Gilmore Girls Season 9’s Rory Story Needs One Major Change

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Although another season of Gilmore Girls would be exciting, any future revival needs a significant change to work well – and it’s one that many dedicated fans won’t like. Everyone loves the Gilmore Girls cast, but a few characters consistently cause disagreements among viewers.

Most fans agree that Kirk and Miss Patty are beloved characters, and it’s no surprise the actors who played them also appeared in Amy Sherman-Palladino’s later show, Bunheads. However, there’s a lot of debate—and it’s a significant one—about which of Rory’s three main boyfriends was her true love.

Few topics spark as much debate among Gilmore Girls fans as the question of Rory’s best love interest: Logan, Dean, or Jess. While Rory dated others, like Marty and Tristan, these three stood out, each being a significant part of her life for more than one season and greatly influencing who she became.

Rory Can’t End Up With Any of Her Original Love Interests

Rory’s relationships with Dean, Jess, and Logan each represent different phases of her life, which is why fans disagree about who was the best match for her. Those who fondly remember Rory as the sweet, ambitious girl from the early seasons—a bit like Lisa Simpson—still secretly hope she and Dean could have worked things out.

Fans who loved Rory’s more sophisticated and self-reliant side in later seasons often think Jess helped her grow. While Jess is disliked by some Gilmore Girls viewers, he’s not the most debated romantic interest. That title likely belongs to Logan Huntzberger, who many believe negatively impacted Rory, even though he was perhaps her best boyfriend.

While Jess was unpredictable and Dean often didn’t think things through, Logan was naturally charismatic. However, he came from a wealthy, sheltered background, and his appearance in Rory’s life coincided with a difficult time – she’d left Yale, was behaving recklessly, stole a boat, and nearly ruined her chances for a successful future. Ultimately, each of the three boys had both appealing qualities and flaws.

Despite recognizing the shortcomings of Rory’s past boyfriends, most fans haven’t fully considered the implications for a potential season nine of Gilmore Girls. Sadly, if the show returns, Rory can’t realistically end up with any of her original love interests – it’s not a good outcome for her or for them.

Gilmore Girls and A Year in the Life Prove Rory Needs A New Love Interest

As a huge Gilmore Girls fan, there’s one storyline I always found really frustrating: Lane ending up with Zach and starting a family. It just didn’t feel right – they clearly weren’t a good match, and it was disappointing to see that, even years later in A Year in the Life, they still seemed unhappy and held onto resentment.

If the show returns, Rory needs a new love interest – someone other than Jess, Dean, or Logan – to help her grow. In A Year in the Life, her relationship with Logan is still unhealthy despite both being involved with other people, and Jess clearly has feelings for her but doesn’t act on them.

Rory doesn’t reconnect with her first boyfriend, Dean, in the revival. They run into each other in Stars Hollow, but it’s clear they’ve grown apart and don’t have much in common anymore, which isn’t surprising considering their relationship ended badly a long time ago on Gilmore Girls.

Despite being at different stages in their lives, Rory’s ongoing affair with Logan is presented as proof that she’s struggling. It doesn’t make sense for her to end up with someone who repeatedly symbolizes her unhappiness and poor choices.

Scott Patterson Was Right About Rory’s Gilmore Girls Love Life

Many viewers agree Rory’s relationships with Dean and Logan are in the past, and weren’t particularly healthy. But it’s difficult to see the obvious next conclusion. Fortunately, Scott Patterson, the actor who plays Luke, clarified things in a January 2025 interview with ScreenRant.

I was really struck by what Patterson said when asked about Rory’s soulmate. He didn’t think she’d actually met him yet, which is a lovely thought! But he did suggest that if Jess had really turned things around – and it seems like he has – he could be the one for her. I think it’s a brilliant point that Rory’s perfect person might still be out there, and it’s something I keep thinking about.

Constantly featuring Logan, Dean, and Jess too much would make season 9 feel like a repeat of older, better seasons instead of something fresh. The original series succeeded because viewers didn’t already have feelings about any love interests – the show had to build that connection with Dean, Jess, and Logan from scratch.

Any future revival of the show needs to deliver the same magic as the original. It can’t just rehash old storylines; it needs a new, captivating love interest for Rory. Only then will a new season truly stand on its own and avoid being constantly compared to what came before.

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2025-12-05 01:59