the reason rory can’t take criticism is because everyone in her family treats her like she’s a god, and they always defend her actions no matter what

Ngl Rory kinda showed what almost every gifted child goes through. They get praised as a child for their intelligence but then they grow up and either burnout or end up being average. I’m not saying average is a bad it’s just to them it’s a bad thing.

Richard's reaction when he sees how Rory is flourishing by being praised on stage at the end, shows incredible acting talent on his part. You can literally see the moment he realizes where things went wrong.

After rewatching the show countless times I also like to compare Paris and Rory. Paris always worked hard and never let her guard down. She always seemed to overprepare but guess what she ended up successful while Rory didn't prepare much at all. Doesn't matter that Rory got into Harvard and Paris didn't. Paris said she needed Rory to be her competition and motivate her, but Paris actually pushed Rory a lot as well. I think that once Rory and Paris separated ways, Rory didn't have that person to push her to work hard anymore. Everyone else just says "you'll get it you're amazing" but Paris is the one who tells her the truth - you have to apply for many different jobs and companies, have backup plans, and even back in Chilton when she told her you need extracurriculars. Anyway I love Paris she's a great friend to Rory towards the end.

It’s funny because Rory was the one who was supposed to succeed but she didn’t when Lorelai excelled without a super fancy education and Emily and Richard never noticed it’s kinda sad

She's the exact definition of "peaked in highschool"

“If she’s got what it takes she’ll bounce back.” That exactly. As much as I love Rory, her aspirations were never tested, the road was so well paved for her that she couldn’t bounce back from criticism.

This scene is just fantastic. You can hate the events that happen in Gilmore Girls, you can hate what becomes of Rory, you can hate the actions certain characters take, but you can never say that this show isn’t depicting reality. It’s so real. What is happening to Rory is so damn real. What Richard is feeling is so real. It’s things that all young people have to go through and all older people have to realize and I’m glad that the show chose to tackle these things head on, no matter how unpopular it was!

Rory’s character really shows the importance of teaching kids a growth mindset. If you raise your kids giving them rewards for getting A’s without even studying, constantly calling them naturally smart, talented, and perfect, they’ll crumble whenever they face criticism or something doesn’t come easily to them. Instead, reward your kids for effort. Praise them for being hard workers and dedicated people through the things they decide to do, and teach them that when they fail or face adversity it’s not an excuse to stop working hard. Even if something doesn’t come easily, they still have the power to succeed at it. That way, their ego and self confidence don’t shatter as soon as someone puts them down. Because Mitchum was, in some ways, right. He said, “if she’s really got it, she’ll bounce back.” He was testing her to see if she’d keep going when facing adversity. But she didn’t. Because she’d never been taught to deal with something that didn’t come easily to her.

Mitchum is right though. If she got what it takes, she'll bounce back. But she didn't. Rory was so used to being praised by the people around her that one criticism destroyed her

It’s heartbreaking that Richard Gilmore’s actor is gone now, I really respect his role in the series 🥺

When I rewatch Rory's college journey up until she drops out you can see the building blocks... it's not just that Mitchum told her she "didn't have it", it was everything that happened leading up to it. She got to college and had multiple hits ot her confidence - that guy she asked out rejecting her, not being able to keep up academically, not really stading out there - at Yale she was just another student. Her homesickness and lack of a love life leading to the whole disatser with her now married ex-boyfriend - then the whole confusing up-and-down relationship with Logan. I think by the time the Huntzbergers told her she was common trash that could never marry into their family - followed quickly by Daddy Huntzberger telling her she could never be a journalist but was more suited to being a secretary... it sent her into a spiral. Everything she thought about herself going into college had been challenged, and now the one last thing she felt certain of was crushed too. I could see how she would just say screw it and walk away in a moment of weakness. I think at that point she didn't even know who she was anymore.

Rory couldve excelled at any other field, journalism never fit.

