When you're watching Gilmore Girls for your one-millionth binge-watch, you land on new questions you might not have considered before. Whether it's about Lorelai and Rory's personal decisions about their love interests or why a certain character disappears and never comes back, there's always something new to consider when taking your latest trip to Stars Hollow.
In Gilmore Girls season 3, Emmy Award-nominated actor Adam Brody makes his debut as Lane's boyfriend and bandmate Dave Rygalski. He's a charming young man desperate to win over Mrs. Kim's approval in order to officially date Lane out in the open. Because Brody's such an incredible actor, Dave became a fan-favorite character, but he doesn't appear again after season 3.
Unfortunately, Gilmore Girls writes off Dave to attend college in California, and to this day, some fans don't understand why the character couldn't stick around longer on the series. Why couldn't Adam Brody remain on the show longer than one season, and why was he written off so abruptly? Well, the answer's pretty simple, and it's all because of another iconic series we know and love.
The O.C. caused Adam Brody to leave Gilmore Girls
After making his final appearance as Dave in Gilmore Girls season 3 episode 20, titled "Say Goodnight, Gracie," Adam Brody doesn't make any further appearances in the series. If you look at the year the episode was released — May 2003 — it's clear to see why: Brody had already been cast as the series regular character Seth Cohen in Fox's latest teen drama The O.C.
When Fox picked The O.C. up to series and cast Brody in a series regular role, the actor would no longer be able to appear in Gilmore Girls. While both shows filmed in Los Angeles, it would be impossible, likely both logistically and contractually, for Brody to appear in The O.C. as one of its leads while also having a major recurring role on Gilmore Girls. Plus, it wouldn't be fair to either character.
It's safe to say that Brody likely made the correct choice between the two shows, though it's unknown what Gilmore Girls would have had planned for Dave and Lane. Taking the role as Seth Cohen completely changed Brody's life and career trajectory, and The O.C. in turn changed the modern teen drama series as we know it. Following in Beverly Hills, 90210's footsteps, the tongue-in-cheek drama became the new standard in the early aughts.
In case there are any Gilmore Girls fans who somehow still haven't watched The O.C. almost 25 years later, the series made its premiere in August 2003 and remains a seminal classic of its genre. The series takes place in Newport Beach and follows the lives of its privileged youth as a newcomer from the wrong side of the tracks arrives and gives the small town a culture shock.
Brody starred as Seth Cohen, the only son of Sandy (Peter Gallagher) and Kirsten Cohen (Kelly Rowan). The Cohen family isn't the average Orange County pairing, as the Jewish public defender married the blonde-haired, blue-eyed heiress of a real estate empire. Seth despises his hometown and its fake residents, until his new best friend and adoptive brother Ryan (Ben McKenzie) arrives.
The O.C.'s legacy has far outlasted the four seasons it remained on the air. As a pop culture phenomenon, the teen drama burned bright and fast, a short-lived sensation that still stands the test of time alongside its direct competition, The WB/The CW's One Tree Hill, which premiered during the same television season but lasted for nine seasons.
Between its sarcastic sense of humor, breakneck pacing, flipped character archetypes, and inspired used of indie music, The O.C. managed to transform how we view and interact with teen drama series and remains among the last of its kind. The show's legacy would not be what it is today if Adam Brody hadn't left Gilmore Girls. As much as we miss Dave, at least we got Seth out of the deal.