Enjoy the start of a new season with iconic shows, reflective novels, emotional music and creative puzzles
September in Missouri brings changing leaves, windy days and unfortunate remnants of the August heat. As we try to convince ourselves that it’s acceptable to wear a sweater in 90 degree weather, we look for media that emulates fall, puts us in the mood to learn and allows us to embrace the beginning of the semester.
Read
Bensaoud: Just a few weeks ago I finished “Babel” by R.F. Kuang, and it left its impression as a captivating ‘dark academia’ book. The novel follows Robin Swift and his cohort as they study at the Oxford School of Translation in 1828 and realize their place in the churning machine that is colonial England.
“Babel” captures the bittersweet feelings associated with fall; the anticipation for a new semester yet the hesitant progression towards adulthood and confronting reality. Through a haunting atmosphere and lush descriptions, the crispness of autumn seems to echo in the novel’s writing, making it a wonderful yet dense book to begin the season with.
While the novel immerses you in the academic and moral struggles of its characters, it also explores dark themes such as colonialism and how its structures are upheld through complicity within academia. Kuang examines how knowledge can be both a tool for liberation and a weapon of oppression and invites readers to reflect on their own roles in these systems. It is important to respect the purpose of the narrative while not reducing it down to an aesthetic (as is common with the commercialization of books these days) and be able to acknowledge the weight of its themes while losing yourself in its beautifully written world.
Watch
Bensaoud: “Gilmore Girls” is something of a ritualistic re-watch for me, where I go back to episode one on the first of every September. In my opinion, there is no show that tops this one in terms of capturing fall.
The show’s warm color palette — rich oranges, deep reds and muted browns — mirror the changing leaves outside. Each frame is imbued with the soft glow of the season, enticing viewers into the cozy town of Stars Hollow. Every single setting encapsulates the nostalgic feel of a small town autumn, creating a relaxing and welcoming escape from Missouri’s indecisive weather.
Along with the visual elements, the soft guitar melodies that transition each scene enhance the show’s inviting atmosphere. The soundtrack, infused with folk and acoustic sounds, is a comforting and peaceful backdrop to the witty banter of the main characters, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore.
The 90s fashion adds on another layer of charm, with its mix of what are now vintage-inspired outfits and accessories that reflect the era’s casual elegance. Watching the characters wear baby tees, low-rise jeans and oversized sweaters transports you to a time when comfort and style seamlessly coexisted. This visual nostalgia creates a longing for the simple pleasures of autumns past, reminiscent of childhood memories spent gathering leaves or sipping hot chocolate.
Woods: HBO’s “Girls” has been at the heart of endless discourse since its debut in 2012. People are either drawn to or repulsed by the four titular, stereotyped, outlandish, morally unwell Bushwick post-grad girls. Personally, I could not be more fascinated with them.
I started “Girls” thinking it would be more of a 2010s period piece than a reflection of my own life in 2024. For the first few episodes, this thought proved to be correct. An infinity scarf is featured in almost every scene, LCD Soundsystem plays a prominent role in the soundtrack and early-era Twitter is regularly used by characters. “Girls” made being a twenty-something in 2012 feel like a fond memory of mine, even though I was only 7-years-old at the time.
“Girls” is the perfect back-to-school watch. Being in college means going through one new, often embarrassing experience after another, a concept the show captures perfectly. Despite the characters being mainly university graduates, the way they operate rings very true to my current in-school experience.
Part of this relatability is because the characters are so bizarre. Creator Lena Dunham was able to take mannerisms I exhibit day-to-day and turn them into the most extreme versions of themselves. I see Hannah Horvath — a character who thrives on her own ignorance and insulation from the “real world” — in myself whenever I put off cleaning my kitchen or doing my laundry. Her desire to be a writer, despite any real motivation to start a story, is often dishearteningly accurate to my own life.
Still, the four girls are not “good” people. They lie, cheat and express more narcissism than I thought was possible. Sure, I relate to Horvath’s traits, but I would never make the questionable decisions she does. At the end of the day, “Girls” is a much-needed reminder that, despite how stressful and confusing my college life may seem, it could always be worse. I am not a miserable NYC graduate, and for that I am thankful.
Listen
Bensaoud: During June and July, my Spotify almost exclusively features artists like Beabadoobee and Clairo, who both evoke the playful warmth of spring and summer. In a perfect contrast to this, Faye Webster is an artist I routinely put on during the later parts of the year. Webster’s music feels more introspective, often soft yet deeply resonant, capturing the tragicomic emotions that accompany the changing seasons.
Songs like “She Won’t Go Away” and “Right Side of My Neck” never fail to remind me of winter break and re-(hate) watching “Twilight.” The pedal steel guitar weaves through many of her songs, creating an undercurrent of excitement tinged with a hint of dread. It’s as if her melodies echo the feeling of anticipation, an exhilarating uncertainty about what lies ahead. This depth adds layers to her music, allowing it to resonate on multiple levels while invoking listeners to reflect on their own experiences.
What I appreciate most is how Webster’s songs seamlessly blend into the background of my daily life, becoming what I like to pretend is a personal theme song. Whether I’m walking to class or frantically studying at the library, her music is a gentle soundtrack that feels tailored to my moments. It’s a kind of sound that lingers just beneath the surface, enhancing my thoughts and feelings without overwhelming them, making her the perfect everyday companion for this time of year.
Play
Woods: For me, the end of summer means the beginning of seemingly never-ending stress; homework must be done, exams must be studied for and projects must be turned in. In previous years, I would turn to my phone as a source of comfort when things got hectic. Turning my brain off and scrolling on Instagram or TikTok seemed like the only way to relax, but it didn’t make me feel good.
I’ve spent the last month in search of a way to manage my stress that doesn’t come with social media’s side effects. No more comparing my life to others, feeling like I’m wasting my time or ruining my attention span. I wanted a break, not a brain-killer.
Crosswords proved to be exactly what I was looking for. They let me tune out the world for thirty minutes and focus on two of my favorite things: trivia and wordplay. Doing the New York Times crossword turned into a post-schoolwork ritual of mine. The more puzzles I solved, the more obsessed I became.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, crosswords can be a deeply personal thing. Puzzles often mirror their creators; the clues relate to their interests and complicated grids reflect the hours (if not days, weeks or months) they spent creating a single game. More well-known cruciverbalists, the technical term for puzzle makers, hide easter eggs in answers for fans to find. In a 2011 NYT crossword, for example, creator Brendan Quigley announced his pregnancy with the clue “___ pregnant!” and corresponding answer “we’re.”
Solving a crossword and feeling connected to its creator, editor and other players is more fulfilling than any 15-second TikTok could ever be. As the school year ramps up, I am thankful to have found such a reliable source of joy in my daily routine. Maybe one day I’ll graduate to making puzzles myself, but for now, playing them is all I need.
These recommendations pair perfectly with the red leaves beginning to scatter the sidewalks, fall rain replacing the summer sun’s bright shine and your calendar becoming full of schoolwork to-dos. These books, shows, songs, and games can offer you solace from an otherwise stressful September.
Edited by Molly Levine | mlevine@themaneater.com
Copyedited by Jackson Cooper and Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com
Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com