Fall is in full swing, the weather’s getting colder, and the days are getting darker, which means it’s the perfect time to cozy in and bundle up and watch some fall TV.
You might be asking yourself what is defined as “fall TV” and why it is its own TV category. Fall TV is pure nostalgia and vibes, It’s more of a feeling than its own explicit genre. Whether it’s a familiar rewatch of The Vampire Diaries or starting the new season of Only Murderers in the Building, fall has mastered the art of a comfort show.
Cozy TV thrives on small towns, warm lighting, and storylines that feel like comfort food. To curate the perfect fall watchlist, you need a mix of old and new, as well as action-packed and mellow content.
The Vampire Diaries (2009)
First up is Vampire Diaries, set in the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia. We follow Elena Gilbert, a seventeen-year-old girl, navigating life after the death of her parents. Complications arise when she falls for century-old vampire Stefan Salvatore, and later his brother Damon Salvatore. With supernatural threats, a town full of secrets, and love triangles, the spooky tone makes it a perfect watch for the fall season. Since The Vampire Diaries came out in 2009, it has a perfect, nostalgic, warm tone, especially since it is set in the small town of Mystic Falls. The autumnal feel is strong with the fall leaves and candlelit scenes, giving it a perfect gothic feel.
Vampire Diaries for me is always a go-to during the fall season. The first time I watched it was the fall of my freshman year, and it’s funny how now, at this point three years later, it’s kinda a back-to-school tradition.
Pretty Little Liars (2010)
On a similar note to Vampire Diaries is Pretty Little Liars. Set in the picturesque town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, it follows four friends, Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily, navigating life after their friend Alison’s disappearance, but when they start receiving anonymous messages from someone named ‘‘A’’ it adds a whole additional level of crazy to their already complicated lives. Throughout the show, we see each friend separately, each with their own storylines and side characters, as well as their dynamic as a group as they try to navigate through secrets and uncover A’s identity. The series is based on the books of the same name by Sara Shepard. Pretty Little Liars boasts a perfect small-town setting, making it a quintessential choice for a fall comfort show and a perfect addition to this watch list. Filled with small-town streets, cute restaurants, and a stylish fall wardrobe to tie it all together. This is one of the shows you can watch year-round, but somehow feels extra magical during the fall season, probably due to the spooky undertone and addition of the Halloween episodes.
Only murderers in the building (2021)
Lastly, this pick is more of an out with the old and in with the new, with Only Murderers in the Building. With season five just dropping a couple of months ago, it makes it the perfect time to watch if you haven’t yet. The show follows three strangers who share an obsession with true crime and their journey as they become entangled in one. When a death happens in their New York City apartment complex, the three band together under one common opinion: they suspect foul play. They then pour together their collective knowledge in order to figure out what really happened and who’s at fault. The truth begins to unfold, but what may be more interesting are the lies that begin to come out with it as they realize there may be a murderer in their building. Only Murderers in the Building features an autumnal cityscape, set in a vintage apartment complex on the Upper West Side, giving it a very When Harry Met Sally feel.
This is a go-to watch in my family around this time of year. With the mysterious, spooky plot and the autumnal feel of New York City, it creates the perfect effortless scenescape for this time of year.
To wrap it up, I think this just shows how a TV show can really emphasize a feeling. Whether it’s from 2009 or 2025, the same familiar feelings exist. With coffee shop notes, hints of warm lighting, fall leaves, and colors, TV can really curate a vibe. I hope you check out these picks, and I encourage you to create your own watchlist. After all, this is the season of watching TV, especially with our days ending at four and all.
