The Comfort Watch

the tv shows to turn to when you want something soothing

the (fictional) town I wish I could move to thanks to Gilmore Girls - photo Victoria Kennedy

I like to Google the ends of films and TV show before I watch them. This is a fact that, understandably, horrifies the majority of people that find out. I LOVE a spoiler, and I want to know how things are going to end.

I don’t do it with everything, most rom-coms and light hearted dramas are safe from prior wikipedia research. But put anything tense or unpredictable on and I will genuinely enjoy them more if I know what’s going to happen.

The mystery and cliff-hangers that other people find thrilling set my cortisol racing, and I’d rather not add to my stress load. What this says about my mental state is a private matter for my and my therapist. But I now know myself well enough to protect my system from unnecessary strain and so this method works for me. It also means my relationship is safe as my boyfriend isn’t stuck with us solely watching endless episodes of Bake Off and Gogglebox.

Important to note that I don’t spoil it for anyone else, I keep the knowledge to myself, and never dare to answer the many rhetorical questions thrown out by other watchers.

It all comes down to this simple truth: when I’m watching telly I want to relax. At the end of a busy day making 892 decisions, all with varying degrees of “if I get this wrong will it have a later impact that I’ll regret 10 fold”, all I really desire is to abdicate my role as human who runs a business, and melt into the sofa as a cosy blob with minimal cognitive function.

I don’t want to be stressing about whether the assassin that I’m actually rooting for is going to get caught (Day of the Jackal - would recommend) A quick Google of the plot points and I can tune in with minimal stress, blissfully aware of what’s in store. But there is another option.

Eddie Redmayne in Day of the Jackal. 10/10 for suspense, 1/10 for comfort. Photo: Marcell Piti/Carnival Film & Television Limited

Enter: The Comfort Watch

These are the TV shows that I return to again and again. It doesn’t matter that I’ve already watched them, in fact - therein lies the beauty. I know what’s going to happen. Even if I can’t remember the exact story of every episode, I know the general direction the show is going, and this, my friends, is a balm to my stressed-out soul.

These tv shows are like familiar old friends, ones you haven’t seen for two years but immediately pick back up where you left off. They are a comfort blanket to pull over myself, in times when I need a warm hug from my Samsung smart tv. I don’t need to worry about my own silly problems or the fact that January felt like a month of Mondays when I’m in Stars Hollow or on Barry Island.

The Comfort Watch also saves you from the god awful, never-ending question of “what shall I watch?” You simply drop in wherever you like. Maybe start from the beginning and faithfully watch all the way through. Or dip in on a favourite epiosde. The choice is yours. Either way there’s no scrolling around four different streaming platforms while your dinner gets cold (assuming we’re all eating on laps in front of the telly.)

Of course films can be terrific comfort watches too, but they are a slightly different breed as the running time is so short by comparison. Although if you are in market for a longer film, we decided to re-watch all three of the extended Lord of the Rings movies while we were poorly over new year and it took dayyyyys. I may come back to films on another post as that is a topic I also have many recommendations for.

The Downton ladies, I feel warm and fuzzy just looking at them. Photo: Focus Features

There are a few key characteristics of The Comfort Watch:

Firstly, they have to have multiple seasons and, preferably, lots of episodes. A four part, stand-alone series is over before I’ve even started peeling my hunched shoulders down from my ears.

Secondly, no intensely dramatic storylines. For example, no main characters are killed off with any kind of frequency. No gratuitous violence or cruety. I need to know that by the end of the episode EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OK.

Thirdly, it has to be a good enough show that my brain doesn’t feel like it’s going to rot if I watch it back to back or for a few days (weeks?) on end. I love a bit of reality tv, but there is a limit to how many episodes of Below Deck I can watch without feeling like a I need to cleanse my eyeballs. And soul.

You of course may have completely different criteria for your own comfort watch, it’s a personal thing. For me I like a somewhat predictable storyline, but you may favour full on drama and action as a delicious distraction from your every day life. To each their own.

Here are my top 10

1. Gilmore Girls: The ultimate comfort watch. Whisk me off to Luke’s diner via The Dragonfly Inn and leave me there for days. There are episodes aplenty, the characters are recognisable and charming, and after a few seasons it’s all so familiar it’s like taking a valium. One of the best.

   You’ll like it if: You want a cosy, meandering show with lashings of warmth and characters set in small-town America

   Watch it on: Netflix

   

   I’ve probably spent more contact time with these two than some of my closest friends. Photo: Gilmore Girls Facebook page.

2. Downton Abbey: My mum and I love watching this together when she comes to stay. We especially enjoy Lady Violet’s take downs and everyone’s abject horror at any minor social impropriety. Like any grown up 39 year old I save my clothes mending for my mum to do, and we now have a bit where she’s my ladies maid and I’m the countess. She’ll fix a button for me with a “here you are madam, can I help you with anything else?”, “Thank you Baxter, that will be all” etc. Silly yes, but we find this endlessly amusing.

   You’ll like it if: You want a period drama with excellent one liners and ridiculously improbable storylines

   Watch it on: Netflix, Amazon Prime

3. The West Wing: An especially poignant recommendation considering the current state of American leadership. Turn off the news and let Jed Bartlet (played by Martin Sheen, who won a Golden Globe and six Emmy nominations for the role) be POTUS instead. Like all Aaron Sorkin shows it has fast paced dialogue so you need to be fully engaged and can’t be scrolling Instagram while you watch (a good thing imo, but you have to be in the mood for it.) There are overarching story lines that sweep across the seasons but each episode is perfectly crafted a like a short film and normally ends with a satisfying resolution. If you know nothing about (and don’t much care for) American politics don’t let that put you off, its all about the brilliant characters and story.

