Every Season of Gilmore Girls, Ranked

It sometimes felt like Gilmore Girls existed in its own little world, that Stars Hollow was sealed inside a snow globe where nothing could touch it. The rhythm of the dialogue—the rhythm of life in that storybook-like small town—was heightened beyond reality. No one’s really that witty, or that smart, or that chipper, but in Gilmore Land you could depend on every scene having its quips and quirks just as reliably as Luke was always ready with a pot of hot coffee and Babette was always…being Babette. At every Friday-night dinner, Emily and Richard had a new housekeeper, though she was always so similar to the one she’d replaced. The more things changed, the more they stayed the same.

But with our trio of Gilmore women—Rory, Lorelei, and Emily—as our unflinching anchors of the series, it's odd that most of the debate about Gilmore Girls is about the men. Are you Team Christopher or Team Luke? Who’s your favorite of Rory's boyfriends?

That said, the settings do provide some flavor. The Independence Inn and The Dragonfly are similar but not identical, as are Chilton and Yale. Over the seasons, the show changed just enough to keep viewers coming back for more, but never lost sight of what made fans fall in love with the series in the first place. The banter, the endless eating, the everlasting exasperation, how Lorelei was somehow always broke and always shopping: They weren’t realistic, exactly, but they became part of the Gilmore Girls fabric. The show’s own logic reinforced itself until you had to either accept it or turn it off.

At its best, the show used all of these elements and more to create a cozy, crazy world that still felt emotional and relatable. At its worst, plot lines existed just to create More Frustration which could be solved with More Coffee because That's The Gilmore Girls Way. Here’s how well each season did at navigating this task, ranked from worst to best.

Season 7

This is the season Amy Sherman-Palladino didn’t write, so it has to be in last place. Those are the rules. Not everything that happens in the show’s final season feels wrong, but nothing really feels right. The dialogue doesn't have its usual zip, and you can sort of see the actors checking out. Plus, what’s with Lorelei and Christopher getting married in Paris and then basically learning nothing from it? Much ado about nothing, much?

A Year in the Life

Sutton Foster and Christian Borle’s musical about Stars Hollow aside, is Netflix’s four-part series revival necessary? Yes, we get to once again spend time with beloved characters, but it's almost too much of a good thing. Surely one feature-length reunion would have been enough, instead of dragging it out for four episodes of just kinda checking in with people? There is so much that's out of character too! Rory is, like, the stupidest reporter to ever graduate from Yale, and Paris is running a fertility clinic instead of a political campaign? Wrong, just wrong.

Season 6

This season is dominated by Logan and the arrival of April, both of whom feel like watered-down versions of previous characters. Rory already had her thing with an entitled rich boy when she kissed what's-his-face (Chad Michael Murray) back at Chilton. While April is technically Luke’s daughter, she doesn't bring out his fatherly side any more than Jess already had. Not a terrible season, but not exciting.

Season 4

Season four is the season in which everyone loses their dang mind. Rory loses her virginity to her ex Dean while he is married, Emily and Richard split up (!!), and Luke gets…married?! All while Lorelei dates a rich guy. Oh, those Gilmores. A roller coaster of a season, but like any fun amusement park ride, it's enjoyable along the way.

Season 1

An incredibly strong debut. Right out of the gate, this show knew what it was and what it was about. The characters are so lively, so real, and the chemistry between Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham is instant. Other shows wish they could have this kind of energy.

Season 5

The season of Luke and Lorelei! While watching everyone’s favorite grumpy hat-wearing diner owner pine for Lorelei was fun, it’s just as great to see them, finally, together. It’s a love they both deserve, along with a slew of issues they can’t avoid. Just like real life, but more clever.

Season 2

Peak Chilton shenanigans happen in season two, and we get the romance of Jackson and Sookie. Remember when only Gilmore Girls fans knew about the genius that is Melissa McCarthy? Her frazzled energy, wide smile, and incredible-looking food will forever make her an honorary Gilmore lead.

Season 3

Jess, duh. Gilmore Girls was always about the high-low dynamic. Lorelei, the girl who grew up rich, now living paycheck to paycheck in a working-class town with an inn catering to a more expensive crowd. Rory growing up in a single-parent household but with a taste for all the finer things. And nowhere was that dynamic better explored than in her relationship with Jess, the wannabe bad boy who’s really just a nerd at heart, too smart for school and too cool for work. As with Christopher and Lorelei, Rory and Jess are cut from the same cloth into opposite shapes, forever each other’s weakness. Also, he’s really hot.

Elizabeth Logan is a writer and comedian in New York City. Follow her on Twitter @lizzzzzielogan.

Originally Appeared on Glamour