whole "Don't move away, stay here with me forever" guilt trip. There's no way that bitch is instantly, believably chill in the face of a years-long separation from the daughter she's unhealthily enmeshed with. Rory should be smart enough (and secure enough in their relationship) to understand this.

I'm over Lorelai's immature "sign" nonsense when it comes to Luke. You want a sign? Try walking up to him and saying something like, "I'm still in love with you. I never stopped loving you and I want us to be together." See how he responds and there's your "sign." It takes all the guesswork out of what is a relatively straightforward scenario but requires a vulnerability she's rarely willing to exhibit. It's realistic for her character, just frustrating as hell to witness. The same goes for her whole schtick about Rory becoming "gum buddies" with Barack Obama. Considering this comment, I'm not surprised she routinely embarrasses herself around celebrities who stay at the inn.

Number of times Rory or Lorelai treat their BFF like shit: For the first time ever, Rory and Lane have what feels like an honest conversation between two friends and not a wooden interaction written by ChatGPT. The emotional beats aren't exactly earned considering these two have shared zero meaningful scenes together during the college years; however, it's the finale, so I'll let it slide.

"I mean, I don't know what it's like to have a sister, but I feel like I do, you know? Minus those years at Yale when I barely saw you and was off living a totally different life. We'll never wake up one day as adults and realize we haven't talked in five years."

Though it may be forced, this crumb of affection is more than Lorelai ever gives Sookie, her last-minute errand bitch. When Rory's surprise going away party is revealed, Lorelai is truly shocked that Sookie didn't orchestrate the entire thing, just made all the desserts. She probably still put in a solid ten hours of work, which is small potatoes considering her usual labors.

Best literary or pop culture references : Adorably, Nick Walker's website features the clip from this episode where Babette confesses her fandom to Luke. She says,

"He's just terrific — always dead on and so charming. Of course, I've always had a thing for meteorologists. They're kinda like astronauts crossed with fortune tellers, very intriguing."

How many times do we think Babette and Morey have fucked while watching Nick Walker on The Weather Channel from their jungle ?

Stars Hollow weirdness: Finally, after being pushed to the brink by Taylor Doose for the umpteenth time, the townies make the rational choice to ignore him completely when he tries to hinder Rory's party planning with talk of permits. If they can't get their graduation reenactment, they're going to party their asses off at a bon voyage bash. In typical Taylor fashion, he shows up to the party he tried ruining and makes himself the brief center of attention by using a birthing/womb metaphor that rivals Kirk's "nightie" sash in grossness. Morey supplies the tunes, Sookie fulfills everyone's pie requests, and Kirk resumes his position at the turntables. As Lulu notes, "He's really good at scratching." Maybe cat Kirk taught him the ropes.

Sharpest insult or one-liner: This finale is all nostalgia and no sass. It's a good episode that does what it needs to, the lines just aren't that memorable. The best we get is this stoner comeback from Zack at the town meeting:

Taylor : You people are violating town ordinances left and right. This is highly irregular. Zack : Dude, you're who's highly irregular.

This made me think of "Coral Palms Pt. I," from S4 of "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." Desperate to become assistant manager at The Fun Zone, Holt/Greg can't seem to convince his manager, Taylor (Jorma Taccone), that he isn't a Rasta. In some alternate dimension, Zack exists in this Florida hellscape as Taylor's estranged brother, Isaac, rival manager of a competing arcade.

Books mentioned/books Rory is reading: Christiane Amanpour reads Vali Nasr's "The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future" (2006) while waiting for her taxi at the Dragonfly. Taylor invokes Henry Martyn Robert's "Robert's Rules of Order" (1876), which was likewise name-dropped in " You've Been Gilmored ." Throughout the series, the production designers should have featured more previously referenced books in the background as little Easter eggs for their nerd viewers. I loved seeing "The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath" (1982) make yet another appearance as Rory unpacks her shit from Yale. This book was in at least three other episodes: " Double Date " (S1E12), " Richard in Stars Hollow " (S2E12), and " So... Good Talk " (S5E16).

