As you scroll through the list, you might spot your favorite show as well, 'cause I sure did, and I totally agree with netizens when it comes to bingeing them over and over. That's the power good stories have; they leave such a strong impression on you that you can't help but fall in love with them and the fictional characters that make them so amazing.
To talk more about these comfort shows, Bored Panda got in touch with Rishaya Palkhivala—a writer and filmmaker—for an interview. She mentioned that a comfort show should be an easy, feel-good watch.
"For me, it should be both enjoyable and a relaxing watch," she added.
Rishaya also spoke about how shows that are either relatable or have what people want to relate to, could be timeless rewatches. She believes that epic funny scenes that are memorable don't lose their charm over multiple watches.
Speaking about the storytelling elements that make a show feel comforting, our expert claimed that apart from stories of friendship, sitcoms, or romances, she feels like shows with strong yet entertaining relationships work well—whether romantic, friendly, or familial. "Comedy elements always help, but that's just me. I'm sure some people find murder mysteries comforting," Rishaya added.
Well, if you think about it, we all have these comfort shows, and these can miraculously unite us in ways we can't even imagine. That's why fandom meets are such magical events where you meet strangers who share the same affinity as you towards a show. That sounds incredible, doesn't it?
While people share love for the same stories, we wanted to know why they gravitate toward comfort shows during times of stress or uncertainty.
Rishaya expressed, "They're stress busters as they are entertaining and don't require too much mental investment. In times of uncertainty, having your comfort show can be one certain thing that doesn't change each time you return to it. You can revisit the same people and circumstances, mouth the well-known dialogues, and re-experience a world that's a little more in your control."
Lastly, while concluding the interview, we had some fun with Rishaya. We asked her about her comfort show, and if her life also turned into one, which would it be.
She replied, "The show I have rewatched most often has got to be Friends—possibly the most common comfort show. Back in the day, rewatches were also mandated by what TV channels did re-runs of, but now, our watching patterns are a little more self-regulated."
"If someone turned my life into a comfort show it would probably be a coming-of-age story of a girl trying to figure her life and messy self out with a dose of chaos. I'm not sure it would always be comforting, but perhaps there is something universal about it," Rishaya wisely narrated.
#14
Well, that's it from our end and we hope you enjoy the rest of the list. We would also love to hear what comfort show your life would be if it was turned into one. Go on now, and spill the tea.
Also, if you have any other ones that our list might have missed, don't forget to let us know in the comments!
#16
#19