I feel like Rory flopped because she got everything she wanted from the supporting cast and they all put her on a pedestal. And she had high expectations and thought she would float through life like she did before. I agree they should’ve encouraged her and her intelligence but not inflated her ego. I feel like if that didn’t happen she would know how to stick it out and learn how to work hard to get opportunities.

As a gifted child who is now an adult who burned out before her senior year I still cry when I am criticized. I’m working on it but when you are told growing up you are either right or wrong and there is no in between, than being wrong hits so much harder. I feel for Rory, it’s not her fault her family raised her to rely on the attention and approval of others.

Richard and Emily got a taste of their own medicine. They treated dean as if he wasn’t good enough for Rory and when the exact same thing happened to Rory, they can’t take it.

One thing that always bothered me was when Lorelai would defend Rory by saying, “She’s the sweetest kid in the world! She would never hurt anyone!” I feel like that lead her to be the opposite, especially in relationships. She seems like the person to always do the morally right thing, but then she cheats on every relation she’s ever had, either with them or on them. Her whole family lead her to believe she could go through life with no trials and only the way she wanted to. That truly lead to her downfall.

The main issue I have with Mitchum is he didn’t just criticize Rory. If he criticized her, then that would be pointing out one of her weaknesses so she can improve on it. But instead he chose to completely degrade her. Saying she’s not good enough but then not telling her why she wasn’t good enough, even going as far as to say she’s make a good secretary to someone. Richard was 100% correct in saying Mitchum crushed Rory

To me, Rory’s story drives home how important it is to teach kids how to fail. You’re not going to be good at all the things you like, sometimes hard work will not pay off, and it absolutely sucks but it does happen. I don’t believe in “tough love” as the way to raise a kid, but I do believe in making sure they understand the differences between achieving and not.

Three things I learned from watching Gilmore Girls: 1. Offer love and support but don't tell a child he/she is perfect and can do no wrong 2. Let your child fight his/her own battles and face consequences 3. Never tell your child there is only one path to success or happiness.

The most beautiful thing about this series is the twist that Mitchum was 100% right. And of course he was. He’s a professional.

When Mitchum said she didn’t have what it takes, he didn’t mean that she wasn’t a good writer, he meant that she did not have the emotional stability required for the job. And he was right. edit: After one year of this comment i come to say… MOMMY IM FAMOUS

You guys can't blame Lorelai's parenting for the way Rory turned out. Lorelai - like any other parent - defended her daughter to everyone because she is a MOTHER. But please remember that Lorelai is never afraid to cal Rory out when she's done wrong (eg. the time she lost her virginity). However it is Richard and Emily Gilmore who try and erase her mistakes with money and/or shelter her and give her privilege even when she doesn't deserve it...making her totally unprepared for criticism.

I think Rory and her development, or lack thereof, is really interesting. Often I think about the comparison between Paris and Rory. Rory, although hard working, was never criticised; shes the perfect example of a "gifted kid". I think a good example of the treatment she was given is when Rory and Jess got into that car accident, Lorelai refused to accept that Rory was partially responsible. Rory was taught that she could do no wrong, and everything she did and said was perfect. Now, I think there seems to be a narrative in the comments that Rory was a "bad journalist" specifically because of what Mitchum said here. But then we're disregarding her experience within the Chilton newspaper in which on her first assignment she persevered and wrote a brilliant piece on an otherwise utterly boring topic. I don't think she was a bad journalist, I think she never learnt how to be a great journalist. She never improved beyond that level because nobody ever taught her how to improve, because shes Rory so what is there to improve? But then also on Mitchum, I don't think Mitchum was entirely correct here. His "criticism" was highly degrading and condescending, I think he was correct in not coddling Rory, but he should've told her what she could improve on, how, things that are beneficial! Instead he told her she'd be a good receptionist, which comes off misogynistic to be quite honest. But back to the comparison between Paris and Rory, Paris was rich but she didn't have half the emotional support system Rory did. That girl worked for everything she had and she was unapologetically ambitious for the insanely high standards she created for herself. And yet despite her efforts, Paris continuously failed to achieve what she really wanted. She didn't get Valedictorian, she didn't get into Harvard and in "A Year In The Life" we see that she is divorced and unhappy, unable to continue the career she had strived for. Paris to me always seemed like the one who really deserved the opportunities in education Rory got.

