I may not need or want a coffee IV, but I’m still a huge “Gilmore Girls” fan. And I can’t wait till Nov. 25, when “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” premieres on Netflix.
To hold you over until then, here are my top 10 episodes of the beloved show.
10. “Bon Voyage,” season 7
I know, it’s controversial to include a season 7 episode since Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino weren’t writing the show, but the series finale makes me cry every time.
It was a good ending to show, featuring so many of the great characters of Stars Hollow, all coming together to honor Rory (Alexis Bledel), who’s about to go take a job traveling for Barack Obama. (Side note: That’s a pretty cool parallel.)
Plus it features a reuniting of Luke (Scott Patterson) and Lorelai (Lauren Graham), giving us all hope for the future.
9. “Rory’s Birthday Parties,” season 1
There is always tension between Lorelai and her grandparents, but in season 1, it was very apparent since they were seeing each other more often.
This tension seeped into Rory’s life when she turned 16. Emily throws her granddaughter a fancy party…with all her Chilton friends, whom Rory hadn’t formed friendships yet.
Then the grandparents come to Lorelai’s house for Rory’s other party, and it makes Emily (Kelly Bishop) realize she doesn’t know her daughter (or granddaughter) at all.
Also, this is the episode when Dean gives Rory the bracelet she wears throughout their relationship.
8. “I Get a Sidekick Out of You,” season 6
Lane (Keiko Agena) gets married! Twice! To Zach (not Dave)!
Showing another family with generational differences, Lane’s Buddhist grandmother comes to the wedding, so Lane and Zach have to take part in a Buddhist ceremony.
Then, everyone smashes into the church for the Christian wedding (58 seats and 62 Koreans!).
And lastly, after Mrs. Kim and her friends leave, Lane and Zack have the reception they want, with booze, hot dogs and Hep Alien…oh yeah, and a very drunken toast from Lorelai about not getting married.
They might not have wanted that.
7. “The Bracebridge Dinner,” season 2
When a group gets snowed in, why not invite all of Stars Hollow to the Independence Inn for a themed dinner?
Stars Hollow is full of cooky characters, and bringing them all together only brought out their crazy even more.
From drunken Bootsy to Morey’s freakout over being late to Kirk (Sean Gunn) breaking his Elizabethan character with “I Love Lucy,” what’s not to love?
It also features Richard’s retirement announcement, showing he and Emily can work through many problems…even with their tempers.
6. “They Shoot Gilmores, Don’t They?” season 3
The dance marathon heard around the world…in 40s fashion!
Lorelai is desperate to beat Kirk in the 24-hour dance marathon; she ends up roping Rory into being her partner.
But the Dean vs. Jess conflict reaches its boiling point, and Dean leaves Rory. All in the background of exhausted dancers.
5. “Love, Daisies and Troubadours,” season 1
Now, I don’t think Max Medina, one of Rory’s teachers, was the guy for Lorelai. I don’t even like how he proposed (in a fight).
But the thousand yellow daisies was a beautiful sentiment.
What I love most about this episode is that Rory finally has the courage to tell Dean she loves him…and even the “idiot” part is perfect to her character. And Tristan, who toyed with Rory often, has to watch it.
4. “A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving,” season 3
Lorelai and Rory never seem to turn food away, but this Thanksgiving episode puts their stomachs to the test.
With four dinners to attend, the mother-daughter duo make pit stops at Luke’s, the grandparents, Sookie’s and the Kim’s. And each place has its own set of quirks and goofs…and a fight about Yale.
Plus drunken Sookie is hilarious.
3. “Raincoats and Recipes,” season 4
After so much back and forth, Luke and Lorelai finally get together in the season 4 season finale.
The plot centers around the practice weekend at the Dragonfly Inn, so everyone is on edge.
Richard (Edward Herrmann) and Emily are fighting, so Lorelai uses family obligation to get them to come, but then Emily and Lorelai fight in the lobby.
Rory and Dean rekindle their romance, for better or for worse. And Kirk runs out of the Dragonfly naked and screaming.
2. “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” season 2
Rory gets stuck in the middle of Jess vs. Dean when Jess wins her basket. This might be my favorite Stars Hollow festival, as archaic as it may be.
Lorelai makes Luke win her basket, even though it’s only Pop Tarts and Slim Jims, proving he knows her better than most.
Lastly, Sookie and Jackson get engaged. Aww.
1. “Wedding Bell Blues,” season 5
As much as I love Luke and Lorelai (how could you not?), the vow renewal of Richard and Emily is perfect for them.
Emily bosses people out of jobs and rooms, while Richard woos his wife with jewelry, song and dance.
Of course this wedding also includes some meddling, so thanks Emily and Christopher for breaking Luke and Lorelai up…and catching Rory and Logan in an inopportune moment, bringing out the protective qualities in Luke and Christopher.
What are your favorite “Gilmore Girls” episodes?
