Gilmore Girls: Why Paris Geller Is The Unsung Hero Of The Show
Paris Geller started as a villain in Gilmore Girls, but her character arc saw her becoming more relatable and authentic than her best friend Rory.
After seven seasons of Gilmore Girls, one thing became crystal clear: Paris Geller is a hero that doesn't get enough credit. Rory and Lorelai Gilmore were the main characters of the series but Paris Geller was that one person fans couldn't quit. Her persistent, all-consuming personality stole the show.
Paris was more than a brilliant student with hundreds of pet peeves and killer one-liners; she was Rory's best friend and someone who demanded respect. As intense as Paris seemed on the outside, deep down there was a soft side just waiting to come out. Compared to the other characters, her glow-up was unmatched.
10 She Was The Villain That Became The Hero
When viewers first met Paris, she appeared like the Queen Bee at Chilton. She was the smartest student and had friends that did anything she asked. At the start, Paris was clearly threatened by Rory's presence at Chilton and warned her not to get in her way. But as time went on, Paris realized it wasn't Rory who was in her way; it was herself. The day that Paris admitted that Rory was her friend was the day Paris was no longer seen as the villain.
9 She Cared About Rory's Education
When Rory took time off from Yale, Paris was almost as hurt by the decision as Lorelai was. Paris needed Rory at Yale with her because the two encouraged each other to be better students.
They brought out a competitive side in each other that was unparalleled. Come to think of it, Paris did more to encourage Rory's education than Lane did. #TeamParis fans would like to think Paris' word persuaded Rory to go back.
8 She Became One Of The Most Successful Characters
Everyone in Rory's life pegged her out to be a star. After graduating from Yale, she would have a plethora of papers to write for, right? Well, as fans know from A Year in the Life, that's not what happened. Rory struggled with finding work and was crashing on everyone's couch in the meantime.
Paris, on the other hand, was one of the most successful characters in the series. She went on to graduate from medical school, become a doctor, and open her own fertility clinic called Dynasty Makers. She seemed to be doing well financially and was still giving back to Chilton, the school that made her.
7 She Made Harvard Regret Their Denial
Paris was beside herself when she was rejected from Harvard. She had 10 generations of family members walk through Harvard's halls and assumed she would do the same, but that didn't happen for her undergraduate education.
Paris loathed Harvard after their denial but she applied there for medical school to see if things had changed. And luckily for her, they did. Harvard was impressed by her time at Yale and accepted her. She finally had the last laugh.
6 Was Paris A Young Emily?
The writers for Gilmore Girls love to add parallels. One could say that Anna Nardini was a parallel to Lorelai if she never had the financial support of her parents or never told Christopher about Rory. April Nardini is also a parallel to Rory.
In Paris' case, the similarities to Emily Gilmore are uncanny. Emily didn't have the same drive for a career as Paris did but she was passionate about education and getting her way. Emily is a tremendous character because she's so incredibly flawed, much like Paris. If Emily and Paris spent more time together, they'd get along swimmingly.
5 She Was One Of The Most Relatable Characters
Fans weren't all as wealthy as Paris was but her range of emotions was quite relatable. She went through the same highs and lows that every teenager experiences. She worried about colleges, essays, boys, being liked... Paris said what many of us were thinking. In that way, she's the perfect character. It's nice to feel seen and be recognized through a character on a show.
4 Incredible Character Development
Paris has always persevered. She grew up in a wealthy albeit cold family. Her nanny was more of a mother to her than her biological mom, she suffered a breakdown before attending college and needed a life coach, and she didn't know what a person did for money when her parents became broke.
Despite it all, Paris started working for and on herself. She got married, graduated med school, and opened her own practice. Paris was moving up in the world and was finally where she was supposed to be, all without losing her wicked sense of humor.
3 She Handled Bad Moments Like A Champ
Paris has always been a bag of insecurities with a twinge of confidence. She's incredibly bright but overthinks things when her good fortune or grades could be compromised. And while she panics and insults everyone in striking distance, Paris comes around to the given situation and handles it the best way she can.
When Asher died, she took time to grieve before throwing him a memorial at their dorm room. She also handled most of his affairs on his behalf, which is a bold task for someone so young. She got a job with Rory as soon as she found out she was broke, she reapplied to Harvard four years after being denied, and she focused on work to cope with her divorce in A Year in the Life. She always took charge of what she was given.
2 She Stood Up For What's Right
Paris isn't the poster child for good manners or morals. Her anger and need for control can bother a lot of people. And unfortunately, Paris doesn't care whose feelings she hurts. Nevertheless, she always stands her ground and fights for what she believes in, which is commendable.
She stood up to Headmaster Charleston when he assumed Paris and Rory were fighting over a boy, she stood up to Doyle at the Yale Daily News, and she stood up to Rory when she wasn't treating her the way she should be treated. Paris' strength is admirable.
1 She Was The Best Friend That Rory Denied
When Rory and Paris graduated from Chilton, it was clear that the two were semi-best friends. They didn't have the same bond that Rory and Lane had but they trusted and respected each other like true BFFs. In fact, one could say that Rory needed someone like Paris to get her out of her own head and to experience new things.
If it weren't for Paris, Rory and Lucy wouldn't have reconnected, they wouldn't have traveled to Florida for spring break, and she wouldn't have been the kind of student she was. Paris and Rory made each other better.