The look on Richard’s face when Rory starts crying. Like “Oh shit. Emotion.”

Honestly, most people don't like the turn that Rory took at this point, but it resonates so much with me. As a gifted kid, I was always praised for everything I do from the age of three, and I still am, to the point that I don't know how to react when something goes wrong or I do badly. I was criticized so little as a kid that I never learned how to improve my skills in various factors, and now I don't know how to react when people negatively view the things I do. It's so interesting to see a character deal with this on television, and how much it aligns with my issues.

And whenever Rory did something obscene, such as party like a spoiled rich girl, or steal a yacht, people would always say: "Oh she's not one of those girls!" when it is incredibly clear that she is.

Angry Richard is always so satisfying to watch, its like Luke when he's ranting, the level of love and passion he exudes while being furiously defensive of his family is amazing

I always hated how much they coddled Rory. That guy was right, this is business, and you either have it or you don't. Why is it ok for them to be forward with everyone *but* Rory? If she can't take criticism and dust herself off and bounce back, then she shouldn't be in the business period.

I'm glad I found this clip, because it really shows the utter disappointment and guilt on Richard's face. In his heart he knew Lorelei was right all along. #TooLitteTooLate

To me, Mitchum's attitude with Rory was a breath of fresh air. "If she's got what it takes, she'll bounce back." He might be an asshole in general, but he's a successful one, with great business acumen. She lacks two very important things to succeed: resilience and humility. And Richard's face at the end of this scene shows very clearly that he now sees it too.

I just realized that Rory being apart of the DAR and organizing corny ass events isn’t at all surprising when you consider all the town events Stars Hollow expected her to be apart of. My memory is failing on specifics but one thing that comes to mind is in Season 4 when Taylor gets mad at her for not having time to be the “Ice Cream Queen” at his grand opening. He mentions how she’s always been apart of every other Stars Hollow function and then guilts her for prioritizing getting ready for Yale. If you pay attention, you’ll notice that Rory has always contorted herself to fit into whatever other people expect of her. She’s overly accommodating (i.e. repeatedly acquiescing to Paris’ demands, pleasing her grandparents 24/7, being a doormat for Logan, etc.) pretty much throughout the entire show. There are a few moments here and there where she stands up for herself but only when she’s been pushed over the edge. And it takes a lot for that to happen. Seems like the way Rory was raised, resulted in her unconsciously just doing whatever was most likely to get her praise in any given situation. It’s why she’s so aimless and lost in the revival. She’s in her 30s- Finally, no one’s there to tell her what to do. All throughout her teens (and 20s probably) if she received praise it was because she had done something favorable in the eyes of others. Not necessarily because she set a standard for herself and followed through on it. Yes, she was very studious and hardworking in her academics. But how much of that drive was intrinsic? And how much of it was just a fixation on what she was “supposed” to be? (I mean, didn’t Lorelai put Harvard in Rory’s head when she was 6? This narrative of a kid in the single digits being passionate about an ivy league seems off.) Those who were labeled as “gifted” or only ever praised for intelligence as children will understand what I’m saying lol. That shit will fuck you up. Your entire identity becomes about being perceived as capable and smart. Rory was never taught how to validate herself. So, yeahh… at least the writing and character arc makes sense.

It took me studying abroad in college to realize how freaking sheltered i had grown up and why i developed so much anxiety. I never got a break from school bc my parents were always pushing ivies onto me. I don’t blame them as much as i use to but in Rory’s case, Lorelai went the extreme route sheltering her daughter in a small town.

