The colder seasons are very much here, and – in typical English fashion – they’re here to stay for the foreseeable. With deadlines approaching and reading week coming up for many of us, it’s time to focus. But, when the skies are grey and the rain is pouring, it’s hard to resist the urge to cosy up with a warm blanket – hot chocolate and hot water bottle to hand – and binge-watch to your heart’s desire.
Here’s what I like to think of as the all-encompassing list for when moments like this hit.
Gilmore Girls
First up is the show we all think of when we think of fall. Set in Sleepy Hollow, the majority of the series takes place in Autumn, and we’re met with visions of falling brown leaves, turtlenecks and lots of coffee. ‘Gilmore Girls’ follows the life of a young mother, Lorelai Gilmore, and her daughter, Rory; it’s impossible not to find comfort in every episode, as the two meet their fair share of difficulties before coming together for nights in with good films and good food. A major plus in this is Rory’s impeccable academic history, so I like to think of it as a bit of motivation. Definitely not a distraction.
The Chair
Continuing with the academic Autumn feels is ‘The Chair’ starring Sandra Oh – with only one season, it’s perfect to watch in one on a rare night in. The show follows Dr Ji-Yoon Kim, the first woman of colour to be made Head of English at an incredibly prestigious university, and the trials she faces in her position; the series has both an incredible plot and a New England setting bringing in elements of Dark Academia, and the things that make Autumn the best season of the year (or at least top four).
The Fall of the House of Usher
Halloween has been and gone, but I’m a strong believer that you cannot write a fall TV list without including horror. ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’, released on 12th October, is the latest in Mike Flanagan’s series anthology and is based on the work of Edgar Allen Poe. While the main selling point is its undeniable spookiness, both the dark atmosphere and its miniseries structure make for the perfect night in. If you feel like it, you could even watch the show’s predecessors ‘The Haunting of Blythe Manor’ (2020) and ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ (2018), both of which have the same eerie appeal.
American Horror Story
Keeping up, briefly, with the horror genre, you can’t even mention Halloween-y shows without giving a special mention to the renowned anthology series ‘American Horror Story’. The latest instalment ‘Delicate’ premiered on Disney+ on September 20th, and follows the same unique spookiness as previous seasons, following a young actress who’s desperate for a family (played by AHS veteran Emma Roberts) and becomes increasingly paranoid that someone is going to great lengths to stop her from falling pregnant. Much like ‘The Fall of The House of Usher’, the new season of AHS is fairly non-committal – watch all seasons if you’d like to, but you won’t be lost if you only watch Season 12.
Squid Game: The Challenge
Anyone keeping up with pop culture would be aware of ‘Squid Game’, which premiered in 2021. While I wouldn’t classify it as feel-good, it’s most definitely bingeable. Netflix is releasing a reality spin-off ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ this November, and while it (thankfully) won’t be as violent as the series is based upon, it promises to push the players ‘’to their limits and […] ask themselves just how far they’ll go to win’’. If you’re a fan of reality TV, this one may be for you – and in typical Netflix fashion, all episodes will premiere on November 22nd. Perfect to watch all in one or, if you have self-restraint (which I unfortunately lack), the show can act as a between-study break.
Twin Peaks
Next on the list is ‘Twin Peaks’, the dark murder-mystery set in Washington State. While I, like a fair few shows on this, would not classify ‘Twin Peaks’ as feel-good, the seemingly consistent Autumn setting (no matter the season) does add a level of comfort. Some of the show’s noteworthy characters, such as Shelly Johnson, also embrace fall fashion, bringing in much-needed style inspiration for the colder months.
One Tree Hill
Another show with a consistent autumnal feel is ‘One Tree Hill’, an American Drama which follows the lives of a group of teenagers in a small town in North Carolina. Released initially in 2003, and running for nearly 10 years until 2012, the show has its fair share of relationship issues, but the comforting setting makes for an undeniably cosy binge. ‘One Tree Hill’ can be streamed on ITVX, but may not be an all-in-one watch.
Friends
Special mention to arguably one of the most bingeable series of all time, ‘Friends’. Starring Jennifer Anniston, Courtney Cox, and the late Matthew Perry (who brought an unreal amount of humour and, with his co-star Courtney Cox, one of the most idyllic relationships to life on the small screen), the show follows the life of five friends living in New York. Adding to the autumnal element is one of the show’s most prominent settings, ‘Central Perk Coffee’, with its comfy sofas and copious amounts of coffee. ‘Friends’ can be watched on Netflix, or most days on Comedy Central (if you’re not too fussed about watching it in order).
Percy Jackson and The Olympians
While it, unfortunately, will not be starring internet boyfriend Logan Lerman, my inner tween is begging for me to mention the upcoming release of ‘Percy Jackson and The Olympians’. The release date for this one is 20th December, which gives you plenty of time to rewatch the three-part film series starring Alexandra Daddario. The show will be released on Disney+ and should bring in perfect elements of nostalgia and fantasy to take you away from the world (and workload) for a little while.