16 Coziest TV Shows to Cuddle Up With This Fall
Now all you need is your jammies, that super soft throw, and a mug of tea...
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After summer's hustle and bustle, there's nothing better than relaxing into autumn. After all, sweater weather is a time for slowing down, snuggling up, and enjoying simple pleasures like working on fun crafts with the family, tucking into hearty casseroles, and checking out all the cozy TV shows to watch this fall! Because when the temps turn frosty and darkness falls ever earlier, curling up in a cushy chair with a warm blanket in front of a good, reassuring series is simply *chef's kiss*!
But in case you've somehow missed out on the cozy TV trend and aren't sure what defines it, no worries. We're here to give you more than a dozen examples to get you started decompressing in front of shows that feel simple, safe, and soothing. These are the series that don't tax your brain with complicated plots, stressful situations, and overwhelming emotions. They're like a warm bubble bath for your psyche, filled with likable characters, familiar settings (like small towns and country houses), and storylines that reinforce the importance of community and connection.
Sound familiar? If so, you're probably thinking of old favorites that helped start the whole cozy TV craze, like Gilmore Girls and Friends. And to be sure, we've included shows that we love to return to time and time again, that are as comforting as slipping into PJs at the end of a hard day. But we've also included some new entries into the genre, like Netflix's Virgin River, that make us sigh out loud in sheer contentment. Some provide fall vibes as a bonus, and maybe even a few (very) mild chills in honor of Halloween. So read on and prepare to take the television equivalent of a mental health day!
Only Murders in the Building
Pretty much the definition of a cozy show, Only Murders in the Building has it all, including intriguing mysteries, winning humor (with Steve Martin and Martin Short, how could it not?), and a crackerjack cast that has included everyone from Meryl Streep to Nathan Lane and (new for this season) Renée Zellweger and Christoph Waltz. And has any big city ever looked lovelier in autumn than New York? Season Five of this smash series about a trio of podcasting friends investigating—yes, you guessed it—murders in their apartment building is streaming now on Hulu.
Gilmore Girls
This gentle comedy drama about an independent single mom (Lauren Graham) and her studious teen daughter (Alexis Bledel) is a legit cozy cult classic. Set in a quaint small town that knows how to do fall right (helloooo Autumn Festival!), it serves up likable characters and optimistic, low-intensity plots that stress the importance of family and community (and coffee). If a TV show were a warm hug, Gilmore Girls would be it. While it originally ran from 2000-2007 on the WB, with a follow-up miniseries broadcast in 2016, it's now available just about everywhere.
Related: Gilmore Girls’ Fans, You’re Not Ready for This Epic News
The Gilded Age
Okay, hear us out. We know HBO Max's sleeper hit The Gilded Age, now in its third season, may not align totally with a traditional cozy show. But the historical drama's conflicts aren't exactly high stakes, the pacing is, tbh, absolutely glacial, and all those sumptuous visuals are downright calming. Concerning the friction between old money and new money society in 1880s New York, it was created by the mastermind behind Downton Abbey, and CNN dubbed it "the least dramatic drama on TV." We rest our case.
Downton Abbey
Speaking of maybe the coziest series of all, with the latest (and last) Downton Abbey movie just released, isn't now the perfect time to revisit the seminal series that started it all? As comfortable as a good game of checkers, the British historical drama set on a country estate in the early 20th century aired for six seasons beginning in 2011. With its romantic love stories and lavish aesthetics, it provided the ultimate escape from the cares of the modern world. Not to mention television's best zingers, courtesy of the iconic Maggie Smith, who played the Dowager Countess of Grantham.
Related: Downton Abbey Cast Shares Heartbreaking Scene That Was Almost Too Painful to Film
Friends
Everything always works out for the best in this beloved series, usually by the end of the 30-minute episode, and because the six friends are, well, there for each other. Add in 90s nostalgia, lighthearted humor, and relatable, super charming characters, and it's no wonder this show is the go-to for so many people when they need a dose of the warm fuzzies. There have even been a few fall-themed episodes over the years! You can watch Friends' 10 seasons free with cable on TBS and via plenty of streamers.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Autumn is spooky season, and no cozy TV show list for fall would be complete without at least a couple of creepy series to binge. A defining show for millennials, Buffy the Vampire Slayer may feature plenty of non-cozy action and horror, but it also packs loads of heart and humor into its character-driven stories. It's their deep bonds with each other that enable Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and the Scooby Gang to vanquish all those supernatural baddies, after all. All seven seasons are available to stream on a variety of platforms, including Prime.
