Cover From endless coffee refills to witty small-town drama, ‘Gilmore Girls’ remains peak comfort TV for fast talk and slow living. (Photo: IMDb)
From endless coffee refills to witty small-town drama, ‘Gilmore Girls’ remains peak comfort TV for fast talk and slow living. (Photo: IMDb)
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Why rewatching comfort TV is more than a guilty pleasure: research shows it can actually improve your mood
In the age of microtrends and TikTok fads, most of the things the Internet might consider “phenomena” end up fleeting, disappearing into the algorithm weeks later. Streaming platforms are virtually revolving doors of content, churning one new TV show after another without really giving viewers anything to hold on to emotionally. We no longer have the time to grow invested in characters and storylines—their shelf lives are simply too short, and so are our attention spans.
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Enter our “comfort TV shows”, many of which are old and over five seasons long. Some are childhood favourites, others served as wise and unjudgmental companions—or distractions—in turbulent times. Either way, we cling to them passionately and turn to them, whatever the season, whatever the mood. Why is comfort TV so darn, well, comforting? More importantly, are you mad for having seen Game of Thrones seasons one to eight, eight times? The science behind this pattern of behaviour offers some reassurance.
What is comfort TV?
Above Slaying monsters by night and teenage angst by day, ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ is proof that comfort TV knows no genre. (Photo: IMDb)
Slaying monsters by night and teenage angst by day, ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ is proof that comfort TV knows no genre. (Photo: IMDb)
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Comfort TV is not a genre but a way of watching. It can be sitcoms like Friends, procedurals like Law & Order or even Bob Ross’s landscapes, but what unites these shows is their ability to soothe. A 2020 study by Howell & Howell published by the Oxford University Press argues it is defined by repetition, familiarity and clarity, providing a space free of ambiguity. Unlike “prestige” dramas, comfort TV does not demand close attention or emotional stamina. It is television chosen for reliability, whether that means a predictable laugh track, a story that wraps up neatly or simply the reassurance of characters you already know and outcomes you’ve already enjoyed.
Is comfort TV good for well-being?
Studies suggest it is. Research by Kerr Castle from the University of Glasgow for the 2017 Screen Studies Conference showed that viewers across age groups—students, families and even hospital patients—used television as a therapeutic tool to process feelings and structure daily routines. Comfort TV is particularly effective because it provides respite, offering low-stakes engagement that reduces stress without the intensity of new narratives. During the pandemic, lists of “must-watch” soothing shows circulated widely, with critics framing them almost as prescriptions for anxiety. So, yes, if watching Luke make coffee for Rory and Lorelai in Gilmore Girls feels oddly therapeutic, it’s because it is. Comfort TV has measurable psychological benefits when life feels uncertain.
The benefits of rewatching comfort TV
Above ‘Ted Lasso’ turns awkward locker-room pep talks into some of the most comforting television of the decade. (Photo: IMDb)
‘Ted Lasso’ turns awkward locker-room pep talks into some of the most comforting television of the decade. (Photo: IMDb)
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Rewatching familiar shows offers more than simple distraction. The studies above note that comfort TV works because it provides a sense of control—viewers know what will happen, which reduces uncertainty in daily life. This predictability is a form of “emotional self-regulation”, giving viewers a reliable way to manage stress without needing to invest in something new. Repetition also builds continuity; the characters and settings become part of a personal routine, acting almost like social companions. It doesn’t hurt that older TV shows had longer seasons, either. For many, this creates stability and reassurance, which is precisely why people return to the same shows again and again.
Is there such a thing as rewatching something too many times?
If you’re worried about your cumulative exposure to The X-Files, here’s some good news: there is little evidence that repeated viewing is harmful. In fact, repetition is part of its appeal. As media scholar Derek Kompare put it, television has always promised “bottled time”, and comfort TV relies on this familiarity to be effective. Of course, endlessly looping a series might signal avoidance rather than genuine relaxation, but that depends on context. For most viewers, rewatching is not about escaping life indefinitely but about re-establishing equilibrium. It is less about the content and more about the act itself—a form of reassurance that nothing too surprising will happen.
Whatever your comfort TV show may be, go ahead and watch it guilt-free, as long as you’re not bedrotting and ignoring your responsibilities in the process. If you feel like that one episode of Girls can fix your life, by all means, play it again.
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Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