The only other title I can identify on Rory's shelf is Gaston Leroux's "The Phantom of the Opera" (1909). It was a grave mistake not to include "Anna Karenina," "Howl," and "Dead Souls."

Best song of the episode: Rory and Lane listen to "The Neutral" and "Pink Steam," two songs from Sonic Youth's "Rather Ripped" during their heartfelt porch conversation. I wonder if Rory has read any Dodie Bellamy, the author who inspired the latter, Thurston Moore-penned tune. This feels like a throwback to the S6 finale where Kim, Thurston, and their daughter, Coco, play "What a Waste," another song from the same album.

Also, I'm like 80% sure a brand new la-la drops in the scene where Lorelai silently cries while watching Rory sleep,

Thoughts: It may have taken me five years, four months, and twenty-five days, but we've finally reached the end of this "Gilmore Girls" project. By this point, I would guess that I've written no less than 300k words, many of them on how unfortunate the early aughts were for tits. Was it a wise use of my time? Who can say. If not for the readers and commenters (who were 95% articulate and respectful), I probably would have dropped off somewhere around S5. Thanks to everyone who said positive things and encouraged me to keep going.

I started writing these recaps because I desperately missed the days of Television Without Pity when writers mixed bitchiness, quality criticism, and fandom. Snark is different when it comes from a place of love and not an unabashed desire to shit all over something in an attempt to disparage those who enjoy it. I hope these recaps reminded you of the days when the internet was more like a network of niche communities exchanging ideas and less like whatever is currently happening on TikTok. Please enjoy this final installment in my magnum opus!*

It's not realistic to me that Christiane Amanpour, Jane Pauley, Harry Belafonte, and Marisa Tomei would ever willingly choose to stay at the Dragonfly Inn, no matter its alleged twenty-six Zagat rating . There's no way Sookie's food is legendary enough to combat the world's bitchiest concierge and the creepy, hoarder grandma living room. It's one step up from LaDawn's bed and breakfast , ten steps down from the anonymity of a hotel chain in a larger city. Regardless, kudos to Mara Casey and Jami Rodofsky for finally securing Amanpour as a guest star after seven years of trying. She's perfectly blasé about Rory's accomplishments, reminding her of the small fish/big pond nature of post-grad life: "Your mother says that you've graduated Yale, editor of the Yale Daily News — that's not bad." Rory walks away with Amanpour's card and perhaps a renewed motivation to make it as a journalist, despite recent setbacks.

Lorelai and Rory's canceled rollercoaster trip is reminiscent of their elaborately planned pre-Yale week in S4 that never comes to fruition because of the "I wrote the date down wrong" snafu. There's no time for pizza at John's or amusement park shenanigans when the next step awaits. Arriving late to Friday night dinner, Rory announces that Hugo Gray has offered her a job covering the Barack Obama campaign trail for his online magazine. Lorelai is effusively enthusiastic about the opportunity, even though it means Rory will have to leave for Sioux City, Iowa in three days. When Emily worries about the grueling nature of the job, Lorelai assures her that Rory can handle it. Even Richard is excited about all of the contacts she'll make, reminding her that trash salary is fine at the beginning of a career (for someone with a trust fund). The saddest moment is when everyone simultaneously realizes that this dinner is the last they'll all have together in who knows how long.

The next day at the diner, Lorelai breaks the news about Rory's new job and the reenactment graduation cancellation. Sorry, Luke! Maybe Caesar can come up with a creative way to sell an assload of burgers and hot dogs. For once, Luke intuits how bummed the whole town is and how much everyone, especially Lorelai, needs this party for closure. With Sookie's help, he organizes a last-minute going away surprise party that requires even more effort when rain enters the forecast. The man spends all night sewing tarps and raincoats together to create a tent that probably could have just been rented from a local vendor but 🤷🏼‍♀️ it's a kind gesture nonetheless.

