Paris Geller: All The Ways She Became The Most Lovable And Rooted For Villain In The Original Gilmore Girls Series – And Exactly How She Disappointed EVERYONE In The 2016 Revival

One character from Gilmore Girls that, I feel, isn’t talked about is none other than Paris Geller. When she was first introduced in season 1, she was meant to be Rory’s rival at her new prestigious school. She was mean, arrogant, ruthless, and downright evil – mostly towards Rory. But she was also smart and a freaking badass of a woman. The relationship between Rory and Paris eventually began to change. They became friends; close friends; even best friends. Like Rory, Paris was always a fiercely ambitious and determined individual. But unlike Rory, she always knew what she wanted, and she’d break anything that stood in her way.

Funny enough, Paris was originally created as a short-term rival for Rory, but her role was expanded throughout the series due to her popularity. I absolutely love that. I personally can’t imagine the Gilmore Girls without Paris in it. She was an essential part of the show. More particularly, she was an essential element to Rory’s progression and growth in high school and college. At first, t to it seemed very unlikely that Paris and Rory would become friends, and when they eventually started getting along, I personally questioned. But then I realized that Paris, in many ways, is another version of Lorelai had she not had Rory when she was 16. Paris is a version of Lorelai had she stayed at her parents’ big mansion.

Suddenly, the unlikely friendship between Rory and Paris made perfect sense. Even more so, Paris’ adoration for Lorelai became apparent. It wasn’t that Paris was necessarily inspired to be another version of Lorelai, but rather that she saw Lorelai as a parental figure. To her, Lorelai was the mother to Rory that she wished she had for herself. Like Lorelai, Paris came from a background of wealth and privilege. Her parents showed her love by giving her monetary benefits and support. They gave her everything she needed and wanted; with the exception of emotionally being there for her like a parent should be there for their child. Paris herself described her mother as an absentee parent. In the series, Mrs. Geller was only physically seen once. At the time, she and Paris’ father were in the midst of a divorce, and she was seen berating Paris about blemishes on her face.

Paris was intense. She always knew exactly how to hurt the people around her, and she almost took pleasure in it. That was how she got the attentions she lacked at home. And yet, she was also endearing. She was intense, but she was also so obviously insecure. She was insecure, and she often hid under her life priorities and ambitions, for as not to show her weaknesses. If she ever felt threatened or embarrassed, she’d start a fight with anyone who she felt offended by. It was her way of protecting herself from getting hurt. She hurt others for as to not get hurt herself.

Famously, Paris once said, ‘I am not cut out to deal with people. I was made to be in a lab or an operating room or a bunker somewhere with a well-behaved monkey by my side.’ And yet, it seemed as though the one person who she was cut out for was Rory. No matter how much she tried to deny it, Paris actually had a love for Rory that she didn’t have for anyone else in her life. Paris became important to Rory too, no matter how much she tried to tell herself otherwise, because she provided support, challenged her, and pushed her to be more assertive. Paris was a loyal friend who fiercely defended Rory, helped her break down walls, and inspired her to pursue her goals, even while navigating their own complex and sometimes difficult friendship. To break it down more thoroughly:

How Paris helped Rory

• A loyal and fierce defender: Paris consistently defended Rory and was a “ride or die” friend. When Rory was upset about Logan, Paris immediately got information from the hospital without being asked.

• A source of support: Despite their occasional tensions, Paris was there for Rory through difficult times. They supported each other through academic pressures and life changes at Yale.

• A catalyst for personal growth: Paris challenged Rory and pushed her to break down her walls, becoming more open to the world. She helped Rory step out of her comfort zone and see the value in a friendship that wasn’t always easy.

• A model of ambition: Paris’s driven and competitive nature provided a stark contrast to Rory’s more passive approach, pushing Rory to be more assertive and proactive in achieving her goals. Paris also showed Rory how to plan for the future and take control of her life. 

Nothing romantic or sexual ever happened between Rory and Paris, though some might say that Paris was always in love with her. I personally don’t think so. I think she loved Rory; that’s most certainly true. But the love that that she had for her was nothing more than platonic. Rory, in a way, represented something that Paris wished to have for herself. The more time she spent with Rory, especially outside of school, the more she realized there was, in fact, more to life than academic achievements. That in itself had Paris secretly admired Rory.

Throughout the original Gilmore Girls series, Paris had three significant relationships – Jamie, Asher and Doyle. Jamie was Paris’ first serious boyfriend, but she was emotionally immature to be with him longterm. He represented stability in her chaotic life, and that made her uncomfortable. The relationship between them ended when Parks began having an affair with Asher, her much-older professor at Yale. She ultimately broke up with him on his birthday when he came to visit her at campus, and Rory played a role in it by giving Paris advice that led to the cold dismissal of Jamie. Paris met Asher through Richard Gilmore, Rory’s grandfather who also taught at Yale.

Perhaps the relationship between Paris and Asher was somewhat romanticized on the show. No matter how many people try to defend it, in my eyes, it won’t be just okay, and it’s simply for the fact that it wasn’t. It’s not only because of the age difference, which was more than 30 years, but also because he was her professor, and it was pretty obvious that she wasn’t the first student of his that he’d taken advantage of. Maybe him passing away and leaving Paris be heartbroken by him in this particular way was the show’s way of glamorizing him as Paris’ ‘great love’.

