Is the Venn diagram of Gilmore Girls fans and Swifties a circle? It certainly feels like it, especially in the days following the release of Swift's latest album , The Tortured Poets Department . Rory and Jess' TikTok edit, complete with some of the moodiest, bad-boy lyrics on the album, immediately popped up on my FYP. Elite Daily calls Swift "the Lorelei Gilmore of songwriters," thanks to her unparalleled knack for referencing pop culture.
Lauren Graham, who plays Lorelai, might appreciate the comparison because she's a "huge fan" of Swift's music. "She was very calm, friendly, and knew Gilmore Girls , and we had a really great conversation," said Graham, who recently met the musician.
Given that Swift's catalog and the show's canon complement each other, it would make sense if she grew up watching it. Anyway, here are 45 episodes of Gilmore Girls , told through Taylor Swift's songs.
Season 1, Episode 1: "A Place in the World"
Rory may be a precocious kid, but she's still a kid -- like during the pilot, when she decided she no longer wanted to transfer to Chilton School because of her crush on Dean. The track, written by Swift herself as a teenager, expresses the confusing ups and downs of that era in a way that Rory will resonate with.
Season 1, Episode 8: "Gold Rush"
Lane becomes so obsessed with a school band member that she impulsively runs her fingers through his hair and then runs away in shame, possibly one of the funniest moments in Gilmore Girls history. You can almost imagine a daydream song about a crush filling Swift's ears when she made this inexplicable move. “Your hair is held in place like dominoes” and it’s true!
Season 1, Episode 10: "You'll Be Better Soon"
In "Forgiveness and Stuff," Richard experiences a frightening heart event that reveals a particularly vulnerable side of Emily. "I did not consent to your death," she told him in the emergency room. "It's not happening — not tonight, and not for a long time." Her touching plea is similar to Swift's lyrics on "Soon You're Gonna Be Better," on which she The song writes about her family's experience with cancer.
Season 1, Episode 21: "That's When"
Rory tells Dean "I love you, you idiot!" and he welcomes her back with open arms, which is a perfect match for Swift's playful song about getting back together after a tough break. This is also the episode where Max proposes with his 1,000 yellow daisies - it's truly fearless coding.
Season 2, Episode 3: "Midnight Rain"
In "Red Lights," Lorelai abruptly ends her engagement to Max just days before the wedding. Luke's comments about how marriage hinders a person's ability to "grow and evolve" really scare Lorelai. She ultimately came to the conclusion that people thrive together if they're the right fit - and Max doesn't. Swift's song about running away from commitment because she's still on her own path ("He wants a bride, I'm making my own name") could be the theme song to Max and Lorelei's premature end.
Season 2, Episode 4: "Getaway Car"
Then again, this cult classic about bailing out of a failed relationship works just as well—especially when Lorelai and Rory embark on a hasty road trip that involves nothing but "go, go, go." There was no plan, as Swift said.
Season 2, Episode 5: "I Hate It Here"
When Jesse arrives in Stars Hollow, he sees the idyllic splendor of the town before him—children, families, a thriving main street—and is frankly disgusted. Swift's "Tortured Poets" song "I Hate It Here" describes a person's romantic inner world of escaping into a book to escape his surroundings. Given Jesse's status as a nerdy bad boy, this could also be his theme song.
Season 2, Episode 9: "It's Nice to Have a Friend"
At the end of "Run Away, Little Boy," Lorelai has a heart-to-heart with Luke, where she admits that she fears she'll never have one person by her side forever. "There's Rory, there's Sookie, there's this town, and...you," she said. "At least, I think I've-" Luke assured her that she had. This is one of their cutest moments, and they're not even dating yet. So Swift's airy, feel-good song about a pair of friends-turned-lovers is just right.
Season 2, Episode 13: "Sinful"
Before the kiss, Rory and Jess were very much like Jess outbidding Dean at a town basketball fundraiser for a picnic date with Rory. Rory insists to her mom that everything is above board — and as Swift says in this Tortured Poets song, "If he hadn't been touched skin, how could I commit a crime?”—but by the end of the episode, when Rory secretly calls Jesse, it’s clear she’s brewing feelings for more than just friends.
Season 2, Episode 19: "Getting Out of the Woods"
In this episode, Rory and Jesse's study date ends in a car crash, which would be a natural pairing with Swift's song about a (rumored) snowmobile accident. Both the episode and the 1989 song use the trope of an accident and an emergency room visit to make a larger point about a budding connection becoming a little too real, too fast.
