Rewatch, Relax, Repeat: The Psychology Behind Comfort Shows

There’s something special about pressing play on a show you’ve already watched a dozen times. You know the lines by heart, the jokes still make you smile, and even the most dramatic moments don’t stress you out because you already know how they’ll unfold. Rewatching comfort shows isn’t just a quirky habit; it’s a deeply emotional experience, tied to nostalgia, security, and the way we process feelings.

At first glance, it might seem counterintuitive. With endless streaming options and new releases constantly hitting our screens, why do we keep gravitating back to the same handful of shows? What is it about The Office that feels like stepping into a familiar space? And why does Avatar: The Last Airbender still resonate as if no time has passed? The answer lies in the way our brains form emotional bonds, not just with real people but with fictional ones too.

Comfort shows aren’t just about entertainment; they’re about familiarity. When we watch a series over and over, we develop a sense of intimacy with its world and characters. These aren’t just figures on a screen; they become familiar faces, ones we associate with laughter, warmth, or even a specific time in our lives. The emotional connection we build with our favorite shows is similar to the way we feel about old friends. We don’t need to be surprised by them, we just need to spend time with them.

Nostalgia plays a huge role in why we find so much comfort in rewatching. Many of the shows we return to are ones we first experienced during key stages of our lives; perhaps as teenagers, in college, or during a time when we needed an escape. The act of revisiting them is like flipping through an old photo album, except instead of just remembering those times, we get to relive them. Our brains are wired to associate sensory experiences with emotions, which means hearing a familiar theme song or seeing a particular episode can instantly transport us back to a specific feeling or memory.

Beyond nostalgia, comfort shows also offer a sense of control. Life is unpredictable, and so much of what happens day to day is out of our hands. But when we rewatch a show, we already know every twist and turn, every high and low. There’s no anxiety about what’s coming next, no emotional rollercoaster to brace for. This predictability makes us feel safe, creating a space where we can unwind without effort. Even in a show with dramatic moments, the comfort lies in the fact that we’ve been here before, and we know everything will turn out fine.

Emotional connection also comes from the relationships we witness on screen. Watching a group of characters grow, change, and support each other over multiple seasons makes us feel like we’re a part of their journey. This is why ensemble shows like Friends or Brooklyn 99 hold such a special place in people’s hearts. The bonds between the characters mirror real-life friendships, and in some ways, watching them interact fulfills a subconscious need for connection. Even if we’re watching alone, it never really feels that way.

The power of comfort shows extends beyond nostalgia and predictability, they also play a role in emotional regulation. When we’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or sad, we instinctively turn to media that soothes us. Just as some people listen to calming music or reread a favorite book, rewatching a beloved show can be an act of self-care. The familiarity of the characters, the predictability of the plot, and even the tone of the series can have a grounding effect. It’s no surprise that people often return to the same shows when they’re going through a difficult time; in a world that feels chaotic, a familiar storyline can feel like an anchor.

The emotional bond we form with our favorite shows also explains why it’s hard to move on once they end. That post-series void (where nothing quite fills the space of what we just finished) is a testament to how real these connections feel. And that’s why we start again from the beginning, reliving the moments that made us laugh, cry, and feel understood.

At its core, rewatching comfort shows is more than just a habit; it’s a way of seeking familiarity, reliving cherished moments, and giving ourselves the emotional space to relax. It’s proof that sometimes, knowing exactly what happens next isn’t boring, it’s exactly what we need.

What’s the show you always go back to, and why does it hold a special place in your heartt