Gilmore Girls’ Most Hated Character Was Right About Rory All Along (& Fans Can’t Stand It)

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Many shows could have explored a mother-daughter dynamic, but Lorelai and Rory truly made it special. Lorelai became a young mother at just 16, and her daughter, Rory, was remarkably bright and talented. While Lorelai was quick-witted and funny, Rory was naturally intelligent and excelled in school. She easily gained admission to the prestigious Chilton prep school.

Rory had a sheltered and privileged upbringing, adored by her grandparents and the residents of the charming town of Stars Hollow. However, this comfortable life didn’t prepare her for the challenges she faced when she went to Yale. College brought real-world problems and introduced her to one of the most disliked characters in the series Gilmore Girls.

Mitchum Huntzberger Crushed Rory’s Dreams

Just like real life, Gilmore Girls became more complex as the show went on. Rory’s transition to adulthood proved much harder than high school, and despite working towards a career in journalism, a sudden event threatened to derail her plans.

While at Yale, Rory aimed to become a journalist, and she became involved with Logan, whose father owned a major newspaper. After Logan’s family disapproved of their relationship, his father, Mitchum, offered Rory an internship at his newspaper. Although Rory was finding her footing there, Mitchum discouraged her, telling her he didn’t believe she had the drive to succeed as a journalist.

Mitchum’s harsh words didn’t just end Rory’s internship; they completely shattered her confidence and changed how she saw her future. He made her believe journalism wasn’t for her, leading her to drop out of Yale. Despite being a perfect fit for college life, she gave it all up to move in with her grandparents and take a job at the DAR.

Rory’s decision to leave Yale was the central conflict, and it deeply strained her relationship with Lorelai. Lorelai, who had given up her own college dreams to support Rory, couldn’t understand why her daughter would give up everything based on someone else’s views. It felt like Rory was throwing away all her hard work for the sake of another person’s opinion.

Rory felt her mother didn’t support her, which led to a period of estrangement. Surprisingly, it was her brother who eventually helped her see things clearly. He came to visit after self-publishing a book, wanting to express his gratitude for her influence. During his visit, he was shocked to discover Rory had dropped out of school and was seeing someone arrogant and unpleasant.

Jess really challenged Rory when she decided to leave school, and that actually made her think about going back. Once that was settled, Rory could focus on her goals, but people tended to overlook the underlying point Mitchum was making when he criticized her. Throughout Gilmore Girls, his tough comments often contained a bit of truth, a sentiment others also expressed.

Mitchum Wasn’t the First Gilmore Girls Character to Question Rory

I’ve always been fascinated by Rory’s story. She had such a sheltered upbringing, growing up in a place where she was always praised and never faced real consequences. It really created a belief in her own exceptionalism, which she was completely unprepared to lose when she grew up. From a young age, she dreamed of becoming a foreign correspondent, and she was determined to start working towards that goal by joining the Yale Daily News – it was the first step in a big plan!

Rory eventually succeeded in getting her articles published, but not without facing some challenges. At first, her stories were well-received, but her editor, Doyle, began to expect more from her as a journalist. When Rory submitted a review of a Yale chamber orchestra, Doyle rejected it, saying her writing lacked personality and didn’t convey her opinion of the performance.

Rory struggled to grasp that the main point of art criticism is simply to say whether something is well-made or not. When Doyle pointed this out, she was quite upset. Rory wasn’t used to criticism, as she’d always been told she was the most talented person around, and while it felt strange, it began to make sense why she reacted that way.

At Yale, Rory found herself surrounded by incredibly talented and accomplished people. For the first time, she wasn’t the standout, and she realized she’d need to truly earn her achievements. This idea resurfaced later when Mitchum cautioned her that he didn’t see the same ambition in her that would be needed to become a journalist like her role model, Christiane Amanpour.

Mitchum proved his point with solid reporting, just as any experienced journalist would. During a team meeting, when he asked for input, Rory remained silent. She excelled at anticipating what others needed – a skill common in assistants – but lacked the confidence to thrive in the fast-paced newsroom, which likely contributed to her position as one of…

Rory was new to newsrooms and found they operated very differently from school. She was accustomed to simply completing assignments and getting praised for it. However, Mitchum explained that successful journalism wasn’t just about meeting expectations—it was about going above and beyond.

Rory’s response to Mitchum actually confirmed his assessment of her. She was deeply affected by his words, allowing them to completely change the direction of her life. She fully accepted his viewpoint, which led her to abandon her studies and negatively impacted her life overall. Disturbed by his opinion, she impulsively stole a yacht, resulting in community service – a predictable outcome for a wealthy, troubled young person, and compounding the situation.

Mitchum was willing to admit he could be mistaken. He felt Rory and his publication were heading in the wrong direction, but he’d been wrong before, and this could have been a chance for Rory to prove him wrong. However, it quickly became apparent that Rory simply lacked the motivation. He even thought he might be doing her a favor, though she saw it as a criticism. Ultimately, understanding her limitations would benefit Rory in the future.

Rory Wasn’t Meant For Journalism, and That’s Okay

Many fans don’t consider Season 7 of Gilmore Girls to be a true part of the show’s original story. This is because Amy Sherman-Palladino, the show’s creator, and her husband and co-creator, Dan Palladino, left after Season 6. The show continued for one more season, where Rory’s storyline was revised, and she ended up following the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign.

The return of Gilmore Girls with A Year in the Life, and Amy Sherman-Palladino back in charge, felt like a reset after the disappointing Season 7. The revival focused on Rory’s path, and it became clear she wasn’t thriving as a journalist. Despite working freelance, she wasn’t achieving the life she’d always dreamed of.

After a difficult relationship with Logan and facing numerous challenges, Rory decided to pursue a career in publishing. Jess, as usual, understood her perfectly and suggested she write a book about her life and her relationship with her mother. Lorelai was hesitant at first, but eventually came around and supported Rory, even though their complicated history contributed to the situation they were in.

It felt like Sherman-Palladino had envisioned this ending all along, even knowing the exact four words she wanted to use as the series finale. Rory’s story felt more realistic than most TV dramas. After all, it’s unusual for anyone to end up exactly where they expected when they make plans for the future. Rory had dreamed of being a foreign correspondent for so long, she hadn’t considered other possibilities for her career.

Rory faced challenges in both her personal life and career, just like everyone does. These experiences shaped her into the person she became and ultimately guided her towards finding her true calling. While a career in journalism wasn’t the right fit, Rory was undoubtedly intelligent and gifted in other areas, even if her personality sometimes caused friction on the show.

As a huge fan, I always knew she had a real talent with words – a totally distinctive voice. Honestly, A Year in the Life felt like the thing that finally clicked for her, even if she hadn’t planned it. Looking back, writing a book just felt right for her, like something she was always destined to crush.

The series concluded with the main character finally in the place she was meant to be – happily living with her mother and expecting a baby. It was satisfying to see how everything turned out, and felt like a fitting conclusion to the story.

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2025-11-21 01:45