Let’s be realists here—the air is getting crisper, the leaves are falling, and the days are getting shorter. This can only mean one thing: Summer has ended and Autumn is upon us.
Sometimes, all you want to do is to lay on the sofa and relax by watching something on TV. Whether you love or loathe Autumn, there is bound to be a show that will draw you in. This article brings you the ultimate guide on TV shows to watch this season, from new releases to all-time classics.
Cozy Favourites
Supernatural creatures, relationships, time travel (with the Scottish Highlands thrown in for good measure)… there’s not much else you can ask for. These firm favourites are very well known, but in case you haven’t had the opportunity to watch them, never fear—there is plenty of time to fix this.
Gilmore Girls
I know, I know—you’ve probably heard about this one a thousand times already, and maybe I’m being biased because it’s my absolute favourite show, but everything about Gilmore Girls screams Autumn; from the amazing town of Stars Hollow and its extravagant seasonal festivals, to the delicious blueberry pancakes and burgers served at Luke’s in every episode. The show never gets old, even though their mobile phones had a cover and a keyboard. The relationship between mother-daughter duo Lorelai, 32, and Rory, 16, makes you want to experience a whole personality change, change paths and live in their crazy charismatic small town. Not to mention the dialogue is intelligent and sarcastic, filled with references to films, TV shows, music and books.
Gilmore Girls consists of seven seasons with twenty-two episodes each, and they feel as comforting as a mug of hot coffee on a crisp Autumnal morning.
Source: Netflix / The WB
The Vampire Diaries
Another classic. When Twilight fever was at its pinnacle, this show came up—although I can’t stand Edward Cullen, I have to admit I am a huge fan of the Salvatore brothers. Gone are the days of white-skinned vampires with a melancholic halo. These two brothers are everything anyone could wish for: charming, smart, and with a wicked sense of humour to match.
The Vampire Diaries tells the story of a human girl, Elena, who, after dealing with a devastating loss, meets Stefan Salvatore; a mysterious guy with a dark secret. Past and present collide in the show along with a host of supernatural creatures, which makes it fun, interesting and easy to watch.
Outlander
Time travelling has never looked so appealing. Claire Randall, a nurse from 1945, finds herself transported to 1743, where she meets Jamie Fraser, a Highland warrior in the Jacobite uprising. Love, lust, and history—not to mention amazing kilts—make this story entertaining and tender for the public eye.
This show will have you dreaming about a trip to the Highlands, whilst also possibly learning about history from a completely different perspective.
Source: Netflix
Halloween Fun
Halloween is, of course, the main event of the Autumnal season. With their impeccable vintage aesthetics, the next two shows will make you feel in the mood for a good costume to rock at your next party. Both of them will give you the occasional scare, but they are still soft and enjoyable for those who don’t like horror.
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
A show with vintage aesthetics from the ’60s and a predilection for supernatural creatures. This show is perfect for a marathon during Halloween, as the scenarios, the characters and the story itself are all very typical of this holiday season.
Based on the comic with the same name, Sabrina is a teenage girl living in Greendale, who has to choose whether she wants to become a full witch like her family or be fully mortal and live with her boyfriend, Harvey, and her human friends. Let’s just say however that it doesn’t turn out to be that simple. Sabrina will have to deal with a lot of people (some with good intentions, and others with more wicked ways) trying to get in her way. The story gets more interesting as the episodes go by, with characters as interesting as Lilith or the Devil himself appearing in one form or another on the screen.
Source: Medium / Netflix
Stranger Things
This show has been one of the most talked-about since it came out in 2016, and there’s a reason why. Three seasons filled with extravagant scenarios and a very curated ’80s aesthetic makes for the perfect combination for a brilliant show.
The story of this group of friends living in Hawkins is far from normal. It all starts when one boy suddenly disappears one night while riding his bicycle on his way home, and a strange non-speaking girl with powers shows up in town. Anyone who loves supernatural films would recognize inspiration from great directors like Spielberg or writers like Stephen King. Unfortunately, season three will leave you completely on the edge, as there is no official date for the release of season four although the trailer has been released.
Fright Nights
Sometimes all we want is a scary yet excellent show to watch alone with the lights off for added levels of terror. If this sounds up your street, then this is the perfect moment to choose a psychological thriller or perhaps a post-apocalyptic show. These shows are for the bravest people out there—the rest of us will leave sleeping for next year.
You
Why would I put You in this category? Easy—despite not having any traditional ‘horror’ elements, this is one of the most frightening shows because it looks and feels incredibly real. It seems like a classic story about a guy-meets-girl, as everything appears normal until he becomes dangerously obsessed with her. Needless to say, You may likely freak you out so much that you’ll be re-thinking about what you post on social media from now on.
Joe meets Beck in the most mundane way possible, but he turns out to be a deranged stalker and she is the type of person who shares everything on social media: a deadly combination. One of the best things about You is the fact that you’re getting the information from the stalker himself, with Penn Badgley’s voice simultaneously strangely captivating and extremely creepy. Right now there are two seasons available on Netflix, with season three being released on 15 October 2021.
Oats Studios “Volume 1”
Netflix’s new release launched on 1 October 2021 and is a collection of sci-fi/horror stories brought to us by Neil Blomkamp. According to Netflix, the company describes this new release as a “series of experimental short films that visualize post-apocalyptic worlds and nightmare scenarios”. One look at the official trailer below, and it looks like some of us are going to spend several nights not sleeping at all.
Words by Marta Cerdá Martinez
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