Season 1

#1 Pilot Episode (Oct 5, 2000)
Lorelai, a free-spirited single mom, tries to raise her 16-year-old daughter on her own. First up: Lorelai begrudgingly turns to her parents for financial help after daughter Rory is accepted at a pricey private school. Lorelai's parents agree to help — but at a price.

#2 The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton (Oct. 12, 2000)
Lorelai oversleeps on the morning of Rory's first day at Chilton. The hurried woman dresses in casual clothes, only to find her own mother waiting in the headmaster's office. Lorelai's attire draws sharp criticism from the elder Gilmore, and dirty looks from the other students' parents.

#3 Kill me Now (Oct 19, 2000)
Emily badgers Richard into taking Rory to their country club for golf lessons after the grandparents learn Rory's required to join a school sports team. Meanwhile, Lorelai oversees the double wedding of a set of spoiled twin brides.

#4 Deer-Hunters (Oct 26, 2000)
Emily badgers Richard into taking Rory to their country club for golf lessons after the grandparents learn Rory's required to join a school sports team. Meanwhile, Lorelai oversees the double wedding of a set of spoiled twin brides.

#5 Cinnamon's Wake (Nov 2, 2000)
Rory has an embarrassing encounter with Dean on a bus ride to school. Lorelai is courted by Rory's English teacher, who asks her out during a bake sale at Chilton. At the inn, Michel deals with an enthusiastic group of French clients.

#6 Rory's Birthday Parties (Nov 9, 2000)
Emily insists that Rory's birthday party takes place at the elder Gilmores' home and then asks Lorelai for help in finding a special gift for her granddaughter. But Rory is horrified to discover her grandmother sent party invitations to her classmates.

#7 Kiss and Tell (Nov 16, 2000)
Dean kisses Rory for the first time and the girl is hesitant about telling her mother, only to have Lane's mom spill the beans when Lorelai stops by the furniture shop to pick up a rocking chair. Elsewhere, the townsfolk pester Luke when he refuses to decorate the coffee shop for Thanksgiving.

#8 Love and War and Snow (Dec 14, 2000)
Rory spends the night at her grandparents' house during a snowstorm that strands Lorelai in Stars Hollow and keeps her from attending the weekly dinner. Luke bemoans the town's annual reenactment of a Revolutionary War battle that never came to fruition.

#9 Rory's Dance (Dec 20, 2000)
Lorelai persuades Rory to attend her first dance at Chilton, then sets out to make her daughter a dress for the occasion. A nervous Rory asks Dean to join her for the event, and Emily invites herself to Lorelai's home to help with Rory's party preparations.

#10 Forgiveness and Stuff (Dec 21, 2000)
Emily suggests that Lorelai skip the annual Christmas dinner at the elder Gilmores' home after Lorelai says she can't leave work early to get there on time. Alone in her own house at dinner time, Lorelai catches Dean knocking on Rory's window, and the two endure an awkward conversation.

#11 Paris Is Burning (Jan 11, 2001)
Lorelai reluctantly agrees to attend a Parents' Day event at Chilton, while Paris fumes over the fact that her parents' divorce has become a public spectacle. Rory spends an awkward few minutes with Mr. Medina before his date with Lorelai.

#12 Double Date (Jan 18, 2001)
Upon Lane's request, Rory asks Dean to set up a double date that would pair Lane with Dean's friend Todd. Meanwhile, Lorelai studies for a test in her business class, and Sookie prepares to ask Jackson for a date.

#13 Concert Interruptus (Feb 15, 2001)
Sookie gets concert tickets for Lorelai, Rory, Lane and herself, but Lane must negotiate with her strict mother before she can agree to attend the event. Meanwhile, Rory works with Paris, Madeline and Louise after the four girls are assigned to a debate team in their history class. Music group The Bangles performs a song.

#14 That Damn Donna Reed (Feb 22, 2001)
Dean watches reruns of the The Donna Reed Show with Lorelai and Rory, who mercilessly mock the program. Later, Dean tells Rory he likes the idea of a doting housewife. His remark irks feminist Rory, who sets out to change his sexist views. Elsewhere, Lorelai persuades Luke to repaint his diner.

