10 Shows to Watch If You Love ‘Gilmore Girls’

Calling all Gilmore Girls fans! Whether you’ve just finished bingeing all seven seasons for the first or the third time (maybe even more), it’s impossible not to crave more of that witty humor, enticing drama, and quirky, Star Hollows characters. From chats over coffee at the Dragonfly Inn to uncomfortable dinners with the grandparents, watching the incredible mother-daughter bond between Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) evolve, as well as how the two grew independently throughout the series, was equally as humorous as it was heartwarming. 

If you’re on the hunt for a show with the same familial fun, balance of drama and comedy, or small-town feel, we’ve got you covered. There are quite a few shows similar to the beloved and nostalgic Gilmore Girls, but here are 10 that could become your next binge-worthy obsession. 

1. ‘Parenthood’

   Lauren Graham’s character Sarah Braverman is no Lorelai Gilmore, but they do share a similar witty humor and easy-going personality. Braverman is also a quirky single mother, but instead of raising a prestigious daughter like Rory, she cares for two rebellious teens, Amber (Mae Whitman) and Drew (Miles Heizer). Parenthood focuses on Sarah and the rest of the Braverman siblings as they share the abundance of emotions that come with parenting in their California hometown. 

   WHERE TO STREAM PARENTHOOD

2. ‘Hart of Dixie’

   Hart of Dixie follows Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson), a young doctor who moves to a small town to practice medicine. The dramedy has the same small-town setting, feel-good quality, and clever female protagonist that just screams “Gilmore Girls”. While Rory and Lorelai may know the ins and outs of Stars Hollow, Hart of Dixie is sure to make you laugh as Zoe struggles to fit in and win over the locals in her new southern home. 

   WHERE TO STREAM HART OF DIXIE

4. ‘Jane the Virgin’

   If you loved Gilmore Girls for the BFF bond between Rory and Lorelai and the intricacies of multi-generational relationships, Jane the Virgin is the show for you. The series focuses on Jane (Gina Rodriguez) who manages to get artificially inseminated by accident. Similar to Gilmore Girls, Jane and her mother Xiomara are basically besties, while Xiomara’s mother Abuela has a very different style of parenting. The show is filled with tear-jerking plotlines, laugh-out-loud moments, and telenovela-like plot twists. 

   WHERE TO STREAM JANE THE VIRGIN

5. ‘Never Have I Ever’

   Never Have I Ever tells the story of Devi Vishwakumar’s (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) complicated high school life as an overachieving and boy-obsessed teenager. Just like Lorelai, Devi’s mom Nalini is a working single mother who just wants her family to be strong and happy together as she navigates raising an adolescent daughter on her own. Devi and Rory share the same Ivy League passions, and even both find themselves stuck in a love triangle along the way. 

   WHERE TO STREAM NEVER HAVE I EVER

6. ‘The Fosters’

   If you’re drawn to Gilmore Girls for its classic family drama, Freeform’s The Fosters has much more of it to hold you over. The series follows interracial lesbian partners Steph Foster (Teri Polo) and Lena Adams (Sherri Saum), who have one biological child and go on to adopt four more. While sweet and sentimental like Gilmore Girls, The Fosters also proudly tackles important issues of race, class, sexuality, and mental health. With five seasons and a spin-off series called Good Trouble, there are plenty of seasons to watch between Gilmore binges.

   WHERE TO STREAM THE FOSTERS

7. ‘The Carrie Diaries’

   Something tells me Rory Gilmore and Carrie Bradshaw would’ve been great friends in high school — or they at least would’ve worked on the school newspaper together. As a prequel to Sex and the City, The Carrie Diaries shows us a teenage Carrie Bradshaw, played by AnnaSophia Robb, as she follows her dream of becoming a writer and juggles bad boys and high school in suburban Connecticut. Carrie’s life is sure to remind you of Rory’s high school and college years, though with an added glamorous flair that we don’t quite see in Rory’s Yale adventures. 

   WHERE TO STREAM THE CARRIE DIARIES

8. ‘Friends’

   Friends may not follow the serial drama style of Gilmore Girls, but the iconic sitcom holds the same silly, wholesome humor that comes with the trials and tribulations of growing older. Though centering family-esque friends rather than a friend-esque family, the tight-knit group of young adults navigating their careers and romances in NYC gives similar nostalgic vibes as Gilmore Girls. We can see Friends being Rory’s go-to show when she’s stuck figuring out her life in Season 6 — although, we can’t decide if she’s a Monica or a Rachel.

   WHERE TO STREAM FRIENDS

9. ‘This is Us’

   If you were team Jess Mariano in Gilmore Girls, then you’ll be drawn to This is Us. Milo Ventimiglia takes on a very different role from his rebellious Gilmore Girls character in this dramatic series, playing Jack Pearson, an honorable husband to his wife Rebecca (Mandy Moore) and father of three children. Jumping through multiple timelines, we piece together the traumatic experiences and heartfelt moments from throughout the three siblings’ lives. And just a warning: this show is sure to pull on your heartstrings, so maybe have a box of tissues ready to go.

   WHERE TO STREAM THIS IS US

10. ‘Ginny & Georgia’

    Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia is often called a modern take on Gilmore Girls, though it has a much darker twist. The dramedy follows Georgia (Brianne Howey), a young single mother who moves to a small New England town with her kids Ginny (Antonia Gentry) and Austin. Georgia gave birth to Ginny as a teenager, just like Lorelai did with Rory, and in both series, we learn how being a single, teen mom can impact mother-daughter relationships.

    WHERE TO STREAM GINNY & GEORGIA

11. ‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life’

    Obviously the Gilmore Girls reboot deserves a spot on this list. Unfortunately, the sequel has only four episodes, but each one is like a mini-movie that brings fans more Stars Hollow drama. We see our heroine Rory flourishing in her adult life, and watch how Lorelai and Emily find themselves coping after Richard’s death. And of course, Jess, Dean, and Logan find their way back into Rory’s love life. Make sure to savor every moment of the last four episodes featuring the fast-talking, coffee-loving Gilmore fam. 

    WHERE TO STREAM GILMORE GIRLS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE