Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) might be a bit of a loner on Gilmore Girls… but in a good way. She would be happier sitting under her favorite Stars Hollow tree with a good book than at a fancy party (and she even brings novels to a party, which is one of her quirks). She does have some close relationships along the way, though, and not just romantic ones. Rory has two best friends over the seven seasons of the show: Lane Kim (Keiko Agena) and Paris Geller (Lisa Weil).
Let’s compare the friendships that Rory shares with Lane and Paris, who are very different from each other. Here are five reasons that Lane and Rory are definitely friendship goals on Gilmore Girls, along with five reasons that she and Paris have a better friendship.
Lane And Rory: They’ve Been Friends Forever
The fact that Lane and Rory have been friends forever cements their friendship goals status. It sounds like they were adorable when they were kids and they’ve been hanging out together ever since.
Rory and Paris are pretty suspicious of each other at first, and they just haven’t known each other long enough to know that they’re actually good people. It’s a lot easier for Lane and Rory.
Paris And Rory: They Have A Lot In Common
Paris and Rory are friendship goals because they have a lot in common. For one thing, they both have super ambitious personalities that allow them to reach for the stars and make things happen.
Lane is a smart person who dreams of making it with her band, but she’s not as interested in school and studying as Rory and Paris are. It’s nice that Rory and Paris share this common interest in academia.
Lane And Rory: They’re Always There For Each Other Without Judgement Or Too Much Jealousy
Lane and Rory are always there for each other, even when Rory leaves Stars Hollow High and starts attending Chilton. It would be easy for Lane to be angry and say that if Rory was a real friend, she wouldn’t want to go to a different school. Lane is supportive, and that counts for a lot.
They also don’t judge each other for the decisions that they make. Even when Lane admits that she feels left out because Rory has been dating Dean (Jared Padalecki) and is super busy with her new school, she tells Rory about it and they work it out. It’s a model for how best friends should act.
Paris And Rory: They Go To Yale And Experience College Life Together
While Rory and Lane are definitely good friends, they don’t share one important life experience: going away to college together. It’s a bit of a surprise that both Rory and Paris end up at Yale since Paris had always been hell-bent on going to Harvard, which caused a bit of tension between the two of them.
But it’s actually a good thing that these characters go to the same school, and the fact that they can bond over this new change in their lives really deepens their relationship. Rory also helps Paris when Asher (Michael York) dies and figures out what to do when everyone at the Yale Daily News fires Paris as editor.
Lane And Rory: Lorelai Is Like A Second Mother To Lane
Lorelai Gilmore is one of the greatest characters on this show (and on TV in general), and Lane really appreciates her wisdom and experience. The fact that Lorelai is like a second mom to Lane is one reason that Lane and Rory are friendship goals. It definitely feels like Lane and Rory are a family at this point.
While Lane has to hide her true interests (most importantly, her love of music, but also her desire to wear regular teenage clothing) from her own mother, she can let loose and be herself with Lorelai. She even runs to Rory and Lorelai’s house in the season one episode “Love and War and Snow” when she awkwardly touches a boy’s hair that she has a crush on.
Paris And Rory: They Go From Competitors to Pals, Which Is Interesting
At first, it seems impossible to imagine Paris and Rory becoming any friends at all, let alone as close as they become. When Rory arrives at Chilton in the first season, Paris is incredibly threatened by her intelligence and determination to do well in school. She wants to make Rory miserable, even giving her a terrible assignment at the school paper (which Rory rocks, naturally).
It’s interesting to see Paris and Rory go from competitors to pals, and that is one reason that they have a really special friendship. They’re able to move past their conflict and differences and support each other.
Lane And Rory: They Encourage Each Other To Leave Their Comfort Zones
Whether Rory is trying hard at Chilton or Lane is crushing on Henry (Eddie Shin) or Dave (Adam Brody), the two friends encourage each other to go for it.
They want each other to leave their comfort zones, and they’re always cheering each other on. This is really nice to see, especially since they both have such different personalities.
Paris And Rory: They’re Always On The Same Page And Help Each Other Become More Confident
The best Paris/Rory episode is arguably season one’s “Concert Interruptus” when Lorelai, Sookie, Paris, Rory, Madeline (Shelly Cole) and Louise (Teal Readman) go to a Bangles concert. While Madeline and Louise are more interested in talking to boys than the actual concert, Paris and Rory are totally on the same page. They don’t want to put themselves in an uncomfortable or even dangerous situation.
As they become friends, they help each other become more confident, and this is really good for both of them.
Lane And Rory: They Stay Friends Even Through Different Stages
When Lane gets pregnant (with twins) and marries Zach (Todd Lowe), it’s definitely tough for Rory to relate. She never gets to that point, even with the Netflix revival, and yet she’s still friends with Lane throughout it all.
A lot of friendships fail when one person gets married or has kids or makes any kind of change in their lives, from becoming healthier to getting a new job. It can be too much change and it can shift the dynamic. That never happens for Rory and Lane.
Paris And Rory: They Each Are Hesitant To Let New People In, So They Help Each Other Become More Social
Rory isn’t necessarily an unfriendly person, but she’s not the life of the party or willing to make small talk with a stranger. Her friendship with Paris helps her become more social and more open to meeting new people.
Paris and Rory are both hesitant to let new people in and they don’t have a huge friend group. But because of the bond that they start building at Chilton, Rory forms some new friendships at Yale, and Paris is even able to start having romantic relationships after being closed off to love.
