Photo:// NBC
It’s a scary time for the world right now, and a lot of unknowns for us in the U.S. especially as the virus is rapidly growing here. We have all been affected by the COVID 19 Coronavirus outbreak. Most people have been told to work from home, events have been canceled, places are closing down until further notice. With everything we’re seeing in the news, it can get incredibly overwhelming. There are two things we are dealing with here, the virus itself, and fear/panic. We should absolutely make sure we are prepared, but we also don’t want to freak ourselves out to the point that it becomes unhealthy. Stress and panic is bad for the immune system, and at a time when we need our immune systems to be healthy and prepared, we want to make sure we are getting plenty of self-care time in.
One of these forms of self-care (my favorite) is of course getting lost in TV shows. Most of you are quarantining, social distancing, so you’re going to be having some more time on your hands than before. Because of all of this, I wanted to create a list of some shows that might be able to bring you some comfort during this time. These are the kind of shows you can choose to pay close attention to, or not!
One thing I have noticed is when thinking of the ultimate comfort show list, a common theme that emerged was family. Every single one of these shows focuses on the importance of family, and family coming together. And at a time like this when we are either hunkered down with family, worried about family, or missing our family, we could use some TV screen time with our interim families in these shows to provide us with comfort!
I have SO many favorites, it’s difficult to choose even a top three. I’ve found myself watching Gossip Girl right before bed, because it’s enough drama to keep you entertained, while also being comforting because the majority of what they’re going through isn’t serious at all. Plus, it’s fun to watch them dress up, go to parties, etc.
Anyway, I’ll start you off with one of my favorites of all time, Parenthood. You can watch all six seasons of this on Hulu, and by the end you will feel like you are a part of the Braverman family. This is the kind of big family that will do anything for each other, and they face all different kinds of hardship but rally together and face it together. And, they always have their weekly family dinners together in their beautiful backyard with the string lights hanging from above. It honestly doesn’t get any better than that.
If you want a show similar to Parenthood but is a little older, check out all five seasons of Brothers & Sisters on Hulu. Like Parenthood, this show has an incredible cast and performances by Calista Flockhard, Matthew Rhys, Sally Field, I could go on and on but you get the point that this is also another big family that is super close and love to come together for family meals too.
Speaking of family but on a somewhat smaller scale (Mother and Daughter) you have got to watch the classic Gilmore Girls. I know you think this is probably a very girly show (it can be), but for some reason this show had my husband binging it more than once, and some of our guy friends talking about it too. It’s that good! Stars Hallow, the adorable small town this takes place in is so obviously a set in Hollywood, but there’s something comforting about that small town simple vibe where everyone knows one another (and each other’s business!). Such a wonderful feel good show and I love the best friend mother daughter dynamic.
The Stars Hallow set of Gilmore Girls is also the same set used in another show on my list, Hart of Dixie. There are several connections with this show, one is that it’s the same set used except here it’s for a small southern town and you get all the nostalgia feels of Rachel Bilson being the star after seeing her in The OC growing up. The premise is that a big city girl (Bilson) is fulfilling the spot as a doctor in a small southern town to help out another doctor that’s there. However, the doctor she is coming to help is extremely reluctant and doesn’t want the help (he’s getting older and needs it though). This is pretty much the same storyline for the next show on my list: Virgin River on Netflix. The man playing the doctor is even the same actor! The difference with Virgin River is not only is it more current, but there is beautiful scenery throughout it. Both are absolutely worth a watch!
Moving on to the next recommendation: The Fosters. This is about a couple that takes in foster kids to their home and eventually adopts them after they’ve been through rough times, to say the least. They become such a close tight knit family and go through a lot together, but at the end of the day are always there for each other. And…! They have breakfasts and dinners together which are very comforting as well (I’m seeing a theme of comfort here…)
A more recent show (that’s still on TV weekly) is A Million Little Things. This show deals with some really difficult issues and yet again there is the common theme of family. However, it’s not always blood related family really, it’s a friend group that may as well be family. They all come together after the passing of their friend who was sort of the glue that held everyone together, and they are all trying to pick up the pieces and find meaning in their lives again. Such an incredible show! Has similarities to This is Us in that it gives you all the feels, but maybe a little less nonstop crying that This is Us always puts me through!
Okay stay with me, I have two more recommendations for you!! The first is Friday Night Lights. One of my all time favorite shows. My husband and I also binged this show and we loved it. It doesn’t get much better than Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, who play the parents that move to this small town in Texas to coach the football team. For such a small town, football is everything to the people that live there. It’s what they live for. Plenty of drama in the show, so many inspirational speeches (have you ever heard “clear eyes full hearts can’t lose”? It came from this and you’ll be saying it over and over after watching this).
Final recommendation—almost done! Jane the Virgin is such a great show, I’ve watched all four seasons on Netflix I think three times now? Great family show combined with a love story combined with lots of humor. So it has as little of everything!
Okay that is my FULL list of the best comfort shows (in my opinion) to watch! Please, take a break from the news for your own mental health, and get lost for a little bit in these shows. It’s nice to “take a break” in a way from going on in the outside world, and I know we all have so much extra time at home right now. Everyone stay safe, we will get through this together!
Full list and where to watch:
Parenthood (6 seasons, Hulu)
Gilmore Girls (7 seasons, Netflix)
Hart of Dixie (4 seasons, Netflix)
Virgin River (1 season, Netflix)
The Fosters (5 seasons, Netflix)
A Million Little Things (2 seasons, Hulu)
Jane the Virgin (4 seasons, Netflix)
Brothers & Sisters (5 seasons, Hulu)
Friday Night Lights (5 seasons, Hulu)
Gossip Girl (6 seasons, Netflix)
One Tree Hill (9 seasons, Hulu)