Season 2, Episode 21: "Treacherous"
Another iconic moment of Jesse and Rory's flirtation was in "Lorelai's Graduation Day," when Rory skipped school and missed her mom's graduation to visit Jesse in New York. It's not a shining moment for Rory, but it embodies the youthful, impulsive, devil-may-care appeal that Swift sang about on "Treacherous."
Season 2, Episode 22: "Cruel Summer"
Rory impulsively kisses Jesse and then immediately decides she has to spend the summer in Washington, D.C. because her feelings are too strong? An absolute "Cruel Summer" act. Swift's ode to the secret early stages of love is perfect for this era of Rory and Jesse—he's the "bad bad boy," the "shiny toy with a price" that she both fears and excites.
Season 3, Episode 19: "Poltergeist"
"Keg!" ” Jesse’s disturbing behavior at the party to the max! ” leaves Rory flustered and confused. Swift’s “Speak Now,” a song about a partner who becomes an unrecognizable person, rings true here. “Come on, come on, don’t just do this Leave me alone," she sang. "I thought I knew what you meant. Something is seriously wrong. "
Season 3 Episode 21: "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart"
Rory didn't take the time to wallow in Jesse's sudden departure from Stars Hollow. Instead, she spent her final weeks in high school studying more deeply. Clearly, she has something in common with Swift, who sang about a fake-it-til-you-make-it approach to moving on in "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart." "I can hold my breath, I've been doing that since he left," she sang, going on to say she could "pass this test." So Rory!
Season 3, Episode 22: "The 1"
On graduation day, Rory took a moment to call Jesse and officially end their relationship. "I think I may have loved you, but I needed to let go," she said. For one of Gilmore Girls' most devastating lines, Swift's "The 1" from "Folklore" sums it up nicely: "But we were something, don't you think so?" ? Roaring twenties, flipping coins in the pool If my wish came true, it would be you."
Season 4, Episode 8: "Mean"
Rory's comments about a ballet dancer in the Yale Daily News in "Die, Bastard" were unnecessarily cruel, hence Swift's song about standing up to bullies. itself based on bad reviews) is a great fit.
Season 4, Episode 13: "Back to December"
This is the first time Rory has come face to face with Jesse since he suddenly left Starry Sky Town. He deeply regrets the way he left, but all he can muster is a painful "I love you." Like Swift's confessional song about breaking good people's hearts in "Back to December," Jesse knows he can't undo any damage, but he has to get it out anyway.
Season 4, Episode 14: "Archer"
During her first year at Yale, Rory struggles to balance a rigorous course load and being away from her mom for the first time, and those worries spill over into Dean's arms, where Rory tells him "everything's falling apart." Her worries are reminiscent of Swift’s anxieties on “Archer,” especially the devastating “They See Through Me.”
Season 4, Episode 15: "Just Bear With It"
One of Gilmore Girls ' most silently devastating moments comes in the "mall scene," when Emily goes on a shopping spree to make herself feel better about Richard being more focused on his business than she is. He apparently didn't give Emily's contribution much thought when she got home and asked him if he liked the new glass apples she bought. Swift said she laid out the fancy items on the table and watched him live with it.
Season 4, Episode 8: "Florida!!!"
"It's warm in Florida," Paris tells Rory in Season 4, suggesting they spend spring break in the Sunshine State. The trip proved to be a transformative one - they drank, partied, and kissed! --Swift and Florence Welch's "Florida!" ! ! ” duet, in which they sing about the country being “a hell of a drug,” feels fitting.
Season 4, Episode 20: "The Manuscript"
In Season 4, Paris begins to question her romance with Professor Arthur Fleming when a medical emergency makes her realize the vast age gap between the two. In the song, Swift recounts a relationship in which her older partner assured her that everything was "above board," bringing to mind the star-crossed couple.
Season 4, Episode 21: "Dawn"
Luke asks Lorelai to dance at his sister's wedding, which is a big move for him. If ever a sweet episode called for a Swiftie touch, it's "Daylight" — the Lover song about embracing a comforting love in a past "burning red" relationship. The song itself is like a healing hug, so it feels right at home in an episode where Luke and Lorelai realize just how safe they are as they waltz together.
Season 4, Episode 22: "Snow on the Beach"
Yes, Rory and Dean slept together, and Gilmore Girls season 4 ended on a nasty cliffhanger. But among all the drama, it's easy to forget that this episode also featured Luke and Lorelai's first kiss. "Snow on the Beach" is about the thrilling discovery that it doesn't take long for the person you love to return your affection, which is exactly what happens when Luke and Lorelai kiss outside the newly opened Dragonfly Inn .
