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For the minor character in "Concert Interruptus", see Jess (Concert Interruptus).
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Character Description
Jess Mariano is the troubled love-interest of Rory Gilmore, son of Liz Danes and Jimmy Mariano, and nephew of Luke Danes. He appears in Stars Hollow in Season 2 (2.5) after Liz sends him to live with Luke, who is unprepared for caring for a troubled youth.
He develops a romantic interest in Rory, and his interest is reciprocated, but Rory is still with her first boyfriend Dean Forester. Jess, however, causes Rory to do a number of unlikely things such as skip school (2.21) and cheat on Dean by kissing Jess at Sookie's wedding. Dean eventually gets sick of being the obvious second fiddle and breaks up with Rory at the Dance Marathon (3.07) after months of speculation by many people over the attraction, for which he is unfairly blamed. Rory and Jess have a tumultuous relationship, with Jess being less committed and reliable than Dean, which is frustrating for Rory.
Jess seemed excited about the prospect of Rory attending Yale and continuing their relationship while she's in college, however due to extreme number of absences, he eventually fails school, and leaves Stars Hollow for Venice Beach, California, where his estranged father, Jimmy, lives. This depature was unexpected, with Jess telling neither Luke nor Rory. He continues to call Rory while in California, never talking, but on her graduation day (3.22) she tells him that she could have loved him, but wasn't going to pine.
Jess disappears for most of Season 4 but returns to the show to retrieve his car that Luke had taken and hid to prevent Jess from leaving town at the end of the previous season (4.12). After getting his car repaired, and several run ins with Rory (in which he was always the one to walk away first), Jess finally confronts her before he leaves town again, giving Rory his perfect parting line of "I love you" before turning and walking away, again (4.13).
Jess does not appear until the end of the season after Luke forcibly suggests that he come to his mother's wedding with T.J.. It is here that Jess reads Luke's self help book and realizes that he has been treating Rory all wrong. He appears at her Yale dorm, and asks her to come away with him. This, however, is at the same time that Rory has been getting closer to her now married ex-boyfriend Dean. Jess tells her not to say no unless she doesn't want to be with him, and she declines. After this rejection, Jess leaves without another word; again.
Jess moves to Philadelphia where he joins a small publishing house, Truncheon Books, and writes a short novel, The Subsect. He visits Rory while traveling to Hartford to talk to independent bookstores about carrying his book (6.08). He goes to dinner with Rory and Logan, but leaves after Logan mocks him. He ends up confronting Rory about how she has been spending her life - dropping out of Yale, living at her grandparents' house, and joining the DAR. Their talk inspires Rory to move out of her grandparents' house and resume attending Yale. Several months later, Jess' publishing house has an open house, and he invites both Luke and Rory (6.18). Luke attends with April, and Jess meets his cousin for the first time. Rory attends alone, and she and Jess kiss, but Rory confesses that she is in love with Logan and that she came because she was angry that Logan cheated on her. Jess is angry at being used but tells her that she can tell Logan that something happened if it will make her feel better.
Jess has difficult relationships with his relatives. Originally resentful of being forced out of New York and to Stars Hollow, he begins to appreciate having a stabilizing influence in his life in Luke, eventually paying him back all the money that he owed and telling Luke how much he appreciates what Luke did for him. He also attends Liz's wedding to TJ and walks his mother down the aisle.
Milo Ventimiglia has stated that he was happy with the way that the character was left, and that he didn't need to come back during Season 7, as hoped by the creators.
Fan Reactions
Likeable Qualities (What the fans like)
- Loved and cared for Rory.
- Soft, open and intelligent when he let his gaurd down.
- Mysterious and intriguing.
- Had the most chemistry with Rory.
- Displayed affection for people he cared about, albeit subtly.
- His leather jacket and boots.
- His sarcastic, clever wit.
- He is very endearing, e.g. the way he says "Jeez", and "Huh?"
- He could keep up with Rory, Luke, Paris and even Lorelai in witty banter.
- He likes to read.
- His hair, and eyes, and all around attractiveness.
- Whenever he is wet.
- Willing to make changes and adjust to better the people he cares about, i.e. Rory and Luke.
- The way he holds Rory tenderly.
- The way he kisses passionately.
- Learns from his experiences in Stars Hollow, with Rory and Luke, and eventually becomes a successful, open, kinder and even sexier person.
Unlikeable Qualities (What the fans don't like)
- He left without a goodbye 3 times.
- He was sometimes rude to people, and stole from Stars Hollow citizens.
- He was insecure, which lead to him being unreliable and volatile.
- He chased after Rory even though she was already with Dean.
- He is anti-social, and tended to have problems communicating.
- He made Rory cry by yelling at her when he was angry.
- He didn't try his hardest in high school, which lead to him flunking out.
Appearances
Season 2
2.05 • 2.06 • 2.08 • 2.10 • 2.12 • 2.13 • 2.15 • 2.16 • 2.17 • 2.19 • 2.21 • 2.22
Season 3
3.01• 3.02 • 3.04 • 3.05 • 3.06 • 3.07 • 3.08 • 3.09 • 3.10 • 3.12 • 3.13 • 3.14 • 3.15 • 3.17 • 3.18 • 3.19 • 3.20 • 3.21 • 3.22
Season 4
4.13 • 4.14 • 4.20 • 4.21
Season 6
6.09 • 6.18