Fans Are Deeply Divided Over Gilmore Girls' Best Season

"Gilmore Girls" can warm the cockles of any cold-hearted viewer. Mother and daughter Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) ruled primetime as the fast-talking, pop culture-loving duo. As sentimental as it is heartwarming, "Gilmore Girls" made a name for itself with its female-driven dramatic stories. Lorelai and Rory aren't just mother and daughter; they are best friends.

This is what first drew viewers to fall in love with the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, and all of its quirky residents. It also makes the last season of the series a devastating letdown. According to Entertainment Weekly, executive producing wife and husband team Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino left after Season 6 amid a network dispute. The WB's merger with UPN and a new showrunner caused confusion throughout the final season, but fans don't let these facts sully the good name of Gilmore. There are still so many good seasons that even fans can't decide which is the best.

Many fans couldn't narrow their favorites to just one season in a "Gilmore Girls" thread on Reddit. With seven seasons and a follow-up Netflix continuation, many viewers had to group their favorite seasons. And no season's plot line was more exciting than the Rory and Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) drama of Seasons 2 and 3.

"Between the Dean/Jess love triangle, Rory going through college acceptance and graduating, and the bond between Rory and Lorelai at its best, it's easily my favorite," commented u/Due_Improvement_8260. The entrance of Luke's (Scott Patterson) nephew Jess was a massive shake-up in the Dean (Jared Padalecki) and Rory dynamic. Though Dean is a great first boyfriend for Rory, they are ultimately not meant to be together. Jess and Rory share many interests, including their love of literature, but they still have personality differences. Where Rory is a people-pleaser, Jess could care less. He defies authority and leans into the bad boy trope.

"[Seasons] 2 and 3 for me. Love the entrance of and love triangle with Jess," agreed u/ClaritanClear. "Chilton drama is fun. [Paris's] relationship starts to get more interesting. Lorelai [is] starting to get serious about the inn." Many other dynamics are explored, with Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) and Jackson (Jackson Douglas) expecting and Rory and Paris (Liza Weil) finally becoming true friends as they set their sights on college. In fact, Season 3 is one of Rory's most significant growing experiences as she heads into adulthood.

As far as romance goes, there is not a more satisfying slow burn than the relationship between Luke and Lorelai. First introduced as a diner-owning curmudgeon, it soon becomes clear that Luke harbors a long-standing crush on Lorelai. He consistently has to watch her falter through failed relationships until she sees what is right in front of her. In the Season 4 finale, they admit their feelings for one another. Because this relationship finally comes to fruition, fans can't help but love Season 4 and the resulting relationship in Season 5.

"For me, it's season 4 and season 5. Season 4 for the buildup to Luke/Lorelai and absolutely no [appearance] from Chris (!!) and season 5 for Luke and Lorelai dating," posted u/worththewait96. Fans felt that the relationship between the long-time friends was fantastic, which really did make their first kiss worth the wait.

"The buildup was so expertly done. You can really see it when you just watch the LL scenes," commented u/crittab. They continue: "And yes to season 5, also my favorite. I enjoy the full story arc, even the low points. There are very few episodes in season 5 that I don't like." Though Rory's romantic future is an unresolved plot line in "Gilmore Girls," Luke and Lorelai were always endgame. 

After the controversial fallout of "Gilmore Girls" Season 7, fans were waiting for a resurgence. But there was a promise for an actual ending when the revival "Gilmore Girls: A Year In the Life" was announced. Amy Sherman-Palladino returned to end the beloved series as she had always intended (per Vogue). Unfortunately for critics and fans alike, the four-part miniseries fell short of expectations.

Outlets such as The Verge explained that there was no cathartic conclusion. Rory — who has done some of the worst things on "Gilmore Girls" — does not grow. Now in her early thirties, she still flounders to find her purpose. Even Lorelai and Luke's relationship takes an unrealistic stumble. No one can believe that they would not get married in the decade since the show ended.

Many agree that "A Year In the Life" was not the best of "Gilmore Girls," including Daniel D'Addario for Time Magazine. The newest episodes failed at bringing the Gilmore Girls into the modern era. Maybe it should be left where it belongs: in the early aughts, where it can live blissfully for the rest of time.