Luke Danes is much more than Lorelai's husband in Gilmore Girls. He's a pillar in the community, the maker of incredible coffee, and a man who is loyal to a fault. He's been a dependable citizen of Stars Hollow and a father figure to Rory when Christopher wasn't there. Luke is a man who deserves respect.
But just like with Lorelai and Rory, Luke isn't perfect. He's made mistakes that have altered his life forever and have changed him to his core. Luke is a beloved character in the show but he doesn't get a free for his impatience, anger, and resentment.
He Never Told Lorelai About April
Luke's world changed forever when he found out he had a 12-year-old daughter. What was more shocking is that he didn't tell Lorelai the news. He kept it from her for two months. In fact, the only reason why Lorelai found out about April was because she met her at the diner unexpectedly. Keeping something that big from his fiancée put a huge burden on their relationship.
He Married Nicole On A Whim
Luke knew from the start that he was attracted to Taylor's lawyer, Nicole. He became flushed when he met her and was talking nonsense. It wasn't long before the two began dating. But seemingly overnight, Nicole and Luke were far more serious than anyone realized.
When the two went on a cruise (Luke does not seem like a "cruise" kind of guy), they left as husband and wife. However, it became clear that they married too soon. The two got divorced almost as quickly as they married. It caused a big headache for Luke.
Luke Bought A House Without Consulting Lorelai
When Joshua Twickham ed away, Luke bought the house in hopes of making it his family home with Lorelai. They both loved the house and were fond of its unique build.
The only problem is that Luke never talked it over with Lorelai and bought the house as a surprise. In reality, Lorelai loved her home and didn't want to move. It's where she raised Rory and it was where she was comfortable. Buying the Twickham home was a big setback financially, not to mention a misguided idea.
His Arrest Was Sensless
When Luke and Nicole began having issues after their wedding, Luke took his time to figure out what his next move should be. But when he put on a sock that clearly wasn't his, he became suspicious. Why was there another man's sock in their house?
After watching Nicole, Luke realized she was cheating on him. He saw the car they exited from and started vandalizing it. However, his aggression got the best of him and he was arrested.
He Gave Up On Lorelai Way Too Quickly
After Richard and Emily Gilmore's vow renewal, Luke learned more about Lorelai and Christopher's past. He learned that they were closer than she let on; she was recently at his house drinking tequila when his father ed away. Knowing that his girlfriend was drinking late at night with her ex-boyfriend and father of her child was too much for Luke to handle. He broke up with her and the two awkwardly avoided each other. Lorelai tried getting him back but it didn't work for weeks.
Fighting Christopher
Luke and Christopher despised each other. They were completely different men who were in love with the same woman. And sadly, Lorelai was torn between them. In one life, she chose Luke. In another life, in the town square without saying as much as a word. As a man who was fighting for custody of his daughter, why would Luke do something so reckless?
Did He Fail Jess?
To be fair to Luke, he did everything he could to get Jess on the right path in life. He gave him a safe space to sleep, a job, and made sure he was going to school. Luke wanted Jess to succeed. Sadly, it was the way Luke went about fathering Jess that didn't end well. Luke was a tough love kind of guy and didn't put up with nonsense — especially from a punk like Jess. In the end, Luke was too harsh on Jess as he ended up leaving Stars Hollow for good.
Should Luke Have Taken Richard's Help?
When Lorelai and Luke begin dating, her parents did what they usually did: berated their daughter and her new beau. Richard invited Luke out on the golf course to talk about his future as if he was a child) and it turned into a business presentation. The Gilmore patriarch wanted to help Luke franchise Luke's Diner. Expanding it on the East-Coast could make Luke successful and confident. He'd also work less strenuous hours because he'd have more help.
It wasn't upsetting that Luke turned down the opportunity to expand, it's that the fear of change got in his way. Yet again, the idea of growing restricted him.
Why Wasn't Luke At Lorelai's Graduation?
Missing Lorelai's graduation wasn't a mistake per se, but it was extremely out of character for Luke. He made it to all of Rory's big events, so why wouldn't he show up to this huge milestone in Lorelai's life? The two were at odds at this time over Jess and Rory, but Luke always came through for Lorelai when she needed him. Without Rory there, Lorelai really could have used Luke's presence to ease the nerves and awkwardness. Were they really as close as they thought they were?
Why Is Luke Getting Involved With Kids?
Luke is a ionate man who is loyal beyond comprehension, but it's his loyalty to Stars Hollow that gets the best of him at times. As a grown man, it's out of line to get into an altercation with teenagers. After Dean and Rory broke up, Luke forbade Dean from entering Luke's Diner. The two even got physical in the street! Luke should know that getting in the middle of teenagers in love is not his place. He should have stayed out of it.