17 Shows to Watch if You’re Obsessed with ‘Gilmore Girls’
So you've binged all seven seasons of Gilmore Girls more than once (three times, tops). Then, as an added bonus, you got to revisit Stars Hollow in the Netflix reboot, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Still, as much as you enjoy the fast-paced dialogue and the quirky characters, you're craving something more. Perhaps it's a brand-new show that offers a similar balance between humor and drama, or maybe it's a laugh-out-loud comedy that tackles darker themes, but still has the same small-town feel.
Thanks to streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, there are quite a few shows like Gilmore Girls to choose from, and they're all just as binge-worthy. Below, see 15 titles that will probably become your newest obsession.
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1. ‘Heartland’
If you're looking for a wholesome, escapist drama that can be enjoyed by the whole family, then Heartland is a must-watch—especially since it's filled with complex, lovable characters. Based on Lauren Brooke's book series of the same name, Heartland follows the Fleming-Bartlett family, who live on a ranch near the fictional town of Hudson, Alberta. After experiencing a devastating loss, the family tries to maintain their bond as they navigate the ups and downs of life on the ranch.
2. ‘Virgin River’
Fans are already eagerly awaiting the premiere of season three of Virgin River, and it's not hard to see why. The series, based on Robyn Carr's book series, shares quite a few themes with Gilmore Girls, from complicated romantic relationships to dealing with small-town life. On the show, we follow Melinda Monroe, who moves to Virgin River in California and discovers that there's way more to the small town than meets the eye.
3. ‘Sweet Magnolias’
Thanks to Sherryl Woods’s book series, we can enjoy this feel-good adaptation, Sweet Magnolias. The romantic drama follows three South Carolina BFFs who live in the same small town that they grew up in. Throughout the series, they support one another as they deal with romance, their careers and family issues.
Per our News and Entertainment Editor, Greta Heggeness, "Sweet Magnolias is more than just a drama like Gilmore Girls, which didn’t require my full attention span. (I’m a total GG fan, but there’s no denying that skipping a few episodes here and there would minimally affect the story line.)"
4. ‘Hart of Dixie’
Okay, so Hart of Dixie isn't that similar to Gilmore Girls, but if you love quirky fictional small towns, then this will be right up your alley. The series follows Dr. Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson), a New Yorker who decides to takes over her dad’s medical practice after his passing. When she relocates to Bluebell, Alabama, she finds that adjusting to southern life is way more challenging than she expected.
5. ‘Ginny & Georgia’
Often dubbed the modern-day version of Gilmore Girls, Ginny & Georgia follows mother-and-daughter duo Ginny (Antonia Gentry) and Georgia (Brianne Howey). The single mom, Georgia, lives with her teenage daughter and 9-year-old son, Austin, in a New England town. The only issue? Ginny is apparently the mother figure in the group.
6. ‘Derry Girls’
For the record, Derry Girls is one the funniest shows you'll ever see. And while it doesn’t follow a similar plot like Gilmore Girls, it’s got the same witty humor and great dialogue. Set in Northern Ireland during The Troubles in the '90s, the sitcom follows a group of Catholic school girls as they navigate the ups and downs of their teenage years.
7. ‘Parenthood’
Sarah Braverman is no Lorelai Gilmore, but they do have quite a bit in common, from their witty remarks to their easy-going personality. Parenthood follows the Braverman family, including Zeek Braverman (Craig T. Nelson), Camille Braverman (Bonnie Bedelia), and the families of their four children. (FYI, you'll definitely break out the tissues for this one.)
8. ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’
Amy Sherman-Palladino, who spearheaded Gilmore Girls, actually created The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Fans will notice right off the bat that it's more cutting edge, but it's got the same fast-paced dialogue and humor that we loved so much in GG. Set in Manhattan during the '50s, the series follows Midge (Rachel Brosnahan), a loyal housewife who struggles to deal with the aftermath of her husband suddenly leaving her. GG fans might especially appreciate Midge's father, Abe Weissman (Tony Shalhoub), who's a wise scholar like Lorelai's dad, Richard Gilmore. Also, it's worth noting that Alex Borstein, best known for playing Drella on GG, plays Susie, Midge's talent manager.
