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The Best Episodes of Gilmore Girls Season 1

Every episode of Gilmore Girls Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Gilmore Girls Season 1!

Set in the charming town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, the series follows the captivating lives of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, a mother/daughter pair who have...
Genres:ComedyDrama
Networks:The WBThe CW

Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "Gilmore Girls" season 1. It scored 8.1/10 based on 2002 votes. Directed by Lesli Linka Glatter and written by Amy Sherman-Palladino, it aired on 10/5/2000. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton".

  • Pilot
    8.1/102,002 votes

    #1 - Pilot

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/5/2000

    Lorelai must ask her estranged parents for financial help when her daughter, Rory, is accepted into a prestigious prep school.

    Director: Lesli Linka Glatter

    Writer: Amy Sherman-Palladino

  • The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton
    8.0/101,579 votes

    #2 - The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/12/2000

    Lorelai oversleeps and accompanies her daughter to prep school wearing cut-off jeans and cowboy boots; Rory antagonizes Chilton's top student.

    Director: Arlene Sanford

    Writer: Amy Sherman-Palladino

  • Kill Me Now
    7.8/101,421 votes

    #3 - Kill Me Now

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/19/2000

    Rory and her grandfather enjoy a glorious day of golf, making Lorelai feel left out; the inn hosts a double wedding with two sets of identical twins.

    Director: Lesli Linka Glatter, Adam Nimoy

    Writer: Amy Sherman-Palladino, Joanne Waters

  • The Deer Hunters
    7.9/101,365 votes

    #4 - The Deer Hunters

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/26/2000

    Rory becomes obsessive about studying for a Shakespeare exam after she receives her first D grade, but when she misses the exam it leads to a parent-teacher conference.

    Director: Alan Myerson

    Writer: Jed Seidel

  • Cinnamon's Wake
    7.8/101,311 votes

    #5 - Cinnamon's Wake

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/2/2000

    Rory is flustered around Dean; Lorelai must cancel a date with Rory's teacher to attend Cinnamon's funeral.

    Director: Michael Katleman

    Writer: Daniel Palladino

  • Rory's Birthday Parties
    8.5/101,393 votes

    #6 - Rory's Birthday Parties

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/9/2000

    Emily throws an elegant birthday party for an embarrassed Rory, who blows up at her grandmother; Rory later invites her grandparents to a wild party.

    Director: Sarah Pia Anderson

    Writer: Amy Sherman-Palladino

  • Kiss and Tell
    8.3/101,336 votes

    #7 - Kiss and Tell

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/16/2000

    Rory doesn't tell her mother about her first kiss with Dean, and a vexed Lorelai embarrasses her daughter by inviting Dean over to the house to watch videos.

    Director: Rodman Flender

    Writer: Jenji Kohan

  • Love and War and Snow
    8.0/101,251 votes

    #8 - Love and War and Snow

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 12/14/2000

    Rory is stranded at her grandparents' house by a snowstorm; Lorelai spends the night with Rory's teacher, Max; the townspeople re-enact a Revolutionary War battle.

    Director: Alan Myerson

    Writer: Joan Binder Weiss

  • Rory's Dance
    8.7/101,438 votes

    #9 - Rory's Dance

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/20/2000

    Rory and Dean fall asleep together following a fairytale evening at a formal dance, leading to a blowout between Lorelai and her mother over discipline.

    Director: Lesli Linka Glatter

    Writer: Amy Sherman-Palladino

  • Forgiveness and Stuff
    8.3/101,251 votes

    #10 - Forgiveness and Stuff

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/21/2000

    Lorelai is hurt when she is excluded from her parents' Christmas bash, but she rushes to the hospital after her father collapses at the party.

    Director: Bethany Rooney

    Writer: John Stephens

  • Paris is Burning
    7.6/101,141 votes

    #11 - Paris is Burning

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/11/2001

    Lorelai tries to break up with Rory's teacher, Max, on parent-teacher night, which leads to more problems for her daughter at school.

    Director: David Petrarca

    Writer: Joan Binder Weiss

  • Double Date
    7.8/101,144 votes

    #12 - Double Date

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1/18/2001

    After Lorelai encourages Sookie to ask out Jackson, she finds herself on a double date with Jackson's weird cousin; Rory goes on a double date as well.

    Director: Lev L. Spiro

    Writer: Amy Sherman-Palladino

  • Concert Interruptus
    8.0/101,173 votes

    #13 - Concert Interruptus

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 2/15/2001

    Though Lorelai is excited about going to a Bangles concert, she offers the four concert tickets to Rory and three of her new schoolmates.

    Director: Bruce Seth Green

    Writer: Elaine Arata

  • That Damn Donna Reed
    7.8/101,143 votes

    #14 - That Damn Donna Reed

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 2/22/2001

    Lorelai enlists Luke to help find a missing chick; Rory quarrels with her boyfriend over housewifery.

    Director: Michael Katleman

    Writer: Daniel Palladino, Amy Sherman-Palladino

  • Christopher Returns
    8.1/101,131 votes

    #15 - Christopher Returns

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 3/1/2001

    When Rory's father makes an unexpected visit, he awakens long-buried feelings of passion in Lorelai, as well as inspiring anger in Lorelai's parents.

    Director: Michael Katleman

    Writer: Daniel Palladino

  • Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers
    8.1/101,114 votes

    #16 - Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 3/8/2001

    Rory's boyfriend declares his love for her; Lorelai endures dinner with her parents and a blind date.

    Director: Lesli Linka Glatter

    Writer: Linda Loiselle Guzik, John Stephens

  • The Breakup, Part 2
    8.0/101,100 votes

    #17 - The Breakup, Part 2

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 3/15/2001

    Rory kisses Tristan at a party after fighting with Dean; Lorelai impulsively shows up at Max's house for a night of lovemaking.

    Director: Nick Marck

    Writer: Amy Sherman-Palladino

  • The Third Lorelai
    7.9/101,064 votes

    #18 - The Third Lorelai

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 3/22/2001

    Rory's great-grandmother offers Lorelai a trust fund for Rory's education, causing Emily to fear losing her newfound relationship with them.

    Director: Michael Katleman

    Writer: Amy Sherman-Palladino

  • Emily in Wonderland
    8.1/101,056 votes

    #19 - Emily in Wonderland

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 4/26/2001

    A road trip through her granddaughter's past inspires Emily to make up for the material things Rory did not have growing up.

    Director: Perry Lang

    Writer: Linda Loiselle Guzik, John Stephens

  • P.S. I Lo...
    8.0/101,047 votes

    #20 - P.S. I Lo...

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 5/3/2001

    Rory runs to her grandparents' house after discovering Lorelai and Max are dating again; Lorelai discovers the truth behind Dean and Rory's breakup.

    Director: Lev L. Spiro

    Writer: Joan Binder Weiss, Elaine Arata

  • Love, Daisies and Troubadours
    8.5/101,225 votes

    #21 - Love, Daisies and Troubadours

    Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 5/10/2001

    Lorelai becomes increasingly serious about Max; Luke's girlfriend accuses him of being in love with Lorelai; Rory attempts to win Dean back.

    Director: Amy Sherman-Palladino

    Writer: Daniel Palladino