"When I think of the fall season, I immediately think of Gilmore Girls. Throwing on an episode is like taking a stroll down Main Street in Stars Hollow, grabbing a warm coffee at Luke’s, and going home for a cozy movie night. The show is always a reliable fall go-to, even if it has some pretty glaring plot holes. While not every show is going to have Lorelai and Rory, there are so many series out there that provide that same cozy fall feeling. After all, there’s nothing quite like a good rewatch. If you’ve rewatched Gilmore Girls for the millionth time and are starting to feel like you might need to step outside of Stars Hollow as a palette cleanser, check out these charming, romantic, and sometimes chilling shows instead.
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1. Only Murders in the Building
What can I say about Only Murders in the Building, other than “I love it so much”? Even though each season centers around a murder that Mabel, Oliver, and Charles (the most iconic multi-generational trio of all time) have to solve, it still manages to give off super cozy vibes. Every time we get to see inside one of the apartments at the Arconia, especially Mabel’s first apartment, I feel like grabbing a coffee and curling up in my favorite chair. As an added bonus, Mabel’s outfits are always incredible, and the perfect inspiration for a fall look.
2. The Vampire Diaries
This is for the viewers that love fall, but also love vampires and romance. The Vampire Diaries is similar to Gilmore Girls in that it takes place in a small town that appears to be perpetually set in the fall. There’s always fog in the air and several attractive vampires about. The show continues for eight incredible seasons, which get increasingly complicated as far as the plot goes. Throw this on and you’ll have a show to watch that will get you through all of fall and then some.
3. Charmed
If witches and magic are more your thing in the fall than Gilmore Girls, then Charmed is the series for you. Charmed follows the Halliwell sisters, so it has the same focus on familial dynamics as Gilmore Girls. Not only does it feel like stepping back in time, but every episode evokes a crisp October day. That is, if that day also included various evil forces and magic being thrown around. Charmed began in the ’90s and ended in the early 2000s after 8 seasons, so anyone who grew up during that time might feel some serious fall-season nostalgia.
4. One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill is full of high school drama and soap opera stakes. If you like shows where every episode ends on a cliffhanger, this one is for you. The show takes place in and around a high school, which always gives me fall feelings—nothing says autumn like back to school. Much like Gilmore Girls, it’s incredibly nostalgic, and will likely leave you with some questions and new perspectives on the characters if you’re a former fan who’s rewatching it.
5. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
While the original Sabrina the Teenage Witch definitely gives fall ’90s vibes, this newer take on the character is modern, funny, romantic, and scary at the same time. The aesthetic of the show is fun and whimsical, but still feels grounded in the character relationships. If Halloween is your favorite part of fall and you love rooting for a complex main character like Rory in Gilmore Girls, this is the show to throw on.
6. Riverdale
Like Gilmore Girls, Riverdale takes place in a small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business, but this show has a lot more edge to it. It follows a group of friends as they try to get through high school and uncover the secrets of their town. There’s romance, mystery, family drama, and school drama. You’ll find that most of the scenes have a crisp and foggy feel to them. Sure, the later seasons get a bit crazy, but that’s exactly like Gilmore Girls too, right?
7. A Discovery of Witches
This series takes place in several locations and time periods, but the scenes in Oxford and Connecticut are full of fall magic. The plot revolves around a witch who falls in love with a vampire, and their epic journey to save all of their kind. It’s based on a book series, which is even better than the show. In A Discovery of Witches, we get to see a few cozy apartments and houses that scream fall, much like Lorelai’s living room. I truly cannot watch an episode of this show without drinking hot tea.
8. Abbott Elementary
If having a Gilmore Girls fall makes you think of Rory’s school uniform and her quest to get into colleges, your idea of fall might be directly related to the start of school. While Abbott Elementary covers the entire school year, every episode feels like the first day of school. The themes and storylines are consistently hilarious, heartwarming, and cozy. The characters will remind you of your favorite teachers, and you might even want to reach out to thank all the teachers in your life after you watch it.
9. Wednesday
Wednesday is definitely a show I’m going to rewatch every fall. Even though it’s about Wednesday’s journey at school and there’s a scary creature running about, it somehow manages to be super warm and inspiring for fall. The show even has its own coffee shop setting that the characters return to, which screams Gilmore Girls. Like literally screams it, because this show is way scarier than Gilmore Girls, but equally as funny and refreshing. Wednesday and Rory have a few things in common, too—including becoming unlikely besties with a girl who they initially despise.
10. Sanditon
If you love Gilmore Girls, but you also love period pieces, Sanditon is a show that you should watch right now. The show revolves around a seaside escape town in England, run by people who all know each other. The romance, especially in the first season, is very Bridgerton as well. While we often see shows that have fall settings in the woods or inland towns, this show proves that fall can also be beautiful by the ocean. If you loved Gilmore Girls for the incredibly slow-burn romance between Lorelei and Luke, you’ll love Sanditon.
Michelle Lema, Contributing Writer
Michelle is a Los Angeles-based writer, performer, and on-camera host. She has worked in editorial and on-camera entertainment coverage with brands like Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. She has been writing about shows, books, and movies on The Everygirl since 2022.