Unpopular opinion: Rory from Gilmore Girls was never perfect—we just wanted her to be

Gilmore Girls had us under its spell ever since it came to our screens. It became a comfort show for an entire generation who loved a good old cozy drama. We got the fast-talking mother-daughter duo who just happen to know the maximum number of pop culture references. So much so that most of their conversations were incomplete without them.

We were introduced to an unhealthy amount of caffeine consumption and a parent-child bonding that felt like friendship goals. The small town charm added to the beauty of Gilmore Girls.

And somewhere down the line, we started seeing Rory Gilmore as this perfect girl. She was the smart one. The polite one. The driven one. Well, at least that's how she was portrayed.

The best thing about rewatching a show is that you start to see things more clearly. So when you rewatch the earlier seasons of Gilmore Girls, you start noticing something. Rory might not have been perfect after all. The cracks were always there. We just decided to look past them.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the author's opinions. Reader discretion is advised.

Gilmore Girls: Rory’s imperfections make her more relatable and real

From the very first season of Gilmore Girls, Rory is placed on a pedestal. She’s supposed to be the contrast to Lorelai’s rebellious youth. She is shown as the quiet and studious kid who never strays from the path.

But watch closely, and you’ll see that Rory’s “perfection” was more of a projection than reality. She was kind but not always considerate. She was smart but not particularly wise.

Her actions towards Lane, as well as her questionable choices with Dean, along with her privilege at Chilton, all show that Rory wasn’t flawless. She was just flattered by the show’s framing.

Rory was not a picture-perfect teen angel. No matter how much Gilmore Girls or some fans wanted her to be. She was complicated and sometimes even a walking contradiction like her mother. She was messy and sometimes just frustrating.

She was ambitious, but she also jeopardized her life at times by making bad decisions. She hurt people unintentionally and struggled with her own identity. But her flaws let us see ourselves in her.

We all stumble and second-guess certain life decisions. And sometimes make mistakes that don’t line up with our best intentions. Rory’s story was about growing up. It didn't matter if it was perfect or not.

She had to learn from her mistakes and try to figure life out on her own. Despite all her “nerdy girl” vibes, she ends up being so much like her mother, Lorelai. Gilmore Girls sets them up as opposites. Lorelai is rebellious and free-spirited. Rory is studious and, in a way, more grounded.

But her fears and insecurities mirror Lorelai’s more than we realize. When Dean proposes to Rory, she freaks out and runs away, even though she likes him too. That's what Lorelai would have, and in fact, has done too.

Both women have this tendency to run from commitment or the unknown. Even if they don’t fully understand why. It’s like a family trait. When life gets scary or confusing, the instinct is to run away instead of facing it. This connection shows that Rory’s imperfections are part of the human struggle with fear and growth.

So, instead of wishing Rory were this flawless character, embracing her imperfections makes her more real and way more relatable. That’s what Gilmore Girls gave us: characters who are reflections of the imperfect and beautifully complicated people we really are.

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