"Gilmore Girls" is the best TV show in the history of television, no debate. Mother-daughter-best friend relationship, small town, love, laughter, tears. I absolutely adore "Gilmore Girls". One of the best parts of the show were Rory’s boyfriends. Each of them played a significant role in Rory’s life. However, without debate, Jess Mariano, hands down, was the best out of all of them. If you are reading this and you are a Dean fan, I am begging you to please reconsider your decision. I also want to say that I am praying for you and hope this changes your mind so that we can be friends. (If you couldn’t tell, that was humor. But no, seriously).
One of the reasons that Jess was the best was that when he and Rory were together, neither of them cheated on each other or on someone else. Dean cheated on his wife with Rory. Logan and Rory had an open relationship in the beginning, and Logan did cheat on Rory at one point (even though some might argue that they were broken up). However, at no time did Rory cheat on or with Jess. At no time did Jess cheat on or with Rory. This seems to have a special meaning attached to it.
Rory was able to bring out the best in Jess, and vice versa. In the beginning, he was the typical bad boy, but Rory was able to dig deep and get to his soft side. She was able to pull out the Jess that we all know and love. Jess wrote a book because of the influence Rory had on him. Jess changed his life around because of Rory’s influence. But this wasn’t this only influence that occurred. Jess played a major role in Rory’s life.
When Rory dropped out of Yale and wouldn’t talk to her mother, Jess was the only one to get to her, and really be able to listen. Logan couldn’t get to her. He just let her do her thing and didn't try to convince her otherwise. Rory wouldn’t listen to Lorelai, and everyone knows that bond was the reason for the show. But Jess. He was able to get to her. He was able to convince her that what she was doing, wasn’t her. He was able to get through to her. She went back to school because of Jess. In the Gilmore Girl revival, Rory wrote a book because Jess influenced her to do so. Jess was the perfect boyfriend for Rory and he cared for her more than any other boyfriend of hers did.
Some might argue that Jess deserved better than Rory. And yes, that may be true. However, he needed her and she needed him. He wouldn’t have turned his life around the way that he did without her. She wouldn’t have gone back to school without him. There was a chemistry, a friendship between them that was unbreakable, and the viewers could tell from the beginning that he cared for her and that she cared for him. He was the one that kept coming back. What they had was sweet, and was the true representation of love.
Jess will always be Rory's number one boyfriend. He is her end all, be all. There was true heart and soul in his character that was brought out by the relationship between him and Rory. Just like Luke and Lorelai belonged together, Jess and Rory belonged together. And yes, I’m going to say it: Jess is Rory’, Luke.
