1. Dear Emily and Richard

One of the most touching moments on Gilmore Girls can be found in the episode ‘Dear Emily and Richard.’ In it, We're shown Sherry gin labor in between flashbacks of what it was like for 16-year-old Lorelai during her pregnancy. I’m not the biggest fan of Emily Gilmore, mainly because of her manipulative tendencies, but it breaks my heart to see her read the letter in the end. As tough a situation as that already is, Lorelai’s leaving breaks her heart. She may seem like a cold-hearted woman, but clearly, she cares.

2. Those Are Strings, Pinocchio

Rory’s valedictorian speech not only sums up her character’s love of literature, but also thanks her mom for being her role-model. I’ve always looked up to the Lorelai-Rory relationship, craving to have something like it. To hear Rory express her gratitude to her mother and best friend leaves me sobbing. It just goes to show that you can have such an impact on another person and not fully take that into account. It amazes me!

3. A House is Not a Home

In this episode, the unthinkable happens - Rory isn’t going back to Yale, much to the shock of Lorelai and viewers across the world. Having recently decided to take a leave of absence myself, I can relate to Rory’s mentality, but watching Lorelai take the news is rough. To make the blow worse, she goes to live with her grandparents, and the Gilmore girls don’t talk at all. And when Lorelai tells Luke and sees the concern sweep his face, she just knows that he is the one she wants to spend the rest of her life with.

4. Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing out

This episode has to have the saddest point in the whole series. After dropping out of college, Rory is just getting by with no drive towards her future. Enter Jess. Old boyfriend Jess shows Rory that he book a wrote. I think this episode gets to me because as Rory was just floating around, Jess, who everyone thought would go nowhere, got published and made something of himself. And it takes him to knock some sense back into Rory and kick start her road back to Yale.

5. I Get a Sidekick out of You

Lane gets married! I love this episode because Lane and Zach compliment each other so well. Rory gets to help Lane get ready and they take a picture to capture the moment. They don’t take that many photos during the show, so clearly it’s an important moment. Even Mrs. Kim knows how important this day is to Lane and promises to go to sleep early with earplugs so that Lane can have a fun night in the square to celebrate.

6. To Whom It May Concern

“In the nearly ten years that I have known Luke Danes, I have come to know him as an honest and decent man.” When Luke needs a character reference to get custody of his daughter April, he asks Lorelai. Her letter is chock-full of emotion. Whenever I hear it, I can’t help but start to tear up. Luke Danes is an incredible man and I want someone like him in my life.

7. Will You Be My Lorelai Gilmore?

In the show, Lane is definitely surprised by her birth of twins, but this episode shows that everything will be okay. She asks Rory to be the “Lorelai Gilmore” to her kids. Being able to have close friends like that from childhood through life’s adventures makes everything more meaningful. I hope that I have friends like that. Lorelai is my role model and I would love to have a person like her in my life and be that person in another’s.

Gilmore Girls is an incredible show that has touched my life in many ways. These are just a few moments that have impacted me. What moments stand out to you? What is your favorite episode?