At the same time, however, Paris’ attraction to Asher made perfect sense. Paris was wounded. She was a lost soul who was lacking the love, attention, affection and adoration from her parents that she so desperately needed. She sought out for a feeling that was completely new for her, and she got that in Asher. In her eyes, he was her protector; her safe space. She genuinely cared for him. She was devoted to him. The fact of the matter is that if he hadn’t died, she would’ve spent a lifetime with him. She would’ve married him; had children with him; built a whole entire life with him.

Asher passed away of a heart attack two weeks before her and Rory’s second year at university. Paris was left heartbroken. He dedicated his novel to her, and called her a ‘wise, willful, wonderful woman’. He also left Paris an eighteenth-century printing press, which she briefly stored in the common room that she shared with Rory. When school started again, the heartbroken and grieving Paris put together a wake for Asher with the help of Rory, but absolutely no one seemed to care. Most people who came to the wake thought it was just random party.

Paris went on to date Doyle following Asher’s death. Doyle was a student at Yale and the editor at Yale Daily News, where Paris was a writer. Their relationship evolved from a quirky friendship to a romantic one, and it revealed different sides of Paris’s personality. It was refreshing to see a new and improved side of Paris that was brought out by her relationship with Doyle. It was the healthiest and happiest period of Paris’ entire life, it seemed. It wasn’t without its own set of challenges, of course, including breakups due to career decisions and professional conflicts. Doyle also convinced Paris to get back together with him multiple times. Nevertheless, they eventually married and had two children together, Gabriela and Timóteo. In the Gilmore Girls revival, however, it was revealed that they’d broken up and divorced due to various issues, including Doyle’s career as a screenwriter.

I personally felt betrayed by Paris in the Gilmore Girls revival. To be fair, there were a lot of things wrong with the revival, and when I say a lot I mean A LOT. How Paris turned out, though, was absolutely awful and absurd. And I’m not the only one who thought so. Her storyline in the revival was heavily criticized for not being believable because of inconsistencies with her character, particularly her lack of recognition of Rory in the revival, and the seemingly unfulfilling path her career took despite her immense talents. Many felt her success in business was a poor replacement for a more impactful career as a lawyer or doctor, which the show had established as her potential. The portrayal of her getting into a seemingly unethical fertility clinic business also struck some as unrealistic, given her high ethical standards. To break it down more thoroughly:

Career and education

• Unexpected career choice: Many viewers were disappointed that Paris, a character who was destined for a groundbreaking career as a lawyer or doctor, instead ended up in a high-paying but ethically questionable fertility clinic business.

• Unrealistic career success: Given Paris’s intelligence and talent, many felt her career path in the revival didn’t make sense, particularly her lack of success in the professional world after attending some of the best schools in the country.

• Career-ending move: The revival shows Paris having to give up her dream of becoming a top-tier surgeon to stay in the show and be with Doyle.

• Career and personal life: The revival shows Paris getting a divorce from Doyle and moving in with Rory in the revival, but this does not align with her high career aspirations and her need for a relationship with someone who shares the same vision as her.

• Lack of passion for her work: Paris’s job was portrayed as being purely about the money. However, the revival also shows her being more passionate about her family and personal life than her career, which goes against her established character. 

Relationship with Doyle

• Doyle’s career: Doyle’s career was not what it used to be and he was unable to provide for Paris. However, this did not make sense because he was the top of his class, and Paris would not tolerate his behavior, making it difficult for her to be a part of their relationship and career. 

Relationship with Rory

• Recognition of Rory: Paris’s decision to break up with Doyle and move in with Rory was a significant turning point. However, the revival implies that Paris and Rory did not meet before the revival, despite having met at Chilton and lived together in the revival. 

Other issues

• Paris and Doyle’s divorce: The revival shows Paris having a divorce from Doyle and moving in with Rory, but this was inconsistent with their character development in the original series, which showed a loving and committed relationship. In the original series, Paris and Doyle were married and had a happy and fulfilling relationship.

• Paris’s personality: Paris was portrayed as a strong, independent, and ambitious character. However, her character in the revival was portrayed as being a bit of a pushover and more of a “follow-the-leader” type. 

For the entire 7 seasons of the original Gilmore Girls series’ run, I was rooting for Paris. She deserved to win in life. She was initially introduced as a villain, but she was the type of villain that viewers and fans were rooting for; even more so than for Rory. She and Rory had a lot of similarities. They were both ambitious, determined, and passionate. But their lives had very different outcomes. This was, for the most part, due to their very different upbringings.

