Rory Gilmore’s Villain Arc
Rory Gilmore went from the perfect protagonist to annoying so fast, it was almost impressive. The charming brainiac with perfect skin, wasn't originally portrayed this way. Instead of personal growth, her character took a different turn. From grand theft, an affair, and her overall attitude towards authority figures, she quickly became kind of the worst.
Her iconic headbands and cable-knit sweaters might still be on your fall Pinterest boards, but her personality? Probably not. What mistakes did the over-caffeinated teen make that took her from a sitcom favorite to a hard watch? We at The Edge are ready to take a deep dive into Rory Gilmore’s villain arc.
Rory's time in high school is known as her peak, but it wasn't perfect. When she arrived late to her English exam and couldn't make it up, she had, what some might call, a crash out. Girl, your entitlement is showing. While this could be remarked as a touch of immaturity, we can't forget the time she missed her mother's graduation ceremony to go to New York City with her situationship.
These may not have been her finest moments, but she was still likable until she got to Yale. Her first questionable collegiate choice, but an important one, her relationship with her married ex-boyfriend, Dean. This followed her harsh criticism of his wife, Lindsey — her personality, looks and choice to be a stay-at-home wife. While we are on the topic of women supporting women, let's not ignore when Rory publicly body-shamed a ballerina in her review of the Yale ballet.
After ruining Dean's marriage and a girl’s self-confidence, she started dating Logan. Just a few episodes later, the two of them stole a yacht. What prompted this? Logan's father’s criticism of Rory’s journalist efforts at the internship she was handed. We at The Edge understand firsthand that the journalism industry can be tough, but none of our staff members would commit grand larceny… or so we hope.
This spiraled Rory into her worst plotline: dropping out of Yale. To quote Jess, “Why did you drop out of Yale?” After moving into her grandparents' pool house, she became full-on spoiled. She eventually went back to school, where she made the worst decision of all. This one may be personal, but rejecting Logan's proposal was the moment her villain arc was sealed - and wrapped up in a bow.
What other cringe-worthy Rory moments do you remember from Gilmore Girls? Let us know by tagging us on Instagram @theedgemag