Milo Ventimiglia, the brooding and rebellious Jess Mariano of ‘Gilmore Girls‘, took a very different tack on what he really thought should have happened to his character. Of course, all his suggestions would have only worked if Ventimiglia had actually been successful in pitching such a tragic ending to his character.
Jess is still an oft-referenced figure in Gilmore Girls lore. Being Rory’s rebellious boyfriend and nephew of Luke, Jess’s storyline was complex, and Ventimiglia believed a dramatic, even fatal conclusion could have fitted his story better.
Jess Mariano: The Broken Bad Boy
The neat and peaceful life of Stars Hollow stood no chance when Jess came to town displaying his bad-boy exterior laced with a rebel attitude. Handed over to his uncle, Luke Danes, for causing trouble back home, Jess Mariano proved to be the quintessential of the troubled teens: smart yet cynical, forever frustrated with the world around him.
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But behind the bluster and bravado, Jess was able to connect with both Luke and Rory, showing his softer, intellectual side. His presence in her life was enough to disrupt everything, and then introduce her to a wilder side of life, engaging fans in a large debate over which boyfriend suited her best.
A Grim Proposal For Jess’s End
The most astonishing revelation was that Ventimiglia once shared how he had pitched the idea of killing off Jess. In an interview with E!, he confessed, “I was the one who actually tried to get Jess killed,” envisioning a finale where Jess met a dark and untimely demise.
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Ventimiglia pitched a host of dramatic ways in which Jess might depart the show, from being hit by a bus to the fatal stabbing. He gave the logic that only if Jess died in tragedy would it truly be the actual end of his roller-coaster road. The producers had other things in mind, though and so Jess got to live out his storyline, resurfacing periodically as a mended and more mature character.
How Killing Jess Would Have Changed The Show
This tragic end would have dramatically changed the direction and the impact of the series if Jess had been written off with such an end. His reappearances not only symbolized growth but also contributed to Rory’s self-discovery. Their moments are those that helped fans imagine him as a steady, responsible adult during the latter seasons and most especially in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. His arrival became a metaphorical reminder of Rory’s history and what might have been, perhaps, if she had made different choices.
Even though Ventimiglia’s portrayal of Jess was very negative, the survival of this character allowed him to have experiences as a balancing force for Rory. In other words, from a troubled teen to a stable adult, Jess and his development in life were full of teachings on growth and redemption for both him and Rory. Fans are eagerly speculating over what Jess might say to Rory, should he ever return to the ‘Gilmore Girls ‘universe, exploring her new life as a mother. Keeping Jess alive is a gift to fans who could never accept Ventimiglia’s darker vision.
