Gilmore Girls: Season 1
2000 · 21 episodes · ★ 7.2
What Season 1 of Gilmore Girls
Lorelai Gilmore is a single mother raising her daughter Rory in Stars Hollow, a fictional town in Connecticut. Rory is a brilliant student who dreams of Harvard, and to get there she needs to enroll at Chilton, a prep school in Hartford. Lorelai doesn't have the money, so she turns to her parents, Emily and Richard, with whom she has barely spoken since leaving home when she got pregnant. They agree to lend her the money on one condition: family dinner every Friday night. As Rory adjusts to the academic demands of Chilton, the bond between mother and daughter is put to the test. Emily, for her part, wants to be more involved in her granddaughter's life, and Lorelai must deal with her family's past.
Season 1 Episodes
1x01 Pilot
When Rory is accepted to attend a prestigious prep school, Lorelai must swallow her pride and ask her wealthy parents for help paying the tuition.
Directing: Lesli Linka Glatter · Writing: Amy Sherman-Palladino · Starring: Jared Padalecki, Alex Borstein, Liz Torres, Emily Kuroda
1x02 The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton
Rory's first day at Chilton doesn't go smoothly: First, Lorelai's attire offends Emily and the headmaster; then Rory meets some obnoxious classmates.
Directing: Arlene Sanford · Writing: Amy Sherman-Palladino · Starring: Liza Weil, Alex Borstein, Sally Struthers, Nick Chinlund
1x03 Kill Me Now
When Rory and Richard bond during a day of golf at the club, Lorelai feels jealous of Rory's deepening connection with her grandparents.
Directed by Lesli Linka Glatter, Adam Nimoy · Written by Joanne Waters, Amy Sherman-Palladino · Starring Alex Borstein, Sally Struthers, Liz Torres, Ted Rooney
1x04 The Deer Hunters
After Rory receives a bad grade on her English paper, Lorelai helps her cram for a big Shakespeare exam – but catastrophe strikes on test day.
Directing: Alan Myerson · Writing: Jed Seidel · Starring: Liza Weil, Alex Borstein, Chad Michael Murray, Scott Cohen
1x05 Cinnamon's Wake
Lorelai admits she has feelings for someone. Meanwhile, Rory has a budding relationship of her own that is moving forward.
Directing: Michael Katleman · Writing: Daniel Palladino · Starring: Sean Gunn, Jared Padalecki, Jean-Paul Vignon, Sally Struthers
1x06 Rory's Birthday Parties
Rory clashes with Emily when Emily plans a formal birthday party for her. Meanwhile, Lorelai organizes a casual get-together to celebrate.
Directing: Sarah Pia Anderson · Writing: Amy Sherman-Palladino · Starring: Liza Weil, Sean Gunn, Jared Padalecki, Sally Struthers
1x07 Kiss and Tell
Rory shares a romantic moment with Dean, but doesn't tell Lorelai. When Lorelai hears about it from Mrs. Kim, she invites Dean over for movie night.
Directing: Rodman Flender · Writing: Jenji Kohan · Starring: Jared Padalecki, Sally Struthers, Liz Torres, Michael Winters
1x08 Love and War and Snow
Snow strands Rory at her grandparents' home, while Lorelai spends the day with her beau. Meanwhile, Lane misses Rory and comes to visit.
Directing: Alan Myerson · Writing: Joan Binder Weiss · Starring: Sean Gunn, Jared Padalecki, David Huddleston, Vic Chao
1x09 Rory's Dance
Rory attends her first dance with Dean but they get home late, causing Emily and Lorelai to fight over Lorelai's mothering skills.
Directing: Lesli Linka Glatter · Writing: Amy Sherman-Palladino · Starring: Liza Weil, Jared Padalecki, Chad Michael Murray, Liz Torres
1x10 Forgiveness and Stuff Mid-Season Finale
Misfortune strikes at the Gilmores' Christmas party. Dean assures Lorelai that nothing improper happened the night he and Rory fell asleep together.
Directing: Bethany Rooney · Writing: John Stephens · Starring: Sean Gunn, Jared Padalecki, Jane Lynch, Liz Torres
1x11 Paris is Burning
After Paris causes a scandal by exposing the relationship between a parent and a teacher, she is confronted.
Directing: David Petrarca · Writing: Joan Binder Weiss · Starring: Liza Weil, Chad Michael Murray, Scott Cohen, Shelly Cole
1x12 Double Date
Lorelai goes on a hellish double date with Sookie, Jackson and Jackson's odd cousin. Meanwhile, Rory double dates with Dean, Lane and Dean's friend.
