Gilmore Girlswas one of the most culture-defining shows of the 2000s, but two A-listers of the decade both abruptly left the series. A big part of the series was the main characters' love lives, and though it was always clear that Luke and Lorelai were endgame, it was an ongoing debate as towho Rory should end up with, with viewers fiercely in the camp of Team Dean, Team Jess, or Team Logan.
This, of course, turnedGilmore GirlsactorsJared Padalecki, Milo Ventimiglia, and Matt Czuchry into three of Hollywood’s biggest heartthrobs, but they weren’t alone. Several other 2000s shows aimed at teens featured young, attractive stars whom fans couldn’t get enough of. Two of the most popular were teen drama seriesOne Tree HillandThe O.C.In addition to their success, both of these shows featured actors who had prominent roles inGilmore Girls.
They Went On To Star In One Tree Hill & The O.C.
OnGilmore Girls,Chad Michael Murray played Tristin DuGray, a cocky rich kid at Chilton Prepand an early antagonist of Rory’s. Though he frequently teased her, giving her the unflattering nickname “Mary”, it was clear that Tristin carried a torch for the youngest Gilmore.
It looked like Tristin could have had a bigger role on the show, but when he was abruptly shipped off to military school, it raised a few eyebrows.Murray revealed on theI Am All In with Scott Pattersonpodcast that he decided to leave because more acting opportunities became available. Shortly after hisGilmore Girlsdeparture, the acyor bookedOne Tree Hill.Murray would play Lucas Scott for six seasonsof the show, and he became one of TV’s biggest stars in the process.
Just like Dave, the actor left for California, as he was cast to play Seth Cohen onThe O.C.
Another 2000s television icon isAdam Brody, who played Lane’s love interest, Dave Rygalski, inGilmore Girlsseason 3. Though many of us may disagree withBrody’s assessment that Dave wasn’t Lane’s boyfriend, he became a fan-favorite character for how doting and caring he was to her. However, Brody’s time onGilmore Girlswas cut short. Just like Dave, the actor left for California, as he was cast to play Seth Cohen onThe O.C.
Last Episode
Season 3, Episode 20, “Say Goodnight, Gracie”
Though Seth was meant to be the nerdy character whose attractiveness paled in comparison to bad boy Ryan Atwood’s, fans locked onto Seth’s sweet, dorky personality. Brody has taken this onscreen persona to the bank, and he will use it again inNobody Wants Thisseason 2, which will see him reprise his role as Noah “Hot Rabbi” Roklov.
Their Relationship Could Have Caused Trouble For Her & Dean
Enemies-to-lovers romances can be full of red flags because nobody wants a likable heroine to date a jerk. Tristin certainly was that when we first met him onGilmore Girls, but over time, he softened a bit. A big reason for this is because he legitimately had feelings for Rory and realized he wasn’t going to impress her with his good looks and money.
It looks likeRory was starting to like Tristin too, and if he wasn’t sent away, it felt likeGilmore Girlswould have explored a potential romance between them. This would have caused huge problems with her boyfriend at the time, Dean, who was already wary of Tristin.
It would have been very interesting to see Tristin have to contend with Jess.
Honestly, that would have been perfect because we could have explored the whole storyline of Dean being threatened by privileged men in Rory’s life long before Logan arrived on the scene. Then we wouldn’t have been forced to watch it play out in season 5 when Dean had long since served his purpose and was dragging the show down. Plus, it would have been very interesting to see Tristin have to contend with Jess.
Lane Deserved Her Happily Ever After With Brody’s David
Her Awful Gilmore Girls Ending Is A Crime
Chad Michael Murray was great onGilmore Girls, but the loss of Adam Brody is the real heartbreak. With renewed interest in the actor afterNobody Wants Thisblew up, so did Dave Rygalski on social media. There are myriadTikTokvideos singing Dave’s praises for being “the standard”, and comparing him favorably to other romantic heroes like Ryan Gosling’s Noah Calhoun inThe Notebook. Much of this stems fromthe storyline in which Dave read the Bible in one night in an effort to appease Lane’s mom and get her blessing for him to take Lane to prom.
It was with Dave that Lane finally got the storyline she deserved, as previously she had been nothing more than Rory’s annoying sidekick. But when Dave left, so did Lane’s chance at a decentGilmore Girlsending. Sure, it was fun watching her come into her own as she toured with her band, but having her end up with the immature Zach just reminded us of her superior relationship with Dave.
What’s worse is that she got pregnant with twins after the first time she had sex. It almost seemed likeGilmore Girlswas punishing her when they should have given her a superior partner. If asecondGilmore Girlsrevival ever happens, I’m holding out hope for a Lane and Dave reunion.
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In the fictional town of Star’s Hollow, single mother Lorelai Gilmore raises her high-achieving teenage daughter Rory. Mother and daughter rely on each other throughout their own life changes, romantic entanglements, and friendships.
Set in the fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina, One Tree Hill chronicles the complicated and intertwined lives of its residents. Following half-brothers and rivals Lucas and Nathan Scott as they compete both for positions on their school basketball team and for the affection of their fellow students, Tree Hill’s community is built around community spirit and the complex workings of the ever-growing Scott family.
When troubled teen Ryan (Benjamin McKenzie) is taken in by his public defender (Peter Gallagher), he suddenly finds himself on the right side of the tracks. The O.C. follows as Ryan tries his best to fit into the affluent California community while navigating the relentless drama of teen life, but his new home of Newport Beach is a town filled to the brim with secrets and scandal.
