If you’re anything like me, when it comes to sitting down and relaxing for the evening, you always end up watching one of the same five shows. For me, I very seldom add a new sitcom to my rotation. For some reason, everytime I open my laptop, I end up watching Parks and Recreation, Community, Friends, The Office, New Girl, or That 70’s Show for the 100th time, rather than try something new. Recently, I’ve begun to wonder what in my nature makes me want to rewatch the same things over and over. The following are the introspective conclusions I’ve drawn.
Firstly, I think there’s something incredibly comforting about being familiar with the characters and the overall feel of a show. When there’s so much uncertainty in the world, it is really nice sometimes to know exactly what to expect. When you watch a sitcom for the 100th time, you know exactly what you’re getting. I think this also ties into some of the anxiety I have. I’m the type of person who likes to have something consistent to create comfort for me. Rewatching the same shows gives that feeling of consistency because they’re so predictable.
This also leads to my second point: these sitcoms make amazing background noise. Maybe it’s just me, but I always have the TV running while I scroll through Instagram or make dinner. Rewatching the same sitcoms leads to a sense of familiarity, so I don’t feel confused if I miss something while preoccupied. If I were to put on a new drama, I would be totally lost, seeing as I’m always preoccupied while watching TV.
Overall, I’m fully aware that there are streaming platforms full of amazing content out there to be explored, and I very much should be exploring these options. However, there is something both comforting and reminiscent of my childhood about watching the same shows on repeat.
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