8.1/101,986 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
8.0/101,566 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
7.8/101,410 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
7.9/101,351 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
7.8/101,298 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
8.5/101,380 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
8.3/101,323 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
8.0/101,237 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
8.7/101,422 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
8.3/101,240 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
7.6/101,128 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
7.8/101,131 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
8.0/101,161 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
7.8/101,130 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
8.1/101,121 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
8.1/101,103 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
8.0/101,089 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
7.9/101,053 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
8.1/101,046 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
8.0/101,037 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
8.5/101,214 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
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
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "Gilmore Girls" season 1. It scored 8.1/10 based on 1986 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".