Fall is here, and there is no season perfect for snuggling under a blanket, warm drink in hand, and binge-watching movies and shows as fall. With every fall comes a slew of movies and shows that are set in the fall, pieces of media that are just made for this season. Sometimes, it can feel overwhelming, being faced with all the content that is begging to be watched. Everyone wants a cozy night watching a good show or movie, and it can be hard to pick one that is just right. That’s why I’ve compiled a fall media guide of three shows and three movies to watch. Each piece of media offers something different, but they are a guaranteed perfect watch for fall.
Shows:
Gilmore Girls –This would not be a list about fall media without mentioning the fall show. Gilmore Girls is the perfect show to re-watch every fall. If you don’t know, Gilmore Girls is about Lorelai Gilmore, a clever, coffee-obsessed inn-keeper, who had her very intelligent daughter, Rory, at sixteen. Set in the small town of Stars Hollow, the show follows the mother-daughter duo throughout their lives. It’s cozy, entertaining, beautifully shot, and wonderfully witty. Though, the whole show is perfect for fall seasons one through three have the strongest autumnal vibes.
One Tree Hill – While not as fall focused as Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill was filmed around the same time and produced by the same network, so their vibes are somewhat similar. There’s something about a group of teenagers in a small town at the start of a school year that just screams fall. The show has a large cast of characters but mainly focuses on two brothers: Lucas and Nathan Scott, and their ever-evolving relationship. Both brothers have a talent for basketball, and it is this element that serves as the stage for major plotlines and character development. The show is more dramatic than Gilmore Girls, but that only makes it more entertaining. However, there is a major shift after season 6 when two main characters leave the show, making the earlier seasons, in my opinion, the best seasons and the one’s most worth watching.
Derry Girls – This show is the least fall focused show on the list, but again there’s something about a group of teenagers right as the school year starts; that makes a show perfect for this time of year. Derry Girls is truly a show of its own, and no matter how many times you watch it, it never gets boring. Set in the 1990’s during a time of political difficulties in Ireland, the show focuses on Erin (the main character), her friends, her family, and the adventures they get up to. The physical acting and the dialogue in the show are hilarious. Additionally, Derry Girls is one of few shows centered on a mostly female friend group that displays healthy female friendships. The characters genuinely support each other, rarely fight—and if they do, they make up before the end of the episode, and the argument is rarely, if ever, mentioned. What makes this show so amazing is the fact that even though the girls are coming of age during a time of trouble in Ireland, they are never daunted by this fact and still live their lives like normal teenage girls. Derry Girls is the type of show that is lighthearted and emotionally mature all at once.
Movies:
When Harry Met Sally – Just as Gilmore Girls is the fall show, When Harry Met Sally is the fall movie. There is not another movie on this list that encapsulates the feeling of fall as perfectly as this one does. Set throughout the 1970’s and 80’s, the movie follows Sally Albright and Harry Burns, two people with opposite personalities that keep running into each other. Eventually their dislike of each other turns to friendship, and then to romance. This movie is the full package: it’s entertaining, has a strong plot and main characters, it’s cozy and heartwarming, and contains some of the most beautiful scenes of autumn in New York.
Stepmom – Stepmom is a movie that doesn’t get as much love as it should. Not only is it so fall, but it also has a beautiful story. Starring Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon, one playing a mother, Jackie, terminally ill with cancer (Sarandon). The other playing Isabel, the woman marrying Jackie’s ex-husband (Roberts), and becoming the stepmother to Jackie’s children. The movie follows the strained, and often hostile, relationship between mother and stepmother. Jackie struggles with the fact she will be leaving her children behind with another woman, and Isabel worries that her stepchildren will hate her for the rest of their lives. Despite these feelings, respect grows between the women, resulting in an incredibly moving movie. The feel of this movie is very autumnal, and the shots of Jackie’s upstate house in full fall foliage are absolutely breath taking.
Fantastic Mr. Fox – Fantastic Mr. Fox is the only animated piece of media on any of these lists, and it truly deserves this place of honor. Directed by Wes Andersen, and filled with a star-studded cast (Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Bill Murray, to name a few), this movie takes Roald Dahl’s 1970 children’s book into a story not just for children, but for everyone. Mr. Fox (who is obviously a fox) is an adventurous thief who delights in stealing from three wealthy and cruel farmers. What results of Mr. Fox’s thievery is a humorous, but high stakes, war between the animals of the forests and the farmers. Mr. Fox tries desperately to save his family, while also dealing with the consequences of his actions. The movie deals with themes of denial and acceptance, family, and jealousy that anyone of any age can learn from. The movie, done in stop motion, mainly has a color palette of warm reds, yellows, oranges, and browns giving it a fall look and feel throughout.
With Fantastic Mr. Fox, the fall media guide has come to an end. This list is a short one, and it in no way includes all the countless pieces of media that are wonderful to watch this season. This guide is simply a list of fall focused media that I believe are the epitome of fall. I hope it has been helpful, and I hope it guides you to the perfect fall night in.