The Unbreakable Connection: Lorelai's Journey to Finding True Love with Luke

Summary

Lorelai needed to try romance with Christopher before ending up with Luke to get closure and confirm her feelings for Luke.

If Lorelai had not made an effort with Christopher, her relationships would have suffered because he would have constantly lingered in her thoughts.

While fans had differing opinions on who Lorelai should be with, they ultimately preferred her being with Luke as he was more reliable and trustworthy.

Luke and Lorelai, the beloved couple of Gilmore Girls, faced a crucial twist before finding their way back to each other. Initially, Lorelai explored a romantic connection with Christopher, adding a palpable chemistry to their dynamic. Christopher even proposed, but Lorelai declined, convinced he wasn't prepared for commitment. Despite preparing to marry Max Medina, Lorelai couldn't shake her emotions for Christopher, even contacting him on the eve of her bachelorette party. As Luke and Lorelai gained immense support from viewers over seven seasons, Lorelai's subsequent marriage to Christopher felt like a betrayal.

Although the final season of Gilmore Girls received backlash for Lorelai and Christopher's union, it ultimately provided Luke and Lorelai with the ideal happy ending. Once a TV couple becomes a couple, tumultuous moments inevitably follow. By allowing Luke and Lorelai to unite in the eleventh hour, the show preserved their happily ever after, granting the audience the power to shape their future—until A Year In The Life. Lorelai's struggle and eventual failure in establishing a genuine relationship with Christopher played a pivotal role in solidifying her connection with Luke, offering the necessary closure to confirm their destiny together.

Lorelai And Chris Had To Try And Fail

Lorelai frequently engaged in actions that were disliked by viewers of Gilmore Girls, but one incident stands out in particular. Despite being in a relationship with Luke, Lorelai became jealous when Emily attempted to set up Christopher. Although she loved Luke, Lorelai couldn't help but think of Christopher. If she had not taken the chance with Christopher, it would have continued to negatively impact her relationships, as he would always be lingering in her mind.

Lorelai's refusal of Christopher's proposal in season 1 reveals that, as Rory mentioned in season 5, Lorelai was simply waiting for Christopher to mature. Additionally, Lorelai's parents, especially Emily, would not have been able to accept any man for Lorelai if she hadn't given Christopher a try first.

Could Lorelai & Luke Have Worked Instead?

Lorelai and Luke's relationship would not have lasted long because she would have inevitably cheated on Luke. Immediately after their breakup, she rushed to Chris, proving that she still had doubts about their relationship. Lorelai's impulsive nature plays a significant role in her being the bravest character in Gilmore Girls. While Luke and Lorelai might have had a chance, once Chris entered the picture, Lorelai would have left Luke for him, or she would have grown resentful towards Luke for not being able to explore a relationship with Christopher. Luke found some peace in knowing that nothing was holding Lorelai back when they got together, as opposed to Chris' constant presence looming over their relationship.

Another indication that Luke and Lorelai wouldn't have worked until she and Christopher had a chance is how Amy Sherman-Palladino portrayed Lorelai and Rory's relationships. Their relationships and decisions mirrored each other. The revival series, A Year In The Life, which kept the original ending for Rory, confirmed that Jess is Rory's version of Luke, while Logan is her version of Christopher. Lorelai and Rory consistently overlooked the men they should have been with – Luke and Jess – instead choosing emotionally unavailable men like Christopher and Logan. Rory's pregnancy, most likely with Logan, further emphasized Lorelai's difficulty in fully committing because of Christopher, as Rory continued to disregard Jess.

How Fans Felt About Lorelai's Relationship With Chris

Although it is evident in the series that Luke and Lorelai are meant to be the ultimate couple, there are moments in Gilmore Girls where it seems possible for Lorelai to end up with Chris. Fans were divided on who Lorelai should ultimately be with. Even Lauren Graham admitted that there was a certain aspect of wish-fulfillment in the idea of Lorelai and Christopher ending up together, but ultimately believed that Lorelai and Luke being together was more satisfying for the long-time viewers who had watched their relationship develop over the years.

A decade of comments on platforms like Reddit reveal that while some fans liked the idea of Lorelai and Chris as a couple, they preferred them as friends. The discussion on these forums suggests that Lorelai and Chris could have potentially worked out if they had gotten together earlier in the series and grown together. However, by the time they hastily eloped in the final season, most fans were not on board. One forum member astutely points out, "rekindling her relationship with Chris is merely an attempt to recapture something that has already passed" in the final season.

Chris's unreliability is what turned fans against him, despite the history he shared with Lorelai. Despite having a daughter together, Chris would randomly reappear in Lorelai's life, have a good time with her, and then disappear again. Fans desired a romantic partner for Lorelai who could provide consistent support and dependability. Although Lorelai and Chris managed to maintain a strong friendship, ultimately, Gilmore Girls fans were more delighted to see her end up with Luke.