After finishing her time as Rory Gilmore on Gilmore Girls, Alexis Bledel starred as Emily Malek/Ofglen on The Handmaid’s Tale, which is definitely darker than the mother/daughter drama. Bledel also played Valerie Harney on the podcast series Coldest Case in 2021. Rory will always feel like a classic TV character thanks to her witty quotes.
While she’s just as smart and talks at a fascinating warp speed like her mom Lorelai, Rory is her own person, someone who loves school, aims to please, and figures out how to maintain her love for her tiny town of Stars Hollow while still being bold and striking out on her own.
“Not in front of the books, Lane.”
Rory and Lane are talking about sex
Rory and Lane Kim’s Gilmore Girls quotes speak to their close friendship, and Redditor madammurdrum loves when Rory says this quote because it’s “said so sincerely too.”
The friends are sitting on the floor of a bookstore when Lane shares that her sex life with Zack Van Gerbig has been nothing like she expected and Lane feels sad and disappointed. While Rory is happy to talk to her friend about this subject, she jokes that speaking about sex with books right there feels tricky and wrong.
“Nothing excites me before 11:00.”
Rory and her mom are both tired in the morning
Redditor mytwoquarters loves this quote and wrote that it’s “so me, not a morning person.” Rory’s relationship to sleep and early mornings is interesting as sometimes, she seems to want to sleep in as much as Lorelai and other times, she’s up with the sun and ready to go.
While Rory hates when her mom wakes her up in the middle of the night on her 16th birthday, she copes with breaking up with Dean Forester by rising early and making a to-do list. When Rory is up early, it suggests that something is wrong.
“And for the last time, the name’s RORY!”
Rory is tired of Tristan’s teasing
Redditor reflectiveruse likes when Rory tells Tristan DuGray “the name’s RORY!” because she’s sick of him making fun of her and constantly calling her Mary. When Rory sleeps too late and misses her English test, she yells at Max Medina, Headmaster Charleston, Paris Geller, and finally, Tristan.
This quote is out of character for Rory, as she’s usually much calmer and happier. Rory is fed up with trying so hard to fit in at Chilton both socially and academically and she’s about to make a decision about whether it’s worth it to continue on.
“It’s Avril Lavigne’s world and we’re just living in it.”
Rory and Lorelai love pop culture references
While Gilmore Girls has some obscure pop culture references, there are several that viewers know as well. Redditor N_Huq appreciates when Rory talks about living in “Avril Lavigne’s world.”
Although Rory isn’t a fan of following trends or keeping up with the latest fashion, music and culture news, she does seem to know a lot about pop music, given the number of times Rory and Lorelai joke around about Hanson and other bands. Rory’s reference is funny and lightens the mood.
“I don’t want to be anti-town girl. I’m not Daria.”
Rory loves Stars Hollow
For Redditor Chalmation_Nation, Rory’s quote “I’m not Daria” is a favorite. Rory has a bit of a crisis when she tells Taylor Doose that she doesn’t want to be the Ice Cream Queen because she’s going to Yale now and needs to focus on her fun, new, and exciting grown-up life.
This is one of Rory’s most significant quotes because she feels badly about saying no immediately. She knows that town events mean a lot to Taylor and everyone else, and she vows to find a balance of appreciating her hometown and moving on.
“I’m having one of those moments where everything is so perfect…”
Rory loves her anniversary date with Dean in season 1
Redditor mytwoquarters loves when Dean plans a special date for his three-month anniversary with Rory in season 1 and Rory says this quote. Rory says it’s so flawless “that you almost feel sad that nothing can ever be this good again.”
While the rest of the night is a disaster and Dean becomes upset when Rory can’t say that she loves him, Rory’s words are full of a wisdom that suggest she’s an old soul. Since Rory reads so many books, she’s often thinking about how to reflect on her life in a literary and poetic way.
“I got kissed. And I shoplifted.”
Rory is surprised that Dean kissed her at Doose’s Market
Season 1 of Rory and Dean’s Gilmore Girls romance becomes dramatic with their first kiss at Doose’s Market. Redditor tinkerb3ll3 voted on a poll about favorite Rory lines and likes when she says that she and Dean “kissed” and then “I shoplifted.”
Fans can never forget when Rory takes a box of cornstarch because she’s so surprised that Dean kissed her. This moment also causes tension when Rory tells Lane about the big moment but doesn’t share with Lorelai, who realizes that Rory is getting older and they might not always know everything about each other.
“Oh, no, wait. I thought of some. Jerk! A**, arrogant…”
Rory has creative insults for Logan
From the moment that Rory meets Logan Huntzberger at Yale, it’s hard to picture the two characters actually dating. Rory finds Logan to be immature and doesn’t think that they have anything in common. One Redditor loves the scene when they’re exchanging witty banter and Rory calls Logan several names and continues, “inconsiderate, mindless, frat-boy, lowlife, butt-faced miscreant!”
Rory’s words are hilarious and Logan becomes taken with Rory’s specific insults, particularly the last one. Rory realizes that she has become just as immature and that calling him names isn’t the best way to behave. This is when Rory starts treating Logan more respectfully and seeing him in a different light.
“I’ve never had pudding from a crystal bowl before.”
Rory admires Emily’s bowl during Friday Night Dinner
Some of the best Friday Night dinners on Gilmore Girls involve Emily behaving in a quirky manner, like when she wants Rory and Lorelai to put post-it notes on objects that they want to take after she passes away. Rory loves the bowl she’s eating her dessert from and Redditor SqueegeBeckenheim enjoys this quote. The fan wrote, “I can’t handle this scene. All of their faces are completely priceless at that moment.”
While Lorelai is frustrated and thinks that this is a silly idea, Rory is younger and thinks that it’s a funny idea, which shows the contrast between how the mother and daughter approach Emily.
“Who cares if I’m pretty if I fail my finals?”
Rory is stressed out about school
This quote is part of a poll in a Reddit thread and Redditor tinkerb3ll3 loves Rory’s quote “Who cares if I’m pretty” if she isn’t able to do well on her exams. Rory has never been one to care much about her appearance and would always rather spend time reading and studying than doing her hair and make-up and picking out outfits, and this quote drives it home.
Lorelai tells Rory that she needs to sleep because it “keeps you pretty” and Rory explains how concerned she is that she isn’t able to master her subject material. Lorelai and viewers know Rory will be fine, but she maintains a humble attitude toward her success throughout high school.
