Cosy shows to watch when you're sick of Rory Gilmore

Spruce up your autumn/winter watchlist

I’m still on my first watch-through of Gilmore Girls, and every episode instils a deeper sense of internal conflict. On the one hand, it’s so cosy - it’s autumnal, it’s small-town, it’s women, it’s low-stakes. I feel so at peace with Netflix playing and a mug of tea steaming beside me. On the other hand, YIKES. The co-dependence, the toxicity, the privilege, the casual ableism, misogyny and homophobia of the early 2000s. It puts a damper on the cosiness, and don’t get me started on the nails-down-a-chalkboard experience of watching Rory Gilmore waft her demure little way through life (Luciana Cole expands on this beautifully in their piece - You are not Rory Gilmore).

But when the wind is howling, the rain’s picking up, and it’s been a long day at work, few things feel as good as cocooning in a blanket and watching a comfort show. Preferably something that strikes a balance between ‘comfortingly 90s’ and ‘has at least the potential of passing the Bechdel test’. So here are my recommendations for cosy shows to watch when you’re sick of Rory Gilmore.

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Merlin (2008)

An eternal favourite of mine, Merlin is unmatched for it’s famously poor-quality CGI creatures and it’s low-stakes tomfoolery. A BBC fantasy-drama series based loosely on Arthurian legend, it’s packed with ridiculous escapades, satisfyingly magical deus ex machinas, cartoonish villians, Shakespearean insults, and unobstrusive romantic subplots. And may we never forget the recurring character of Old Lady Merlin.

Despite the show’s ability to regularly make me snort hot drinks out my nose, it does justice to the Arthurian epics and sustains an undercurrent of genuine emotion that continues to build as the series comes to it’s unforgettable conclusion. I love this show, cannot recommend it enough, and intend on being buried with a VHS copy in my arms.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)

Buffy Summers - fashion icon, vampire hunter, chosen one several times over. Ready at any given moment to don heart-shaped sunglasses and stab a demon in the heart. No notes.

WELL except that she’s repeatedly let down by her tragic friends and horrible taste in men (males? penis-touting vampires? de-mans?). This show shoots itself in the foot by having Xander (classic ‘nice guy’ incel type; he and Ross were cut from the same cloth and both make me retch) as a best friend over Cordelia - the original Brat. But Xander’s misogynistic one-liners aside, it’s a really good show. WELL, it’s kind of morbid. And sometimes sexual in a really weird way. But it’s still good. There’s a musical episode so…you know…

I swear I actually do like this show.

Frasier (1993)

I’m planning a rewatch of this entire series as we speak, 90% for the love of Daphne and Niles. The show follows radio psychiatrist Frasier Crane along with his family and friends living in Seattle. It’s light, it’s funny, it’s romantic - there’s a dog. It’s perfect sitcom stuff; the stakes are low and the aesthetic is cosy. I’m genuinely buzzing at the thought of putting on the first episode.

X Files (1993)

Picture me humming the X Files theme song as I write this. The show is eerie yet comforting, chic yet manic, powersuit yet bloodshot coffee eyes. It’s a classic for a reason, and I am equally obsessed with both Scully and Mulder as they investigate the FBI’s most inexplicable cases. The earlier series are definitely the best though, and I lost interest when they started focusing on weird serial killers over badly animated werewolves. But it’s still a hard recommend - X Files walked so Buzzfeed Unsolved could run.

Buzzfeed Unsolved - Supernatural (2016)

A sceptic and a believer investigate haunted buildings, hunt for ghosts, and occasionally share a hot tub in this show, which I started for the ghosts and stayed with for the incomparable comedic chemistry. Even if you don’t give a fig about the supernatural, the banter alone makes for sublime viewing. If, on the other hand, you’re more easily spooked then this show feels like being twelve years old and scaring yourself silly on a sleepover with your friend. On other words, it’s the perfect October show. Each episode is 20-40 minutes long, and can be found on the otherwise desiccated corpse of the Buzzfeed Youtube channel.

Special Mention: Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996)

This one is a special mention because - despite my best efforts - I couldn’t find where to watch it. But the vibes seem so perfect: It’s 90s witches, girlhood, and a sarcastic cat, what more could you want? I devoured all the clips I could find on Youtube and am prepared to start scouring local thrift stores for a dvd box set. I’ll let you know what I find, but in the meantime this is my top recommendation.

B.

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