With the weather turning colder, it’s worth curling up and watching these TV shows that perfectly encompass the fall season. As the leaves drop from the trees and knitted clothing starts to be pulled out from the back of wardrobes,it’s tempting to snuggle in front of the TV and stay inside. It’s not unusual forcozy rom-coms to be added to watch lists, but for those looking for something to binge, these TV shows are ideal. Fall TV shows can be defined in several ways.
Often,these titles have an overall atmosphere or tone that makes them feel familiar and comfortable. Some have qualities that are physically more representative of fall, such as having characters who are dressed for the weather, settings that reflect the holidays, or even scenes heavy with relevant colors. However, audiences who are looking for a wholesome fall watch should know thatthe best horror TV shows of 2024don’t necessarily encapsulate the season just because Halloween lines up with the time of year. Horror and supernatural themes may overlap, but fall TV shows are their own subgenre.
Over the Garden Wall
Cast
Over the Garden Wall is a miniseries that follows brothers Wirt and Greg as they navigate the mysterious Unknown, a timeless and enigmatic forest. Accompanied by a wise Woodsman and a bluebird named Beatrice, they embark on a journey filled with unexpected challenges to find their way home.
Over the Garden Wallis an adorable short animated TV show about two brothers, Wirt and Greg, who get lost in the Unknown, an enigmatic woodland. While it initially seems to be a tale about the siblings’ attempts to get home,Over the Garden Wall’s true meaningis a metaphor for death.
Although that appears rather morbid, the way the show executes this heartfelt story is also quite cozy and profound.Over the Garden Wallis Halloween-centric, as the pair stumble into the Unknown on the night of the spooky holiday. However,the show’s imagery is fall-related overall and is full of dark and eerie shadows, autumnal leaves, and creepy creatures.
The animated series has a Rotten Tomatoes critics' score of 96%.
Over the Garden Wallis rated 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is impressive, considering it is a title from 2014. But ten years later, the wholesome yet thought-provoking miniseries is still being discovered by new audiences and remains a beloved watch to those who have already seen it.
Twin Peaks
Conceived by Mark Frost and David Lynch in 1990, Twin Peaks is a supernatural mystery-drama series that brings FBI Agent Dale Cooper to the quiet town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of a young woman named Laura Palmer. As Dale continues his investigation of her death, he learns that Laura’s life wasn’t as she advertised it, and the town itself is hiding far more secrets than they let on. The show received a revival for a third and final season two decades later to resolve the cliffhanger left at the end of the second season.
Twin Peaksis undoubtedly a perfect fall watch. The first two seasons initially focus on whomthe killer ofTwin Peaks’ Laura Palmeris, and while the murder mystery story is uneasy enough, the addition of petrifying demons and unknown supernatural elements make the show even scarier. Although the show is set across different parts of the calendar year,it encapsulates the fall seasonmore than any other.
This is mainly because of the visuals inTwin Peaks. A majority of scenes inTwin Peaksfeature shots that perfectly represent fall,especially ones in nature.There are a lot of shots in eerie forests and woodlands, and even some of the town’s oddities are related to this, too.
For example, one ofTwin Peaks’ best characters, the Log Lady, often carries a chunk of tree around with her. Even the color grading of the show can be attributed to the fall feeling, and the earlier seasons are full of different shades of greens and warm oranges, which are perfect for the tone.
Only Murders in the Building
Only Murders in the Building is a mystery-comedy series following three strangers, portrayed by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, who bond over their shared obsession with true crime. Set in a Manhattan apartment building, the trio becomes embroiled in a real murder mystery within their residence.
Only Murders in the Buildingis one ofthe best mystery TV series of the 2020s, which follows three strangers who bond over their love of murder podcasts and later start one themselves. Of course, the unsettling storylines witheach season that focus on a suspicious death are great to settle down and watch on a fall evening,but there are other contributors to the show’s atmosphere.
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Selena Gomez’s Mabel wears multiple autumnal outfits, and she’s a brilliant style icon for the time of the year. Her thick sweaters, often yellow or orange, present a beautiful fall vibe. Even Martin Short’s Oliver and Steve Martin’s Charles are frequently sporting knitwear, too. So far,every installment of the show has aired in August or September.
This is the perfect time, as it is the lead-up to the fall season, and when the leaves start to drop from trees, audiences are keen to rewatch the most recent season to look for intricate details and hints they miss during their first watch-through. Presumably,Only Murders in the Buildingseason 5will be the same.