A "slight criticism" would be, "You are not behaving aggressively or assertively enough for this business," but that is not what Mitcham said. He said "You don't have it" and "You would make someone a great secretary," after Rory spent years of her life wanting to be a journalist and not knowing where to go next. Her emotional reaction was understandable, because she was blindsided. Her actions afterward were NOT. But Rory did not crumble; she polished up other talents and started working at the DAR, came back in and started running the Yale Daily News. Mitchum was right overall, but he was dealing with a student first, and should have learned to give her constructive criticism.

I think what Rory was really missing was spite. When somebody would try to crush my dreams, even if they were right, I would just keep going out of spite.

Reading these comments truly scares me- as someone who has been gifted their whole life, I am used to nothing but praise. After watching this show, I realized how very privileged I’ve been my whole life and how I might turn out one day. Especially since I want to be a journalist after college like Rory did. I know this show is obviously fictional, but it is about something that is very real for some people. This realization has changed the whole way I look at my life. Ever since I could remember, the only person that told myself I wasn’t good enough was my own consciousness. This truly terrifies me. What if I turn out like Rory? This show changed my perspective on my life and has rattled my brain. And even looking back on this comment, it seems stupid and useless to be worrying about a show made for entertainment years before I was even born. I know how privileged I am, to have been gifted my whole life and to be loved by everyone. But this is one of my biggest fears. If you read this far, i thank you. I will never know who read it, but I would still like to say thanks for reading about a total strangers deepest fear in the comment section on a KZfaq video. Thank you.

When I rewatch the series it’s pretty clear that Rory is a character who has never really been rejected and has always been given love and praise by people. Everyone in stars hollow loves her, all of the boys she’s ever liked have been enamored with her and with some small exceptions she has always achieved academically. I think being told that she isn’t cut out for a career she wanted was crushing for her. But tbh most people who pursue their career or a goal have been told by people that they aren’t cut out for what they’ve been striving for. By their families, friends, and bosses etc. Mitchum’s singular opinion (although the opinion of someone highly regarded) shouldn’t have destroyed Rory’s drive and motivation so much. Mitchum was obviously an ass about it but tbh people in position of power and wealth like him are rarely kind or thoughtful of other people’s feelings. It’s obvious by looking at Logan and his family that Mitchum is probably not much kinder to them either. And if you want to excel at any career you have to deal with a lot of people rejecting you/doubting your abilities when you start out. It’s your job to prove them wrong. And with her actions afterwards Rory proved him right.

Missed out Emily destroying Shira, iconic.

that is acting, the last scene when we can see the pain and regret in the eyes of richard.. rest in peace amazing Edward Herrmann

The writers said they wanted her story and everyone’s story to be about life giving you curveballs. Rory ending up pregnant and lost sums it up perfectly. Life often repeats itself in some form

Yes Rory is a writer not a journalist

Mitchum actually didn't do anything wrong. He told her what he believed to be the truth about her (ultimately he was right). That's how life goes sometimes. We are told we aren't cut out for something we want, we dont get the job we want, we fail. Rory did it to the ballerina and Richard literally said he did her a favor, mitchum said he did what richard would do meaning Richard has done it too. It's only bad because it's perfect little Rory getting a dose of reality

the problem is that they always expected too much from rory, always calling her perfect, a prodigy, an angel. but it represented too much pressure to her to succeed and not fail, so when she does makes mistakes she feels like she’ll be a disappointment. many people in real life end up developing mental problems bcuz of that, such as depression, anxiety, procrastination (because they tend to be real perfectionists) and the need to please everyone else, but themselves. it sucks :/

Oh my gosh, Richard comforting Rory made me bawl my eyes out! My grandfather passed away a few months ago, he was my father figure, and was there for me more than my real dad. Don’t even get me started on the a year in the life!

