Best Fall Episodes of ‘Gilmore Girls’ to Watch on Thanksgiving

When you’re on the road and feeling lonely and oh so cold, Gilmore Girls is the perfect comfort watch to warm you up immediately.

The series, which premiered in 2000 and was created by Amy Sherman Palladinofollows single mother Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) while raising her daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel), as she tries to reconnect with her estranged parents, Richard (Edward Herrmann) and Emily (Kelly Bishop) Gilmore.

It takes place in the small fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, Gilmore Girls quickly became known for its quaint, cozy aesthetic and signature seasonally themed episodes. Although the show featured the mother-daughter duo through all four seasons of their lives, it is best known for its association with autumn.

With its warm tone and complicated family dynamics, the generational drama found new life on Netflix and eventually returned for a revival in 2016. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Lifethe four supersized episodes dropped on Thanksgiving and followed Lorelai and Rory through a year of their lives.

After leaving the series during season 6 – before returning to AYITL —Sherman-Palladino opened up Entertainment weekly about becoming a long-lasting source of comfort and relatability for viewers.

“We created an alternate universe that we loved living in, and we loved immersing viewers in it,” she told the outlet in 2006. “I basically did everything I wanted to do – it was a gift from God. And look, a heated family drama: that’s a gold mine; problems are never solved. There is a wealth of conflict, love and stress that makes for great experiences.”

Keep scrolling for the best fall theme Gilmore Girls episodes:

“Pilot” (Season 1, Episode 1)

Thick sweaters, turtlenecks, scarves and lots of coffee. Viewers are first introduced to Lorelai and Rory in the heart of autumn, as the mother-daughter duo’s lives change forever with Rory’s acceptance into Chilton.

While Lorelai tries to find a way to pay for private school tuition (Hello, Emily and Richard!), Rory meets her first love interest Dean (Jared Padalecki) while her best friend Lane (Keiko Agena), is afraid of a “Teen Hayride” with a blind date organized by her overbearing family.

“Kiss and Tell” (Season 1, Episode 7)

Set against the backdrop of the city’s annual Fall Festival, in which Rory and Lane dress as pilgrims to collect canned goods for charity, “Kiss and Tell” may be the ultimate fall episode of Gilmore Girls.

From Lucas (Scott Patterson) and Taylor(Michael Winters) arguing about an autumn theme for Rory’s shoplifting after getting her first kiss from Dean – and leaving out Lorelai about the relationship milestone – the episode set the gold standard for what Gilmore Girls would become.

“They’re shooting Gilmores, aren’t they?” (Season 3, Episode 7)

This episode opens with a wide shot of a scarecrow pumpkin before slowly panning across Stars Hollow to show off the town’s seasonal decorations. It’s followed by Taylor declaring that it “smells like fall,” making this a great fall watch from the jump.

One of the most famous episodes of the series, “They Shoot Gilmores, Don’t They?” provides plenty of drama, with Dean finally confronting Rory about her feelings for Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) during an all-night dance marathon. However, when one relationship ends, another begins, and Rory and Jess decide to give their romance a chance. Add to that the introduction of Lane’s favorite friend Dave (Adam Brody), incredible period costumes and some wonderfully witty moments between Lorelai and Luke, and you have magic.

“Let the Games Begin” (Season 3, Episode 8)

A college tour just screams traps, right? In Let the Games Begin, which picks up right after the Stars Hollow Dance Marathon, we see Rory and Lorelai pleasing Richard as he asks to take them on a tour of his alma mater, Yale.

Between Rory and Lorelai resting their feet (and brains) on hay bales surrounded by pumpkins, the trees changing colors and the vibrant backdrop of New England, ‘Let the Games Begin’ is the perfect fall watch.

“A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving” (Season 3, Episode 9)

Call it the fall trifecta. The first proper Thanksgiving episode in the world of Gilmore Girls, “A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving” sees Rory and Lorelai put their stomachs to the test as they attempt to attend — and eat — four separate Thanksgiving meals.

After a stop at Lane’s house, the girls go to Luke’s for a quick bite and visit Sookie’s (Melissa McCarthy), where Jackson (Jackson Douglas) and his family love the fryer. They then head to Emily and Richards’, where they sit down for a traditional Turkey Day feast, but leave early when things get heated due to Rory’s college plans.

Back in Stars Hollow, Lorelai and Rory end the evening where they belong: back at Luke’s, sipping coffee (and savoring the sandwiches they skipped earlier to save room for Emily and Richard’s) while Rory’s new friend Jess gets outside threatened. by her ex-dean.

“Ted Koppel’s Big Night Out” (Season 4, Episode 9)

Go Bulldogs! College football is the epitome of fall, even if Lorelai and Rory aren’t exactly avid sports fans. They still show up to join Richard and Emily for the big Yale vs. Harvard game, decked out in cozy Yale attire to back up the blue and gray.

There’s tailgating, grilling, fight songs and endless hot drinks. It’s everything a New England fall should be.

“The Basics Apply” (Season 4, Episode 5)

Season 4 is usually the least favorite Gilmore Girls fans, but the set designers were really at their best. The fall decor is in full effect as Lorelai and Sookie walk and talk through Stars Hollow and the golden leaves outside Yale glisten.

The best part? Fans get to see a new side of Lorelai and Luke’s friendship. The duo enjoy a night on Lorelai’s couch, watching old movies and trying to give Rory dating advice. It’s before the couple officially gets together, but the show uses “The Fundamental Things Apply” to build the tension before their big kiss at the end of the season.

“But Not as Cute as a Pushkin” (Season 5, Episode 10)

Rory’s hair is growing, which means a new chapter of Gilmore Girls is emerging. ‘But Not as Cute as a Pushkin’ is all about the autumnal academic atmosphere as Rory settles into a new year of her student life.

Excited after her former principal asks her to show a high school student around Yale, Rory struggles to keep her guest on track when there are parties and boys all around her. It’s also another step forward for Rory and Logan (Matt Czuchry), whose sparring comes suspiciously close to flirting.

Lorelai, meanwhile, has her first fight with Luke when she buys an old boat that belonged to his father.

“He gives him bread… Digging?” (Season 6, Episode 10)

The second and final Thanksgiving episode is a bit depressing, with Rory finding out about her breakup with Logan from his sister Honor (Devon Sovari), Luke is reeling from the discovery that he has a 12-year-old daughter, and Lane calls it quits with his old friend Zack (Todd Lowe).

The good news? The gang manages to get together at the Dragon Fly Inn for a delicious feast, and Rory’s father, Christopher (David Sutcliffe), agrees to pay her Yale tuition after his grandfather leaves him a large sum of money.

“A Year in the Life: Fall” (Season 1, Episode 4)

A bit of cheating, but we couldn’t resist. It’s impossible to discuss the funniest fall Gilmore Girls episodes without mentioning the super-sized Year in the Life episode dedicated to the season.

“Fall” spans three generations of Gilmore women’s stories, with Rory writing her memoirs, Emily moving to Nantucket after Richard’s death, and Lorelai finally tying the knot with Luke when she returns from her journey of self-discovery in the wilderness.

Despite mixed reviews about the revival as a whole, viewers can agree that “Fall” stands out as a perfect way to end the show, complete with fall-themed floral bouquets, pumpkins, hay bales and orange leaves… just like Gilmore Girls was. meant to be.