   You’ll like it if: You want to be fully absorbed and pretend you’re being vaguely intellectual (learning about US politics!) while actually just watching telly

   Watch it on: Channel 4

   

   my forever president Photo:NBC/Everett

   Special mention to Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, another Sorkin creation, sadly cancelled after one season but if you like The West Wing and seeing behind the scenes of live television you’ll love it. I’ve rewatched that one season countless times.

4. Gavin and Stacey: I’m sure I don’t need to say much as I know this is one of the most universally loved shows (12.3 million people tuning in for the finale on Christmas Day speaks volumes.) But if you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t watched Gavin and Stacey then you’re in for a treat. There aren’t loads of episodes but throw in the Christmas specials too and you’ve got a fairly good runway of material to get through. When my Dad died, and we were all catatonic with shock, we put on a DVD of Gavin and Stacey (Dad loved it) to avoid the silence. While nothing could penetrate the grief there was something calming about the familiarity of the characters and even the theme tune. It’s a warm hug of a tv show.

   You’ll like it if: You enjoy things that are GOOD. I have spoken.

   Watch it on: BBC iPlayer

5. Schitt’s Creek: I was a late-comer to this show. I started watching a few times and just couldn’t get into it and gave up. I’ll be honest I rarely persevere if I’m not enjoying something, I’m very happy to stop a book, film or tv show halfway through, but at my friends insistence I dived back into this show. After chugging through about four episodes I was completely hooked. It’s heartwarming and hilarious and ridiculous. I wish there was more of it. If you started watching and, like me, gave up, I insist you go back and commit. You won’t regret it.

   You’ll like it if: You enjoy a riches to rags tale with a happy ending, great fashion choices and real heart underneath all the silliness.

   Watch it on: Netflix

   

   name a better dressed cast, I’ll wait. Photo: PopTV

6. The Good Place: Another one that took me a little while to warm up to, but once you’re in, you’re fully absorbed. I enjoyed all the relatively lighthearted philosophical references thrown in and there are a good few plot twists too, which keep you on your toes after the first season.

   You’ll like it if: You like a show where anything is possible!

   Watch it on: Netflix

   

   The Good Place: I wish I had a Janet. Photo: NBC/Colleen Hayes/NBC

7. Cougar Town: Starring Courtney Cox with a few other Friends cast cameos sprinkled in. I’ve only ever found one person I know who also watched this show, which I find incredible as it’s such an easy and entertaining watch. My only thought is that people are put off by the title, which the show itself acknowledges is terrible, and makes fun of in the opening credits, and isn’t really indicative of what the show is about. Admittedly I haven’t watched it for ages as I didn’t realise (until I just searched in research for this) that it’s on Disney+. Previously the barrier of figuring out how to play the DVD in a playstation was too high a an ask of me, but it’s back on my radar now so due a rewatch. Easy, fluffy viewing.

   You’ll like it if: You think living in a Florida cul-de-sac with all your best friends in your 40’s sounds like fun

   Watch it on: Disney+ or Amazon Prime (paid)

8. New Girl: Another delightfully lighthearted show, full of ridiculous scenarios and more characters you learn to love. This replaced the Friends shaped hole in my life and has a great cast of cameos too. A very good watch when you’re feeling hungover, heartbroken or otherwise fragile.

   You’ll like it if: You want something sweet and silly and have a short attention span, each ep. is only 20 mins.

   Watch it on: Disney+

9. This Is Us: I won’t lie to you, this show can be slightly more intense than the previous titles, and by intense I mean, it will make you cry, but in a good way (mostly). It’s touching and often lighthearted but tackles some tricky topics. Overall it’s full of wonderful moments, and the way they trickle the story line at you, tiny piece by piece, really keeps you coming back for more. Not one to watch if you’re feeling delicate but if you want something to get you right in the feels, there’s nothing better.

   You’ll like it if: You want a good sob, a focus on family and enjoy a slightly convoluted and non-sequential, carefully planned out story line

   Watch it on: Channel 4, Prime Video, Disney+

   

   This is Us. I’m welling up already. Photo: Bryce Duffy for Variety

10. Grey’s Anatomy: As America’s longest-running primetime medical drama this is an institution. Sandra Oh is brilliant as Christina and the storylines are heartwarming and sometimes tense (it’s not a medical drama unless someone is on the brink of dying) but you’re rooting for the characters and it’s oh so easy to get absorbed into the world of Seattle Grace. The intensely loyal friendship between Christina and Meredith was something I don’t remember previously seeing on TV when I first watched it. Love both them and their iconic scene IYKYK (spoiler alert - it’s from season 10).

    You’ll like it if: You enjoy a hospital drama and never want to run out of episodes, there are 435, all approx 45 mins long

    Watch it on: Disney+

All this talk of my favourite television has me hankering for a night on the sofa!

Do you have a comfort watch? Do you favour bimbling episodes or full on action?Do leave me a comment and let me know what show you turn to again and again.

Now Traitors has finished I’m in the market for some new shows..