Gilmore Girls: 5 Reasons Season 1 Was The Best (& 5 Ways Other Seasons Were Better)
The first season of Gilmore Girls aired in 2001 and the world hasn't been the same since. Lorelai, Rory, and Emily have become legendary. Almost 20 years later, the show has found a new generation of fans after it started streaming on Netflix. One of the most beloved shows of its time, Gilmore Girls has a cult following leading to Netflix releasing a special miniseries as well.
Fans of the show have varying opinions as to which season is the best. There is a strong case to be made as to why season 1 is the strongest, and here are a few reasons in favor and against that belief.
10 BEST: The Fresh Premise & Style
This story of a young single mother and her daughter was exceptional for television. The fast-paced dialogue, the pop-culture trivia overloaded conversations, the unlimited pour of coffee, and the deliberately bad food habits – Gilmore Girls brought this fresh and new style to television dramas.
Amy Sherman-Palladino's mother-daughter drama was engaging, emotional, and fun, and season 1 showed viewers the best of it. With the later seasons, fans got used to this style but it must be noted how fresh it felt during the first season.
9 BETTER: Season 4 Saw Much More Character Growth
While season 1 was instrumental in setting up the characters, audiences see them grow in season 4. The characters undergo a great deal of development in season 4 especially. All characters are provided with more space and time to go on their own journeys in the other seasons.
While season 1 primarily focused on the central characters, viewers were able to engage with the other characters more in this later season. All of them grow, fall, and rise up again, and it is mostly in season 4 that this happens.
8 BEST: The Chemistry Between Alexis Bledel & Lauren Graham
If the actors weren't so good and didn't have such dynamic chemistry, Gilmore Girls wouldn't have been so amazing. Bledel and Graham had such an effective and wonderful dynamic between them that allowed the show to completely sell its viewers on the quirky mother and daughter.
Bledel and Graham were beautiful and funny. Their chemistry showed as they played this crazy and funny mother-daughter combo. Season 1 highlighted their chemistry brilliantly.
7 BETTER: Season 2 Didn't Have To Spend Time On Setting The Tone
Most long-running shows experience this problem with their first seasons. They are heavily involved in setting up the plot, introducing the characters, and setting the tone of the show.
Season 1 of Gilmore Girls also struggled with this; however, with a rich premise already set, season 2 could then move on to do more things with their characters and story. The tone was already set, the world was already built, so season 2 had the wonderful luxury of doing more.
6 BEST: Simple Struggles
Season 1 of Gilmore Girls was extremely relatable for many fans because of the simple nature of the show. Episodes were focused on modest troubles and had simple solutions. Mostly everyone could see themselves in these characters, who lived in a small town and wanted big things.
The simple nature of things allowed season 1 of Gilmore Girls to set itself apart from most other television shows. They were able to delve into the highs and lows of a simple life, the small moments that were actually important.
5 BETTER: Season 6's Increased Dramatic Tension
Season 1 of Gilmore Girls was very straightforward and mostly revolved around simple plot threads. In comparison, season 6 saw an increase in dramatic tension. Things were getting complicated and fan investment grew exponentially in season 6.
There were things to gain and lose in this season, but not so much in season 1. This increased dramatic tension allowed the show to become progressively better. The storylines got complex and viewers had a vested interest in how their fictional lives were going to turn out.
4 BEST: It Has Some Of The Best Episodes
Season 1 of Gilmore Girls had some of the best episodes in the entirety of the show's run. Nothing in the other seasons could match the comedic brilliance of an episode like "The Lorelais' First Day At Chilton." Lauren Graham is at her peak form in this episode of the opening season.
Nothing in the other seasons would be as heartwarming and innocent as an episode like "Rory's Birthday Parties" in season 1. Humour and innocence are available in abundance throughout season 1 of Gilmore Girls with outstanding episodes "The Deer Hunters."
3 BETTER: Season 5 is the season of Luke & Lorelai
What season 1 definitely does not have is the much-awaited getting together of Lorelai and Luke. This only happens in season 5. Season 1 only sets up their quippy flirting and their platonic relationship.
That is fun to watch too, but not as fun as when the couple embraces their will-they-won't-they dynamic, as they get together, break up, and get together again. Season 5 sees a lot more of Luke and Lorelai than the first season, so fans of the couple may prefer this season.
2 BEST: Dean!
Fans get to see Rory's first kiss, first boyfriend, and first relationship in season 1. The innocent school romance is all the more fun to watch because of her boyfriend Dean, played by the wonderful Jared Padalecki.
Fans of the Dean-Rory pairing will love season 1 because it is in this year that they first get together. Dean is a delightful boyfriend, a really nice and caring guy and it's a really cute romance story that they share during season 1 of Gilmore Girls.
1 BETTER: Season 3 had Jess!
What season 1 doesn't have is the "bad boy" of the show, Jess. Played to angsty perfection by Milo Ventimiglia, Jess makes his debut in Gilmore Girls' sophomore year but is arguably at his best in the next season.
Jess is the stereotypical angry teenage boy who thinks he's too cool for the small town and the people there. Jess and Rory only get officially together in the third season of the show, which almost automatically makes it better than season 1 for fans of the character.