Explainer Link Copied 02.26.24

What Your Favorite Comfort Show Says About You

Your regular 'New Girl' rewatch might be deeper than you think. ByAnna Borges

Shutterstock / Wondermind

Sometimes, choosing what to watch on TV is a game of endless scrolling. Other times, though, you know exactly what you’re in the mood for: some quality time with your go-to comfort TV show. From the chronic rewatch to the true crime binge, we all have our unique definitions of TV therapy. But have you ever wondered what your self-care streaming habits say about you?

Well, let’s start with what we mean by comfort show. “It’s not as simple as saying, ‘Oh, it’s something happy you watch when you’re sad,” says Jessi Gold, MD, psychiatrist and chief wellness officer for the University of Tennessee System. Instead, “comfort” is kind of a stand-in for whatever you’re hoping to get out of your TV time—and that can differ a ton from person to person. Maybe you crave an engrossing escape from the world around you or maybe you want to cheer yourself up, calm yourself down, or lean into your sadness. Even then, a lot of it comes down to personal taste, given we all find different things distracting, funny, depressing, or whatever. 

Similarly, sometimes the show itself doesn’t matter as much as your history with it—like if you associate it with positive memories or have watched it a million times already. When you’re Generally Not Good, it can be nice to turn on something you don’t have to pay that much attention to or get that emotionally invested in, says Dr. Gold.

All that said, you’re probably catching on that it’s tough to generalize. You and I might gravitate toward the exact same show for completely opposite reasons or get a similar type of comfort from shows that couldn’t be more different. Still, there are a few common reasons we look to certain genres to get our comfort fix. So, whether you’re on your 17th rewatch of The Office or eating up the problematic reality show du jour, here’s what the experts had to say about what your comfort TV show of choice says about you. 

1. The case-of-the-week procedural

Think: Law & Order: SVU, Suits, Grey’s Anatomy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine 

The details might change from episode to episode, but when you hit play on a procedural drama, you typically know what you’re going to get—which is exactly why they go down so easily. “There’s safety in predictability, and life is unpredictable,” says Dr. Gold. Whether it’s an intriguing medical mystery, a horrific crime, or an intriguing legal battle, a familiar formula and a reliable resolution can make even the most anxiety-inducing subject matter a soothing watch.

Another reason you might enjoy slipping into the alternate reality of procedurals? They usually center on professional fields that aren’t always overflowing with happy endings IRL, says Dr. Gold. So you’re not alone if you find satisfaction in a victim getting justice or a competent doctor fighting for a patient.

2. The ensemble sitcom

Think: Friends, Abbott Elementary, The Office, Schitt’s Creek

Maybe you always have New Girl running in the background or prefer a whole menu of half-hour comedies to veg out to. Either way, the loveable characters and hijinx inherent to sitcoms make for cozy companions, especially when we’re feeling lonely. “We’re socially isolated for a lot of reasons right now, and we might turn to these shows for characters we relate to and feel like we could be friends with,” says Dr. Gold. (For real, is there any greater modern fantasy than having a sitcom-esque friend group?)

Not to mention, any friction in sitcoms is usually low-stakes and wraps up by the end of the episode—something you might seek out if you’ve got enough unresolved conflict of your own. “Even if you haven't seen a specific episode before, you know that everything will probably work out,” which is more than we can say about, y’know, life, says Portia Pendleton, LCSW, therapist and co-host of the podcast Analyze Scripts, where she dissects media through a mental health lens. 

3 The true crime docuseries 

Think: Murdaugh Murders, American Nightmare, Making a Murderer, Tiger King 

For a genre rife with dark themes like murder, sexual assault, and other tragedies, a lot of people find a surprising amount of solace in media ripped from the headlines. Mental health experts have a few theories about why we can’t look away from true crime—from morbid curiosity to deep fascination. Not to mention these several-episode arcs can be a seriously engrossing distraction from whatever we’ve got going on in our own lives. 

Immersing yourself in a true crime series could also be about the strong feelings they can evoke. “Sometimes we want something that will supersede other feelings we’re having that we don’t want to pay attention to,” says Dr. Gold, adding that some folks find comfort in experiencing emotions like fear and anxiety in a controlled environment. 

4. The high-drama reality show 

Think: Selling Sunet, Love Is Blind, Below Deck, Real Housewives of the City of Your Choosing

Loveable characters are great, but sometimes it’s freeing to watch something you don’t relate to at all, says Pendleton, noting that people are more likely to get stressed over tension they find realistic or can at least empathize with. 

“A lot of these shows are so ridiculous that it’s hard to put yourself in their place,” she says, which is a pretty dang entertaining form of escapism for some. Reality shows—especially those of the gossipy, messy variety—can also be a more appropriate outlet to feel (and maybe express via social media) annoyance, judgment, and other not-so-sympathetic emotions. Because, hey, we’re human! 

Like with any of these shows, though, Pendleton adds that you might have the opposite reaction. For example, “I can’t imagine getting into a fight over buying my fifth home, and to me, [watching that is] more activating and upsetting,” she says. Still, Dr. Gold explains that might work in a show’s favor if you’re seeking out a distraction, thanks to how hard it is to look away from gossipy reality TV. 

5. The straight-up comforter 

Think: The Great British Bake Off, Planet Earth, Terrace House, Bluey 

Sometimes, comfort shows are exactly what they sound like—entertainment that, for whatever reason, feels like a balm to the soul. That could be a show with peaceful sensory elements (hello, beautiful food or soothing voices), low conflict, or even just pleasant nostalgia, like a beloved cartoon from childhood. Hell, it might even be something the majority of people don’t find relaxing at all, thanks to the rich tapestry of human taste. 

Reaching for shows that relax us can be a sneaky form of emotional regulation. “I think many people these days are feeling more activated and overwhelmed across the board,” says Pendleton. “We’re kind of all yearning for a breath, and these shows are a good way to calm ourselves down.”