Rorys story really scares me because I relate to her so much. I’ve always excelled academically, would love to go into journalism or some field of writing and am about to put myself in loads of debt for an English degree. Her downfall is daunting and unsettling.

they treated her like a god and that’s why she flopped

This is the exact reaction all those kids labeled as “gifted” had when they grew up. They were taught they were naturally perfect, and when they didn’t meet that standard, it’s the end of their world

I just re-watched this series last year and felt so many emotions, emotions that I don't think I had the first time around. Was really a good show and resonated with me so much in my own life.

i feel so sad to see his face in this final scene. its like he's seeing all his hopes and dreams for her going away as she settles to being a housewife.

There was never a man more suited to play a character than this! His ability was SO undervalued.

U can see how much love and pride Richard has for Rory the way he looked at her while on stage giving her thank u speech

I love the acting on part of Richard. You can see his face is mixed emotions, but the moment he drops his arms like that, you can read in his body language the frustration and disappointment. It's a ''Oh... I see now'' moment for him.

You can say what you want about Mitchum, but he is smart and cares for his company. If Rory was really that good he would've kept her. Richard is such a hypocrite, he did the same to Lorelai when he screwed her boyfriend Jason over in the insurance company

Honestly, Mitchum’s actor is so good at playing scuzzy characters. Mitchum, Quinn’s dad from Glee.

Richard remains my favourite till this day, even at the start when he seemed to not care as much, his character development really improves throughout and I love how he had a soft heart hidden inside and how he’s always there, through all of it. I know his heart dropped when Rory cried in his arms about failing. He’s so humble but so caring and warm hearted and it’s amazing. Rest in peace, fly high as he has passed away for awhile now. 🕊️

I've been a journalist now for nearly 10 years and what Mitchum said to Richard is one of the most accurate depictions of the industry. 'You either have it or you don't'. That's not relating to skill, necessarily, but whether you can rise up criticism and push on against the tide; something that's even more apparent in the digital age.

I think the problem is that they never treated Rory like a child growing up and they heavily neglected her by being so focused on their own lives and affairs and forgot that Rory was growing up in scenarios that led her to toxic habits (absent father- escapism through reading, disappointment mother- attempts at being ‘perfect’ put together and responsible) and through never recognizing the deeper nature of Rory’s ‘ideal’ kid persona she built all of the unhealed aspects of herself up and her lack of an emotionally fulfilling childhood led her to a really burnt out point so when we see Rory acting like a mess and not who she is its because she never actually knew who she was, she never got to. She either had ideas of who she was projected onto her (even from an earlier age ex. Lorelai wanting her to go to Harvard) or she was stunting her personal discovery through immersing herself with fictional books- even in her relationships with boys she could only present the image of who she thought she was based off of everyone else’s opinions. Aside from just her raising (mother, absent father, grandparents) she grew up in a town full of adults further propagating the problem of her unchild like childhood where there is a necessity for exploration. And she literally only had one friend from the town she grew up in who she barely even emotionally connected with. There’s just so many things that could have turned out wrong if you really look at Rorys upbringing and the things she was surrounded by/exposed to but idk if the show really means for it to be that deep this is just my two cents. She never matured because she was always made to feel like an independent grownup at a young age and then when she found out the real world doesn’t accommodate to her just because of who she is, she’s met with challenges she’s completely unprepared for.

Y’all are really out here clowning, Mitchum gave her a criticism like a boss would in the real world. Yes he was a little rude about it but that’s how the world works, Rory couldn’t take it and broke down. Which just shows the waste of a character she became afterwards. She always had someone taking care of her and the one time a rich adult wasn’t there to coddle her she withered.

The way she forced her grandpa to hear her is just show how much she needed someone to hear her out.

I love that the series showed that Lorelai was always right. Since the pilot ep she was angry with her parents and she was annoyed by them. Not only because she thought they would try to control Rory but also she knew that no one could habe raised Rory like she did. And it proved itself. Their extreme dose of attention on her caused Rory to lose her way and her goal, forget what she realşy wanted to be. I think that is a great explanation of the back story of Rory's actions. She was just a young girl and she did not know what to do.

