Outside, the weather is still warm, but inside, the fall energy has returned. It is officially fall as the autumnal equinox has passed, and students here at the University of Tennessee are ready for not only the cooler weather and the leaves changing, but also for the cozy season arriving.
Fall is a busy period for television and has a wide variety of movies and shows under its belt. Whether the theme is spooky, romantic, comforting or related to school and football, there are many shows that are a ‘must-watch’ for students to see.
“Gilmore Girls”
“Gilmore Girls,” has become the staple television show of fall, with even this year’s Emmy Awards show reuniting the onscreen mother-daughter duo and bantering about the show being a fall staple. The show itself is an early 2000s dramedy, centered around Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter, Rory.
Camille Mitchem, a freshman majoring in neuroscience, watches the show when the fall season hits.
“It’s very comforting and I watched it as a kid, so when I want to just snuggle up and sit on the couch and watch a show, that’s typically what I put on,” Mitchem said.
The characters go through many phases of their lives, as well as many love interests, and while every season is present, the show has a big fall persona due to the outfits, the small town, the diner on the corner and school beginning.
“The main characters are always off at college or doing school which is very ‘fall’ to me, so I guess it kind of gives off those vibes,” Mitchem said.
The show has been related to another big hit show, “Friends,” due to the relationship-focused aspect of it. There is always a new love interest, and the drama is a huge factor of the show’s popularity.
“It’s super fast paced so it reels you in right away, and it’s really easy to get through,” Mitchem said. “You’re gonna fall in love with the characters, so it’s a very bingeable show.”
“Twilight”
“The Twilight Saga,” has become somewhat of a classic movie series for the younger generations and is highly rated. The movies are inspired by the book series written by Stephenie Meyer. The series falls into the same category as shows like “The Vampire Diaries,” “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” or “My Life With the Walter Boys,” because viewers typically pick whether they are team Edward or team Jacob.
Daphne Seay, a sophomore marketing major, watches these movies every fall for many reasons.
“It’s just so bad that it’s good,” Seay said. “It’s a cult classic and the vibes and atmosphere are so nice … you can watch it any time of the year, but during the fall is just the best because it’s like the most cliche fall movie there is.”
The movies have a supernatural element to them, which is the main reason why they are viewed as fall or Halloween movies. There are vampires and werewolves, but the main character is human. The movies follow her storyline as she tackles romance and hard decisions.
“‘Twilight’ kind of reminds me of almost ‘Tim Burton-y’ stuff, but not in an artsy way, it’s just kind of like that weird, dark atmosphere,” Seay said.
Seay also said that the movies remind her of cheesy, dumb shows like “Teen Wolf.” Both are supernatural teen dramas that have become hot topics on social media.
“The Vampire Diaries”
Mentioned briefly above, “The Vampire Diaries” has a similar vibe to the “Twilight” movies. “The Vampire Diaries” is a show following a high school girl named Elena Gilbert in her small town of Mystic Falls. She and her friends soon meet a pair of vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore, as they uncover the mysteries lying within the town and the romance forming between Elena and the brothers.
Ansley White, a junior at UT majoring in social work, is an avid watcher of the show.
“The first season starts in the fall with all the leaves falling, and the storyline gives fall,” White said. “When I first watched it, I watched it in the fall, so I just kept that up.”
The show also has a spinoff series called “The Originals,” which focuses on a large vampire family that appears in the main show.
There are many twists and turns in the show, as well as many deaths, new characters and vampire rules and history that make up a large part of the show. This history even brings the characters to New Orleans at one point in the series.
“I think it’s a must watch because it’s got a lot of seasons and it’s packed with drama,” White said.
“Harry Potter”
The “Harry Potter” series is one of the most famous movie franchises out there, being in the big leagues with other franchises such as “Star Wars,” “The Lord of the Rings” and others. There are many people who believe the films are Christmas movies, but a huge majority of fans also believe the films to be fall movies.
The movies follow Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger throughout their time at Hogwarts, facing numerous enemies and surprises along the way. They take place in the middle of a war, yet the earlier movies still manage to have that comfort aspect to them.
Kendall Giordano, a junior majoring in accounting, is a huge fan of the series and always watches the movies during the fall months.
“I am a nostalgic person, which makes the Halloween season one of my favorites, and ‘The Sorcerer’s Stone’ captures that feeling perfectly,” Giordano said. “It is magical, cozy, warm and just spooky enough to make it the ideal fall movie.”
These movies are based off of the popular book series by author J.K. Rowling, and there is an upcoming HBO television series currently in the works. The soundtrack mixed with the aspect of magic truly makes this series perfect for the holidays — whether that be closer to Halloween or Thanksgiving, leaning towards Christmas.
“Nothing says Halloween quite like witches, wizards and magic,” Giordano said. “If you want to feel a wave of nostalgia, coziness and autumn vibes, these movies are the perfect choice to watch during fall, especially on a rainy day.”
Some other shows and movies that are enjoyed during the fall include “How I Met Your Mother,” “Gossip Girl,” “One Tree Hill,” “Hocus Pocus” and “Dead Poets Society.” With the weather changing and the autumn colors coming in, now is a relaxing time to either start a new show, or reminisce and rewatch.
