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From Cozy Stars Hollow To Spooky Mystic Falls: 12 TV Shows That Scream Fall
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Put on an oversized sweater and dive into the ultimate mix of warm comfort TV and pre-Halloween spooky vibes. Post approved and edited by BuzzFeed Community Team Tree Hill, North Carolina, is a small, fictional town and the home of half-brothers Lucas and Nathan. This iconic 2000s drama follows them as they deal with high school, relationships, basketball, and messy family dynamics. I first watched this show in college (many years after it aired: I'm not that old!), and I instantly fell in love. Brooke Davis and Nathan Scott have some of the best character arcs I have ever seen, and they will make you fall in love with them over and over again. Not to mention, the focus on high school basketball screams autumn, and the early 2000s indie soundtrack (featuring Fall Out Boy, Jack's Mannequin, Keane, and Gavin DeGraw) is perfect for cozy weather. Focusing on the football-obsessed town of Dillon, Texas, this drama explores the intense pressure, small-town community, and personal lives of head coach Eric Taylor and the Dillon Panthers high school football team. Nothing says fall quite like Friday night high school football games and that deep-rooted small-town pride. I haven't watched this one in a minute, but it might be time to pull it out of the time capsule and swoon over Tim Riggins all over again. Before he was Superman, Clark Kent was just a teenager growing up in Kansas. This series tracks Clark as he tries to hide his growing alien powers, navigate high school, and manage his complicated relationship with a young Lex Luthor. This was a show I watched for the first time during the pandemic. Since it's 10 seasons long, I needed something to pass the time, and I quickly fell in love with Clark Kent. The vibrant golden cornfields, harvest season vibes, and early 2000s flannel wardrobe make it feel like it's fall year-round in the Midwest. Now we get into the spooky shows! Set in the supernatural-plagued town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, teenager Elena Gilbert falls in love with two vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore, pulling her into a world of witches, werewolves, and endless town founder festivals. As a girl who was never a big fan of Twilight or the general vampire craze, this surprisingly became one of my all-time favorite shows. I love the world-building and how every plotline ties back to previous lore, like why Elena and Katherine are doppelgängers, the Originals, and even Silas. There's a reason this show spawned two spin-offs! Plus, Mystic Falls is obsessed with autumn festivals, spooky local lore, leather jackets, and creepy cemetery moments that make it the ultimate October binge. Now, this is a wild one that some people might hate on, but hear me out. Riverdale is a dark, campy twist on the Archie Comics universe. The series kicks off with the mysterious murder of high school golden boy Jason Blossom and plunges the town of Riverdale into chaos, cults, and serial killers. I will say, I usually stick to just the first few seasons because it completely goes off the rails around Season 4 with time travel, parallel universes, and superpowers. But before all of that, it's a great mystery/thriller filled with moody fog, neon-lit diners, and a dark aesthetic that makes it the perfect spooky season watch. This show follows three strangers living in a historic Manhattan apartment building as they bond over their shared obsession with true crime — until a real murder happens in their building, prompting them to launch their own podcast to solve it. I love this show because it's great for all ages (my parents and I both love it), and the dynamic between Selena Gomez (Mabel), Steve Martin (Charles), and Martin Short (Oliver) is absolute magic. Their humor combined with the thrilling mystery makes for incredible TV. Add in the crisp New York backdrop, Mabel's iconic autumn wardrobe, and the cozy, true-crime sleuthing vibe, and you have a hit fall show. If you liked Only Murders in the Building, then you will love The 'Burbs! Inspired by the '80s classic, this mystery-comedy series follows a young couple who move into a quiet suburban cul-de-sac, only to find themselves spiraling into paranoia when a creepy new neighbor moves in across the street and long-buried neighborhood secrets come to light. I watched this show recently, and it was so fun! Keke Palmer's sharp humor mixed with the cozy suburban mystery makes it the perfect pre-Halloween show to binge. I'm also so pumped that it already got the green light for a second season! For some high school nostalgia, you have to try Teen Wolf! After getting bitten by a mysterious creature in the woods, high school outsider Scott McCall develops supernatural werewolf abilities while trying to maintain a normal life and keep his hometown safe from lethal threats. This was my favorite show in high school. I was unhealthily obsessed with Dylan O'Brien's humor, plus all the ridiculously good-looking werewolves. It was also a great change of pace because it didn't just follow the standard supernatural formula; instead, it leaned into more obscure folklore, such as kitsunes and the Wild Hunt. The dark, foggy woods, spooky creature-feature lore, lacrosse season, and high-stakes supernatural drama make this an absolute October must-watch. After their clique leader mysteriously disappears, four high school girls in Rosewood, Pennsylvania, are tormented by an anonymous villain known as "A," who threatens to reveal all their darkest secrets. This show came out when I was in high school, and I was so excited because I had read all the original Pretty Little Liars books. However, I was SO disappointed when they changed major elements, like character deaths, relationships, and some of the big secrets the Liars were keeping. That being said, I rewatched it a few years ago, and if you detach it from the books, it's actually a great series filled with suspense and drama. Not to mention, the Halloween episodes are legendary in pop culture history (the Halloween train episode anyone?), and the endless mysteries are built for crisp nights in. Back to the cozy watches! When a tragedy uproots her life in New York City, teenage Jackie Howard is forced to move to rural Colorado to live with her guardian and a chaotic family including nine boys, leading to a complicated love triangle. I always joke that this show is Netflix's response to The Summer I Turned Pretty, except they set it in fall just to be different. But thanks to the gorgeous mountain scenery, ranch living, and cozy oversized sweaters, it's a fantastic autumn watch. It's a sweet coming-of-age romance that feels like a warm hug. (And honestly? It's better than The Summer I Turned Pretty...THERE, I SAID IT!) A fast-talking New York surgeon moves to a tiny, quirky town in Alabama after inheriting a medical practice, quickly finding herself caught up in Southern charm, eccentric locals, and complicated romance. It delivers peak cozy comfort TV, full of community festivals, warm autumn colors, small-town charm, and lighthearted humor. And for Gilmore Girls fans, you might recognize the town! The set of Bluebell is actually the exact same lot used to film Stars Hollow. And finally, the ultimate fall comfort watch. Set in the dreamy town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, this fan-favorite series follows witty single mother Lorelai and her daughter Rory as they navigate fast-talking life, love, and endless cups of Luke's coffee. This is a show my entire family loves with all our hearts, and it's world-famous as the ultimate autumn series. The entire town is practically built on autumn leaves, pumpkin decorations, cozy scarves, town festivals, and warm coffee cups. If you haven't watched this yet, what are you doing?! GET ON IT! Want to get your very own quizzes and posts featured on BuzzFeed’s homepage and app?
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