Gilmore Girls: Luke and Lorelai's Relationship Timeline, Season By Season

Summary

• Lorelai and Luke’s love story in “Gilmore Girls” starts with friendship and slowly grows into a romantic relationship.
• The couple faces challenges, like Luke’s relationships and Lorelai’s marriage to Christopher, before finally getting together.
• Through ups and downs, Luke and Lorelai’s relationship timeline culminates in a happy marriage in “A Year in the Life.”

The love for Gilmore Girls is enduring, and much of its popularity is due to fans’ love for Luke and Lorelai’s relationship timeline. The love story developing between Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) and Luke Danes (Scott Patterson) remains one of the most beloved in the series. Lorelai is a coffee addict, and Luke is a diner owner, which means they see each other daily and slowly become close friends who realize they have strong feelings for each other. It’s an incredible character journey to witness.

Though Gilmore Girls is really centered on the titular characters of Lorelai and her daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel), romance plays a huge role in the series. Lorelai hasn’t had a successful relationship since breaking up with Rory’s father as a teenager, so entering a serious relationship is part of her character’s growth. Though she has other romances before she and Luke ultimately get together, Lorelai’s best relationship in the series is with the owner of the diner in Stars Hollow, and the Luke and Lorelai relationship timeline actually begins before the show even starts.

Before The Events Of Gilmore Girls

Luke and Lorelai First Meet In 1996

Though it’s not revealed until much later in the series, Luke and Lorelai’s relationship timeline begins years before the show. When the two finally have their first date, Luke provides the details in the episode. Luke and Lorelai first meet when she moves to Stars Hollow and needs a serious coffee fix in 1996. Luke reveals on their date that he kept the fake horoscope she wrote and gave him at the diner.

Lorelai becoming a regular at Luke’s diner is how the two got to know one another.

In that fake horoscope, she foretold that Luke would meet a very annoying woman, and he would need to keep her supplied with coffee to get her to go away. That became the foundation of their friendship: every morning, she would stop at the diner for coffee, and sometimes, she would even come by multiple times a day. Lorelai becoming a regular at Luke’s diner is how the two got to know one another so well before the show begins.

Season 1 Just Good Friends

Luke And Lorelai Have Flirty Banter

Season 1 is full of iconic Gilmore Girls moments, from Rory first dating Dean to Rory and Lorelai working on their relationship with Emily and Richard. It’s also a big season for Luke and Lorelai. They slowly become more than just a diner owner and a loyal customer, and it’s clear that they’ve got a nice friendship. As the season progresses, they begin flirting more and more, and Lorelai starts looking at Luke differently and thinking that he’s attractive.

At Rory’s 16th birthday party, Emily comments on the sparks flying between these characters, and when Richard has a heart attack, Luke drives Lorelai to the hospital and stays to offer support. However, things didn’t happen instantaneously between them. Lorelai falls for Max (Scott Cohen), but when Luke’s ex-girlfriend Rachel (Lisa Ann Hadley) comes to town, she can tell that Luke likes Lorelai.

From early on in the show, Gilmore Girls clearly showed that Luke and Lorelai were end game. Luke also advised Lorelai not to worry so much about Rory and Dean’s relationship, and she leaned on him constantly throughout the first season. While just friends here, the seeds were planted.

Season 2: Jess Comes To Stars Hollow

Jess’ Introduction Creates A Tense Relationship

Gilmore Girls season 2 marks the debut of Luke’s nephew, Jess (Milo Ventimiglia), which puts a damper on Luke and Lorelai’s relationship. After Jess moves in with him, Luke and Lorelai’s friendship becomes full of conflict. Lorelai thinks Jess is trouble, and Luke doesn’t want to hear it, leading to several arguments throughout the season. Luke wants what’s best for his nephew and sees the good underneath all the rebellion, and Lorelai wants to protect her daughter from this new bad boy.

Their relationship becomes even more strained when Jess comes between Rory and Dean as the season progresses, and Lorelai prefers the safer Dean. This strife is sad to see because, after Lorelai breaks off her engagement with Max, Luke seems happy, and it looks like the perfect time for these two to start dating. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen yet, and the two struggle to get along, leading to a huge argument in episode 19, “Teach Me Tonight,” which carries over into season 3.

Season 3: Luke Has A New Relationship

Luke Starts Dating Nicole

Gilmore Girls season 3 sees Luke and Lorelai as good friends who work through their tension over Jess. Part of that is because Luke still treats Rory like his own daughter. This positive energy shift comes in episode 8, “Let The Games Begin,” when Luke creates some ground rules for Jess to live by if he wants to be with Rory, something Lorelai appreciates.

Luke and Lorelai pursue other relationships during the season. It’s a surprise when Luke marries Nicole, as it happens fast, and when Nicole cheats on Luke in season 4, it breaks his heart. The show reveals that Lorelai doesn’t love that Luke is with Nicole, just like he hated when she was engaged to Max. However, Lorelai focuses on Rory’s last year of high school and makes plans to open the Dragonfly Inn. The relationship has to wait.

Season 4: Luke Realizes He’s In Love With Lorelai

Luke And Lorelai Take A Step Forward

Though ultimately, Luke and Lorelai admit their feelings for one another at the end of season 4, this Gilmore Girls season still has plenty of bumps in the road for the pair. Nicole is still a hurdle at the start of the season, and Lorelai also spends much of season 4 dating Jason. It takes the two of them having a heart-to-heart about things that aren’t romantic to tell one another how they really feel.

