THEN AND NOW: 'Gilmore Girls' characters on their first and last episodes

July 2024 · 10 minute read
Updated 2021-09-16T14:07:20Z

Lorelai Gilmore worked hard to get her career and romantic life where she wanted them by the end of the series.

Lorelai got the job she wanted and ended up with the right person. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season one, episode one as a coffee-loving single mom working as a manager of an inn.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as a coffee-loving mom who now owns her own inn, found love with the man who once just served her coffee, and rekindled a supportive relationship with her parents. 

Rory Gilmore grew from a soft-spoken high-school student to an Ivy League graduate who landed a killer first job.

Rory ultimately achieved her career goals. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season one, episode one as a shy high schooler still trying to figure out what she wanted from life.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as a Yale graduate about to go work as a reporter on Barack Obama's campaign. 

Luke Danes found the love of his life.

Luke finally ended up with Lorelai. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season one, episode one as a cranky diner owner who was clearly Lorelai's soul mate, even though neither of them could see it yet.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as a slightly less-cranky diner owner who finally realized Lorelai was the missing piece in his life.

Emily Gilmore loosened up and learned how to love her daughter in her own way.

Lorelai and Emily ended things on good terms. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season one, episode one as Lorelai's estranged mother.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as a very present mother and grandmother, even if the three women don't always get along.

Richard Gilmore earned his daughter's love.

Richard grew closer to his family. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season one, episode one as Lorelai's distant father, who doesn't quite know how to connect with her.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as Lorelai's proud father, who can learn as much from his daughter as she can from him.

Lane Kim stopped having to hide who she was from her mom.

Lane grew up a lot over the course of the show. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season one, episode one as Rory's best friend who has to hide pretty much every aspect of her life from her controlling mother.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as a married mom of twins who doesn't let anything hold her back from loving music and chasing her dreams. 

Sookie helped Lorelai open their own inn and found love and a family of her own.

Sookie got everything she dreamed about in life. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season one, episode one as Lorelai's best friend who's an amazing cook, but a bit klutzy and quirky.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as a married mother of two (and one on the way) who's still quirky and talented in the kitchen, but now a co-owner of the Dragonfly Inn with Lorelai.

Christopher Hayden grew a lot as a dad throughout the series.

Christopher became more present in Rory's life. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season one, episode 14 as Rory's dad and Lorelai's ex, who was still living a carefree life pretty much devoid of parental responsibilities.

Last seen: season seven, episode 21 as a father who steps up and is present for both his new daughter, Gigi, and for Rory.

Dean loved and lost Rory on more than one occasion throughout the series.

Dean and Rory went through lots of ups and downs. The WB

First seen: season one, episode one as the new kid in town and Rory's first love interest.

Last seen: season five, episode 18 as a cynical divorcé who thinks that Luke and Lorelai are as doomed as he and Rory were. 

Jess Mariano got his act together and even wrote a book.

Jess grew a lot as a person. The WB

First seen: season two, episode five as Luke's troublemaker nephew who came to Stars Hollow to get on the right path.

Last seen: season six, episode 18 as an established author with his own, small publishing company.

Logan left the show heartbroken.

Logan went from a playboy to Rory's most serious boyfriend. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season five, episode three as a playboy Yale student whom Rory couldn't stand.

Last seen: season seven, episode 21 as a heartbroken dumpee after Rory turned down his marriage proposal and chose to go live her own life instead of starting one with Logan.

Paris learned how to let people into her life and go with the flow.

Through all the ups and downs, Rory and Paris become best friends. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season one, episode two as Rory's academic rival at Chilton Preparatory School. 

Last seen: season seven, episode 21 as Rory's best friend and fellow Yale graduate.

Doyle graduated from college and found love.

Doyle found love with Paris in the end. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season four, episode eight as the editor of the Yale Daily News, which Rory joins as a freshman at the university. 

Last seen: season seven, episode 21 as Paris' committed boyfriend, no matter how much they might fight.

Mrs. Kim learned how to love her daughter despite their differences.

Mrs. Kim and Lane both grew throughout the series. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season one, episode one as Lane's strict, overbearing mother.

Last seen: season seven, episode 16 as a more understanding mother who helps Lane prepare for having twins and starts to accept her daughter for who she is.

Miss Patty was still the queen of Stars Hollow at the end of the series.