Conveniently, this display of emotional intelligence comes right on the heels of Lorelai telling Rory how she thinks she's done with Luke because, "I need someone who can feel, you know? Show me how he feels. He can't do that." Well, guess what, Lorelai ... he totally can when it's the series finale and the writers are determined to give everyone a happy ending after a grueling season of nonsense. I actually appreciate the lack of preamble to their reconciliation. Lorelai thanks Luke for the party, face full of tenderness, and he stammers, "I just ... like to see you happy." It's a simple statement that feels romantic only because of this man's historically stunted nature. The only other time he's been this demonstrative is when he first confessed his feelings for Lorelai at the soft opening of the Dragonfly.

When I turn the critical part of my brain off, there's something tremendously sweet about Luke's clumsy statement. As he's looking at Lorelai, it's like his eyes are saying, "This is the best I can do right now and I hope it's enough." Luke is and always has been an acts of service man. He's never been good at saying how he feels, but has always shown up for Lorelai in ways both small and large. He was there for both of Richard's hospital stints , Mimi's broken heart , several minor catastrophes — creepy men bidding on Lorelai's basket , transporting and disposing of Rory's mattress , feelings of inadequacy — and daily caffeine fixes. He knows he fucked up by shutting her out upon April's arrival. He apologized to her in " Hay Bale Maze " and now this public display feels like a return to his roots ... a different way of saying " I am all in ." Instead of waiting ten years to get married, they should have found a nice city hall on the Obama campaign trail and eloped with Rory as their witness.

The party itself is what you would expect for a Stars Hollow bash. Everyone is overwhelmingly happy for Rory and excited to celebrate her in a way that most people never experience in real life. I hope she treasures this dumb fucking town that unconditionally loves her in spite of her milquetoast personality. Richard and Emily even show up to the party, irritated by the last minute invitation per usual , but beaming with pride for both Lorelai and Rory. Emily, who had been trying to manufacture a reason to keep Friday night dinners in Rory's absence, is relieved when Lorelai reveals she'll still be there (albeit, in spandex and a tube top). Again, it's a little too neat a resolution to their complicated relationship, but fuck it ... I only want soft and fuzzy shit in my "Gilmore Girls" finale.

The morning of the big move, Lorelai flits around, spewing off last-minute wisdom that is mostly useless until Rory stops her in her tracks and says, "Mom … You've given me everything I need." It's another one of those manipulative scenes that always makes me cry even though Lorelai is kind of a shitty, self-involved mom sometimes. I maintain that she's done enough damage to send Rory into an early thirties anxiety spiral (which we see in "AYitL"); however, her feelings of love and pride are undeniable. If she's done her job well enough, Rory will go off and live her own life, having independent adventures and making decisions that don't have her mother at the forefront. It's the end of an era for both women and what better way for them to celebrate it than with one final breakfast at Luke's?

In a shot that mirrors the pilot, the camera pulls away from the diner, framing the girls for one final time in Stars Hollow's signature twinkle lights. It's a fitting end to a series that is significantly more dysfunctional than its cozy exterior initially suggests, which in some ways, is what makes it great. When I return to Stars Hollow in thirty years (I need a long break from these people), maybe I'll see things differently. Depending on how severely I've addled my brain with recreational drugs, perhaps I'll be Team Emily and Richard on my next watch 😆 Only time will tell.

*I plan to write about "AYitL," it just might be a few months before I get to it. Sign up for emails if you want to be notified when a new recap is live.

Random observations:

• While watching "Poker Face," my husband had the brilliant idea that Natasha Lyonne should play Babette if a "Gilmore Girls" prequel ever happens. Mara Casey and Jami Rudofsky — if this is in the works, I imagine she's your no-brainer first choice.
• I'm ashamed it took this many watches for me to realize that creepy masks have apparently been de rigueur in Stars Hollow since S1:

• I wonder if Rory and Lorelai's rollercoaster trip included a stop at Kennywood Park. Thinking about the second drop on the Phantom's Revenge makes me queasy to this day. I haven't ridden the Boulder Dash, but can confirm the Millennium Force and Cyclone are a fun time. Or... they were when I was younger and not terrified of a neck and/or back injury.
• Lorelai's Sandra Day O'Connor cough syrup hallucinations remind me of the time I did mushrooms and couldn't remember my own name and kept internally repeating "Pat Sajak."
• Not only is Perfume Genius a "Gilmore Girls" fan, he perfectly describes the everlasting appeal of this show:

