On the importance of settling in with some old favourites.
During my years at college, I would come home every day and watch television for half an hour before I did anything else. It was, what I learned later on, my way of giving my brain a break before setting off to do homework and house chores. The shows I watched then have become some of my favourite comfort shows now. According to Elizabeth Talaga in her article for The Post, “a comfort show is a show someone will go back and rewatch multiple times. The feeling of watching a comfort show is akin to a big hug or the smell of cookies baking in the oven during the holidays.”
On days when I’m working from home, when I’m staying in because I’m not feeling very social or I’m ill, I’ll just put an episode of a show that I already know by heart. Sometimes, it will just be in the background as I tidy up or finish some work. Other times, I’ll watch it in bed before falling asleep. According to Healthwatch, we watch these shows because “the brain processes it easier than it would if it was something new. It’s lighting up the same neuropathways over and over again, priming them for activation.”
While different people will have different comfort shows, there are some that have become universal hits. A crucial element contributing to a show’s ‘comfort’ status is its familiarity. Viewers build a relationship with characters and begin to relate to them, or even say popular phrases like them (can you say ‘Oh My God’ without thinking of Janice from Friends?). Especially after a long day at school or work, these shows offer a sense of ease rather than the challenge of the unknown often linked with serious dramas or starting a new show.
Such is the case with Friends – the iconic American sitcom that follows the lives of six young adults: Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, and Ross who all live and work in New York City. Every episode introduces a comedic twist on everyday realities of people in their twenties and explores universal themes related to friendship, love, career struggles and identity. These relatable situations continue to resonate with a wide audience to this day, solidifying Friends as perhaps the ultimate comfort show for many for how easy it is to return to.
According to a Buzzfeed article, Schitt’s Creek is also seen as another typical comfort show for many. This Canadian sitcom is renowned for its writing, character development and unique use of humour. The show revolves around the Rose family – Johnny, his wife Moira and their two adult children, David and Alexis – who suddenly find themselves without any money. Their only remaining asset is a small town called Schitt’s Creek, which Johnny once gifted to his son as a joke. Schitt’s Creek delves into universal themes of privilege, growth and love. Through every character’s major development, the viewer is left feeling proud of each journey by the end of the show. It also balances comedy with touching moments.
Another hit show is Gilmore Girls, which had ‘everything one could possibly ever want or need in a comfort show,’ according to a Marie Claire article. The show mainly revolves around the lives of Lorelai Gilmore, a single mother, and her teenage daughter, Rory Gilmore, who live in the small town of Stars Hollow. In the show, viewers get to see Rory as she matures from a teenager to a young woman, while her mother works her way up to fulfilling her dreams. The show delves into themes of family, independence, ambition, class differences, love and growth. It’s a comfort show for many due to its comforting tone and underlying messages of hope.
There are many others that have been seen as becoming comfort shows, such as: Gossip Girl, Brooklyn Nine Nine, Modern Family, The Office, New Girl, Seinfeld, and Grace and Frankie. While each of these shows have their own characteristics, plots and arcs, they each bring feelings of warmth and joy to their viewers, especially due to their light nature, humor and relatability.
Ultimately, what makes these kinds of shows comforting is how familiar, relatable and easy to watch they are.
While comfort shows can often be perceived as a means to avoid reality or escape, and are criticized for reducing intellectual stimulation and contributing to a sedentary lifestyle, there’s still absolutely nothing wrong with seeking comfort and stability, even if that means knowing who all of Joey’s sisters are.
Words by Tala Ladki
Support The Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.