Gilmore Girls Lost Two 2000s Heartthrobs That Could Have Changed Everything

In the 2000s, Gilmore Girls was a groundbreaking TV show that greatly influenced popular culture. However, unexpectedly, two major stars of the era decided to depart from the series. A significant aspect of the show revolved around the romantic lives of the main characters, and while it was evident that Luke and Lorelai were destined for each other, fans were often divided over whom Rory should ultimately be with, with many favoring either Team Dean, Team Jess, or Team Logan.

Indeed, the Gilmore Girls cast members Jared Padalecki, Milo Ventimiglia, and Matt Czuchry became three of the most beloved heartthrobs in Hollywood during that period. Yet, they were not the only ones to capture the hearts of teen viewers. Numerous shows from the 2000s targeted at adolescents showcased good-looking young stars that fans couldn’t get enough of. Among these two standouts were the teen drama series One Tree Hill and The O.C. Interestingly, both of these successful shows also had actors who previously appeared in Gilmore Girls.

Chad Michael Murray & Adam Brody Left Gilmore Girls For Other Opportunities

They Went On To Star In One Tree Hill & The O.C.

In the TV series Gilmore Girls, Chad Michael Murray portrayed Tristin DuGray, a confident wealthy student at Chilton Prep who often served as an early adversary to Rory. Despite frequently poking fun at her and using the less-than-flattering nickname “Mary”, it was evident that Tristin harbored romantic feelings for the youngest Gilmore.

In my opinion as a movie reviewer, Tristin seemed poised for a larger part on the series, but his sudden exit to military school left many viewers puzzled. However, Murray clarified on the I Am All In with Scott Patterson podcast that he chose to depart due to an influx of acting opportunities. Not long after bidding farewell to the Gilmore Girls set, Murray landed a role in One Tree Hill. Over the course of six seasons, he portrayed Lucas Scott, eventually becoming one of television’s most recognized figures.

In the realm of popular TV shows from the 2000s, we have Adam Brody, famously portraying Dave Rygalski, Lane’s affectionate suitor in Gilmore Girls season 3. Although some viewers might dispute Brody’s view that Dave wasn’t Lane’s boyfriend, his character was adored by fans for his thoughtful and caring nature towards her. Unfortunately, Brody’s tenure on Gilmore Girls was brief. Similarly to Dave, the actor departed for California, as he landed the role of Seth Cohen in The O.C.

Chad Michael Murray on Gilmore Girls
First Episode Season 1, Episode 2, “The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton”
Last Episode Season 2, Episode 9, “Run Away, Little Boy”
Adam Brody on Gilmore Girls
First Episode Season 3, Episode 3, “Application Anxiety”
Last Episode Season 3, Episode 20, “Say Goodnight, Gracie”

Despite being initially portrayed as the less appealing, nerdy character opposite Ryan Atwood’s bad boy persona, fans were captivated by Seth’s endearing, quirky personality. Brody has successfully cashed in on this on-screen identity and will continue to do so in the upcoming season 2 of Nobody Wants This, where he returns as Noah “Hot Rabbi” Roklov.

Murray’s Tristan Had Great Chemistry With Rory

Their Relationship Could Have Caused Trouble For Her & Dean

Romances where characters start off as enemies and eventually become lovers can sometimes be filled with warning signs, as it’s generally not appealing for a charming heroine to be involved with an unpleasant man. Initially, Tristin certainly fit this description when we were introduced to him in Gilmore Girls, but over the course of time, he underwent a change. A significant factor contributing to this transformation was that he genuinely had feelings for Rory and understood that he couldn’t win her over with his good looks and wealth alone.

It appeared that Rory might also have developed feelings for Tristan, and if he hadn’t left, it seemed like Gilmore Girls could have delved into the possibility of a romantic relationship between them. However, this would have created significant issues with her boyfriend at the time, Dean, who was already suspicious of Tristan.

Indeed, if that scenario had unfolded earlier, we could have delved deeper into Dean’s threat from privileged figures in Rory’s life, a conflict that was more fully developed during season 5 but seemed less impactful as Dean’s role waned and dragged down the show. It would have been intriguing to observe how Tristin would handle Jess’s presence, a dynamic not fully explored until later seasons.

Lane Deserved Her Happily Ever After With Brody’s David

Her Awful Gilmore Girls Ending Is A Crime

Chad Michael Murray shone brilliantly on “Gilmore Girls,” however, the departure of Adam Brody was truly heart-wrenching. With a resurgence in the actor’s popularity following the success of “Nobody Wants This,” Dave Rygalski has seen a surge in attention on social media. Numerous TikTok videos extol Dave’s virtues as the ideal, and he is often compared to other romantic icons such as Ryan Gosling’s character, Noah Calhoun from “The Notebook.” This adoration largely arises from the plotline where Dave spent an entire night reading the Bible in an attempt to win Lane’s mom’s approval for him to take Lane to the prom.

In the end, Lane found the storyline fitting for her character when she worked with Dave, contrary to her earlier role being merely an irritating sidekick to Rory. However, when Dave departed from the show, so did any hope for a satisfactory conclusion for Lane in “Gilmore Girls.” Although it was entertaining to see her develop her musical talent while touring with the band, her final pairing with immature Zach felt like a step back from her strong connection with Dave.

The unfortunate twist is that she conceived twins upon their first sexual encounter, which made it seem as though the characters in Gilmore Girls were somehow penalizing her instead of providing her with a more suitable partner. If another season of Gilmore Girls ever returns, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a romantic reunion between Lane and Dave.

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2025-05-17 03:29

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