First up is How I Met Your Mother (2005), my all-time favourite show, which I’ve been an avid fan of since I was a kid after seeing my brother watch it on E4 in the living room, blissfully unaware of all the dirty innuendos.
Despite the highly controversial ending I choose to ignore upon my rewatches, How I Met Your Mother walks us through the trials and tribulations of everyday life. Ted being 27 at the beginning of the show always reassures me with a kind reminder that there is so much time ahead and countless memories yet to be made in my own life.
Next is the timeless, childhood classic that never left my rotation: Adventure Time (2010). As Finn and Jake explore the Land of Ooo and its many kingdoms, they bond through camaraderie, slaying monsters, exploring dungeons and self-discovery. It perfectly balances lighthearted fun and emotional depth, providing a nostalgic escapism that makes it the ultimate comfort show.
Besides, nothing beats a good old British comedy, especially one featuring Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick.
Another favourite of mine is White Gold (2017). Perhaps a slightly biased pick since it was filmed down the road from where I live, although I believe that’s exactly the charm—it reminds me of home. Besides, nothing beats a good old British comedy, especially one featuring Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick and the renowned duo from the Inbetweeners, James Buckley and Joe Thomas.
White Gold follows the story of a cocky salesman, Vincent Swan, working at a double-glazing showroom in Essex in 1980s. Unfortunately, it was never renewed for a third season, so it was rather short-lived, but it is a perfect show when you just need a good laugh.
Lastly, I simply cannot compile a list on comfort television without mentioning The Good Place (2016). This show effortlessly exudes goofy American humour while tackling philosophical themes of the meaning of life, morality and personal identity.
With its lovable characters, The Good Place beautifully embraces the found family trope as a diverse assembly of individuals unite in the afterlife, helping each other grow and rectify their mistakes from their time on Earth.