I like watching The Gilmore girls because they are never scared of dying — Perfume Genius (@perfumegenius) January 11, 2023

• Even Christiane Amanpour is carrying a Marc Jacobs bag. Did Brenda Maben have some kind of blood oath with them?
• When was Emily at the Ballantyne Resort? Her original reservation was thwarted by Mia in " Gilmore Girls Only ."
• Luke's OG busboy (played by Robert Lee) finally gets to speak! He says two inconsequential lines.
• Lorelai gives sound advice about avoiding shorts on a hot bus in the middle of summer. Nothing is worse than standing up on public transit and realizing your thighs are not only stuck to the seat, but imprinted with some kind of unfortunate pattern. It's worse than swamp ass.
• I wonder which orange sweater Rory has been lusting over. I can't remember Lorelai ever wearing one, so maybe it's something we've only seen on Rory.

• Liz is more realistic as a successful psychic than a jewelry maker. Meth head vibe aside, she's the only person in Luke's life who calls him out on his Lorelai bullshit. Dress her up in some of Miss Patty's flowing scarves and she'll be spitting truths to every townie with money to spare.

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The 12 Best Episodes of 'Gilmore Girls,' Ranked According to IMDb

"Reality has no place in our world."

Now 23 years since it first aired, Gilmore Girls remains as beloved now as it was then. Running from 2000-2007, then a controversial miniseries revival in 2017, Gilmore Girls is one of the most popular shows from The WB and adored by fans. The show follows the fierce and independent Lorelai Gilmore ( Lauren Graham ) and her teenage daughter, Rory ( Alexis Bledel ), as they embark on everyday life in quaint small-town Stars Hollow. They deal with boys, friends, and a complex relationship with Emily ( Kelly Bishop ) and Richard Gilmore ( Edward Hermann ), Lorelai's parents.

Fans watch as Rory grows up from 15 with her best friend Lane Kim ( Keiko Agena ) through high school and into Yale University to become a journalist. Lorelai searches for her match while working towards her dream of owning an inn with her best friend, Sookie ( Melissa McCarthy ). Out of 154 episodes, there are some real standouts, with the best Gilmore Girl episodes of all time rated highly by the fans on IMDb.

Gilmore Girls

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12 "Kiss and Tell" (Season 1, Episode 7)

Imdb score: 8.4/10.

The small Gilmore family is one of the best television families as viewers relate to their struggles, and they also grow up as the seasons progress. In the episode "Kiss and Tell," Lorelai experiences a life-changing moment: her first kiss. After Chilton’s dance marathon, Rory and Dean ( Jared Padalecki ) share a kiss at the town square gazebo. But even though Lorelai and Rory have a very close relationship, Rory is reluctant to tell her mother about what happened to her.

But a mother’s intuition is too strong, so Lorelai feels that Rory is holding back on something. Eventually, Lorelai learns about the kiss from another person, which makes her think that she’s drifting away from Rory. The episode is well-loved by viewers due to its relatable storyline and its lessons on trust and communication .

11 "Lorelai? Lorelai?" (Season 7, Episode 20)

Imdb score: 8.5/10.

Lorelai’s feelings as a mother and lover were further explored in the episode “Lorelai? Lorelai?” In the episode, Lorelai is seen worried and anxious about the future, as Rory is about to graduate from Yale, and she hasn’t gotten a job yet. To shake off her worries, Lorelai takes Rory shopping and invites Luke ( Scott Patterson ) to do karaoke at a bar.

One of the most memorable scenes in the episode is when Lorelai sings a romantic song that’s meant to woo Luke. The episode ends with a cliffhanger as Logan ( Matt Czuchry ) asks for Rory’s hand in marriage. It’s an episode that’s filled with questions such as if Lorelai will approve Logan’s proposal or if Rory will accept a job offer. It’s one of the pivotal episodes in the show that fans shouldn’t miss.

