Why is “Gilmore Girls” a Fall Favorite?

Beginning of the Gilmore Girls theme song. Photo by Maya Waters

Coming into fall, the leaves change color and the weather gets colder. With the turn of the season, people are reaching for their remotes to rewatch their favorite comfort show, “Gilmore Girls.” 

“Gilmore Girls” has consistently been one of the most rewatched shows on Netflix each fall. But with a theme that doesn’t necessarily have to do with fall, what makes “Gilmore Girls” everyone’s go-to must-watch during this season? 

Set in the fictional small town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, the show is the poster child for what people think of when they think of “small town charm.”

The opening scene of the pilot episode features one of the main characters, Lorelai Gilmore, running into Luke’s Diner, escaping the cold, and begging for coffee. The immediate setting of the cold weather, paired with the idea of a hot cup of coffee to warm up, creates the perfect fall moment. 

But although the beginning scene is very reminiscent of the fall season, only 48 of the 153 episodes are set during autumn. Yet, people continue to make their way back to Stars Hollow every fall. It all boils down to the coziness of the show itself. 

Amy Sherman-Palladino, the creator of “Gilmore Girls,” had every intention of making fall a key theme of the show. When visiting a small town in Connecticut with her husband, she was met with all the charming aspects of the season that inspired her to incorporate it into the show.

When thinking of a small town, it’s often associated with cold weather, cozy clothes and hot beverages. At least that’s what Sherman-Palladino thinks. These were aspects of the show that she made consistent to keep to the cozy theme. 

The show also has a strong familial theme. Although the family isn’t always portrayed as perfectly happy, family remains at the heart of the show, as displayed through the relationships between Lorelai and Rory, Lorelai and her parents and Rory and her grandparents.

Fall is the beginning of the holiday season when people are more focused on spending time with loved ones. Fall means family, and even when the Gilmore’s family dynamic isn’t always perfect, the strong sense of family devotion consistently shines through. This makes people want to be a part of the Gilmore clan every fall. 

Even though “Gilmore Girls” is not inherently about fall, there are many things about the show that resonate with viewers once the colder seasons hit. Sitting down in the morning, cuddled up in a blanket, and having a cup of coffee with Lorelai Gilmore at Luke’s Diner becomes many people’s fall ritual.

From the production to the characters, “Gilmore Girls” exudes fall. Themes of safety, comfort, coziness and family are the most prominent, and are things people commonly look for during this time of year. These kinds of fall themes carry throughout even when it’s not fall in the show, making it an easy rewatch when the leaves start to change.