#15 Christopher Returns (Mar 1, 2001)
Lorelai allows Rory's dad, Christopher, to stay at their home during his visit. The distant dad hopes to make up for lost time with his daughter, who is glad to see him. However, Lorelai wonders what effect his presence will have on the teen, especially when he decides to leave again.

#16 Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers (Mar 8, 2001)
Emily agrees to let Rory miss the weekly dinner so the teen can celebrate her three-month anniversary with Dean; Luke's former girlfriend visits the diner. Elsewhere, the townsfolk prepare for a festival that celebrates the founding of Stars Hollow.

#17 The Breakup, Part 2 (Mar 15, 2001)
After receiving disturbing news from Dean the night before, Rory tries to occupy her time with a list of errands and she drags Lorelai along with her — at 6 A.M. Saturday morning. Also, Luke has a physical confrontation with Dean in front of the diner.

#18 The Third Lorelai (Mar 22, 2001)
Richard announces that his mother is coming for a visit in a week. The news sends Emily into a panic as she tries to ready their home for the occasion by unpacking all the gifts the elderly woman had given the couple over the years. Meanwhile, Rory tries to ease the tension between her and Tristin by suggesting that the boy consider dating Paris..

#19 Emily in Wonderland (Apr 26, 2001)
Rory invites Emily to Stars Hollow for some antiques shopping and a tour of the town. At first, Emily seems hesitant, but she trades in her heels for sneakers to see the sights. Meanwhile, Lorelai struggles with finding a job for Sookie's friend Roon and building her friendship with Luke's girlfriend, Rachel.

#20 P.S. I Lo... (May 3, 2001)
Rory's emotions get the best of her after her breakup with Dean, and her grumpy disposition sparks a fight with Lorelai — and a flight to her grandparents' house for comfort. In other developments, Lorelai and Max decide to try to rekindle their relationship with a date.

#21 Love, Daisies and Troubadours (May 10, 2001)
In the first-season finale, Lorelai and Max send sparks flying as they reestablish their relationship, while Luke and Rachel find their flame fizzling out. Rory has a run-in with Tristin, whose fibs trick Paris, Madeline, and Louise into being angry with Rory. Also, the younger Gilmore finally has her first conversation with Dean since their breakup.

Season 2

#22 Sadie, Sadie (Oct. 9, 2001)
Lorelai considers a trip down the aisle in the wake of Max's proposal. To help provide some wedding perspective, Rory composes a list of the pros and cons of marrying the teacher as the gals decorate Stars Hollow with the daisies from Max's romantic gambit.

#23 Hammers and Veils (Oct. 9, 2001)
Lorelai flirts with visions of veil lengths as she surrenders to the lure of bridal magazines. Rory's own romance with Dean, however, may lose its bloom as she starts the summer session at Chilton. When she volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and plans a slew of extracurricular activities, Dean starts to feel left out.

#24 Red Light on the Wedding Night (Oct. 16, 2001)
Sookie throws a wild bachelorette party for Lorelai, who has a sudden impulse to call Rory's father, Christopher, and then comes to a startling realization about her wedding day.

#25 Road Trip to Harvard (Oct. 23, 2001)
After Lorelai calls off the wedding, she decides to take a road trip with Rory that leads to Harvard University, where the gals get a firsthand look at college life. Rory glimpses her future, while Lorelai ponders her past and what could have been.

#26 Nick & Nora, Sid & Nancy (Oct. 30, 2001)
Luke's 17-year-old nephew, Jess, comes to live with him. Lorelai tries to give Luke advice to help rear the troubled teen, while Rory finds herself drawn to the newcomer.

#27 Presenting Lorelai Gilmore (Nov 6, 2001)
This charming episode shines the spotlight on Rory (Alexis Bledel) as she comes out to society. To please her grandmother, Rory announces that she wants to attend the debutante ball. As she prepares for the big event, she realizes that her father, Christopher, is supposed to present her, so Lorelai decides to contact him and request his presence. Much to Lorelai and Rory's surprise, he agrees to come to Stars Hollow for the weekend. But the Gilmore girls are even more surprised at the changes in Christopher, who shows up steadily employed and driving a car instead of his motorcycle.