Season 5, Episode 1: "Our Song"
Swift's meta-debut upbeat song follows a young couple's search for a personal anthem? Yes, that's exactly what Dean and Rory did in Season 5's awkward opening scene, choosing "Candyman" as their special song before Lorelai interrupted the moment.
Season 5, Episode 3: "Cowboy Like Me"
Luke and Lorelai are two fiercely independent people who find comfort in each other, so much so that they've become Gilmore Girls' resident "Cowboy Like Me" couple . But this episode from Season 5 is particularly fitting for the song "Evermore." Not only do they have their first date in a vaguely Western-themed restaurant, but Luke uses poker terminology ("go all out") to describe his commitment to Lorelai, which is a nod to Swift's imaginary partner. Echoing, his love is a costly gamble.
Season 5, Episode 4: "This is the Damn Season"
Considering the damage done by Rory and Dean's affair, it only makes sense that they would later try to pursue a real relationship, but recapturing the magic of high school sweethearts is easier said than done. As Swift sings in her nostalgic ode to her hometown hookup, "I was living in my parents' house, and the road not taken is looking really good now." As her first real A boyfriend and a symbol of simpler times, he was probably "the warmest bed [she] has ever known." But alas, you really can't go home again.
Season 5, Episode 7: "Possessed"
"You jump, I jump, Jack" was the beginning of a new era for Rory. It's her first real introduction to the charming and mysterious Logan, who welcomes her into his luxurious world with a gorgeous ball gown and umbrella stunt that makes her feel like she's floating on air. The fairytale feel of Tangled is perfect for the beginning of Rory and Logan’s whirlwind love story.
Season 5, Episode 9: "The Way I Love You"
This fearless ode to the triumph of chaotic love over a perfect relationship on paper is often associated with the love triangle of Rory, Jesse and Dean. But it’s also a perfect fit for Richard and Emily. In season five, the couple's simmering resentment culminated in a attempted separation and Emily dated someone new. But after the handsome bachelor walked Emily to her front door, she walked inside and burst into tears. he's good! But he's not Richard.
Season 5, Episode 14: "Hits Different"
This is Luke and Lorelai's first major breakup. Despite her experience with the split, she struggled to come to terms with this one - having nightmares, sobbing in bed, leaving Luke a worrying voicemail that left her so ashamed that she broke into his home and took him away. delete. However, when Swift sings, it hits differently because it's him.
Season 5, Episode 16: "Afterglow"
Luckily, the breakup didn't last long—two episodes later, Luke walked over to Lorelai's house, picked her up, and kissed her passionately. This stunning gesture doesn't require any dialogue to convey the message, but if Luke ever wanted a backup script, Afterglow has him covered. "Hey, it's all me, in my head," Swift sings. "I'm the one who burned us down. But that's not what I meant."
Season 5, Episode 18: "Now That We're Not Talking"
In "Be and Let Peep Show," Rory, Paris, and Ryan hang out in Starfield commiserating about their respective romantic problems. “Logan and I had a good two weeks being hot and heavy and then started talking about voicemails and then cricket,” Rory said. Swift's song about communication growing cold after a brief but passionate relationship is perfect for Rory and Logan's era, with "I Called My Mom and She Said It Was the Best" particularly relatable. Remembering Rory crying in Lorelai's lap at the end of the song. The plot of the.
Season 5, Episode 22: "This Is What I'm Trying"
The folk song could become an anthem for Rory's fight with Lorelai and her dropout in the Season 5 finale. The lyrics about wasted potential (especially "I'm so ahead of the curve, the curve becomes a sphere") match Rory's sense of aimlessness. “When I’m angry, my words kill me” matches her conversation with Lorelai a few scenes later, when she tells her mom, “You didn’t go to college, so you don’t understand.” Ouch.
Season 6, Episode 8: "Style"
Like the couple in Swift's 1989 song, Rory and Jesse already had a relationship when they met on "Let Me Hear Your Balalaika Ring" (aka "Why Did You Drop Out of Yale?") There was no time to speak. episode. But what Rory hears is because they know each other so well - "We'll never grow old," Swift sings When Jesse urges her to return to her true self. (It doesn’t hurt that he does have a James Dean daydream look in his eyes.)