Miss Patty was always a big part of the small town. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season one, episode one as the owner of Stars Hollow's dance studio with her finger on the pulse of the town gossip.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as someone still very much involved in the town goings-on who is instrumental in helping Rory's goodbye party come together.

Michel's cranky heart melted a little through the seasons.

Michel grew to love the town and his friends. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season one, episode one as a cranky desk manager at the Independence Inn.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as a cranky desk manager at the Dragonfly Inn, but one whose heart can occasionally be softened by his dogs and the right people.

Jackson went from Sookie's vegetable guy to her husband.

Jackson fell in love with Sookie. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season one, episode two as the vegetable and fruit supplier for the Independence Inn.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as a father and Sookie's husband with a still-successful produce business.

Babette remained involved in Lorelai and Rory's lives.

Babette always loved the Gilmore girls. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season one, episode two as Lorelai and Rory's friendly and often overly concerned neighbor.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as someone who makes sure Rory's going-away party isn't ruined by the rain because she would still do anything for the Gilmore girls.

Morey was a loving husband to Babette and a chill Stars Hollow townie through the series.

Morey didn't change much throughout the series, but he remained a loving husband to Babette. The WB

First seen: season one, episode two as Babette's husband and Lorelai and Rory's neighbor.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as an excited partygoer at Rory's going-away party who remained a dedicated husband and townie throughout the show. 

Taylor Doose served Stars Hollow well through the end of the series.

Taylor didn't change one bit. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season one, episode seven as the proud local grocery-store owner and someone who loved to bicker with Luke about pretty much anything.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 still the town's leader through and through, but a leader with an improved relationship with fellow business owner Luke.

Kirk elbowed his way onto the show and into the town's heart.

Kirk was always the no. 1 employee in Stars Hallow. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season one, episode five as a new employee at Doose's market — however, the same actor appeared as Mick the DSL guy on episode two and "Swan Man" on episode three before taking on the role of Kirk. 

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as a loving boyfriend to Lulu who still helps out around town wherever he's needed.

Gypsy was another citizen of Stars Hollow who got to watch Rory grow up.

Gypsy was the mechanic in Stars Hollow. The WB

First seen: season two, episode 12 as Stars Hollow's resident mechanic.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as another loving Stars Hollow community member who wishes Rory well at her going-away party. 

Zack got married and became a father.

Zack grew up a lot during the show. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season three, episode four as the lead singer in Lane's band.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as Lane's husband, the father of her twins, and a supportive bandmate. 

Max Medina found his way back to Chilton.

Lorelai's ex-fiancé kept coming back. The WB

First seen: season one, episode four as Rory's teacher at Chilton and a love interest for Lorelai

Last seen: season three, episode 19 as he returns to Chilton after a stint teaching at Stanford and finds himself immediately drawn back to his former fiancée Lorelai — even though things clearly weren't going to work out between them. 

Liz Danes grew up so much.

Liz got married and had another child. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season four, episode 12 as Luke's sister who moved home to try to get her life on track.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as a new mother with a budding jewelry business and a supportive husband.

TJ was always there for his family.

TJ became a great husband to Liz. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season four, episode 13 as Liz's slightly annoying, but totally loving boyfriend.

Last seen: season seven, episode 16 as a father, husband, and homeowner who became someone Liz and their child could depend on. 

Louise went from a snooty Chilton student to a party queen.

Louise didn't go down the same path as Rory and Paris. The WB

First seen: season one, episode two as Paris' snooty friend at Chilton. 

Last seen: season four, episode 17 as a party girl who's spending weeks in Florida for different colleges' spring breaks.

Madeline followed right alongside Louise.

Madeline and Louise were always partners in crime. The WB

First seen: season one, episode two as Paris and Louise's other friend at Chilton.

Last seen: season four, episode 17 as another spring breaker who's still following along with whatever Louise wants to do.

Lulu fell for Stars Hollow's quirkiest townie.

Lulu made Kirk very happy. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season four, episode six as Kirk's date who seemed to actually like him.

Last seen: season seven, episode 22 as Kirk's happy and committed girlfriend who loves all his quirks.

April Nardini developed a close relationship with her father.

April and Luke developed a close bond. The WB/ The CW

First seen: season six, episode nine as Luke's daughter, even though he didn't know who she was when she first visited his diner.

Last seen: season seven, episode 20 as a loving daughter who moves to New Mexico with her mom, but still regularly keeps in touch with Luke over the phone. 

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