Gilmore Girls has stood the test of time due to the fascinating mother-daughter relationship between Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. While the two characters were at the forefront of the teen drama, there were also other compelling storylines, like their romantic lives, which sometimes paralleled each other and at other times were widely different.
There were many different love interests over the seven seasons (and one revival) of Gilmore Girls, not just for the Gilmore ladies but also for their friends and colleagues. Ranker's list of these romantic partners clearly dictated which love interests were perfect (like Luke) and which ones the leading ladies could've done without (like Chad Michael Murray's Tristian).
Tristian Dugrey
Tristian Dugrey and Rory Gilmore never dated, but they definitely had a lot of tension between them. Tristian teased Rory as a way to show that he liked her, but Rory was already in a relationship with Dean and not having it.
Even though Tristian seemed like he could've had a lot of character growth, his time on the show was too short-lived to show any true potential. He liked Rory a lot, but he was often rude to her and dismissive of her boundaries, making him a mediocre, forgettable love interest.
Dean Forester
Dean Forester was Rory's first boyfriend, and for the most part, he was a really good one. He was respectful of her, loved her deeply, and even built her a car. However, fans knew that the reason this relationship wouldn't last since he could be a bit immature and jealous.
The reason that Dean wasn't the best love interest was because he kept coming back into Rory's life, trying to woo her over time and time again despite their relationship being over, him being married, and the two having outgrown one another. Dean also became more jaded and boring as time went on, and while he had good intentions, he was never going to be Rory's endgame.
Zack Van Gerbig
After Dave Rygalski left for California, Lane was left to keep Hep Alien flourishing with her other bandmates Zack, Brian, and Gil. Over time, Lane developed feelings for Zack, and the two started a relationship.
Zack was a bit of a bore, but he made Lane happy, which made Gilmore Girls' fans happy. He loved her and won over Mrs. Kim, even getting her permission for Lane's hand in marriage. The two of them were a fun pair that created a simple yet beautiful life together, even if Zack wasn't the most compelling of love interests.
Max Medina
Max Medina was Lorelai's first relationship on Gilmore Girls, and he seemed to be the perfect guy. He was a teacher at a private school, was smart and kind, and was ready to marry her and become a stepfather to Rory.
Unfortunately, Max and Lorelai just didn't click as well as they wanted to. Max was ready to settle down and create a life together, while Lorelai was still trying to figure out what she wanted out of life. Max was a great love interest, but not the greatest love interest for Lorelai.
Doyle McMaster
Doyle McMaster was the editor of the Yale Daily News and, eventually, Paris Geller's husband and father of her children (even though they were getting divorced in A Year In The Life).
Doyle and Paris's relationship was unexpected but, once it happened, it made complete sense. The two of them were neurotic, intelligent, and divisive characters. They pushed each other to be great and also served as an annoyance to every other character. Doyle was great for Paris, putting up with her antics unconditionally, and was a far better match than anyone else she dated.
Logan Huntzberger
Logan Huntzberger was Rory's third boyfriend and her most mature relationship. The two of them found each other at Yale, and while they had a frenemy dynamic at first, they became much more than friends as time went on.
Logan wasn't perfect; he was a bit of a playboy, didn't have a ton of ambition, and was quick to run when things got difficult. However, when he was good, he was a great boyfriend. He supposed Rory no matter what, put aside his fear of commitment for her, and brought out the drive and mettle inside of her. The two could've had a forever kind of love had she not turned down his proposal in the series finale.
Jackson Belleville
Jackson and Sookie had one of the cutest relationships on Gilmore Girls. They seemed to hate one another at first, but, really, they were just teasing and flirting. Once they got together, it was impossible to break them apart.
Jackson loved Sookie and all of her quirks, and, in turn, she loved him and his. The two had a relatable relationship that appeared normal and healthy (minus the whole vasectomy storyline). Jackson would've done anything for his wife and adored being her produce provider.
Jess Mariano
Jess Mariano wasn't the greatest of Rory's boyfriends, but their will-they-won't-they relationship in season 2 and season 3 was one of the best in teen drama history.
Jess was a far better fit for Rory than her first boyfriend, Dean. He loved to read, was more reserved and kept to himself, and had a bit of an edge to him that took Rory outside her comfort zone. When they finally got together, they weren't built to last, but he was a great romantic foil to break up her and Dean, and he ended up being a great friend to her later in life.
Dave Rygalski
Dave Rygalski was the ultimate dream boyfriend. While he was only in a few episodes, he won fans over with his kind heart, musical talent, and devotion to Rory's best friend, Lane Kim.
Dave was willing to do whatever it took to be with Lane, despite her strict mother's rules against dating. He read the entire Bible cover to cover in order to take her to prom and was Lane's very first kiss. The two of them were a perfect match that could've stood the test of time had Adam Brody, who played Dave, not moved on to The O.C.
Luke Danes
Luke Danes was, by far, the greatest love interest any character on Gilmore Girls had. From the very first episode, the diner owner was clearly smitten with Lorelai.
Lorelai had a few different love interests throughout the course of the series, but Luke was always her best fit. His serious demeanor balanced out her goofy side, and they worked together as a good team. He was always there for her even when she didn't deserve it, and he loved her completely unconditionally. Their love story was a slow burn, but absolutely worth it in the end.