Season 6, Episode 15: "You're Losing Me"
The midnight- era song describes a relationship falling apart before Swift's eyes as she pleads with her partner to do things to no avail. It chronicles Luke and Lorelai's breakdown in communication after Season 6 arrives in April, with Lorelai thinking a weekend getaway might help her reconnect with Luke. Sadly, his grumpy attitude dashed her hopes and he missed nearly every opportunity to restore her faith in the future.
Season 6, Episode 16: "Baby"
When Rory started seeing Logan, she was already involved in some infidelities, but when he uttered the Ross Geller-esque "We broke up" in season six, she was interested in being on the other side of things. Not excited. Swift's line "I kept imagining her hands on your neck and I couldn't ignore it" parallels how Rory felt hearing about his hookup from those women - the bridesmaids at his sister's wedding. echo.
Season 6, Episode 18: "Sweeter than Fiction"
"Sweeter Than Fiction" is Swift's underrated bop song about believing in the ones you love and watching them soar, which also applies to Rory and Luke visiting Jay at his publishing house in Philadelphia West's story. They might be the only two people who truly understand what he's capable of, so seeing them celebrate his success ("You'd be standing there, 10 feet tall, I'd say I always knew it," Swift sings) is a Kind of a Gilmore Girls special moment.
Season 6, Episode 22: "Goodbye, London"
There's no shortage of breakup songs in the tortured poet's department , but "London Goodbye" - the heartbreaking book-end to "London Boys" - may be one of the most devastating songs in Swift's canon. Her song talks about the final stages of a relationship, particularly fitting in with Lorelai's Season 6 ultimatum about getting married. "You swore you loved me, but where were the clues? I died at the altar waiting for the proof," Swift sings.
Season 7, Episode 1: "Come Back...Here"
If Rory were a Swiftie, you know she'd be crying "back...here" after Logan moved to London.
Season 7, Episode 7: "Paris"
You might think that "Paris" was chosen because the plot of season seven takes place there. And, well, you're right! But the playful Midnight song is also an ode to escapist fantasy, a love bubble that keeps out anything that might get in the way of the good vibes. When "The French Twist" is revisited through this lens, it becomes clear why Lorelai acquiesces to Chris's hasty Paris proposal: Rory and Stars Hollow will make her realize it's a very bad idea.
Season 7, Episode 11: "Should've Been"
If anyone on "Gilmore Girls" has the right to belt out Swift's angriest songs, it's Lane. Sure, the specific lyrics about past relationships may not apply to her, but she'll definitely resonate with the song's themes of " Midnights," which are regrets and disappointments at a young age when life takes a turn. After all, an amazing rock and roll career was the plan. But becoming a mother after having sex for the first time? not at all.
Season 7, Episode 21: "The Champagne Problem"
Swift's song about turning down a proposal would fit perfectly with Rory and Logan in the penultimate episode of Gilmore Girls . The song is about college sweethearts ("This dorm used to be a madhouse"), and the title itself evokes Logan's lavish lifestyle. But most of all, the line "Sometimes you just don't know the answer until someone drops to their knees and asks you" is so down to earth. As she told Logan, she had indeed considered marriage before—in theory. "That was always a really nice idea. But it was always hypothetical."
A Year in the Life, Episode 1: "Marjorie"
Swift's beautiful ode to her late grandmother was a perfect fit for the "Winter" episode of A Year in the Life, which spent a lot of time honoring Richard, played by the late Edward Herrmann.
A Year in the Life, Episode 2: "Nothing New"
In "Spring," Rory reluctantly takes a job at an emerging media company, only to discover she's not what they're looking for. Face to face with a reporter who represents a new era, it's easy to imagine songs like "Nothing New" ringing in Rory's ears, reminding her that she, too, was once on the verge of changing her career.
A Year in the Life, Episode 3: "Dorothea"
In the "Summer" episode of A Year in the Life , Rory repeatedly tells the people of Starfield that she's "not back" and is just visiting. To do otherwise would be to admit that her life and career were not as successful as she thought they should be. As Swift sings in the wistful "Evermore ," "This place is the same as before. But you don't like it."
A Year in the Life, Episode 4: "Everything's Fine"
While "All Too Well" may be about a breakup, it's also about memory—the way a crisp autumn day can transport you back to a completely different time and place. Like Swift saying "I want to be my old self again, but I'm still trying to find it," Rory feels lost and hopes to tap into her book-loving teenage self by writing a book of her own. Meanwhile, Jesse assures Luke that he's "missed" Rory, but the longing look in his eyes shows he's all too aware of their love.