9. ‘Younger’
Sutton Foster is Liza Miller, a 40-year-old divorcee who decides to enter the ageist industry of publishing after she's mistaken for a younger adult. Hilary Duff, Debi Mazar, Miriam Shor and Nico Tortorella also star in this fun series, which has no shortage of literary references (we're sure that Rory would approve).
10. ‘Mom’
Meet Christy (Anna Faris) and Bonnie (Allison Janney) Plunkett, the mother-daughter duo that'll probably make your own dysfunctional relationships seem like a walk in the park. Christy is a single mom who tries to get a fresh start in Napa, California after struggling with alcoholism. Raising two kids on her own while trying to stay sober is challenging enough, but her patience is tested when her mom, who’s also a recovering addict, pops up in her life again.
11. ‘Insecure’
Issa Rae’s Insecure is like a breath of fresh air, considering that so many on-screen portrayals of Black women are far from realistic. In this HBO series, we follow Issa (Rae) and her BFF, Molly (Yvonne Orji) as they deal with life’s ups and downs, from their tight-knit bond to their complicated love lives. Much like Gilmore Girls, it not only explores friendships, but it also balances humor and drama really well.
12. ‘Jane the Virgin’
Gilmore Girls taught us quite a lot about multi-generational relationships. For instance, Lorelai and Rory were the ultimate BFFs while Lorelai and Emily had a very different dynamic. In Jane the Virgin, we see a similar kind of set-up, as it follows three generations of powerful women. Jane the Virgin centers on Jane (Gina Rodriguez), who accidentally gets artificially inseminated (not kidding). While Xiomara and Jane are like tight-knit besties, Abuela's parenting style is quite different. The show has its heartwarming moments, but you’ll definitely enjoy the humor and over-the-top plot twists.
13. ‘Bunheads’
TBH, we still can’t believe that this show ended after only one season, but trust us when we say all 18 episodes are worth the watch. Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino co-created the comedy-drama, which follows Michelle Simms Flowers (Sutton Foster), a former ballerina and Las Vegas showgirl who decides to become a teacher at her mother-in-law's ballet school. You’ll recognize quite a few faces, from Liza Weil (Paris Geller) to Kelly Bishop (Emily Gilmore), who plays Michelle’s mother-in-law.
14. ‘This Is Us’
Jess Mariano fans will be drawn to this series, although Milo Ventimiglia’s character is quite different from the rebellious Gilmore Girls character. This time around, he plays Jack Pearson, a dependable husband and father who raises three children with his wife, Rebecca. The Emmy-winning series explores family relationships and trauma, so it’s sure to tug at your heartstrings.
15. ‘Schitt’s Creek’
There's a reason this Canadian comedy series wound up with nine Emmy Awards, setting a new record for most Emmy wins by a comedy series in a single season. If you loved feeling like a part of Stars Hollow, which had its fair share of quirky personalities, then you might enjoy Schitt’s Creek. In this series, we follow a formerly rich family that's forced to move to a small town after they lose their fortune.
16. ‘Queen Sugar’
Based on Natalie Baszile's book of the same name, this critically acclaimed drama centers on three siblings who return to Louisiana after their father's death. There's the eldest, Nova Bordelon (Rutina Wesley), who's a journalist and activist, Charley Bordelon (Dawn-Lyen Gardner), a hard-working mother, and Ralph Angel Bordelon (Kofi Siriboe), a single parent who struggles with unemployment. Although Gilmore Girls isn't the first thing that'll come to mind as you watch this, it paints an honest portrait of how complex multigenerational families can be.
17. ‘The O.C’
Sure, Newport Beach isn't your typical, cozy small town, but this drama has the kind of sarcastic humor and snappy dialogue that makes Gilmore Girls so great. The O.C. tells the story of Ryan Atwood, a boy who gets adopted by his well-to-do relatives, who live in a very different, high-class world. The show tackles some dark themes, from poverty and classism to culture clashing.
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