How Much of ‘Gilmore Girls’ Takes Place in the Fall?

On August 14, 2023, an Instagram user shared a video featuring classic fall scenery—rain on a window, brown leaves along a path, and a candle labeled “autumn”—with the words “the air is starting to feel very ah ah ahhhhhhhhha alalalalalala.”

Fans of the show immediately recognized the implicit message: the start of the annual Gilmore Girls fall rewatch. Additional hints included the familiar acoustic guitar sounds from the show, the account username @gilmoregirlswhispers, and the caption stating “it’s almost gilmore girls season.”

By August 2024, the video had amassed 9 million views, becoming part of a wider trend seen across social media platforms.

For many fans, Gilmore Girls is as essential to fall as pumpkin spice lattes and leaf-peeping. Set in the fictional New England town of Stars Hollow, the show creates a cozy autumn atmosphere with warm sweaters, hot coffee, and community parades.

Although Gilmore Girls aired from 2000 to 2007 and encompasses all four seasons, it is often associated with fall. So, how did this connection to autumn develop, and how much of the show truly takes place during this season?

Autumn was integrated into Gilmore Girls from the very beginning. In October 1999, creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband, Daniel Palladino, visited Mark Twain’s house in Hartford, Connecticut. While staying at a quaint inn in the small town of Washington, they experienced a picturesque New England fall.

“There were hayride signs, a pumpkin patch, and someone asking about apple-picking,” Sherman-Palladino told Rolling Stone in 2023. Struck by the charming setting, she said to Daniel, “It’s like Central Casting created this town.”

This experience inspired Sherman-Palladino to start plotting Gilmore Girls right from their inn. The fall visuals became an integral part of the show. Stars Hollow was depicted as a community-focused, warm town, contrasting with Lorelai Gilmore’s cold, WASP-y upbringing.

Shooting on a limited budget in Burbank, California, the show used seasonal decor like twinkle lights and pumpkins to evoke a quintessential fall setting without extensive costs.

Despite the strong fall imagery, the distribution of episodes across seasons is quite balanced. We categorized episodes based on their seasonal vibe rather than strict astronomical definitions. For example, if Rory starts her school year, it’s a fall episode. Snow signifies winter, and an episode with shorts-wearing mailmen marks spring.

While there’s ambiguity, our analysis suggests that Gilmore Girls isn’t overwhelmingly set in autumn. Only 48 out of the total episodes fall into autumn, with spring episodes leading at 53. Despite a noticeable deficit in summer episodes, overall distribution is fairly even among the seasons.

So why does Gilmore Girls feel like a fall show? Initially, episodes premiered in fall, but the show’s fall-themed storytelling is a stronger influence. Iconic autumn episodes like “Kiss and Tell” and “Knit, People, Knit” reinforce this association.

Moreover, Gilmore Girls features cozy activities like Rory and Lorelai’s movie nights and endless cups of coffee, transcending a single season. Stars Hollow’s wardrobe staples—sweaters and flannel shirts—further contribute to this fall atmosphere.

Finally, nostalgia plays a crucial role. For long-time fans, autumn invokes memories of watching Rory head back to school. New fans picking up on this tradition continue to associate fall with the show.

As a result, Gilmore Girls remains a beloved fall staple, proving the lasting impact of its seasonal charm.

Source: Mental Floss