People Change

I know that the category..."People Change"...can be so broad and lengthy that I decided to focus on just one person -- Jess Mariano. Last night as I rewatched season six's The Real Paul Anka episode, I started thinking about Jess's GG premiere and his character. We know Jess was knee-deep in some sort of parental pain, whatnot with his nonexistent father and carefree mom. He speaks common sense and literally grasps knowledge beyond his level (though his efforts are at zero). This boy when on the verge of manhood taught himself well, without the help of anyone. But what really manipulates his character and his attitude is Rory Gilmore. This girl turns his world upside down! At first, Rory just intrigues the boy -- a small town girl with beauty and brains. And before you know it, Jess bends over backwards (making good with her mom, helping Luke and all such things) to win Rory over. His methods do pin her in a bind with Dean, but his efforts don't go un-noticed by anyone. His compatibility matches Rory end to end, and every viewer has voted Jess over Dean. I remember back when season two was airing; I would have given anything for the two to get together. Jess seemed to be a better person when he was with Rory. But when season three rolled around and Jess landed the smart Rory, his character seemed to drop...off a cliff with a canonball tied to it. He changed for the worse. He treated Rory all wrong, skipped school and treat Luke even worse than when he arrived in Stars Hollow (the lying and such). I know that writers wrote him this way, but I hated his change all the same. Hello, he left Rory alone for her graduation without the decency to tell her that he has split. So I was glad that Rory upper-cut him with her words in season four's finale by telling him no. He deserved it, and I guess he knew it because his season six appearances have really showed him in a new light. A light that has matured him and corrected him. He is successful. He wrote a book. He has a mag, book and whatever else store with a couple of his buddies up in Philly. I'm glad that Jess has reinvented himself with a splash of season two, and I'm even more happier that his character has a purpose. Saying his name, Jess Mariano, brings whole another sensation to the air. And I like it this way, whether he is a regulare character or not and whether he has Rory or not. It might have taken Rory to shake some sense into him, but without Rory in his life, Jess has made himself first-rate.

What do you guys think? How is Jess in your eyes? Do you have a favorite Jess season or episode? Is he better with Rory in his life or without Rory in his life? And how do you think she has impacted his life?