Gilmore Girls
In the fictional town of Star’s Hollow, single mother Lorelai Gilmore raises her high-achieving teenage daughter Rory. Mother and daughter rely on each other throughout their own life changes, romantic entanglements, and friendships.
If there is any fictional town that exemplifies the change from summer to colder weather, it’sStars Hollow inGilmore Girls. From the pilot, everything about the small Connecticut community screams fall. No matter the time of year,Stars Hollow seems to be permanently covered in crunchy leaves, and its residents are always dressed in fabulous coats.
Lorelai Gilmore is also fall-coded. Her love for coffee rivals theFriendsgang, and her cozying up in Luke’s Diner almost every day is amazing.Gilmore Girlsseason 1 kicks off with Rory starting at the prestigious prep school Chilton, which is during the fall.
Even theGilmore Girlsintro is a reminder of the fall season because of its sepia tones.
The mother and daughter’s Friday night dinners are very autumnal, too, although this is mainly because of Emily Gilmore’s decorating tastes more than anything else. EventheGilmore Girlsintro is a reminder of the fall season because of its sepia tones.So many ofGilmore Girls’ coziest episodesrepresent fall, especially the original show’s only Halloween story.
Agatha All Along
Agatha Harkness, after the events of “WandaVision,” seeks to regain her magical powers. Joining forces with unexpected allies, including the son of an old adversary, she battles new mystical threats while uncovering hidden secrets in the magical realm.
Many reviews ofAgatha All Alongpoint out that theWandaVisionspin-off is a fantastic Halloween watch. Naturally,the fact that the characters are witches and the show’s main storyline focuses on covens and trialsprovidesan eerie narrative. Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha is surprisingly not the most creepy of the bunch, however.
Rio Vidal is easily the spookiest, andAgatha All Alongknows that for any TV show to create such a tone, casting Aubrey Plaza is a must. Several scenes in the show use fall imagery, but other shots that aren’t in a strange forest add to the overall tone as well.Agatha All Alongepisode 5sees Harkness’ new coven in her trial, which is designed to represent multiple cheesy ‘80s horror movies.
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Teen’s use of the Ouija board and the brilliant ‘80s clothing everyone wears are fantastic indicators of Halloween. Even the episode’s final cliffhanger in the woodland, surrounded by thick mud and dark shadows, is a perfect example of whyAgatha All Alongencompasses fall.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Based on the Archie comic series, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a Netflix supernatural horror series that follows Sabrina Spellman, a young half-witch, half-human that is coming into her powers in her teenage years. To protect her friends, family, and the world itself, Sabrina will have to harness her powers and ignore the calls from her darker side to embrace her evil potential fully and instead use her powers for good. Despite the series cancellation in 2020, the show’s story was continued in The Occult World of Sabrina, a comic book serial.You can buy the seasons for just $9.99 for Prime Day.
WhileSabrina the Teenage Witchis a great candidate, the show’s dark and serious reinterpretation,Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,is a far more fitting title to watch during the fall.Chilling Adventures of Sabrinais very gothic and full of autumn-esque visualsfrom the first episode. Sabrina and her aunts live in a morgue, frequently take part in rituals, and fight back against the paranormal.
The characters' choice of clothing makes it seem like every episode is set in the fall, too, as everybody is always wrapped up in thick sweaters and long jackets. However, the spooky elements ofChilling Adventures of Sabrinaaren’t the only thing about the show that makes it feel like fall.
The fictional setting of Greendale is undoubtedly Halloween-centered,but the town is permanently fixed between the summer and winter. The show’s cinematography plays into this well, and many scenes are dimly lit, making viewers feel cold while watching, regardless of when. It’s a shame thatChilling Adventures of Sabrinaseason 5is no longer happening, but this doesn’t mean that seasons 1 to 4 aren’t perfect to watch throughout fall, and Sabrina’s story is continuing in the comics.
Charmed
Charmed is a television series centered on three sisters—Prue, Piper, and Phoebe—who discover their powers as the Charmed Ones, destined to fight evil forces. Set in modern-day San Francisco, the series explores their evolving magical abilities while they juggle personal lives and combat demons and warlocks.
The originalCharmedand the rebootare both great fall TV shows. However, the original is generally considered the better of the two, there are factors of the 2018 version that are good, too.Charmedfollows the three Halliwell sisters, the most powerful good witches of all time, who take advantage of their powers to protect the innocent from evil.
