There’s a specific moment every year when I know fall has officially arrived. It’s not the official first day of fall, when Starbucks brings back the pumpkin chai, when we hit fall break, and it’s not even when I finally convince myself it’s cold enough to wear a sweatshirt without sweating five minutes later.
It’s when I see one leaf that’s no longer green. That’s all the proof I need for it to officially be fall in my eyes. The second I see a yellow, orange or slightly red leaf on the ground, I immediately decide that it’s officially Gilmore Girls season. I don’t care if it’s 75 degrees outside, if there are still bees pollinating, or if the weather app says summer is not ready to be done yet. In my mind, I’m in Stars Hollow.
Suddenly, I need a warm drink in my hand, a blanket, an oversized sweatshirt, and absolutely nothing written on my schedule. My biggest concern is whether I want an iced brown sugar shaken expresso or an iced pumpkin spiced chai while I rewatch Lorelai and Rory argue about their bra sizes and stealing each other’s clothes (if you know, you know).
There’s just something about Gilmore Girls in the fall that just feels right. The leaves, the little town, Luke’s Diner, the festivals, the private school Chilton, the iconic white Rory sweater, and Lorelai’s coffee obsession; it was practically designed for this time of the year (fall).
I want to walk into Luke’s Diner and order coffee. I want to sit in the gazebo in the middle of the town and journal while I people-watch. I want to attend one of Taylor Doose’s extremely unnecessary town meetings. I want to go to Doose’s Market and shop for cornstarch and cute boys. And I want to somehow end up at one of the random Stars Hollow festivals where everyone is taking something way too seriously. Most importantly, I want to trade lip gloss, drink coffee, and eat a butt load of junk food with Lorelai and Rory.
Will I convince myself that drinking a fun drink while watching Gilmore Girls is basically a fall activity? absolutely.
Watching Rory grow up was honestly one of the most entertaining parts of the show because somehow, she can go from being the perfect, book-loving student who reads approximately 900 books a week, to making decisions that make me want to chuck the remote at the TV.
However, I can’t bring up Rory without talking about the most important debate in all of Gilmore Girls history: Dean, Tristan, or Jess?
I’m not saying this debate could ruin friendships or anything, but I’m also not saying it couldn’t.
Dean is the classic first boyfriend. He built Rory a car, was sweet, tall, and had the whole “first small-town love” thing going for him. But then there’s Tristan, who basically annoyed Rory to show his affection, but was most definitely the hot one who never even got a chance. And somehow, despite being completely insufferable half the time, he still had enough charm to make people wonder, “wait… do I kind of like him?”
But then Jess shows up, and suddenly everyone has a favorite.
Jess is a sarcastic booklover with a sassy attitude, walking around Stars Hollow like he was personally hired to make Rory’s life more complicated. And yet… I get it, I truly do.
The debate between Dean, Tristan, and Jess will probably continue forever, because there’s no universally correct answer. Everyone has a friend who will defend their favorite boyfriend with their life. Personally, I think the best way to settle the argument is to rewatch the entire series ever fall and change your opinion about three times. That’s just part of the experience.
Of course, Gilmore Girls isn’t the only show that deserves a spot on the fall rotation. If you’re more of The Vampire Diaries girl; nothing says fall like dramatic vampires, Mystic Falls, and somehow everyone being involved in a love triangle.
Or maybe your fall comfort show is Gossip Girl–also completely valid. If you would rather spend your fall watching Blair Waldorf serve insane outfits, Serena start drama like it’s a nine-to-five job and see what kind of chaos Gossip Girl is going to expose next, I understand.
Honestly, there’s no wrong answer. Gilmore Girls, The Vampire Diaries, and Gossip Girl all have their own versions of fall. Gilmore Girls gives you the cozy small-town, romance, coffee feel. The Vampire Diaries gives you the mysterious and slightly creepy autumn nights. Gossip Girl gives you city fall, cute outfits, and enough drama to last until and even through Thanksgiving.
But for me, the second I hear “Where you Lead (I Will Follow)” by Carole King and Louise Goffin, I know exactly what I’m putting on, because fall isn’t just a season to me, it’s a personality.
It’s wearing a sweater and pairing it with your favorite black boots and high knit white socks. It’s getting a fun drink while cozying up in bed. It’s taking pictures of the colorful leaves on the trees and pumpkin patch photoshoots. It’s romanticizing life for no reason but enjoyment. And most importantly, it’s finding any excuse to watch your favorite comfort show.
It’s Gilmore Girls season. And all it took was one leaf.