The Best Gilmore Girls Episodes

Ranker TV
Updated September 15, 2023 7.9K votes 674 voters 40.4K views
Over 600 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Gilmore Girls Episodes
Voting Rules
Vote for your favorite Gilmore Girls episodes, no matter how popular they are.

List of the best Gilmore Girls episodes, as voted on by other fans of the series. With so many memorable episodes of the show, it's hard to trust just one person's opinion of what the top Gilmore Girls episodes of all time are. Your votes can help determine which episode is number one on this list, ultimately deciding which is the best and only leaving us to wonder who we would pick: Jess or Dean?

Fans of Gilmore Girls are extremely passionate about the show. You knew Melissa McCarthy back when she was Sookie. You fell in love with Dean and saw yourself in Rory. You hated Paris so, so much. Take a moment to remember your favorite Gilmore Girls episodes and the many wonderful stories that took place in Stars Hollow. After you've gone down memory lane, don't forget to check out these other shows like Gilmore Girls!

This list is made up of episodes like "They Shoot Gilmores, Don't They," "Keg! Max!" and "There's the Rub." What is the best Gilmore Girls episode of all time? Look below and find out. 

Ranked by
  • Last Week Fights, This Week Tights
    1
    • Season: Gilmore Girls Season 4
    • Episode Number: 21
    • Series: Gilmore Girls
    As Stars Hollow prepares for the Renaissance-themed wedding of Liz and T.J., Kirk feels slighted when Miss Patty chooses someone else as the maypole dance captain; Lorelai discovers an equine visitor in the Dragonfly Inn's lobby; Rory's suite mates depart for summer vacation; Lorelai urges Mrs. Kim to call Lane; Lorelai unsuccessfully attempts to get Emily to admit to the separation during Friday night dinner; T.J. revels in the wonders of tights, but discovers their main drawback during the ceremony; Mrs. Kim gets some good advice from Lorelai after initially fleeing in horror at the sight of Zach and Brian and Lane's shabby apartment, and eventually returns for tea armed with a game plan; Rory calls Dean to rescue her from the disastrous date Emily has arranged for her with the son of a friend; Luke and Lorelai share significant glances during a slow dance at the wedding, which prompts Luke to ask Lorelai out on a date; Jess expresses his gratitude to Luke before saying goodbye; Ro
  • Those Are Strings, Pinocchio
    2

    Those Are Strings, Pinocchio

    May 20, 2003
    208 votes
    • Season: Gilmore Girls Season 3
    • Episode Number: 22
    • Series: Gilmore Girls
    Rory finally learns her mother can't afford to buy the Dragonfly Inn since financial aid for Yale didn't come through. She decides to take matters into her own hands with a quick visit to her grandparents' right before graduation. Luke has second thoughts about a trip with Nicole after something Lorelai tells him. Jess makes silent contact with Rory after she gives her speech at Chilton.
  • Written in the Stars
    3

    Written in the Stars

    October 05, 2004
    175 votes
    • Season: Gilmore Girls Season 5
    • Episode Number: 3
    • Series: Gilmore Girls
    Luke and Lorelai go on their official first date at a restaurant owned by old friends of Luke's parents. Luke reminds Lorelai of how they met, shows her a horoscope she gave him for good luck that he's kept in his wallet, and assures her that he intends to go the distance with her. Lorelai spends the night at Luke's place; in the morning, she goes down to the diner to get coffee, and the breakfast crowd sees her wearing only Luke's shirt. There's suprisingly little gossip about Luke and Lorelai until the next town meeting, where Taylor uses charts to show how disasterous a breakup between them would be for Stars Hollow. Meanwhile: Rory meets a rich Yale student named Logan and chews him out for being rude to her friend Marty; Paris holds a wake for Asher that all the guests assume is a keg party with a weird theme; and Emily freaks out when she discovers that Richard has a social life she doesn't know about, so she invades Rory's dorm during the wake.
  • Raincoats and Recipes
    4

    Raincoats and Recipes

    May 18, 2004
    243 votes
    • Season: Gilmore Girls Season 4
    • Episode Number: 22
    • Series: Gilmore Girls
    Momentous changes are in the air as: the Dragonfly Inn approaches opening day by having a shakedown weekend; Rory and Dean take a major step forward in their relationship, to Lorelai's dismay; Emily and Richard admit that they're separated; Kirk decides to let Lulu in on the deep, dark secret of his night terrors; Jason appears at the Inn to plead his case with Lorelai, to no avail; Luke answers Lorelai's question about the status of their relationship when he makes it passionately clear to Lorelai that they're dating, to which she enthusiastically agrees.
  • Pilot
    5

    Pilot

    October 05, 2000
    185 votes
    • Season: Gilmore Girls Season 1
    • Episode Number: 1
    • Series: Gilmore Girls
    Rory is accepted into an elite prep school, which leaves her mother to deal with the large fee associated with her attendance. Lorelai is forced to ask her wealthy and snotty parents, who accept on one condition: every Friday night, they come over for dinner.
  • They Shoot Gilmores, Don't They?
    6

    They Shoot Gilmores, Don't They?

    November 12, 2002
    259 votes
    • Season: Gilmore Girls Season 3
    • Episode Number: 7
    • Series: Gilmore Girls
    Lorelai is determined to win the Stars Hollow Dance Marathon and wrest the trophy from four-time champion Kirk, but has trouble getting a partner until she finally convinces Rory to help her dance her way to victory. Dean sits on the sidelines to cheer his girl on, and is soon joined by Jess and Shane, who spend their time making out while Jess keeps his eye on Rory. Lorelai breaks her heel, and Dean takes her place while Luke plays shoe repairman. On the dance floor, Dean realizes that Rory is attracted to Jess and breaks up with her. Rory tearfully runs off, followed closely by Jess, and Kirk is declared the winner once again.