WhileA Year In the Life’s Paul was mostly forgotten after his brief role in theGilmore Girlsrevival, the very fact that he was so forgettable highlights a major issue with the miniseries. Theentire cast ofGilmore Girlswas great, but Alexis Bledel’s Rory was one of the show’s most important characters. Viewers followed Rory through the perilous terrain of high school and college, seeing her grow from an idealized teen overachiever into a more believably rounded, but still kind and ambitious, young adult.
The fact thatneither ofGilmore Girls’ endings focused on Rory’s love interestsproves that Logan, Dean, and Jess weren’t as central to its story as her own character arc. That said, like all of Lorelai’s major romantic relationships, Rory’s various love stories did develop her character and flesh out her personality. Each relationship saw her grow and change as a person, something that was epitomized by Rory breaking up with Logan to pursue a career in journalism inthe originalGilmore Girlsfinale.
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At the time, this signified that Rory was no longer the petulant character who impulsively stole a yacht after Logan’s father mildly criticized her. Since the controversialGilmore Girlsarc that split up Rory and Lorelai, she has become more ambitious, clearer in her plans, and strong enough to cut Logan out of them so she could prioritize her future. This is why it was an unwelcome surprise to discover that she was cheating on her boyfriend, Paul, with an engaged Logan inA Year in the Life.
While cheating plotlines could be morally complex, Rory repeatedly forgetting she even has a boyfriend is more like a misguided attempt at a running gag.
Rory’s cheating often gets a lot of focus in discussions ofA Year in the Life, but cheating itself isn’t entirely new thanks to her relationship with a married Dean. However,what makes Rory’s relationship with Paul notable is that she repeatedly forgets about him completely, not just that she cheats on him. While cheating plotlines could be morally complex and fraught with sympathy, Rory repeatedly forgetting she even has a boyfriend even though they have been dating off-screen for two years is more like a misguided attempt at a running gag.
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Not only does this specific gag fall flat, but it is also completely out of character for Rory. One of thebiggest problems withA Year In the Lifewas its oddly mean-spirited tone, something that didn’t exist as much in the original show. There are some great moments in the revival, but scenes like Rory and Lorelai body-shaming fellow bathers at a public pool in episode 3, “Summer,” feel nothing like the original show.
InA Year in the Life, Lorelai does eventually tell Rory she has to break up with Paul. However, this is only part of the running joke, whereas the original show’s Lorelai would’ve truly held Rory to account for her actions. Similarly, Luke not remembering Paul, when they’ve clearly spent time together, doesn’t fit his character. For all the parts ofA Year In the Lifethat work, Paul’s role in theGilmore Girlsrevival is a stark reminder of its shortcomings.
