Memorable Season 3 Moments

Jess and Rory fans couldn't wait for Season 3 to start after the way Season 2 ended, but it took a while for that Stars Hollow couple to make a connection again.

They Shoot Gilmores Don't They?
This episode made Rory and Jess fans stand up and cheer. It was the 24-hour dance marathon and reigning champ, Kirk was on hand and ready for another win. Lorelai was intent on defeating him with Rory as her partner. The real drama, however, was between Rory, Jess and Dean.

Jess, not exactly a supporter of town events, takes his girlfriend Shane to watch the marathon, but really he's there to watch Rory. This isn't lost on Dean who sees the sparks flying between the two of them. Dean flips out, breaks up with Rory in front of everybody. She quits the marathon and Jess meets her outside to console her. He tells her that Dean was wrong to do that in front of everybody, but that Dean is also right. He does have feelings for her, and since she has feelings for him, he has to go and break up with his girlfriend.

Rory's Two Big Moves
Although she got into Harvard, Rory surprises everyone (and herself) in A Tale of Poes and Fire and decides to go with Yale instead of her lifelong dream of Harvard. To finance it, however, she has to strike a deal with Emily and Richard, in Those Are Strings, Pinocchio.

Imagine if Rory didn't go to Yale? She never would have met Logan or his father. Mitchum Huntzberger, of course, was instrumental in making her want to quit college for a semester. That spiraled into an estrangement from Lorelai and her living at Emily and Richard's pool house. Eventually, it worked itself out, but choosing Yale over Harvard played a huge role in Rory's future.

Lorelai's Love Life
This is a little awkward: Lorelai runs into her ex-fiance Max months after turning down his proposal. He asks her to stay 10-feet away from him at all times in Keg, Max! because he's not over her yet. REALLY awkward happens later... Lorelai helps out at the Independence Inn with room turndown and finds Luke and Nicole getting cozy. Lorelai gets the fire going and makes a quick exit! Just think, if Lorelai only had platonic feelings for Luke, that scene wouldn't have been nearly as uncomfortable.

I Moved On
What started out with so much chemistry ends with a whimper. After a long stretch of waiting for his phone call and wondering where he is... Rory puts an end to her relationship with Jess once and for all in Those Are Strings, Pinocchio.