10 "Dear Emily and Richard" (Season 3, Episode 14)

Imdb rating: 8.6/10.

In what fans consider to be the best episode of Gilmore Girls ' third season , viewers are taken back in time in flashbacks to see Lorelai as a teenager, finding out she is pregnant and having Rory. This is cleverly paralleled with Rory's dad, Christopher ( David Sutcliffe ), as his current girlfriend is in the hospital about to have a baby. For the first time, fans get to witness Lorelai's relationship with her parents at that time.

With an incredible casting for a younger Lorelai, "Dear Emily and Richard" gives viewers the ultimate insight into Lorelai's upbringing and the events that unfolded before she ran away. This emotional episode also explores Emily's point of view and how distraught she was when Lorelai left. Lorelai then watches Christopher talk about his new baby girl, and fans wonder what could have been.

9 "Rory's Dance" (Season 1, Episode 9)

Imdb rating: 8.7/10.

This classic episode from Season 1 follows Rory debating whether to attend her school dance. She asks her boyfriend, Dean, to go with her, and he does. The two have a romantic evening but end up falling asleep together and do not come home. Lorelai panics, and her mother intercepts her parenting with harsh judgment.

This is one of the first real arguments fans see on the show , and it makes for a drama-filled episode. It provides exposition for Emily's character, with her showing her true colors. She fears that Rory will end up pregnant and follow in Lorelai's footsteps. Lorelai steps up her responsibility as a Mom. This engaging episode cleverly explores the bonds between the Gilmore Girls.

8 "I Can't Get Started" (Season 2, Episode 22)

Gilmore Girls is known for its explosive season finales, and this is no exception. The night before Sookie's wedding, Lorelai finds herself back with Christopher. Rory, still with Dean, sees Jess ( Milo Ventimiglia ) — who some fans consider to be the best boyfriend for Rory , upon his return and she kisses him. Christopher then receives a call from Sherry, delivering the news that she is pregnant, and he leaves once again.

This episode teases a new start for Lorelai , involving her child's father. It is the picture-perfect idea, but it did not come to fruition. Fans were also shocked by Rory's kiss with Jess, given that she is still with Dean. It has an emotional ending, as Lorelai and Rory prepare to walk down the aisle at Sookie's wedding with their lives full of boy-related chaos.

7 "Wedding Bell Blues" (Season 5, Episode 13)

Imdb rating: 8.8/10.

In this pivotal episode, Emily and Richard renew their vows after their reconciliation. Lorelai, Luke, and Rory attend. Emily invites Christopher in an attempt to get him back together with Lorelai. Rory kisses Logan, but when she is caught, a huge argument ensues between Luke and Chris. Lorelai figures out what Emily has done and vows to cut her off.

"Wedding Bell Blues" is an explosion of conflict that has been bubbling . Emily and Richard had been vocal about their view on Lorelai being with Luke. Emily bringing Christopher was one last try at intercepting it. Fans completely sympathize with Lorelai's anger, and it is a pivotal episode that undoes any progress they might have made on their strained relationship.

6 "Last Week Fights, Next Week Tights" (Season 4, Episode 21)

For fans of the couple Lorelai and Luke , this episode is a standout. Luke's sister, Liz, and her partner TJ have a Renaissance-themed wedding in the town square. Luke invites Lorelai, and they have the perfect evening together, slow dancing and talking. Luke is smitten, and he gives his love self-help book to Jess, stating that he doesn't need it anymore.

This episode features Stars Hollow at its most elegant, decorated for the wedding. This one stays in the hearts of fans, as Luke finally takes a leap of faith and asks Lorelai out. They slow dance to "Reflecting Light" by Sam Philips , which becomes associated with them as a couple. While the episode is filled with emotionally charged moments, there are still plenty of humor-filled moments such as Lorelai's trademark sarcasm and Kirk ( Sean Gunn ) and Miss Patty's ( Liz Torres ) little tiff.

