The Gilmore Girls are a widely adored mother-daughter duo. With Lorelai's fast-talking wittiness to Rory's quirky charm, what's not to love? They two form a unique relationship that was somewhat rare to TV at the time of the show's fruition.
They may live in a wholesome, conventional New England suburb reminiscent of the American dream, but their lives aren't exactly cookie-cutter. There are many things to love about Rory and Lorelai's relationship, but there are definitely some things to find questionable.
Flaw: Too Much Joking
Lightheartedness is a key part of any relationship; things can't be serious and heavy all the time. But there is a point, especially in a relationship between parent and child, where the child needs to be able to know their boundaries.
Lorelai spends so much time joking that when she's being serious it completely blindsides Rory, and that isn't fair.
Perfection: Openness
Rory and Lorelai are almost completely open with each other. There are exceptions, as with any relationship, but as far as mothers and daughters go they are exceptionally comfortable with exposing their lives to one another.
This allows for a more relaxed and trusting relationship, and for them to really be able to know one another.
Flaw: They Condone Bad Behavior
Both girls are aware that people find them attractive and charming. It takes Rory a little while to realize this about herself, but even before she awakens her effect on men she uses her cute, innocent demeanor to get her way.
As she grows up, she learns more and more from her mother's example the habit of excusing her own bad behavior by sugar-glazing it as cute or quirky--or forgivable, because she's so adorable.
Perfection: Cultured
For all the times Lorelai puts herself down for being uneducated, she should really give herself some credit. She spends most of her screen time dropping cultural references, sometimes pretty vague ones. And Rory follows in her footsteps.
Even if their conversation is about romance or what movie to watch, the dialogue is always peppered with allusions to outside sources, often touching on a wide spectrum of music and classical cinematography.
Flaw: Junk Food
All Lorelai and Rory eat is junk food. Almost every scene that we see them eating, they are either going to Luke's to get food or ordering from a pizza place or Chinese place--or both. If they are ever using their fridge, it is to dig through it to find some takeout leftovers that are not yet expired.
They also never exercise. It's a humorous little bit, but pretty unrealistic and definitely would be detrimental in real life.
Perfection: Playfulness
The girls achieve a level of play in their interactions that challenges that of most close friendships, never mind mother-daughter relationships. Traditionally, children look up to their parents as authority figures, and every once in a while will share a light moment with them.
But with Lorelai and Rory, play is the norm. They have more fun together than not, as it should be.
Flaw: Projection
Lorelai regrets her past decisions. As much as she loves Rory, she is reminded every day of the fact that she got pregnant at sixteen years old and missed out on many aspects of life.
She doesn't want the same thing for Rory, which causes her to diligently assert herself into Rory's life whenever she suspects that Rory is veering anywhere near that direction. Unfortunately, this obsession causes her to lose sight of the fact that Rory is not her, and that she is therefor projecting her fears onto Rory.
Perfection: Adoration
One of the best things about watching Rory and Lorelai is experiencing their adoration for each other. Each truly respects and ires the other, and they aren't afraid to say it. In many films and series, the audience is faced with people who very much love those close to them but don't know how to say it, or keep it locked up inside out of insecurity.
There is no such problem with the Gilmore girls--unless one considers Emily and Lorelai, but that's a whole other story.
Flaw: Mother as Friend
By constantly acting like she is Rory's equal, Rory ends up cultivating an attitude of entitlement. Their friendship allows for honesty, but it also leads to confusion. There are times when Rory over-steps and takes her mother for granted, forgetting that she is not just her friend, she is also the person who takes care of her.
There are also times when Lorelai will suddenly shut off from Rory and tell her to leave her alone because she's a kid, which is a cruel contrast to the dynamic Rory is made used to.
Perfection: Honesty
For better or worse, Lorelai and Rory are nearly always honest with one another. The results of this range from making them closer, reinforcing their loyalty to one another, to making them fall out. If one doesn't approve of what the other is doing, they will say it.
For example, when Rory drops out of college, Lorelai voices her adamant opposition to the decision, resulting in a long feud between them. But any good relationship features falling out sometimes because it can be the advice that is hard to hear that is most important. The Gilmore girls may fall out, but they always find each other again.