The BEST episodes of Gilmore Girls season 1

Every episode of Gilmore Girls season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Gilmore Girls season 1!

Lorelai Gilmore has made her share of mistakes in life, but she has been doing her best to see that her college-bound daughter Rory, who’s also her best friend in the world, doesn’t follow in her footsteps. That may be easier said than done, considering that the two share the same interests, the same intellect, the same coffee addiction and the same eyes.

Last Updated: 9/22/2024Network: The CWStatus: Ended
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Rory's Birthday Parties
star
7.98
1160 votes

#1 - Rory's Birthday Parties

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/9/2000

It's Rory's birthday, and her grandmother and mother each plan a party representative of their respective styles.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Love, Daisies and Troubadours
star
7.96
1207 votes

#2 - Love, Daisies and Troubadours

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/10/2001

Rachel makes an important decision after she becomes convinced that despite his protests, Luke is in love with Lorelai. Rory finally manages to talk to Dean about her feelings.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
P.S. I Lo...
star
7.85
1275 votes

#3 - P.S. I Lo...

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/3/2001

Lorelai helps Luke shop for a birthday present for Rachel. Meanwhile overwhelmed by sadness at her breakup with Dean, Rory is distressed to discover that Lane and Dean have become science project partners, and incensed to find out from Max that Lorelai has neglected to mention that they are dating again.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pilot
star
7.80
1558 votes

#4 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/5/2000

After Rory is accepted at Chilton, an extremely prestigious and expensive prep school, Lorelai's difficulty in raising the tuition money forces her to ask her wealthy parents, from whom she is estranged, for a loan.

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Rory's Dance
star
7.80
1270 votes

#5 - Rory's Dance

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/20/2000

During dinner at her mother's, Lorelai finds out that not only is there a formal dance at Chilton, but that Rory doesn't want to go. Eventually Lane prods Rory into asking Dean to go, and she nervously does so, creating tensions between Emily and Lorelai.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Concert Interruptus
star
7.78
1215 votes

#6 - Concert Interruptus

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/15/2001

Lorelai organizes the Stars Hollow Charity Rummage Sale, leading her to learn new informations about Luke's love life. Rory and her friends head to New York for a concert.

Directors: Bruce Seth Green
Writer: Elaine Arata
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Emily In Wonderland
star
7.76
1224 votes

#7 - Emily In Wonderland

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/26/2001

Rachel finds an abandoned inn that Lorelai and Sookie fall in love with. Rory takes Emily on a tour of Stars Hollow. Emily hits it off with Mrs. Kim and Michel, but becomes distraught when she sees Lorelai and Rory's first home. At Sookie's urging, Lorelai gives Jackson's cousin Rune a job at the Inn.

Directors: Perry Lang
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The Breakup, Part 2
star
7.76
1216 votes

#8 - The Breakup, Part 2

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/15/2001

Rory decides to engage in a flurry of activity to avoid thinking about Dean, despite Lorelai's advice to wallow. Lorelai decides to visit Max when she realizes how much she misses him. Lane is torn when she meets the perfect guy at the party.

Directors: Nick Marck
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Forgiveness and Stuff
star
7.75
1308 votes

#9 - Forgiveness and Stuff

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/21/2000

Things are still chilly between Rory and Lorelai. Lane gives Rory advice about the right Christmas gift for Dean. The Gilmores are forced to settle their differences as a tragic event bring them closer.

Directors: Bethany Rooney
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Love and War and Snow
star
7.74
1082 votes

#10 - Love and War and Snow

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/14/2000

The first snow of the season falls heavily, stranding Rory at Emily and Richard's house. Luke is obsessing about the silliness of the re-enactment of the Battle of Stars Hollow in the town square. Lorelai is enjoying a walk alone in the snow when she comes upon Max. Lane decides to pay a visit to Rory.

Directors: Alan Myerson
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The Third Lorelai
star
7.74
1128 votes

#11 - The Third Lorelai

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/22/2001

Paris is outraged when she discovers that Tristan asked her for a date at Rory's urging. Emily opposes Trix's offer to set up a trust fund for Rory, afraid she'll never see Lorelai again.

Directors: Michael Katleman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
That Damn Donna Reed
star
7.74
1216 votes

#12 - That Damn Donna Reed

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/22/2001

An evening of "The Donna Reed Show" reruns infects Dean and both Gilmore Girls. Lorelai helps Luke spruce up the diner with a fresh paint job and new curtains. Sookie and Emily force Lorelai to confront her feelings for Luke.

Directors: Michael Katleman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Deer Hunters
star
7.74
1293 votes

#13 - The Deer Hunters

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/26/2000

Max Medina gives Rory the first "D" of her life on an English paper. Lorelai spends the week helping Rory study, but things don't go as planned, ending in Rory having a meltdown, finally giving Paris and Tristan the chewing out they so richly deserve.

Directors: Alan Myerson
Writer: Jed Seidel
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton
star
7.71
1418 votes

#14 - The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/12/2000

Lorelai oversleeps on Rory's first day at Chilton to the dismay of her daughter. Rory's day goes downhill from there and meets some insufferable classmates who are determined to make her life at Chilton miserable.

Directors: Arlene Sanford
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Kill Me Now
star
7.70
1394 votes

#15 - Kill Me Now

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/19/2000

When Rory announces at Friday night dinner that she has to pick a team sport to play at Chilton, Emily insists that Richard take Rory to the club and teach her golf. At the Inn, Lorelai has her hands full overseeing all the preparations for an ornate double wedding ceremony.

Directors: Adam Nimoy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Christopher Returns
star
7.69
1256 votes

#16 - Christopher Returns

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/1/2001

Wanting to play a greater role in Rory's life, Christopher settles in for his visit. When his parents arrive in Hartford for a visit, Emily invites everyone to Friday night dinner, which turns out to be an unqualified disaster.

Directors: Michael Katleman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Kiss and Tell
star
7.62
1178 votes

#17 - Kiss and Tell

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/16/2000

Dean gives Rory her first kiss: fearful of her mother's disapproval, Rory decides not to tell her her yet. However Lorelai hears about the kiss and invites Dean over to watch videos and eat junk food.

Directors: Rodman Flender
Writer: Jenji Kohan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers
star
7.62
1154 votes

#18 - Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/8/2001

Luke's ex-girlfriend Rachel arrives in Stars Hollow unexpectedly. Lorelai and Rory are amazed when Emily agrees to excuse Rory from Friday night dinner so that Rory and Dean can celebrate their three month anniversary.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Paris is Burning
star
7.61
1259 votes

#19 - Paris is Burning

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/11/2001

Sookie and Lorelai have a frank talk about relationships. Paris needs to make amends after revealing a parent/teacher affair. Sookie asks Jackson out on a date.

Directors: David Petrarca
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Double Date
star
7.45
1234 votes

#20 - Double Date

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/18/2001

Lorelai finds herself on the double date from hell with Jackson's very odd cousin after offering to help ou Sookie. Meanwhile, Rory and Lane get into trouble when they double date with Dean and his friend Todd without telling their moms.

Directors: Lev L. Spiro
Watch Now:Apple TV
Cinnamon's Wake
star
7.30
1237 votes

#21 - Cinnamon's Wake

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/2/2000

During their weekly dinner at Emily's, Lorelai learns of her cousin's funeral. The next day Rory reminds Lorelai of the Chilton bake sale where Lorelai accepts to meet Max Medina, Rory's teacher, for coffee. Rory's friendship with Dean takes a new turn.

Directors: Michael Katleman
Watch Now:Apple TV