The Anti-Heroine Media Guide to Comfort TV
We deserve a break.
Self and collective care in a system built on capitalist, patriarchal, white supremacy, is actually a radical form of resistance. In the cursed year of 2020, we need it more than ever.
When we’re totally overwhelmed with the state of the planet, our work, our lives — sometimes just watching something nice (or bloody, or awful—but in a fun way) can make all the difference. Taking care of ourselves is work, and it is just as worthwhile as anything else we do.
Check out the Anti-Heroine Media guide to comfort television below.
Comedies
Arthur
Not only does this millennial classic hold up, but the Arthur team has been tirelessly putting together new digital shorts to educate kids about racism, voting, and the pandemic. Their M.O is that if a child experiences something in real life, they should see it represented on screen. That is both brave and immensely comforting to me.
The Babysitter’s Club (2020)
A group of pre-teen girls decide to put on their entrepreneurial hats and start a co-op to babysit the neighbourhood children. You may laugh, but this new adaptation of the synonymous, and iconic, book series is so lovely, diverse, inclusive and addictive it could actually restore your faith in humanity—just a little. Seriously can’t hurt.
Betty
A diverse group of young women skateboarders in New York City coming together to both take up space in the male dominated world of skating, and just have a really good time together. Betty is based on the 2018 film Skate Kitchen by Crystal Moselle which is also a great—and highly underrated—watch!
Broad City
Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson created and starred in this beautiful little show about two young women who are obsessed with each other, struggling and having surreal adventures in New York City. It’s super weird, in the best way, and the friendship between the two leads is at the heart of the show. Between all the running gags (Garol, Kirk Steele, Soulstice!) and the immensely specific and talented supporting characters, Broad City is just super fun to watch.
Catastrophe
The premise is sort of like a British Knocked Up, but somehow even more vulgar? The characters are messy as hell, sometimes mean, but always darkly hilarious and loveable. Also mega props for dealing with difficult pregnancies and post-partum depression in such an honest and comedic way.
Chewing Gum
Chewing Gum is truly like nothing you’ve ever seen before, and one of the funniest shows you’ll ever watch. Created by and starring the iconic Michaela Coel, it follows shop-assistant Tracey as she rebels against her religious upbringing. Susan Wokoma’s performance as Tracey’s uptight sister, Cynthia, is also a standout in an already obscenely talented cast of characters. (And be sure to watch Coel’s newest series I May Destroy You, which is also an incredibly beautiful show but falls less under the comfort umbrella.)
Derry Girls
A comedy about five teenagers dealing with teenage stuff during the end of the Troubles in Derry, Northern Ireland. This intense specificity is what makes Derry girls so brilliant. It’s just as much Cranberries songs and nineties chokers, as it is establishing that the main bond between Catholics and Protestants is their annoying parents. We highly recommend.
Insecure
Issa Rae is a superstar. With Insecure she has accomplished the rare feat of getting better with each season—while keeping in mind that the show has been strong from the start. Issa the character is super awkward, makes all the mistakes, and fumbles along as she grows and develops from season to season. Issa the person has also highlighted the importance of representing Black joy onscreen in what has been a really rough year. Just watch it.
Never Have I Ever
Devi is kind of an asshole, as many of us can be when we’re trying to figure ourselves out while also dealing with tremendous personal loss. But it’s also really great that Never Have I Ever lets Devi be an asshole, and doesn’t punish her for it. Also teen girls getting to be friends with other teen girls who have their own storylines that don’t all involve boys—chef’s kiss! Thanks Mindy Kaling!
Pen15
No matter what nightmare hellscape we are living in, at least it’s not middle school in the year 2000. Pen15 is both cringe and comforting, in a schadenfreude sort of way. It’s also stupidly funny. Again, friendship is a big theme in this one, while dealing with the pre-teen issues (fitting in, self acceptance, family) that still cut deep for most of us.
Please Like Me
Please Like Me is such an incredible gem, you’ll almost want to keep it to yourself. On the same day that Josh’s girlfriend breaks up with him, he both realizes that he’s gay and his mother attempts suicide. This might not sound funny, but I promise it is! Creator Josh Thomas’ frank approach to sexuality and mental health is refreshing, heartwarming and hilarious.
Schitt’s Creek
This is not a hot take or well kept secret. The show swept the Emmys for good reason. A rich family loses their capital and is forced to move into the small town they bought as a joke. It is sweet and kind and charming, totally sentimental with a bite. Schitt’s Creek is also aspirational, creating a world without prejudice and letting us stay there for a little while (why not longer?!).
Shrill
Based on the book by Lindy West, Shrill follow’s Annie Easton as she tries to change her life, but not her body. Come for Aidy Bryant’s excellent wardrobe, stay for the body positivity, guilt-free abortion and a young woman finally learning how to take up space and challenge the fat-phobia she’s faced throughout her life.
Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso somehow manages to be the opposite of toxic masculinity. While white men take up a whole lot of space on our television screens, we don’t see a lot of characters like Ted. He is kind, forgiving, sensitive and emotional. It shouldn’t be revolutionary, but it is very much needed at this moment.
Veep
Maybe it’s just me, but I find nothing more comforting than watching Julia Louis Dreyfus pelt viciously creative insults at everyone around her. Seriously, sometimes I just watch Veep insult compilations on Youtube. But the extremely prescient show about a super incompetent veep and her ambitions for the presidency has taken on a whole new light in the current moment.
What We Do in the Shadows
Never has a show been so dumb and genius at the same time. Just a group of vampire roommates living(?) in Staten Island. They were supposed to conquer North America, but didn’t really get that far. Hijinks ensue!
Dramas
Call the Midwife
This one is endearingly sentimental and sincere. Just embrace it! Call the Midwife is a women-created, women-led show that follows the lives of a group of nurse midwives working in the East End of London in the late 1950s and 1960s. Unlikely friendships are formed, babies are born, and social issues take a front seat in this heartwarming drama.
Killing Eve
Bloody can be comforting too. Watching Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer face off and kick ass is simply delightful. As well as seeing extremely smart, competent, difficult women, being very good at their jobs—whether that’s as an obsessive intelligence investigator or a highly stylish and creative assassin.
Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries
This show is the most fun, basically ever. Miss Fisher is a progressive maven in 1920s Melbourne. She has lovers. She uses her wealth to help others and loves being an independent bachelorette. Oh and she also solves murders, showing up the police at every turn. Please meet #FeministIcon Phyrne Fisher.
Succession
Succession is loosely based on the Murdoch family. But the ugliness of the characters and the cleverness of the writing is fun because we’re in on the joke. This is not a glorification of wealth and privilege, it’s an indictment. While we might still empathize with these characters, there are no good guys here. Which is okay, because watching capitalist monsters devour each other is still a pretty good time.
Watchmen
Watchmen is not comfort TV in the traditional sense. It’s actually pretty devastating. But similar to the joys of Veep, watching Regina King be a total badass is incredibly satisfying. The whole show is pretty amazing, from the writing to the acting to the gorgeous cinematography. If you’re looking for the kind of comfort that comes with a good cry and healthy dose of inspiration, this is it.
And finally…
Dark
Again, comfort is, of course, subjective. And sometimes just throwing your hands up and embracing oblivion is actually the most comforting option. When you’ve reached this point, it’s time to watch this German time travel mystery. Let your mind melt away as you try to keep track of the various time loops our characters are ensnared in, and take comfort in the fact that at least we only have to live this year once.