She would be a great manager, she is organized, she is a socializer (everyone likes her) and would be great with planning things. Maybe she would be a great manager in a NGO (travelling, managing and doing good) or good business consultant (maybe for social start ups). or add a major in arts or music management.... She could even be a good teacher and share her love for literature with kids...

rory was a big fish in small pond back in Stars hollow sheltered and kept safe from the big world by the entire town .. Mitcham was the first one to tell her the hard truth she doesn't have it journalists aren't sweet little blushing girls from small town she needed sarcasm ruggedness a taste of the real world and SHE DIDN'T HAVE IT .. 2 characters in the entire show 2 people helped Rorys career Mitcham and Jess

when i watched this scene for the first time. I bawled my eyes out because it's so real. TV and movies don't do justice to the impact caused by academic or career related failure when 80% of kids and students go through it. The main leads always seem to be doing everything right and getting to all the right places etc This show hit real deep with the academic side of it and when she hugs Richard! gosh. i cried so much, it made me miss my grandparents :(

Richard was the most caring character in this show and deep down he loved Rory, no matter what she studied or did

As I grown older I now realize that they always praise Rory for her accomplishments but they never taught her to embrace and learn from her mistakes. She could have been such a strong character if her family, out of all people, taught her to her this. Instead they shamed her for not being anything but perfect, especially Lorelai

I don't want to be obnoxious, but it's killing me. it's LORELAI. not lorelay, lorelei, loreley. it's LORELAI. It's leviosa not leviosah

Me as a teen: I can’t wait to grow up and have a relationship with my kid like Lorelei and Rory! Me as an adult mother: Rory is positively INTOLERABLE and Lorelei (and Emily & Richard) made her that way, I am SO GRATEFUL my kid isn’t like that and our relationship is better than theirs!

😭😭 I remember watching this during my college years and it seemed whenever I was struggling, Rory was as well, so I felt the sadness so much harder. It’s been awhile since I’ve watched the series and I’m sure it wouldn’t be as appealing to me these days, but it sure does bring back some great memories!

This reminds me of when my PI (principle investigator) / boss at the research institute I was interning at told me that I would never be a doctor and that I don't have what it takes. Well, it took me about 6 years but I am now a 1st year medical student. If you want it, you can make it happen.

as a person myself i relate to rory at a VERY HIGH level. i was very multitalented as a kid and the pressure from people kinda pressurised me to be so perfect that i completely broke myself and i couldnt anymore

Thank you for putting the music over this, it is much more emotional that way

I honestly REALLY relate to Rory are lives aren’t one to one. But as a child I wasn’t constantly praised for being the gifted kid. Being told how mature and older I seemed and how I never really had to study for things and how I seemed older then my mom and my older sister. And how my mother told me I was her rock since I held her when she cried and how I dealt with her irresponsibility. Now where I’m at in life in college I constantly overestimate my ability for certain work, it’s hard for me to be honest about how I don’t have a good grasp on thing, and everything is just so much fucking harder. I give up so easily because I was told I was golden girl when I was little. This is why you praise kids when they put in there effort and it pays off. Reward them for working hard. If they fail teach them it’s not tied to their self worth. And don’t put the emotional labor and burden of your life on to your kids. Or you get kids like me and Rory.

What pissed me off is how they didnt even think to believe their own daughter when she told them what the huntsbergers did! the fact that they dismissed their own DAUGHTER even after Emily is like oh that can't be i loved lorelais reaction they had their chance to stand WITH her and instead they stabbed her in the back

The fact that people are hating on her “downfall” means that they expect her to be perfect in the first place. I get that people want her to be a perfect role model but she’s showing here that she also lacks a few things, like taking criticism. While i also was annoyed, I think it makes everything more interesting and obviously talked about more! The only thing that really bothers me is when she cheats with Dean.

