Autumn Fun with Gilmore Girls: A Complete List of Every Fall Episode
Plan your seasonal Gilmore Girls watch parties with this guide! 🍂🍁
September is the start of fall, but it is also the start of many Gilmore Girls fans’ annual rewatch of the series. One option is to watch the series from start to finish, but another option is to watch all of the great fall episodes. Look no further: we have compiled a complete list of every autumnal episode. If there were pumpkins behind Lorelai and Rory’s walk-and-talks, it’s here. There is nothing like Connecticut (well, okay, the Warner Brothers backlot) among the multicolored (painted) leaves, jackets, scarves, and boots.
Season 1
Episode 5, “Cinnamon’s Wake”
This episode screams the very beginning of fall - all you need is a light jacket to sit outside and talk to your crush or to stargaze.
Episode 6, “Rory’s Birthday Parties”
First of all, Rory’s birthday is October 8th, and also we’ll leave you with just four words (different four words) from Richard Gilmore: “I am an Autumn.”
Episode 7, “Kiss and Tell”
Let’s all gather around the Horn Of Plenty, and decorate our homes with paper turkeys that will surely make Luke roll his eyes. We’ll end the night stuffing our faces with junk food as we watch Willy Wonka. Who is going into the sugar coma first?
Season 2
Episode 4, “Road Trip to Harvard”
A road trip through New England is the ultimate fall excursion even if there are no leaves on the ground. Tack on a tour of Harvard, and we are all starry-eyed. Just make sure to caff up!
Episode 5, “Nick & Nora/Sid & Nancy”
School’s back in session, and added bonus–Jess arrives in Stars Hollow.
Episode 6, “Presenting Lorelai Gilmore”
We spy with our little eyes the (painted) fall foliage as we dance the Vietnamese waltz at Miss Patty’s. Just don’t ask Luke to make a chai latte.
Episode 7, “Like Mother, Like Daughter”
Fall is a nice time for a barbeque except for when you are at the Gilmores’... they eat inside with utensils🍴and napkins, so you better go hunt down a gazelle if you want to eat outside. No matching sweatshirts are necessary for the planning of the fall fundraiser–only matching outfits on the runway.
Episode 8, “The In & Outs of Inns”
Our friend Mia is in town, and with some good ole’ fashioned controversy stirring up at the town hall meeting, it makes us nostalgic. Thank goodness Gilbert the Goat got his head glued back on.
Season 3
Episode 5, “Eight O'Clock at the Oasis”
The fall is a good time for antique auctions but beware if you meet the cute guy with paddle number 17. Also be careful when neighbors ask for help to water their lawn.
Episode 6, “Take the Deviled Eggs”
There is nothing like an autumn day to stand around waiting for the town loner to drop his sign… what is he protesting? Something that starts with “R”... we’ll never know. Don’t forget to move away from Jess’ deviled egg-ed car.
Episode 7, “They Shoot Gilmores, Don’t They”
This episode will always be one of the fan favorites. All of our favorite townies are present and accounted for, dancing the day away. Some last longer than others.
Episode 8 “Let the Games Begin”
Another road trip to a university–this time to Yale! Make sure to grab some tacos from Hector and eat them in Luke’s.
Episode 9, “A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving”
We’re not Michelle Kwan-ing our way out of this. Four dinners. Just skip the rolls. And if the family keeps getting to you, keep pouring the margs, just like Sookie.
Season 4
Episode 4, “Chicken or Beef”
There’s a new mail carrier in town, and no one is getting their mail. What a mess. Oh, there is also the matter of Rory’s ex getting married in the middle of the town square too. Awkward run-in for sure!
Episode 5, “The Fundamental Things Apply”
Rory tries out the dating thing with a guy named Trevor who is very good at remembering to stay hydrated, while Lorelai and Luke have a movie night where they attempt to watch Casablanca & Hard Bodies. You just gotta remember not to yell at Ed because he cries.
Episode 6, “An Affair to Remember”
Have you found your perfect study tree yet? Kirk is busy planning his first date with a young lady, while Emily hires the Independence Catering Company for a fancy party. After all, Emily was just worried about potential bad PR since she never got a flier.
Episode 7, “The Festival of Living Art”
A fan favorite episode that has one of Kirk’s best scenes, complete with the wind blowing through his hair during his monologue. This is also the introduction of Gil to Hep Alien, so let’s get ready to rock.
Episode 8, “Die, Jerk”
Beware if you hear the sound of tulle rustling behind you. Rory learns a lesson in writing reviews for the school paper.
Episode 9, “Ted Koppel’s Big Night Out”
There isn’t much else that screams fall than tailgating before the big Harvard/Yale game. Who is bringing the fun flask?