Directing: Lev L. Spiro · Writing: Amy Sherman-Palladino · Starring: Jared Padalecki, Max Perlich, Lukas Behnken, Emily Kuroda
1x13 Concert Interruptus
Trouble ensues when Rory takes her friends to a Bangles concert in New York. Lorelai learns something about Luke's romantic past.
Directed by Bruce Seth Green · Written by Elaine Arata · Starring Liza Weil, Brandon Routh, Deborah Theaker, Chad Michael Murray
1x14 That Damn Donna Reed
Rory and Dean argue about women's roles after watching "The Donna Reed Show." Emily makes Lorelai face her feelings.
Directing: Michael Katleman · Writing: Daniel Palladino, Amy Sherman-Palladino · Starring: Sean Gunn, Jared Padalecki, Sally Struthers, Grant-Lee Phillips
1x15 Christopher Returns
Rory's father returns, causing tension in Emily and Richard's house – and forcing Lorelai to make a big decision about her family's future.
Directing: Michael Katleman · Writing: Daniel Palladino · Starring: Sean Gunn, Jared Padalecki, Peter Michael Goetz, Cristine Rose
1x16 Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers
Rory and Dean celebrate their three-month anniversary, but things don't go as planned. Luke's ex-girlfriend Rachel arrives in town.
Directing: Lesli Linka Glatter · Writing: John Stephens, Linda Loiselle Guzik · Starring: Liza Weil, Jared Padalecki, Grant-Lee Phillips, David Huddleston
1x17 The Breakup, Part 2
After recent events, Rory keeps busy, refusing to give in to self-pity. Meanwhile, Stars Hollow's residents rally around her, much to her dismay.
Directing: Nick Marck · Writing: Amy Sherman-Palladino · Starring: Liza Weil, Sean Gunn, Jared Padalecki, Sally Struthers
1x18 The Third Lorelai
When Lorelai's grandmother offers a trust fund for Rory's education, Emily fears losing contact with a financially independent Lorelai and Rory.
Directed by Michael Katleman · Written by Amy Sherman-Palladino · Starring Liza Weil, Grant-Lee Phillips, Chad Michael Murray, Marion Ross
1x19 Emily in Wonderland
Emily is horrified when she sees the place where Lorelai and Rory first lived, so she sets out to create a perfect bedroom for Rory in her house.
Directed by Perry Lang · Written by John Stephens, Linda Loiselle Guzik · Starring Sean Gunn, Max Perlich, Eddie Shin, Emily Kuroda
1x20 P.S. I Lo...
Still upset over recent events, Rory becomes angry with Lorelai, who didn't tell her that she is dating again.
Directing: Lev L. Spiro · Writing: Elaine Arata, Joan Binder Weiss · Starring: Liza Weil, Sean Gunn, Jared Padalecki, Scott Cohen
1x21 Love, Daisies and Troubadours Season Finale
Rory finally tells Dean the truth about how she feels about him. Sensing something between Lorelai and Luke, Rachel makes a decision.
Directing: Amy Sherman-Palladino · Writing: Daniel Palladino · Starring: Liza Weil, Sean Gunn, Jared Padalecki, Sally Struthers
Season 1 Cast
Scott PattersonLuke Danes21 episodes
Keiko AgenaLane Kim21 episodes
Yanic TruesdaleMichel Gerard21 episodes
Kelly BishopEmily Gilmore21 episodes
Liz TorresMiss Patty14 episodes
Shelly ColeMadeline Lynn10 episodes
Jackson DouglasJackson Belleville10 episodes
Michael WintersTaylor Doose8 episodes
Emily KurodaMrs. Kim7 episodes
Ted RooneyMorey Dell6 episodes
Lisa Ann HadleyRachel5 episodes
Grant-Lee PhillipsGrant4 episodesAll Seasons
Season 22001 · 22 ep. · ★ 7.2
Season 32002 · 22 ep. · ★ 7.3
Season 42003 · 22 ep. · ★ 7.4
Season 52004 · 22 ep. · ★ 6.7
Season 62005 · 22 ep. · ★ 6.7
Season 72006 · 22 ep. · ★ 6.4Where to Watch Season 1 of Gilmore Girls
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes are in Gilmore Girls Season 1?
Gilmore Girls Season 1 has 21 episodes.
When did Season 1 of Gilmore Girls premiere?
Aired October 5, 2000.
Where to watch Gilmore Girls Season 1?
Subscription only, on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Netflix Standard with Ads, and Amazon Prime Video with Ads (availability may vary by country).
What is the best episode of Season 1?
According to the audience score on TMDB, episode 1x02, "The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton," has a 7.7.