We just endured quite the summer, dominated by President Trump's feral agenda, ragebait TikTok videos and don’t even get me started on season three of The Summer I Turned Pretty. At some point, the back-to-back events signaling societal downfall morphed my summertime sadness into deranged rage, and I found myself praying for a rapid end to the summer.
But, finally, the Ithaca trees begin to slowly turn crimson and blow crisp leaves into the serene gorges. The glaring sun enwraps the rows of quaint little frat houses in a demure golden glow. The intoxicating, palpable scent of pumpkin spice blissfully overtakes campus coffee shops. I’ve concluded that I am and forever will be “an autumn.” So, here’s a list of things I’ve been watching to mentally detox from whatever the hell just happened this past summer and romanticize the glory of this heavenly fall season.
Morning Routines and Baking Videos
Firstly, I’ve been detoxing my feed. The semester just started, and I refuse to fall back into past cycles of procrastination and doomscrolling brain rot on TikTok. I will not allow social media to induce my cognitive decline — I mean, come on, the barrels of energy drinks I consume weekly were supposed to do that. So, I’ve shifted to escapism by watching unrealistic fall morning routines and baking videos on TikTok, basking in nostalgic audios from Gilmore Girls. The dark ambiance juxtaposed with gleaming cinnamon-scented candles envelops me in pure euphoria, reminding me of the peacefully monotonous autumn days I took for granted in high school. I have been living in blissful ignorance of the latest fads and instead find myself binge-watching content exuding a sublime autumnal aura. I might have gone too far … At some point, my For You page started recommending “run a fall bath with me” videos, which is a bit over the top, if you ask me. Nonetheless, the vibes are pretty immaculate, and I have never been happier!
Monstober-Era Episodes and Movies on Disney+ (2011-2016)
Hear me out on this one: There’s nothing like a quarter-life crisis making you question how you got into Cornell to reminisce on the simplicity of elementary school life — classroom Halloween parties, running out of the bus during a torrential downpour, eating buckets of candy until your teeth clattered and rotted. Today, the sweetness of those sugar-highs lives in the bounds of Disney Plus. Those of us who grew up in the prime of Disney Channel remember the annual Halloween programming block airing spooky fall films and episodes throughout October. No, Monstober was not a pseudomemory. I’ve found myself rewatching movies like Girl vs. Monster, Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie and, the ever-iconic, The Nightmare Before Christmas. Of course, I’ve also been looping fall episodes from the Disney Channel original series we all grew up on, like “Ghost Bummers” from Jessie, “Kang-A-Rooney” from Liv and Maddie and “Horror Stories & Halloween Scares” from Austin & Ally. And, surely, there are plenty more once you go down the rabbit hole of nostalgia!
Sweet Magnolias (2020 –)
I swear, Netflix original series are not getting any better, but we’re lowering our standards in response to their abysmal script-writing. Regardless, they are comforting watches in the midst of a prelim-ridden week and are only minimally addictive. One of these terrible, yet captivating shows is Sweet Magnolias. The series follows the lifelong female friendship of Maddie, Dana Sue and Helen in Serenity, a small South Carolina town. Sweet Magnolias explores the womens’ personal struggles in their family, professional and romantic lives as they navigate life's challenges together with a heartening hint of Southern charm. After some self-reflection, I concluded how my reflex of clicking “play next” is only to see if the show gets any better. Well, it doesn’t, but I keep watching anyway because I’m intrigued, mystified and buried under my weighted blanket. This series simply adds a spark of warmth to my soul as the temperatures begin dipping and rain starts knocking on my windowsill.
Little Women (2019)
And, of course, ‘tis the season to rewatch just about the most soul-stirring movie that tugs at a different heartstring every damn time: Little Women. The film follows sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy as they transition from childhood to womanhood amid the American Civil War. This is no excuse to ignore reading Louisa May Alcott’s iconic book, but the 2019 production also exudes the energy of every heartwarming watch we all adore: coming-of-age, sisterhood and love. However, I will say this film is better suited for a tougher day because, I promise you, the waterworks will come — relentlessly.
This list is just a snapshot of how I've been spending my time recently to regain my tranquility and sanity amid the impending collapse of society. And so that I can restrain myself from screaming from the rooftops about my obsessive hatred for The Summer I Turned Pretty. Regardless of your cortisol levels or anger management course participation this past summer, I truly hope this list can serve as a source of uplifting reminiscence as we transition into a chilling, uncertain autumn.
Ava Tafreshi is a sophomore at the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at ant63@cornell.edu.
"Are You Still Watching?” is a column spotlighting what the Cornell community has been streaming. It runs every Wednesday.
