As summer comes to a close and the cold autumn weather starts to roll in, the urge to curl up with a blanket and a binge-worthy show is stronger than ever. Although it’s midterm season and assignments are piling up at this point in the semester, it’s important to devote some time to self-care and relaxation as well. In need of some good shows to binge in your free time? Here are four shows perfect for the fall season.
- Only Murders in the Building
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This ten-episode mini-series on Hulu stars Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short. The story follows three characters, all obsessed with true-crime podcasts, who live in the same apartment building in New York City. When a fellow resident in their building is murdered in his apartment, a newfound friendship is born between the three strangers and they embark on solving the truth behind the murder — creating their own podcast in the process, dubbed “Only Murders in the Building.” The trio as a whole represents different aspects of New York narcissism. Martin’s character, Charles, as a once-famous actor, Short’s character, Oliver, a once-successful theatrical Broadway director, and Gomez’s character, Mabel, being young, sarcastic, and laconic. While this series is comedic in the discourse between these characters, an element of mystery remains with twists and turns at every corner in each episode. (It honestly left me jaw-dropped at the end of the eighth episode, if you know, you know.) Between the show taking place in New York City, being set during the fall, and solving crimes, this show is perfect with Halloween around the corner.
- One Tree Hill
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An oldie but goodie, One Tree Hill gives fall energy in a way I just can’t explain. If this is your first watch, the enticing stories of the five main teenagers at Tree Hill High School will have you hooked from the very beginning. Following the story of two half-brothers, Lucas and Nathan Scott, you slowly begin to love these characters, their backstories, and all the friends, family, and twists and turns that come with it. Maybe it’s the high school “Friday night lights” feel from all the sports games, the feeling of going back to school in the fall, or the nostalgia from this show in the early 2000s, but this nine-season drama is a classic I revert to every fall when the school year rolls around.
- The Undoing
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A six-episode mini-series, The Undoing is a mystery thriller that premiered on HBO last fall. Starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, this show kept me on the edge of my seat every episode. This series focuses on the life of the Frasers, Grace (Kidman) and Jonathan (Grant), a successful New York couple whose lives are turned upside down when Jonathan is accused of the murder of a fellow neighbor in their community. While I’m not one for horror, this psychological thriller kept me engaged every episode, and the he-did-it/she-did-it back and forth every episode continually kept me in suspense.
- Little Fires Everywhere
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Another limited series, Little Fires Everywhere, stars Reese Witherspoon (Elena Richardson) and Kerry Washington (Mia Warren). This series is set in the 90s and follows the seemingly picture-perfect Richardson family when their lives become intertwined with Mia Warren and her daughter — a duo who upend their lives nomadically. This story explores the weight of secrets, the power of art, the compelling nature of motherhood, and the danger in believing that following rules averts disaster at all costs.
Although the cold weather isn’t for everyone, hopefully one of these television series will make chilly fall days a little more enjoyable. Your next study break awaits!
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