Season 5
Episode 4, “Tippecanoe and Taylor, Too”
Elections and fall go hand in hand, so let’s all get out and vote for Town Selectman. Who are you voting for? Taylor or Jackson? Or are you just here for the band…?
Episode 5, “We Got Us A Pippi Virgin”
It’s a double date night in Stars Hollow, where the dress is cas’. All you have to remember is 11111 and not to say the word “slacks” – it’s creepy.
Episode 6, “Norman Mailer, I’m Pregnant”
Doose’s Market tries out the whole 24-hour thing to catch the trucker crowd with nachos. Oh yea, don’t ever just mention something to Kirk unless you want him to dress up as a hot dog to pass out flyers to drum up business on your behalf. The quiche made him look fat.
Episode 7, “You Jump, I Jump Jack”
In Omnia Paratus! A party in the middle of the woods, tents, and a fancy extravaganza where you better not interfere with the integrity of the event. Sounds like a pretty fantastic fall weekend to us. And if that doesn’t appeal to you, you can either have dinner with Emily or watch Stop Making Sense with Lane, Zack and Brian.
Episode 8, “The Party’s Over”
Emily & Richard throw a “Male Yale” party while Luke shows off his cooking skills for Lorelai. And we can’t forget that TJ is in es-ca-row.
Episode 9, “Emily Says Hello”
Jackson has to avoid all the townies because he can’t take all of their requests, but Sookie still has some crazy cravings. Emily decides it’s time to date and needs advice from Lorelai. All you have to say is “hello” apparently.
Episode 10, “But Not As Cute As Pushkin”
Rory shows a Chilton student around Yale, while Luke has his Dark Day and Miss Patty celebrates her 40th anniversary in show business.
Season 6
Episode 6, “Welcome to the Dollhouse”
Stars Hollow is renaming all of their streets to match the historic names. If only the map wasn’t so confusing - oh no!
Episode 7, “Twenty-One is the Loneliest Number”
It’s Rory’s 21st birthday! Grab yourself a chocolate box, and don’t forget about the Halloween scares over at Babette & Morey’s place.
Episode 8, “Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out”
Luke can’t say no to sponsoring a girls’ soccer team, while Rory has an old friend visit who just so happens to snap her out of her current situation. Why in the world did she drop out of Yale?
Episode 9, “The Prodigal Daughter Returns”
Renovations are done at Lorelai’s house, and yes, even the skinny tiny molding in the closet! Rory is back, while there is another daughter that has shown up too.
Episode 10 “He’s Slippin’ ‘Em Bread…Dig?”
The girls make up for lost time, and it’s another Thanksgiving in Stars Hollow. Everyone has gathered at the Dragonfly, and we are not surprised that Sookie won’t let anyone else carve the turkey.
Season 7
Episode 4, “‘S Wonderful, ‘S Marvelous”
Sookie’s kitchen is swimming in pumpkins and gourds. Gourd soup is apparently so sweet it’s like pumpkin pie soup. We’ll just take her word for it. Even if you aren’t a fan of Christopher, you have to admit the showing of Funny Face on the side of the barn in a red convertible is a pretty good fall date night.
Episode 5, “The Great Stink”
Stars Hollow reeks of pickles that were sitting in the sun from a derailed train…so maybe this isn’t the greatest time to be in Stars Hollow.
Episode 6, “Go Bulldogs!”
It’s Rory’s senior year at Yale, and Lorelai has never visited during parents weekend until now. Bill just wants to finally try the crème brûlée.
Episode 7, “French Twist”
Do you prefer Fall in Paris, or in a small town like Stars Hollow… you get both in this episode. If you are Lorelai, you are running around at night looking for food. If you are Rory, you are dying your hair pink and freaking out about life after graduation.
Episode 8, “Introducing Lorelai Planetarium”
There is a lot of adjusting in this episode: Lorelai to married life, Luke to parenting a sick child, Rory to her parents getting married without her there.
Episode 9, “Knit People Knit”
The town is getting together for a Knit-a-thon to save the Muddy River bridge, while Christopher and Jackson have a man-date. Not to mention, Lucy’s 2002-themed birthday party with Paris and Doyle tearing up the dance floor is reason enough to watch.
Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life, “Fall”
Last but certainly not least in our watch list is the “Fall” episode in Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life. Obviously. Not only do we get a pretty great montage of the Life & Death Brigade in Stars Hollow, we get the most perfect wedding that we had been waiting a long time for. Kirk outdid himself, and we think he finally found his calling.
And if you are looking for the “Hay Bale Maze” episode - even though Taylor Doose is obsessed with hay, that is not a fall-centric episode. Head over to the spring episode guide for that one, and our summer and winter guides for more seasonal fun!
What is your favorite autumnal episode of Gilmore Girls? Tell us in the comments!
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