Everything happens for a reason. She graduates anyway, becomes a journalist anyway and then goes back home pregnant and quits only to discover that she is a writer. Which is what she should have done in the first place. Sometimes we have to be crushed in order to realize our full potential. Sometimes, in order to figure ourselves out, we have to experiment and try different roads before life forces us to Fall. And that Fall is what forces us to reconsider our lives and our purpose. She wrote "Gilmore Girls", she becomes the author of Gilmore Girls and we all know how that went. And then it becomes a hit show ect ect. Rory will be fine. She needed to go through this humbling experience and the next humbling experience when she's 32. In order to discover her true purpose and reconnect with who she is actually suppose to become. It happens! God has a plan for everyone. Of course, it's just a show, but my words can be applied to real life too.

He was such a good actor

It's exactly what Carol Dweck talks about in her book "Mindset"- a child being constantly praised for their intelligence and not for their efforts and choices, end up entering a Fixed Mindset instead of developing a growth mindset. This fixed mindset results in children who could have been exceptional when they grow up ,end up being average. They don't think that they can improve because to them intelligence is what you are born with since birth and cannot be altered therefore anybody questioning that or criticizing it ends up being a limitation to them.

I wonder if the people who say that Rory in the last season was “out of character” watched the same show that I did. Rory was always selfish and self centered. Anyone remembers when she slept with dean, a married man? How she stole a yatch because she was upset? How she broke down the first time someone gave her criticism? How she pretended to be above her grandparents “snob” life when in reality she enjoyed every moment of it? (Just look at that scene where the Gilmore’s are fighting at the table, Emily mentioned how she redecorated the pool house for Rory and Rory responded by saying that she didn’t ask for it. Emily quickly shut her down by saying that Rory never told her to stop it, insinuating that she clearly liked it but wanted to pretend that she didn’t. Just one of the many examples of how Rory loved her life of privileges but would pretend that she was just some humble girl from a little town.) This is who she has always been and it’s because everyone loved her and praised her. She was handed everything and with minimal effort. Rory was never virtuous and caring. Her family failed her and coddled her all her life and they never prepared her for failure and hardships. They simply told her that she was perfect and a genius who would achieve everything. Imagine what that does to the average person, even the smartest ones, when life turns out to not revolve around them? I disliked Rory from the beginning because she was spoiled and ungrateful, just like Lorelai. Rory turned out to be an average person who was only smart and successful in school and I think we’ve all known these kids. They excel and thrive in a structured school system until they fall apart and become lost when there is no structure anymore. Outside of getting good grades and that one good article that she wrote for the school newspaper, Rory never showed any sign of extraordinary talent. Her family and those around kept telling her that she had it but she quickly learned that, outside of her little pond of echo chambers, the world would quickly let her know that she is just an overrated bookworm and not much else. She peaked in high school. Nothing wrong with being average btw, but those who live their life thinking they are special also end up falling down hard when they realize they aren’t special. Thank you for coming to my ted talk .

I really hate how some people are so quick to defend Mitchum’s actions. Don’t get me wrong, Rory did not handle the situation well but Mitchum was the exact opposite of what a mentor should be. He just gave his opinion without even talking to Rory first. If he had sat down with Rory and had an in-depth conversation about why she wants to work as a journalist and how she can grow, it is very possible that Rory’s downfall would not have happened to the extreme that it did in the revival. She could have had the encouragement to decide that she wanted to do something else with her life or adjust her vision for the future slightly. But instead, she was told that she did not have what it takes as if that was the final determination.Also in terms of her bouncing back, she did! People seem to forget that she got her act back together. She basically stalked the news paper until she got a job there and she enrolled back in school and graduated on her original timeline. A bounce back doesn’t just happen instantly. She took time off and got the chance to see what she was really drawn to. If more people were encouraged to do the same, people’s overall mental health wouldn’t be in the crapper like it is now.

I feel like Rory’s peak in high school is due to the constant praising she receives from people which not only gave her a false outlook in life but also caused her fall under pressure easily and generally feel pressured by the people who constantly praise her to be perfect

"We should have done this on the phone." This actually means: "It's easier for me to be rude, hang up on you and not have to deal with actual, human sympathy."

