Happy Friday, and thanks for tuning in!
A very good pal and I were talking a few nights ago about cozy shows, and how sometimes you just need to watch the same episodes over and over in your life to feel some kind of comfort or achieve some level of focus. I feel like this theme has been coming up in my own TV-watching a lot lately, as stressful times (which I feel like pretty much everyone seems to be having at the moment) have led to plenty of comfort TV reruns.
When I talked to my mom about some of this last night, she proposed a theme for this week’s newsletter: if I’m going to be re-watching stuff anyway, what shows are actually worth the re-watch?
To qualify for inclusion on this list, each of these series has at least one season that I’ve watched three or more times. If you’ve never seen them before, these shows come with my recommendation, and if you have, well, maybe they’re worth revisiting.
I’d also love to hear about the shows you’ve watched over and over! And, as always, feel free to share this newsletter with all your moms and very good pals.
Three Shows Worth Revisiting
Merlin
Image credit: BBC
There’s not a lot I love as much as fantasy, so I’ve seen more of the genre’s series than I can count, but this fan-favorite series stands out among the rest as one of my all-time favorites. Sure, it can be cheesy at times (and some of its special effects are a reminder of its age and its TV budget), but this family-friendly fantasy has a ton of heart, with a delightful cast of characters and a storyline that keeps moving toward familiar Arthurian plot points while adding fresh twists.
Colin Morgan’s Merlin is an aged-down version of the famous sorcerer, reimagining his classic relationship with Arthur (Bradley James) on the young ruler’s way to greatness. A Round Table filled with lovable knights, sympathetic villains with depth, and a radiant and intelligent Guinevere (Angel Coulby) fill out the rest of a rich group of core characters.
All five seasons of Merlin are streaming on Netflix and Prime Video.
The Andy Griffith Show
Image credit: CBS
I grew up watching this show a lot, but even as an adult, I’ve found myself heading back to Mayberry. There’s something deeply relaxing about watching the big-hearted sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) solving the problems of the generally well-meaning citizens of his small town.
This series feels wholesome and sweet, with none of the angst or high-stakes drama I expect from so many of my other favorite series. But sometimes, when I’m looking for something that’s just plain nice, this lovely old series hits the spot.
All eight seasons of The Andy Griffith Show are streaming on Prime Video.
Gilmore Girls
Image credit: The CW
A second small-town series made its way onto this list somehow, but I guess when we’re talking about comfort TV, it’s not altogether surprising that the low-stakes, gossipy daily dramas of small towns provide a sometimes much-needed escape.
In this case, the small town is Stars Hollow, and the drama is primarily navigated by the series’ mother-and-daughter duo, with Lorelai (Lauren Graham) as the fast-talking mom and Rory (Alexis Bledel) as the ambitious bookworm daughter. The whole town is filled with fun, friendly folks, nearly all of them eager to help Rory as she heads into adulthood, and that syrupy earnestness is a real joy to watch.
All seven seasons of Gilmore Girls are streaming on Netflix.
Bonus Features
So many revivals, so little time. Yet another series is getting a new batch of episodes, with a new Party Down limited series in development at Starz. Now, the question remains which members of the original series’ all-star cast, including Adam Scott, Jane Lynch, Lizzy Caplan, and many other familiar faces, will be making their way back.
A new anthology series is on its way to Apple TV+, with a cast of some of my favorite actresses working on TV: Cynthia Erivo, Nicole Kidman, Alison Brie, and Merritt Wever will all appear in the eight-episode series.