By: Liz Ripley
It is officially Fall in Columbus! Temperatures are slowly dropping, football season has started, and Starbucks has just released its seasonal drink menu. Life during the months of September, October, and November seem to slow with the changing leaves. I love how the season revolves around fun activities and warm scents of pumpkin and cinnamon, but most importantly, comfort and nostalgia. For me, nothing encompasses that feeling more than cozying up with a blanket while rewatching my two favorite TV shows: “Gossip Girl,” an early 2000s teen drama, and “Friends,” a 90s adult sitcom. Both shows feature timeless Thanksgiving episodes that put me in the perfect fall mood.
So, if you are looking for something fun and entertaining to watch on a cool fall night, here are two of my favorite seasonal episodes!
“Gossip Girl”; Season 3, Episode 11 – The Treasure of Serena Madre
Fall in New York City brings vibrant leaves across Central Park and iconic seasonal fashion. For our favorite Upper East Siders, fall brings messy relationships and family drama, particularly over Thanksgiving dinner.
This episode starts in the most fitting way possible: Rufus wants a small, home-cooked family dinner at the Van Der Woodsen’s apartment, but it’s never that simple. A table of six turns into a table of 20 and of course, everyone’s got a secret. To name a few; Serena and Tripp are hiding their affair, Johnathan is discreetly plotting against Jenny, Nate is quietly dealing with his father’s debts, and Dan is uncovering feelings for Vanessa. Turkey is on the menu, but confrontations are served. By the end of dinner, there are no clean plates, just empty chairs.
Like this episode, I’m sure we can all relate to a Thanksgiving that didn’t go as planned. I recommend watching this not only for the scandalous plot but for the warm, nostalgic film quality. I can’t help but want an autumn like the Upper East Siders, but watching the show with a pumpkin cinnamon candle burning will have to do!
“Friends”; Season 5, Episode 8 – The One with the Thanksgiving Flashbacks
Since that “Gossip Girl” episode will give you enough drama for the season, let’s switch to a light-hearted, witty episode of “Friends.”
This episode takes us through stories of the characters’ past Thanksgivings. Fall is all about being around loved ones and reminiscing fond memories, which is why this episode is so fitting. The show opens with the group spread on the furniture after stuffing themselves at dinner, as we all do. Chandler offers to tell his classic depressing Thanksgiving story, and Joey teases that it wouldn’t be a Thanksgiving without Chandler bumming everyone out. This leads the rest of the group to share their worst Thanksgiving stories.
Surprisingly, Monica’s story takes the cake. She reveals that she overheard Chandler call her fat, which she used as motivation to slim out. The following year, she planned to humiliate him for revenge but failed by dropping a knife on his toe, causing him to lose it. In the end, Monica iconically dances with a turkey on her head to cheer him up.
This episode is quirky, nostalgic, and a perfect watch with your family. I know mine always get a good laugh while watching. Watching this series in the fall is so timely. It checks all the boxes of the seasonal feels: comfort, warmth, and doing things you love.
I could go on about fall TV forever, but these two episodes should set the tone. Something about a comedic and witty Thanksgiving episode brings me that nostalgic, comforting fall feeling. Nothing says “fall” more than Thanksgiving and the tomfoolery and drama that comes with it. These episodes truly remind me of my own family mishaps during the holiday. I hope that you all enjoy these episodes as I do while baking cookies, scrolling through Pinterest, and hanging with your friends on a crisp fall evening.