Alex Lesman (Billy Burke) briefly appeared as one of Lorelai Gilmore’s (Lauren Graham) boyfriends in season 3 of Gilmore Girls, but he disappeared shortly thereafter. Lorelai first meets him at a conference, where they bond over their shared love of coffee. However, their relationship is short-lived, as Lorelai finds herself kissing her ex-fiancé Max Medina (Scott Cohen). Max was Rory Gilmore’s (Alexis Bledel) teacher at Chilton Academy in Gilmore Girls. Alex’s departure is never shown or explained in detail, but it appears their relationship never turned serious.
As for Billy Burke, the actor soon appeared in several television shows, including Law & Order and Fringe, before his 2008 role in Twilight cemented his mainstream audience. His brief time on Gilmore Girls was not necessarily used to develop a character, but to signify that Lorelai moved on after abruptly calling off her wedding to Max.
Gilmore Girls Season 3 Subtly Explained Why Alex & Lorelai Broke Up
The Pair’s Brief Relationship Appeared To Fizzle Out
When Lorelai attends an event at Rory’s school, she runs into Max for the first time since their broken engagement. The two share a kiss, leaving Lorelai emotionally confused, as she has already begun seeing Alex. As the kiss raised old feelings so easily, Lorelai realizes that she needs to take time to consider what she is truly looking for in a relationship. Lorelai’s first relationship with Christopher Hayden (David Sutcliffe), Rory’s father, laid a complicated foundation for the way that she pursues relationships into adulthood. As she says:
“I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m feeling or what I’m looking for these days, and I hate that. ‘Cause it’s so wishy-washy, but it’s true.
I mean, technically, I’m still seeing Alex, although it’s more intermittent than ever.
I’m not even sure I wanna get back together with Max. The kiss just happened out of the blue.”
Alex is not seen post-kiss, and this brief moment of dialogue explains why her relationship with Alex was inconsequential in the grand scheme of Gilmore Girls. Unlike Lorelai’s most meaningful relationships on the show, Alex bears no ties to her past, and never becomes involved in her personal life with Rory and her family.
Alex Was Quite Unique Among Lorelai’s Boyfriends In Gilmore Girls
Lorelai Seldom Casually Dates
Throughout the seven seasons of Gilmore Girls, Lorelai has several serious and emotionally involved relationships. She was engaged to Max Medina, and later reconnects with her old camp friend Jason Stiles (Chris Elgeman), striking up a relationship. Lorelai ultimately ends up married to her best friend-turned-husband Luke Danes (Scott Patterson). All three of these relationships are known to both Rory and Lorelai’s parents, Emily (Kelly Bishop) and Richard (Edward Hermann) Gilmore.
Gilmore Girls: Luke and Lorelai’s Relationship Timeline, Season By Season
Luke and Lorelai always had chemistry on Gilmore Girls, but it took the two Stars Hollow residents a long time to act on their love for each other.
Alex was a rare case in which Lorelai went on several dates with a potential suitor, but ultimately never pursued a serious relationship. He is a recurring character in her life, and then ultimately drifts off with no repercussions. Alex does not appear in Gilmore Girls after season 3. In season 4, Lorelai instead pursues Jason, and eventually, is torn between Christopher and Luke. Casual dating is not usually Lorelai’s nature, and her relationship with Alex shows why more relationships of this type are not integral to the character’s arc in the show.
In the fictional town of Star’s Hollow, single mother Lorelai Gilmore raises her high-achieving teenage daughter Rory. Mother and daughter rely on each other throughout their own life changes, romantic entanglements, and friendships.