The fact that Rory broke after one person saying she didn't have what it takes proved Logan's dad right. She didn't have the spine for a journalism career. Rory became an entitled brat in the revival but it's not that shocking since she was so used to everyone thinking sunshine came out of her butt that she never learned how to fail and pick her self up and brush herself off from her failures.

You start watching Gilmore Girls because of the amazing relationship between Lorelai and Rory. You barely manage to finish the show (if you do in fact manage it) despite what becomes of Rory. But what you don't realise until later is just how important Richard was - the acting, his on-screen presence, the literal cinematic gravity he brought to a TV show role. This is one of those instances of Edward Herman acting well beyond what the show calls for, and elevating the show as a result.

I love this show. Everybody does their best and still things go wrong. It's a lot closer to real life than folks realize. Rory is frustrating as a character because she never gets close to reaching her phenomenal potential. Only at the end of the year in the life special does she seem to be in an emotional space to tackle something like that.

paris and mitchum both were right about rory in the end... yikes.

If she really wanted to be a great journalist she would have said fuck that guy and moved on - it really in retrospect could have been extremely helpful though hurtful in the first place. It’s sad we see in the reboot that she never did learn and still expects jobs to be handed to her without effort

This is exactly why this is a great show it’s literally life! Not everything goes as planned sometime your life is horrible the important thing is that Rory went back to school. She didn’t really learn from this experience but some people just don’t.

"And if she's got what she takes she'll bounce back!" this is so true because Mitchum's actions should have made Rory stronger and Mitchum was right. He knows best and Mitchum never meant she wasn't a good writer, he meant that she wasn't ready yet, as Richard said, she wasn't even 21.

Rory's grandparents may be the typical rich people who don't have much time and don't really deal with emotions but you can really see how much they love her

I feel like it was never right that she wanted to be a journalist. She was so smart but didn’t realize what it takes to be a one. Rory was always someone that I would describe as an introvert.

We are all crushed like this in various ways. We must all get through those events and rise above.

I'm so proud of Rory, i'm not even mad if they did her dirty and made her do her mistakes or made her fail. She's just like me. And it's fine if everyone told you you are great and the reality punched you hard. And i love that Richard and Emily never failed with Lorelai, even if they all think they did. 'Cause she grow up like a badass woman, strong and independent and most important thing, like a lovely mother who can supports her dauther like anybody else can. And i don't care if Rory can't take criticism and had to soffer a little bit, 'cause she can always come home and cry about it, 'cause shes loved and supported, and everything will be fine at some point.

Let me qout a verry smart induvidual here on yt, "You can be right, but you can be wrong on the tone of your voice". It means that what you say may be right, but if you are so ignorant as to be unable to phrase it in a kind and gentle manner you will only make people ignore you and your points as you seem harsh and crule. THis tends to put people off and thats whatr happend here. He was perhaps right, but his tone might have been wrong.

everyone is saying that rory’s character took the wrong turn but as a gifted child, i relate to her so much. her family praised her, bragged about her to their social circle and when she made a slight mistake, she was scared of them finding out and being ashamed of her since they had high expectations. the other day, i was daydreaming and not really listening to my family and my grandma asked if i was sick, mentally and/or physically. she asked me if i wanted to go to a doctor and i just had a mental breakdown for one hour. i am so tired of the pressure and i can understand what rory had to go through.

I feel like every gifted kid that grows up to be average understand her. It's not only her hopes and dreams falling apart, it's people's expectations about her as well. Gifted kids always feel they need to fulfill the expectations of those who believe in them, and it's painful when we realized we failed.

i love rory's character so much... she is such a true outcome of not always meeting parents expectations, but always trying her best.

Edward Herrmann and Kelly Bishop were so bloody brilliant in that show. Just brilliant!!!

I don't think this part was her downfall, she never had a break from school, everyone deserves and need one

I never finished watching this show but DAMN! these comment threads are amazing! What insight! Thank you to all involved :D

had a moment like this recently with my own grandfather and i am SOBBING watching this omg