Spoilers for Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life ahead.
Gilmore Girls may be about three generations of women, but the show would be nothing without its Gilmore guys. No, we’re not talking about Luke, or Chris, or even Richard (RIP), but of course the only three loves of Rory’s life: Dean, Jess, and Logan. You’ve picked your team, now’s the time to see which one prevailed. Where did all of Rory’s boyfriends end up eight years later in A Year in the Life, and which one of them still has her heart? Without further ado, here’s how it all shook out.
Dean Forester
It just wouldn’t be Dean if we didn’t meet him again at Doose’s Market. It’s where Rory bumps (literally) into him toward the end of “Fall,†and the two catch up like old friends. Because, alas #TeamDean, that’s all they’ll ever be. Dean’s since remarried and, this time, Rory isn’t out to wreck any homes. Plus, he’s got three kids, a baby girl on the way, and lives in Scranton now, so that’s a major hands-off. He also hates his little sister Clara’s (remember Clara?!) new boyfriend, which provides Rory with the perfect opportunity to offer up this lovely bit of verbal diarrhea: “She’s young, it’s her first love, it’ll probably … †Oof. Well, at least Dean’s still a good sport, feigns happiness that he’ll be referenced in her book, and goes on his merry way back to a woman who (hopefully) now treats him right.
Jess Mariano
Rory’s briefest relationship may have also been her most transformative, a lasting impact on her life that’s still going strong in the revival. Jess arrives back in Stars Hollow in “Summer†to rescue his mom and stepdad from a vegetable cult (don’t ask), but once again, finds Rory down on her luck and now working as the editor of the town paper. We learn that they’ve somewhat kept in touch, but haven’t seen each other in fourish years — essentially dangling #TeamJess hearts everywhere on a sad string. Rory pours him bourbon for lunch and confesses to him that she’s broke and directionless, kind of like the last couple of times we saw them together. Meanwhile, Jess’s life seems pretty chill: He’s still doing his thing at his publishing house, looks fit as ever, has no “permanent†attachments (read: no girlfriend!), and even offers Rory a loan. His most important gift, though, is the idea for Rory’s book about her and her mom, for which Jess is so kind, hell, he’ll probably also offer to publish it not take a cut of the profits because — shocker! — he’s still very much in love with her. Sure, Jess may tell Luke he’s “long over†Rory in “Fall,†but those puppy-dog eyes he gives her through the window when she’s not looking show a much different, unfinished story. Rory doesn’t end up with Jess in the revival, but that #TeamJess crumb is so worth the wait.
Logan Huntzberger
If ever there were a match for Rory Gilmore, on paper, Logan Huntzberger was always it. Congratulations, #TeamLogan because, in the end, he claims victory! Sort of. When we last left off with these two hopelessly in love kids, Rory had turned down Logan’s marriage proposal because she didn’t want to uproot her life to chase his career dreams over hers. Fair enough. Eight years later, though, and she’s prepared to meet him halfway — in this case, London, where Logan is living and Rory visits frequently while working on a book proposal. She stays with Logan in his fancy flat, unbeknownst to Lorelai (because when has Rory ever kept anything good from her mother?). Of course, there’s a catch: Logan’s engaged to a woman in another country, meanwhile Rory’s still dating someone, though it’s never clear why, because she’s solely invested in Logan. They’re essentially in an open relationship, which Rory pretends to be cool with until his fiancée moves in with him and she has to stay in a hotel on her visits to London like she’s his “geisha.†So even when Logan sweeps Rory off her feet and away from Stars Hollow in one of his grand gestures with the Life and Death Brigade, she cuts him — and, for once, herself — loose. Though — major major spoiler! — if Logan is the father of Rory’s baby, this may not be the last we see of #TeamLogan.