While it’s true that Rory was a representation of what Paris wished she had in her life, it was no easy task to be in Rory’s shoes either. I’m talking about the ‘Rory Gilmore Syndrome’. It refers to a phenomenon often associated with the character from Gilmore Girls, encompassing both the pressure of being a “perfect” high achiever and the subsequent “gifted kid burnout” that can result. It describes individuals who, after being praised for their intelligence and accomplishments from a young age, struggle to maintain this image as they get older and face life’s complexities. This can lead to anxiety, burnout, and a crisis of identity when things become more challenging. To break it down more thoroughly:

Aspects of the syndrome 

• Perfectionism: A core component is the relentless pressure to be perfect, academically and personally. Rory is initially portrayed as a model student who excels in all areas. 

• “Gifted kid” status: The syndrome is tied to being labeled and treated as “gifted,” which can create a strong internal expectation of future success. 

• Burnout: A major consequence is “gifted kid burnout,” where the individual eventually crashes under the weight of expectations, especially when facing a more difficult reality in college or the workforce. 

• Struggles with adversity: The syndrome includes difficulty coping when things don’t come easily. Rory’s story shows her struggling when she has to work harder or when a mentor suggests she may not have the talent to pursue her dream. 

• Struggles with identity and relationships: The high-achieving, perfect image can create a sense of isolation from peers and an identity crisis later on. Rory’s story also touches on the challenges of developing her own sense of self outside of her “gifted” persona. 

It seemed as though Paris was jealous of Rory’s academic achievements, but I truly believe that she was actually jealous of her upbringing. Paris’ home life was emotionally cold. She saw that Rory had what she so craved for her entire life but knew she’d never get. Like I mentioned previously, Lorelai was the mother Paris wished she had. To Lorelai, Paris was just a friend of her daughter’s. To Paris, however, she meant so much more than just her friend’s mom. She was her confidant. Paris even wanted to spend time with Lorelai when she wasn’t with Rory, to the point where Lorelai felt that she had to ‘break up’ with her. The storyline between Paris wanting to get closer to Lorelai and Lorelai ending it was made for laughs, but it was actually showcasing Paris’ sad reality – that she didn’t have a lot of people who truly, genuinely, wanted to be there for her.

The loneliness Paris felt – I resonated with it. Not because I experienced it myself, but because I’d witnessed the same exact loneliness experienced by my husband. He, too, felt that same loneliness due to the abandonment that he’d experienced at home. The desperation and yearning to be liked by someone else that was seen in Paris was the same desperation and yearning that I saw so much in my husband. Paris could tell herself, as well as others, that she didn’t need anyone in her life all she wanted was to be liked. She wanted to be nourished, cared for, respected. She wanted to be accepted; to feel like she belonged.

Paris already had that in Rory as a lifelong friend. To know that she had that in a life partner like Doyle was really something special. She’d already found it in Jamie when she was in high school, but she was too young and too afraid to fully allow him to be in her life; for her heart to fully, wholeheartedly, belong to him. She was petrified to let him into her world. In her mind, she didn’t deserve someone like him, so she hurt him in the cruel way that she did before he ever got the chance to hurt her. Maybe her affair with Asher was a means of a distraction for her; an excuse to make her forget of her greatest fears.

No matter what the case might’ve been or the reasons for Paris’ questionable decisions, one thing is for sure, and it’s that she deserved the best. It seemed like she was finally on that path as the original Gilmore Girls series was ending and her and Rory’s time together as university roommates was concluding. Rory, at that time, was absolutely lost. She didn’t know where she was headed and in which direction her path was taking her after graduating Yale. She’d just broken up with Logan after he proposed. She had no plans for after she finished school. She had absolutely nothing planned. She wasn’t that fiercely ambitious and determined person that she used to be when we first met her 7 years prior. After giving it much thought and consideration, she decided to take a reporting job covering the Obama campaign, which required her to leave in just two days. 

Unlike Rory, Paris was (finally) happy. She finally felt everything that she’d so desperately hoped to feel her whole entire life – wanted and confident. She knew she wanted to be with Doyle. He was someone who cherished her and supported her no matter what. She was finally accepted for exactly who she was without having to change her entire identity for that person. Her career path was on the right track as well. Following her graduating Yale, she got accepted not just to one graduate school, but SEVERAL. She was the happiest girl in the world. She was unstoppable. What disappointed me in how her character turned out in the Gilmore Girls revival wasn’t that she divorced Doyle. Divorce happens; even if it’s with the person who loves you so deeply that they can’t imagine life without you…and vice versa. Instead, it was that it seemed like she went back to her old high school ways in adulthood as a 30+ years prior old when we saw her go through so much growth during her years at Yale. She was a a compelling and complex character with immense potential, and yet, she wasn’t given the consistent, thoughtful development she deserved, often being reduced to a caricature of her high school self or a supporting player in Rory’s life. Even more so, there were three particular ways Paris disappointed me in her adulthood:

• Her intense reaction to seeing Tristan, a high school crush, which felt out of character for a successful adult.

• The feeling that her career in reproductive medicine was ethically questionable or “empty” compared to her early potential of being a groundbreaking doctor or lawyer.

• The choice to have children who were primarily raised by a nanny, which felt inconsistent with her own childhood experience of parental neglect and her career-driven personality. 

She would NEVER!!!! That’s why I’d like to pretend that the last time we ever saw Paris was when she was on a sky-high at this very moment in time in her life: