If you’re a serial re-watcher of comfort shows or a movie binger– you’ll relate to this and you’ll love our comfort TV show suggestions.
A Love Letter to Comfort Shows
Before the pandemic, I was the queen of TV. Whenever I had free time, I was ready to jump on the latest show – whether it was a drama, comedy, fantasy, or thriller. I resented reality TV, thinking it was below my refined sensibilities. During this golden age of TV-watching, I even kept a list to track the new shows I was watching, when new seasons were coming out, and how long until I got caught up.
When the pandemic started, I found myself gravitating towards the shows I had already rewatched multiple times. I just couldn’t bring myself to hit play on something I hadn’t seen. Instead, I’d slump back to Bob’s Burgers or Futurama and surrender to the fact that my brain was refusing to consume anything new.
I thought that this change would go away as the pandemic lessened, but even now as things are (somewhat) normal, I still find myself watching the same shows over and over again. Part of this was due to all of the mediums that demanded my attention in 2020, but I also think the seed had been planted earlier than I thought.
It all began with Hulu’s original show, Harlots, a campy drama about 18th-century prostitutes living in London. I devoured this show. It was excellent. For once, there was a historical drama that featured a diverse cast and focused on lower-class women (which is a rarity in most historical dramas set in this time period).
And what happened? It got canceled.
My next drama obsession was GLOW on Netflix. Another diverse historical drama focused on women, GLOW expertly balanced the arcs of several well-developed female characters with the outrageous backdrop of women’s wrestling in the 1980s. It, too, got canceled.
So, what makes comfort shows so comforting?
After the seemingly never-ending stream of canceled shows, my unconscious mind must’ve wondered, “Well, what’s the point of getting invested in a show if it’s just going to get canceled on a cliffhanger?” I think many of us are wondering the same thing, as Netflix raises its prices while the quality of its content continues to fall. And so, why not watch the same shows? Down into the rabbit hole of comfort shows we go.
After all, we face a barrage of new content every hour of the day. Our never-ending social media feeds, rapidly changing news cycles, and busy workdays bombard us with new information all the time. By the end of the day, when we’re ready to unwind and relax, do we really want to process another new thing? It just feels like more work. Plus, if that show is just going to get canceled, then we might feel cheated – and that’s no fun.
So, comfort shows, why do we feel so bad for watching you? I think it has something to do with our culture of productivity, of always having to feel like our time – even our downtime! – should be spent watching something that we can talk about over cocktails or will challenge us to think differently.
I think it’s great to dissect our media. I spend a lot of time doing it. But the point of comfort shows is that they’re a chance to turn off our brains. I love my comfort shows, and I actually feel relaxed when I’m watching them. That’s worth something, right?
And if this love letter has you wondering what shows have captured my heart, here they are:
7 Comfort Shows to Watch
1. Bob’s Burgers
The number one, peak comfort show is none other than Bob’s Burgers. This show has everything you want in a comfort show: it’s easy to watch, the characters are fun, it has stakes but nothing is life or death, and it’s funny.
2. Steven Universe
Steven Universe was the one new show that I watched during the early months of the pandemic, and it was a delight. Though it originally premiered on Cartoon Network in 2013 and the first season is definitely on the more childish side, the later seasons of Steven Universe explore themes related to legacy and identity in a deeply meaningful way. Plus, the show has the added bonus of lovable characters, beautiful animation, and some pretty catchy songs, too!
3. Rupaul’s Drag Race
Remember when I said I thought reality shows were beneath me? Baloney! This reality show is leaps and bounds above the rest. It’s entertaining, it’s compelling, and the contestants are truly talented. Plus, if you’re really struggling to watch new shows but simultaneously want something new, the formula of Rupaul’s Drag Race guides every season. Things feel fresh, but also a bit familiar.
4. Futurama
If you feel like the world is falling apart, Futurama is the perfect show to make things feel a little more grounded. Futurama pokes fun at all the stupidity that reigns in politics, pop culture, and society in a way that is funny without being heavy.
5. Gilmore Girls
Particularly during the fall, this small-town, coming-of-age, mother-daughter show is an incredibly cozy comfort show to watch. It takes place in the quirky small town of Stars Hollow and features a dynamic cast of characters that make up the town. From Kirk’s antics to Luke’s moods, and Rory’s struggles and phases as she grows up, you’ll feel like a local in no time and relate to their story. Not to mention the incredible banter between Lorelai and Rory – if you love witty, fast-paced conversation and a little family drama, this show is for you.
6. Schitt’s Creek
The story of the formerly wealthy Rose family’s struggle to adjust to life living in a motel in a small town they bought for their son as a joke back in the early ’90s is charming and hilarious. Living with their grown children David and Alexis, who still share a room in the motel, Moira and Johnny Rose experience a culture shock with their family as they adjust to the unusual characters who live in Schitt’s Creek.
7. New Girl
Zooey Deschanel is the ultimate quirky, manic pixie dream girl in this comedy where she plays the new roommate in an apartment full of bros. New Girl is a sitcom of clashing personalities and burgeoning relationships.
Don’t get me wrong – I still dabble in new shows (I’m talking about you, Money Heist), but I’m no longer going to beat myself up for watching my comfort shows. Listen, we have to deal with enough in our lives. Why not unwind with something familiar at the end of the day?
