The perfect television and film guide to autumn

The last day of summer has come and gone, shorts-lovers have had their time in the sun, and now it’s finally time for crunchy leaves, hot chocolate, and thick jumpers as we gear up for the autumn season. Of course, with this comes not only warm aesthetics with hues of orange and red, but the urge to stay inside, curled up and comfortable by the fire. So, here is a guide for what to watch to truly immerse yourself in the cosy season.

With the weather becoming cold and crisp, one cannot forget that Halloween is right around the corner, and what’s better than The X Files to get you into the spooky mood. The out-of-this-world TV show follows two FBI Agents, Dr Dana Scully and Fox Mulder, who are tasked with investigating what the FBI have dubbed as ‘X-Files’: cases that are unexplainable, supernatural, and otherworldly.

Scully’s sceptical nature, paired with Mulder’s strong sense of belief, makes the dynamic between agents almost humorous, with constant back and forth and an urgency to prove that aliens do exist. The show has an eerie feel to it, as one knows what horrors will be unveiled in each episode– all the while Mulder and Scully run against the clock as the FBI and military attempt to cover their tracks, sabotaging the agents who are only too close to uncovering secrets greater than our world. This show is perfect for those who love a ’90s feel, longer plots, various mysteries, and believe that the truth is out there, hidden away.

Gilmore Girls is the perfect show to truly get into the spirit of autumn

If spooky isn’t your thing, one can never go wrong with classics like Gilmore Girls, the ultimate cosy show. With a town that always seems stuck in a picturesque autumn and loveable characters with even cosier and stylish outfits, what more could you want? The show follows young mother Lorelai and her daughter Rory as they attempt to navigate all that life has to throw at them.

From relationships (and their hiccups) and family drama, to regular visits to Luke’s Diner– where the grumpy yet loveable owner is there to pick up spirits (in his own grouchy way)– this show has it all. Gilmore Girls is the perfect show to truly get into the spirit of autumn, and with seven seasons there is plenty of fast, witty comedy mixed with drama to keep you occupied during the colder months.

If your attention span can’t survive long shows, fret not– for I have the perfect thing for you. Over The Garden Wall is a beautifully macabre animated show about two half-brothers, Wirt and Greg, who on Halloween, find themselves running from the police, climbing over a cemetery wall, and landing in a place that seems far from home. The show contains elements of comedy while equally balancing a much darker storyline, one of sacrifice and loss, accompanied by haunting blues melodies and southern-esque songs that give the show a feeling of nostalgia for a place you’ve never been to.

This show encapsulates the feeling of the seasons growing colder

With only 10 episodes, this short, animated show is the perfect thing for a quiet night in, especially for lovers of anything gothic, spooky and weird. This show encapsulates the feeling of the seasons growing colder, and the trickle of Halloween spirit seeping into the air. And with the mysterious characters you meet along the way, you cannot help but become morbidly entranced in the twisted tale.

We of course cannot forget the films. You can’t truly get into the spirit of things if you haven’t sat and watched Dead Poets Society, a classic film with beautiful cinematography and budding friendships between an unlikely group of schoolboys brought together by literature. Dead Poets Society is a stunning film, with a beautifully tragic narrative that truly inspires one to do what they truly want in life. Carpe diem after all.

It’s a skin-crawling story that is sure to get you excited for autumn

Though, of course, not everyone can stomach a tragedy, which is why Coraline will always be the go-to autumn film. With its mixture of eerie and gorgeous stop motion, the enticing film really sets the mood for dark nights. Coraline is a well-beloved film with strange characters, entrancing yet sinister music, and a skin-crawling story that is sure to get you excited for autumn and Halloween.

And last, but by no means the least, we have Twilight, everyone’s favourite vampire love story. It’s a timeless film, with forest greens and cold blues that really set the scene for the cooling of weather and the changing of the seasons. Twilight is a supernatural romance between human girl Bella Swan and century-old vampire Edward Cullen. With forbidden love and secret pacts, this film makes for an entertaining evening at home. It is the perfect franchise to watch with friends, whether you are diehard fans, or enjoyers of how utterly strange it is, Twilight is sure to fill you with the spirit of the autumn season.