The BEST episodes of Gilmore Girls season 4

Every episode of Gilmore Girls season 4, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Gilmore Girls season 4!

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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The Incredible Sinking Lorelais
star
8.01
967 votes

#1 - The Incredible Sinking Lorelais

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/17/2004

Lorelai and Sookie explore ways to ease their financial crunch and raise money to pay their construction crew, one of whom is now Dean. Rory is distraught when one of her professors tells her to drop a class because she can't handle her course load.

Directors: Stephen Clancy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Nag Hammadi Is Where They Found the Gnostic Gospels
star
8.01
1041 votes

#2 - Nag Hammadi Is Where They Found the Gnostic Gospels

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/10/2004

Jess's attempts to keep a low profile but keeps bumping into Rory all over town. Emily is in a dither about filling a table at a benefit and enlists the help of Lorelai and Jason, whom she encourages to pretend that they're a couple. Luke is less than impressed by Liz's latest business venture and newly-arrived boyfriend.

Directors: Chris Long
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Raincoats and Recipes
star
7.98
1046 votes

#3 - Raincoats and Recipes

Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/18/2004

The Dragonfly Inn approaches opening day. Rory and Dean take a major step forward in their relationship, to Lorelai's dismay. Two suitors go after Lorelai.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Lorelais' First Day at Yale
star
7.92
1005 votes

#4 - The Lorelais' First Day at Yale

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/30/2003

While Luke is willing to lend Lorelai his truck to help Rory move into her dorm, he's not too thrilled when the project turns out to take all day. Rory meets her new roommates.

Directors: Chris Long
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Luke Can See Her Face
star
7.86
869 votes

#5 - Luke Can See Her Face

Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/4/2004

Liz returns to Stars Hollow to announce that she's getting married in the town square in a week. Rory tries to hide her discomfort when Lorelai tells her about overhearing a fight between Dean and Lindsay. A self-help tape helps Luke clarify his thinking, and a talk with Jess gets him started on the path to having the relationship he's been looking for all along.

Directors: Matthew Diamond
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
In the Clamor and the Clangor
star
7.78
992 votes

#6 - In the Clamor and the Clangor

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/27/2004

Lorelai is distressed when she learns that Luke has moved to Litchfield to live with Nicole. Lane and her mother have a long-overdue talk with life-changing consequences after Mrs. Kim discovers her daughter's secret life.

Directors: Michael Grossman
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The Fundamental Things Apply
star
7.77
1069 votes

#7 - The Fundamental Things Apply

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/21/2003

Rory accepts a classmate's invitation to go out on her first date since breaking up with Jess, while her roomates engage in a war of wills. Lorelai invites Luke over to share the traditional Gilmore movie night she used to have with Rory, although she is somewhat disturbed after discovering that the designer she just hired to decorate the inn used to work for Emily.

Directors: Neema Barnette
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Chicken or Beef?
star
7.72
1051 votes

#8 - Chicken or Beef?

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/14/2003

Back home for the weekend, Rory has an uncomfortable encounter with Dean, her ex, and ends up getting invited to his wedding the next day. Meanwhile, Lorelai and Sookie visit Michel at his trendy new workplace, but run into problems getting the permit they need to begin construction on the inn.

Directors: Chris Long
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Nanny and the Professor
star
7.70
963 votes

#9 - The Nanny and the Professor

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/20/2004

Luke becomes overwhelmed by Lane's work ethic when he hires her to work at the diner; Rory is less than thrilled with the new man in Paris's life. Richard becomes intensely irritated when the Chez Gilmore walking tour benefitting the Historical Society overstays its welcome.

Directors: Peter Lauer
Writer: Scott Kaufer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ballrooms and Biscotti
star
7.68
1078 votes

#10 - Ballrooms and Biscotti

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/23/2003

Lorelai and Rory return from their whirlwind tour of Europe. Mother and daughter get caught up in a flurry of activity after Rory realizes that she wrote down the wrong date for freshman orientation, and she only has two days to get ready for Yale.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ted Koppel's Big Night Out
star
7.67
913 votes

#11 - Ted Koppel's Big Night Out

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/18/2003

Rory and Paris have lunch at Yale with Richard, who introduces them to his friend, Professor Asher Fleming. Emily is upset when she discovers one of Richard's secrets. Lorelai takes Jason up on his earlier offer of a dinner date.