While it doesn’t always feel like fall throughoutall 8 seasons ofCharmed, the earlier installments definitely have a certain charm that encapsulates the time of year. The Halliwells try their best to balance their normal lives in San Francisco alongside their magical responsibilities.
The Halliwell Manor is very autumnal in its architectural design and interior decoration,which rivals some of the weirdest and creepiest haunted houses at times.Charmedis an amazing title, but it differs from several other supernatural TV shows because its lead characters are morally good. Despite this, their battles against warlocks and demons are still gripping, and their determination to be righteous makes their story even more wholesome.
What We Do in the Shadows
What We Do in the Shadows, released in 2019, is a mockumentary series exploring the nightly lives of a group of centuries-old vampires residing in Staten Island. The comedic show delves into their interactions with each other and the modern world, providing a humorous take on the vampire genre.
The TV reinterpretation of Taika Waititi’sWhat We Do in the Shadowsisa vampire TV show like no other. Because the centuries-old vampires cannot go out in daylight, they only leave the house at night, so regardless of the season, it’s always cold and dark.Multiple elements ofWhat We Do in the Shadowsfeel autumnal, from the characters’ old-fashioned clothing to their decrepit mansion.
Multiple elements ofWhat We Do in the Shadowsfeel autumnal, from the characters’ old-fashioned clothing to their decrepit mansion.
The show heavily relies on sitcom tropes, but it stands out for its gothic iconography and supernatural characters.What We Do in the Shadowsseason 6will wrap the show up, but it’s still worth revisiting the previous installments in the meantime. The long-suffering Guillermo’s attempts to keep his master, Nandor, and his fellow vampires safe are hilarious.
What We Do in the Shadowshas 29 Emmy nominations.
Guillermo represents fall in several ways, too. He is often dressed in chunky sweaters, especially when he is forced to dig yet another grave in the garden. Guillermo’s efforts to try and become a vampire, essentially moving onto another stage of his life, is a metaphor in some ways and can be compared to trees losing leaves in the fall.
Dawson’s Creek
In the small town of Capeside, Massachusetts, fifteen-year-old Dawson Leery and his friends — tomboy Joey, class clown Pacey, and many more — experience the highs and lows of teenage life and coming of age.
Dawson’s Creekopens at the start of the school year, which sets the show up for an overall autumnal feel going forward. Thecoming-of-age TV showfollows a group of friends in the fictional coastal town of Capeside, a location that captures the fall mood perfectly.
The show often relies on imagery of foliage in burned colors,and its characters are often wearing wooly hats or are found sitting in front of roaring fires. Even though they sometimes switch it up and sport t-shirts and shorts at the beach, the atmosphere of the show is still fall-focused.Dawson’s Creek’s Thanksgiving episode, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” is a perfect example of this.
Of course, the holiday itself is during the fall, but the deep conversation between Jen and her mother, in the backdrop of autumnal decorations and piles of leaves, makes it an even more beautiful symbol for the changing of the seasons.Dawson’s Creekis a cozy TV show to enjoy, and watching the characters grow and reach maturity in the gorgeous Capeside makes it even more engaging.
Virgin River
Virgin River is a romantic drama series released in 2019, centering on a recently divorced nurse who relocates from a big city to the redwood forests of California. There, she starts a new life and encounters an intriguing local man, setting the stage for a complex narrative of personal and community relationships.
Virgin Rivercombines elements of soap operas and mystery to create a wholesome yet compelling show about nurse Mel Monroe. Mel moves from Los Angeles to the remote titular town and embraces her new life in a smaller setting, whichlooks like it has come straight out of aHallmarkmovie. The town of Virgin River is absolutely beautiful, both outside and inside its buildings.
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There are plenty of sprawling landscapes that are stunning and picturesque, and places like Jack’s Bar are homey and inviting, too. The show is inspired bytheVirgin Riverbook series by Robyn Carr, which is a collection of romance novels, so it makes sense that this kind of atmosphere is prominent throughout.
Virgin Riverisfilmed in British Columbia, Canada, and the production truly takes advantage of the stunning sceneryavailable to them. Mel’s budding romance with Jack, as she tries to grieve for her husband, is an enthralling storyline, and the show’s fall appearance is the perfect backdrop to execute such a plot.
