Jess Mariano leaves the iconic show ‘Gilmore Girls’ at the end of the third season. He reappears in season 4 and makes his final leave in season 6 episode 18.
Jess Mariano in Gilmore Girls
‘Gilmore Girls’ stars Milo Ventimiglia as Jess Mariano, a crucial character. After moving to the made-up town of Stars Hollow in the second season, Jess becomes a prominent character in the story and is still one of the most adored ones on the program. He is presented as Luke Danes’ nephew, and he and Rory Gilmore fall in love right away.
When Jess first arrives in Stars Hollow, people see him as a mischievous, misguided adolescent with a taste for books. Over the course of the series, his persona changes from troublemaker to intelligent young man, all the while maintaining his love of books and indie rock music.
Related: Which Gilmore Girls Character Are You?
Relationship with Rory
Jess’s character arc revolves heavily around his friendship with Rory. It’s a highly erratic experience at first, with many highs and lows. Despite the difficulties, their mutual appreciation of books draws them closer and is a key plot point. Because Jess and Rory are portrayed as being true to themselves, many fans believe that their relationship is one of the most sincere in the entire series.
Their relationship suffers a serious blow when Jess abruptly departs Stars Hollow without saying anything to anyone, not even Rory. This is one of the pivotal scenes in the third season finale that indicates Jess’s exit from the program. But in the latter seasons, Jess shows up occasionally, which rekindles their relationship.
Jess’ Departure
The third season of “Gilmore Girls” concludes with Jess’s regular character exit. He leaves Stars Hollow abruptly, not even saying farewell to anyone. His incapacity to face his affections for Rory and his difficulties integrating into the lovely and tight-knit community of Stars Hollow are the main causes of this decision.
For Jess, his leaving marks a pivotal moment since it causes him to focus on himself and undergo a change. In following seasons, he finally makes a comeback to the program in a recurrent role, displaying his growth and maturity by operating a small publishing company and publishing a book. It is clear that he was able to find his personal and professional identities throughout his time away from Stars Hollow.
Jess’ Return and Last Appearance
Even though she left Stars Hollow as a regular character, Jess still returns occasionally. In the fourth season, he first reappears, appearing more responsible and determined. When he returns to Stars Hollow in the sixth season, it’s to show Rory his first published work and subtly sway her choice to take a sabbatical from Yale. In the ‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life’ revival series, Jess makes his final appearance and continues to demonstrate his development as a mature actor.
Overall, Jess Mariano’s character journey shows a notable transformation from a rebel to a well-mannered person. Leaving ‘Gilmore Girls’ at the conclusion of the third season may have been the catalyst for his eventual maturation and self-discovery, therefore his exits and reappearances play a crucial role in the story of the entire show.
