Who’s the best ‘Gilmore Girls’ boyfriend?

Welcome to Pop Culture Throwdown, a weekly column where Mashable’s Entertainment team tackles the big questions in life, like what Star Wars movie is best and which superhero would win in a fight.

This week, we asked each other (and all of you, on Twitter): Who is the best Gilmore Girls boyfriend? Let the throwdown begin.

Luke Danes

It’s the question fans asked Lorelai for four grueling seasons before Luke Danes finally answered the greatest will-they-won’t-they in Stars Hollow history: “Will you just stand still?” 

From the series’ very first moments, Luke and Lorelai have been the emotional bedrock of Gilmore Girls — the uncertainty that made each theme song sing, filled every finale with promise, and kept us watching year after year. The banter, the coffee, the banter and coffee: we know the diner dynamic of Lorelai and Luke so well it’s practically synonymous with the series itself, providing some of the show’s funniest and loveliest moments.

Right off the bat, the chemistry between Scott Patterson and Lauren Graham was so spectacular Amy Sherman-Palladino had but to anchor her perfect world in it. Over time, Luke’s love for Lorelai and Rory came to mirror our own. Even when the titular Gilmore girls were maddeningly indecisive, immature, or lacking in nutrition, Luke counted on them and they counted on him. Things weren’t always perfect [gestures wildly at the Jess of it all], but they were always meant to be. 

Sure, I’ll never forgive ASP for writing Luke and Lorelai’s first kiss as part of a dream, and I could have done without the April plotline (sorry.) But there’s a reason the show crescendoed with the pair’s long-awaited wedding. Second only to Rory and Lorelai themselves, Luke and Lorelai made this show great. Permanently. And Forever. -Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

Max Medina

It’s Max, Medina. Maaax Medina. Lorelai has had several worthy men in her life (not Digger,) but I believe her best boyfriend was Max, Rory’s english teacher at Chilton. Christopher may have known Lorelai the best, but he grew up with her for goodness sake! Max, on the other hand, was able to connect with Lorelai instantly and the two formed a deep bond very fast. They had the whole wordsmith thing in common, Rory liked him and he cared about her deeply, and he was handsome, intelligent, and a real classy gentleman. Though Max was far from a “bad boy,” he was well-read and had great hair like the hottest Gilmore boyfriend, Jess, which is a plus.

Max was the best of both worlds. He read Proust but wasn’t like super pretentious about it. (He was in NO hurry to get that valuable-looking copy of Swann’s Way back.) And though I will never understand why he went to the trouble of sending a thousand freaking yellow daisies to propose to Lorelai but didn’t put in the effort to DRIVE to the inn to ask her to marry him in person, he was romantic as hell. (Also, he left hot voicemails.) Max and Lorelai didn’t have the best timing, but I do believe that in some alternate small-town Connecticut reality they could have been great. –Nicole Gallucci, Culture Reporter

Dave Rygalski

A Gilmore Girls boyfriend could be interpreted as any male paramour to appear on this show, not just one who dated a Gilmore (either way Trix’s makeout buddy in the Velour jumpsuit makes the cut), and in that case the answer is clear: Dave Rygalski. When Dave appeared in Season 2, he was immediately juxtaposed with Rory and Dean, who were copacetic to the point of causing drowsiness, and Rory and Jess, whose hot-and-cold sexual tension has sent many of us to therapy. 

Dave was a man among boys, a king among plebes, embracing his feelings for Lane and putting up with all manner of skullduggery to be with her in a way that Mrs. Kim might one day allow. He follows a schedule to steal moments with her alone, never compromises their work with the band, and eats a dangerous amount of tofurkey. He deserved that bible-kiss-bible and so much more. –Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter

Doyle McMaster

Look, I love Jess as much as the next book-obsessed former high school nerd, but if we’re looking at all of the men on the series, not just Rory’s…interesting choices, I’ve got to go with Paris Gellar’s main man, Doyle. A smart, tough editor at the Yale Daily News who is always quick with a witty comeback, Doyle mostly won me over thanks to his steady love for a smart, intense weirdo. I implore you to rewatch the clip of Paris trying to break up with him so she’s not distracted in medical school and him proposing that he’ll just…live with her wherever because he just wants to be with her. I cry every time! Their romance was rarely center stage, so I don’t have as much evidence as some people on here. But I always liked what I saw! (And yes, for purposes of this exercise I’m pretending the revival didn’t happen. Paris & Doyle forever!) –Erin Strecker, Entertainment Editor 

No one

The thing about all the boys in Gilmore Girls is they all suck. Dean is an entitled ass. Logan is a cheating, pretentious ass. Jess is a dumbass. Tristan is just an ass. Rory is surrounded by asses and she isn’t better off with any of them. She’s better off without them and she should keep looking for someone who truly respects and appreciates her. Same with Lorelai. Everyone she dates stinks, even the crowd favorite Luke has an obnoxiously judgmental side for someone who only has one outfit. -Kellen Beck, Entertainment Reporter