Directors: Jamie Babbit
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom!
star
7.66
942 votes

#12 - Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom!

Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/20/2004

All of Stars Hollow is amused when Taylor returns from his Caribbean cruise with a drastic change in his appearance. Richard resolves his problems with Floyd at Jason's expense. Dean and Rory agree to continue their friendship.

Directors: Daniel Palladino
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Last Week Fights, This Week Tights
star
7.66
1026 votes

#13 - Last Week Fights, This Week Tights

Season 4 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/11/2004

Stars Hollow prepares for the Renaissance-themed wedding of Liz and T.J.. Jess expresses his gratitude to Luke before saying goodbye.

Directors: Chris Long
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Girls in Bikinis, Boys Doin' the Twist
star
7.66
1035 votes

#14 - Girls in Bikinis, Boys Doin' the Twist

Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/13/2004

Rory, Paris, Janet and Glenn escape a Dickensianly cold winter in Connecticut and head to Florida, where they run into olds Chilton friends. Luke and Nicole's relationship takes its final turn.

Directors: Jamie Babbit
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Reigning Lorelai
star
7.65
1014 votes

#15 - The Reigning Lorelai

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/2/2004

Stricken with grief and guilt, Richard is inconsolable after loosing someone dear to him. Emily finds an old letter addressed to her husband and has a meltdown.

Directors: Marita Grabiak
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
An Affair to Remember
star
7.64
1013 votes

#16 - An Affair to Remember

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/28/2003

Emily offers Lorelai and Sookie the job of catering the party to launch Richard's new business venture, then runs them ragged with demands. At school, Rory finds that her roommates' activities are preventing her from studying.

Directors: Matthew Diamond
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Scene in a Mall
star
7.62
942 votes

#17 - Scene in a Mall

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/24/2004

Lorelai and Rory decide to play hooky and go window shopping in the mall, where they run into Emily in the middle of a shopping binge meltdown.

Directors: Chris Long
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Family Matter
star
7.60
1044 votes

#18 - A Family Matter

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/3/2004

Luke has his hands full as family members return to Stars Hollow. Jamie's in town, and Paris keeps avoiding him. Rory becomes concerned that her mother is having financial problems.

Directors: Kenny Ortega
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Hobbit, the Sofa, and Digger Stiles
star
7.57
1090 votes

#19 - The Hobbit, the Sofa, and Digger Stiles

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/7/2003

To help meet the expenses of opening the inn, Lorelai and Sookie decide to become caterers on the side, with their first assignment being a "Lord of the Rings" theme party. At Yale, Rory returns from class to find that Emily has redecorated the apartment. Meanwhile, Richard ponders a proposal to take on a new business partner.

Directors: Matthew Diamond
Watch Now:Apple TV
Afterboom
star
7.57
902 votes

#20 - Afterboom

Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/27/2004

Luke finalizes his divorce. When Jason decides to sue Richard after discovering his treachery, Lorelai breaks up with him.

Directors: Michael Zinberg
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Festival of Living Art
star
7.55
1043 votes

#21 - The Festival of Living Art

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/4/2003

When Stars Hollow mounts a festival of living pictures, Kirk goes way overboard in getting into character for his role as Jesus in "The Last Supper". Lane, Zach, and Brian finally find an awesome guitarist to replace Dave.

Directors: Chris Long
Watch Now:Apple TV
Die, Jerk
star
7.44
942 votes

#22 - Die, Jerk

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/11/2003

Spurred on by her editor, Rory writes a strongly opinionated dance review that leads to a dining hall confrontation. When she learns that Nicole and Luke have put their divorce on hold and have resumed dating, Lorelai becomes so flustered that she has an argument with Luke.

Directors: Tom Moore
Watch Now:Apple TV