Rory’s Struggles in Gilmore Girls: A Missed Opportunity for Character Growth

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Many viewers of Gilmore Girls weren’t happy with how Rory’s story unfolded in A Year in the Life. The revival showed Rory, once the pride of Stars Hollow, feeling lost and uncertain. She struggled with temporary, low-paying journalism jobs, lacked a stable home, and made the questionable decision to have an affair with Logan, who was already engaged. While the storyline received criticism, it could have been more successful with a different approach.

This is a huge change from the bright, driven girl who, when she started at Chilton, dreamed of becoming a war correspondent like Christiane Amanpour. While we didn’t anticipate a flawless life for Rory in A Year in the Life, we certainly didn’t want to see her end up pregnant and on her own. It’s disappointing because the show had already set up a believable situation where Rory could have struggled and learned, but it didn’t quite work out that way.

Rory’s Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life Storyline Should Have Been In Season 5

Rory had a bit of a tough start at Chilton, but after that, she excelled academically throughout Gilmore Girls. She consistently succeeded, becoming valedictorian, getting into any Ivy League school she wanted, and ultimately thriving at Yale, even with a few minor setbacks.

Many fans of Gilmore Girls feel the show was best during its first few seasons, and I think Rory’s story is a major reason why. In the beginning, everyone adored her – her family, her school, and the townspeople. But when she got to Yale, it felt like the same story repeated itself, and it prevented her from facing fresh obstacles and growing as a character.

I think a lot of us go to college because we want to really dive into something we love – maybe it’s painting, a sport, or a specific subject. For many of us, this passion is something we’ve been known for since we were kids, and we might have even been considered really good at it.

Once we reach college, we discover we’re surrounded by other people who were also top performers in high school. This changes everything, and suddenly it’s much harder to stand out. This shift can cause feelings of insecurity and make us question who we are, and that’s an experience the show Gilmore Girls should have explored more with Rory during season 5.

Rory, a sophomore at the Yale Daily News, successfully gets the features beat she wanted. It’s a bit predictable, and honestly, it would have been more compelling if she’d struggled. Seeing her fail for once would have made her more relatable, as most people experience setbacks at that age.

Unlike her earlier portrayal, Rory in A Year in the Life is a lost and uncertain woman in her thirties. Despite having been given every opportunity, she’s struggling and failing, making it harder to feel sorry for her considering her privileged background, including her time at Yale.

Rory Stealing A Yacht Would Have Made More Sense If She Were Already Floundering

One of the most criticized storylines in Gilmore Girls happens in the season 5 finale, even more so than issues fans had with season 7. After Mitchum Huntzberger tells Rory she “doesn’t have it” as a journalist, she impulsively steals a yacht and goes for a ride with Logan.

Rory is so accustomed to praise that any criticism really surprises her, so the news about the stolen yacht was completely unexpected. Usually, when she faces a setback, she’d retreat to Stars Hollow and Lorelai, where she always receives support and reassurance, to feel better.

If Rory had been struggling earlier in season 5 of Gilmore Girls, her rebellious act in the finale would have felt more impactful. Picture this: Rory doesn’t get the kind of stories she wants at the Yale Daily News, and she’s not allowed to write about her passions. Maybe her editor, Doyle, doesn’t appreciate her work, constantly criticizes it, and even rejects some of her articles.

Let’s stick with the original story idea: Rory gets an internship at Mitchum’s newspaper because Mitchum feels sorry for how his family behaved, and she excels as an assistant. It doesn’t matter if she wasn’t a big name at her school paper – what truly matters is that experienced journalists at a professional newspaper recognize her talent and value her work.

Rory is secretly very upset about struggling in school. When Mitchum bluntly tells her she isn’t cut out for it, she feels completely devastated. Throughout all of this, she’s noticed how effortlessly Logan lives his life with wealth and privilege, facing no real consequences. This combination of factors ultimately leads Rory to make the desperate decision to steal the yacht.

The show Gilmore Girls could have followed its natural course, showing Rory facing challenges like leaving Yale and having a falling out with Lorelai, before ultimately returning to her studies with a newfound sense of humility and determination. Had we seen Rory genuinely struggle more throughout season 5 – instead of just receiving a single critical comment – the events in A Year in the Life probably wouldn’t have felt so impactful.

Rory Still Could Have Struggled In The Revival, But It Would Have Felt More Realistic

The main reason many viewers were frustrated with Rory in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life was her lack of initiative. She appeared to be simply waiting for opportunities to fall into her lap, expecting life to magically return to how she remembered it.

Rory’s struggles in Gilmore Girls stem from a lack of real-world experience. She never learned that success isn’t guaranteed, and the revival series showed this. If she’d faced challenges earlier, during her time at Yale, she might have understood that she needed to work for what she wanted, and the revival could have shown her taking a more proactive approach to her future.

If Rory continued to face challenges finding work, a place to live, and a meaningful relationship, we’d still be wholeheartedly supporting her. We’d be glad she took time to relax in Stars Hollow and thrilled that Jess motivated her to finally write her life story.

We’re rooting for Rory to succeed, but even more than that, we want to see her actively pursue her goals. The motivation to do so should have been established for her throughout the original series, Gilmore Girls.

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2025-11-13 16:19