5 "They Shoot Gilmores, Don't They?" (Season 3, Episode 7)

Imdb rating: 8.9/10.

This episode is quintessential Gilmore Girls. In this slow build of drama, Lorelai and Rory take part in a 24-hour charity dance marathon, along with some of their friends. Dean sits and watches, but chaos ensues when Jess and his girlfriend show up. Rory argues with him, and Dean breaks up with Rory. Elsewhere, Dave Rygalski ( A dam Brody ) charms Mrs. Kim and gets closer to Lane.

The tension in this episode is like no other, with the long-awaited love triangle conflict coming to a head . Fans of Jess rejoiced as the conclusion of the episode suggests he will finally get together with Rory, and he ends up being a well-loved boyfriend among Gilmore Girls ' fans. Bonus points are needed for the comedy factor, and Kirk celebrating his win with his beloved trophy.

4 "Those Are Strings, Pinocchio" (Season 3, Episode 22)

After following Rory's high school journey, fans finally see her graduate from Chilton. Rory gives some beautiful speeches, citing her Mom as her ultimate inspiration for everything. The two then walk the empty halls of Chilton and close the chapter. Lorelai and Sookie put in an offer on the inn.

This rewatchable Gilmore Girls episode is a true tearjerker for those who love the show and have been following along the journey so far. It is the end of an era, and Rory's speeches are a standout moment. It has everyone crying, even Luke. It also highlights Logan and Rory's romance, as Logan proclaims how much he wants to be with Rory. It is a poetic ending and looks ahead to new adventures for Rory and Lorelai.

3 "Friday Night's Alright For Fighting" (Season 6, Episode 13)

Imdb rating: 9.0/10.

In this hilarious and drama-filled episode, the Gilmores gather for Friday night dinner and spend it airing grievances and arguing. Despite the frustration-filled meeting of the family, they still throw witty quips that will surely make audiences chuckle. Meanwhile, Luke gets to know his recently discovered daughter, April, which is putting a strain on his relationship with Lorelai.

The departure from the regular episode style is effective in this episode, accurately portraying a messy family fight that everybody can relate to . Unlike other episodes of Gilmore Girls , the pace differs and dialogue is thrown around. There are also plenty of funny scenes in the episode, such as Lorelai's lunch with Rory and the messy dinner. It is a highlight of an otherwise mixed season as the Gilmores forgive and come together once more.

2 "Bon Voyage" (Season 7, Episode 22)

Imdb rating: 9.1/10.

In the final episode of Gilmore Girls ever, fans must say goodbye to 7 years' worth of characters and immersive stories. Rory's plans change when she is offered her dream job, and a going away party is organized for her. Tears ensue. Lorelai contemplates her life after Rory leaves and reconnects with Luke.

Despite being the second-highest-rated episode, it still has mixed reviews because original creators Amy Shermann-Palladino and Daniel Palladino were no longer involved . Despite that, it does succeed as a final episode, with plans falling into place. However, it also leaves some storylines open-ended, such as Lorelai and Luke's relationship. These were further explored during the revival of Gilmore Girls in 2016 . The goodbye party for Rory is a beautiful conclusion, and the episode thrives on nostalgia.

1 "Raincoats and Recipes" (Season 4, Episode 22)

Imdb rating: 9.3/10.

The highest-rated episode of Gilmore Girls is the episode on every fan's mind. Lorelai has her test run for the Dragonfly Inn. Luke shows his intentions. Rory and Dean enter dangerous territory. When Rory goes home to collect CDs, Dean shows up, and they sleep together despite Dean being married. Lorelai and Luke have their long-awaited first kiss.

In the highest-rated and most memorable episode of Gilmore Girls, events unfold one after the other. This packed-to-the-brim season finale sees the first kiss between Luke and Lorelai after the ultimate slow-burn romance . Rory takes a huge step, and Lorelai rightfully questions her decision. This episode has everything and is named the fan-favorite time and time again.

NEXT: The Best 'Gilmore Girls' Characters, Ranked