All Creatures Great and Small
The British sure seem to know their cozy shows, which makes sense when you think about how the weather over the pond is usually best for staying tucked in with a nice spot of Earl Grey tea. All Creatures Great and Small, which is based on the books by James Herriot, follows the benign adventures of a Yorkshire Dales vet in the 1930s. The pastoral landscape, the sweet animals, and the generally peaceful proceedings combine to make it a heartwarming and wholesome watch for the entire family. Look for Season Six to air next year.
Virgin River
Small town vibes. Check. Gorgeous natural scenery. Check. Heartfelt romance between characters we love. Check. Low-stress life lesson learning (because, somehow, little feels like it has lasting consequences.) Check. Netflix's Virgin River, still going strong after six seasons, has been dubbed a "soap opera in a sweater" and We. Are. Here. For. It.
Related: Virgin River Season 7 Finished Filming, and Fans Want to Know What's Next
The Great British Baking Show
Known as The Great British Bake Off in the titular country where it's produced, this series is one of the few reality competition shows where there's little...er...competition. The amateur bakers are genuinely supportive of each other and the hosts are just as pleasant, with not a drama llama in the bunch. The setting, in a large, white tent, offers plenty of natural light and an inviting, homey atmosphere. There isn't a whiff of manufactured tension to be found here, just a celebration of the joys of home baking. A new season is airing now on Netflix.
Related: Why Does The Great British Bake Off Have a Different Name in the U.S.?
The Good Witch
This seven-season series, about a witch navigating the joys and challenges of running a business, falling in love, and raising a teen daughter, originally aired on the Hallmark Channel, so you know it serves up a feel-good, anxiety-free watch. Even the magic in the show is benevolent, making The Good Witch maybe the coziest Halloween-themed suggestion on our list.
Emily in Paris
There are some slightly stressful sitches in this show, courtesy of career ambitions and soapy plots (and Emily in Paris is admittedly anything but grounded). But we think the light-as-a-soufflé fantasy elements, stunning shots of a never-more-beautiful City of Lights, and delightful Parisian interiors offer the perfect mindless escape after a tough day at the office or chasing toddlers around. Lily Collins plays the lucky ducky American marketing ace who snares a dream gig in the European city. Season Five is set to air in late December on Netflix.
Pride and Prejudice
For sheer swooniness, it's hard to beat the 1995 British miniseries version of Jane Austen's novel. To be sure, it doesn't fit the cozy mold perfectly since the stakes are high and so is the drama. But the luxe environs of Regency-era England, the genteel wit and, most of all, the satisfying conclusion to the slow burn romance between Elizabeth (Jennifer Ehle) and Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth) elevate Pride and Prejudice into cozy masterpiece status. We know some fans who watch it every single fall, like clockwork. And by some fans, we mean us. We watch it every single fall like clockwork.
Tidying Up With Marie Kondo
Neatniks know there is little more settling or soothing than straightening up messy chaos. Back in 2019, Japanese tidying expert Marie Kondo became a worldwide sensation with this eight-episode series, in which she helped clients eliminate clutter. Whether you need some inspiration to get your own space squared away or you just want to watch Kondo "spark joy," Tidying Up is def worth a cozy rewatch this fall.
Ghosts
If you happen to have a mom who loves historical fiction, clean humor, cute romances, and absolutely nothing the teeniest bit dark or grim, then we guarantee Ghosts is the perfect show to binge with her. Adapted from the Brit sitcom of the same name, this cozy CBS series revolves around a couple who inherit a rambling country estate and the hilarious spirits from various historical eras who haunt it. The fifth season is set to premiere in mid-October, just in time for Halloween.
The Golden Girls
It's hard to believe, but The Golden Girls, a sitcom about four older women friends who share a Miami home, debuted 40 years ago. It's more popular now as a cozy watch than ever, thanks to its relaxed predictability, warm and wonderful characters, and those emotionally satisfying endings that neatly tied up every 30-minute episode. When stars Rue McClanahan, Beatrice Arthur, Betty White, and Estelle Getty wrap everything up with a hug, a joke, or a piece of cheesecake (or all three), we know all is right with the world.
Related: "Last Remaining Golden Girl" Reminds Fans "I Can Still Sing"
Sweet Magnolias
Much like The Golden Girls, Sweet Magnolias is all about women supporting each other. But while the former ladies do it over cheesecake, the cast of the latter lift one another up over margs. Set in an idyllic South Carolina town called Serenity, this show is pleasingly hopeful and heartwarming. It's also wrapping up filming on Season Five, which sources say will include additions to the cast and an adventure in New York City.
Jill Gleeson is a travel journalist and memoirist based in the Appalachian Mountains of western Pennsylvania who has written for websites and publications including Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Country Living, Washingtonian, Gothamist, Canadian Traveller, and EDGE Media Network. Jill is the travel editor for Enchanted Living. Learn more about her journey at gleesonreboots.com.
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