Luke lending Lorelai the money to renovate the inn proves how much he cares about her. Unlike her mother, Luke doesn’t expect to get anything out of the loan, just that Lorelai pays him back when she can. It’s one of the many times in the show that Luke takes care of Lorelai and one of the moments that allows her to see him for more than just the grumpy guy who pours her coffee.

The turning point comes in “Afterbloom” when Luke finalizes his divorce from Nicole, and Lorelai breaks up with Jason. In the next episode, “Last Week Fights, This Week Tights,” Luke and Lorelai dance together, and Luke realizes that he’s in love. Luke knows Lorelai is the one for him and asks her out in the next episode. This moment leads to their first kiss in “Raincoats and Recipes.”

It’s relatable that Luke has felt strongly about Lorelai for a long time, and it’s nice to see him finally working up the courage to ask her out. This moment has been building since the first season, and it seems like nothing can get in their way, but Gilmore Girls never made things that easy.

Season 5: A Magical First Date And Finally In A Relationship

Luke And Lorelai Spend Season 5 Dating

Gilmore Girls season 5 sees Luke and Lorelai share a magical first date at a restaurant in episode 3, “Written In The Stars,” and it is here where Luke reveals that he kept the fake horoscope Lorelai wrote him when they met. In a sweet scene, Luke tells Lorelai, “I am all in.” She realizes their flirty friendship is becoming something more. After this date, the two beloved characters are finally in a relationship, and their banter continues, which is great to see.

Luke has watched Lorelai come into the diner thrilled about many love interests, and it’s satisfying that these two soulmates have found their way to each other. However, things are not always easy for them. Luke breaks down his darkest days to Lorelai, and that strengthens things, but then he struggles to get along with her parents, as her mom feels she should still be with Christopher. This disagreement leads to their first breakup in episode 14, “Say Something.”

However, Luke misses Lorelai and submerses himself in his work. Shockingly, it is Lorelai who comes around, and in “A House Is Not a Home,” she proposes to Luke. Luke and Lorelai might have a bumpy relationship, but they find happiness.

Season 6: Luke And Lorelai Are Engaged

While Engaged, Luke And Lorelai Face Numerous Hurdles

Gilmore Girls season 6 is tough for Luke and Lorelai. While they are in a loving relationship at the start of the season, there are even more hurdles in their path to happiness, this time from another character’s introduction. Luke’s daughter, April Nardini (Vanessa Marano), debuts in season 6. After learning about April’s existence, Luke wants to put his wedding to Lorelai on hold.

She agrees to the postponement but realizes he doesn’t seem interested in getting married and keeps making excuses. While everyone always wanted Lorelai to marry the cute and grumpy diner owner in Stars Hollow, it seems like it won’t happen.

Things get even worse at the end of the season in “Partings.” Lorelai is tired of Luke postponing the wedding and gives him an ultimatum. Luke doesn’t answer, and this seemingly ends their relationship. Lorelai turns to Christopher for support and comfort, which leads to them sleeping together. It looks like the end of the road for Luke and Lorelai.

Season 7: Broken Up… And Back Together

The Final Season Gives Luke And Lorelai A Happy Ending

Gilmore Girls season 7 doesn’t start off well for Luke and Lorelai. Luke is heartbroken after realizing that Lorelai and Christopher still have unfinished business. While he wasn’t willing to marry Lorelai then, he didn’t want to lose her completely. By this time, he doesn’t think that his romance with Lorelai can withstand her connection to Christopher. Gilmore Girls made this couple seem like the end game, as Luke’s cynicism and Lorelai’s zest for life work so well, and they are truly a perfect match. Luke helps calm Lorelai down, and she helps him become more optimistic and social.

After they split, Lorelai keeps dating Christopher, eventually marrying him, and Luke focuses on caring for his April. However, they find ways to reconnect, such as in “Introducing Lorelai Planetarium,” when Luke asks Lorelai for help when April gets sick. While Christopher realizes Lorelai isn’t over Luke and the two divorce, it takes Luke and Lorelai until the end of the show for them to finally find each other again.

In “Lorelai? Lorelai?,” they spend the day together with Rory and in a karaoke moment, Lorelai sings “I Will Always Love You” to Luke, and they realize they are truly meant for one another. In the season 7 finale, they finally talk decide to start dating again, and after a romantic kiss, Luke and Lorelai have their happy ending.

A Year In The Life: Luke And Lorelai Are In A Mature Relationship

Luke And Lorelai Finally Get Married

In the revival, Gilmore Girls:A Year in the Life, Luke and Lorelai are having trouble as they start talking about why they didn’t have a child. This is a topic they both felt strongly about, yet they just pushed it aside. While Luke has April, he hasn’t been able to be a big part of her life, and Lorelai has Rory, but she’s now an adult. The topic provides a wedge between them for part of the revival as they don’t address their real issues.

Lorelai attempts to work out her issues on her own, not telling Luke she’s been attending therapy with her mother and trying to isolate herself on a Wild-inspired hike. He believes she is dishonest with him and questions her trust issues. In the end, she realizes that her relationship with Luke isn’t one of the problems in her life, and she still wants to marry him.

Gilmore Girls finally sees the end game, as Luke and Lorelai finally get married in the episode, “Fall.” They come to terms with their choices and mistakes, and they know that it’s time to make this commitment to each other. Luke and Lorelai’s relationship timeline finally has its happy ending in A Year in the Life.

​​​​​​​