After watching “Outer Banks” for the fifth time, I figured it was time to find a new show. However, I found it surprisingly difficult to search for alternatives. As I was surfing through Netflix, I found out that I am not yet prepared to say goodbye to “Outer Banks.” So, why do we all have comfort shows, and what makes something a comfort show for us instead of something we just like?
There are plenty of good shows we can watch, yet only some of them turn into comfort shows for us. It may sound strange, but a comfort show isn’t simply a show we like. A show we like might be interesting or entertaining, but once we are done with it, we are done—we have no problems switching to another one. Comfort shows are special in the sense that we build an emotional bond with them. We get to know the characters, setting, plot and little nuances. The fact that we know what is going to happen in each episode sometimes is precisely the thing we enjoy about the show.
“Outer Banks” became my favorite comfort show because of my familiarity with it. Having watched it five times, I know the characters and their mannerisms very well. Moreover, I know the relationships between them, conflicts, adventures, dialogues and even some of the lines before the characters say them. Usually, the predictability of the plot may spoil the whole picture of the show, but for comfort shows, everything is quite the opposite. To watch the series is to go back to the same place.
Why do people feel the need for comfort TV shows? For starters, stress might play a role here. People’s lives are hard enough; sometimes, an easy escape route is needed. Regardless of whether it concerns school, work, relationships or any kind of responsibility, people’s brains need an occasional break from reality. A comfort TV show provides such a break, giving a chance to shift attention from one’s own life. Instead of dwelling upon our own problems, we get a chance to think about someone else’s problems for a while.
Furthermore, a comfort show offers the feeling of routine and predictability in cases when everything else in a person’s life seems unpredictable. People often have no idea what will happen next for them or how it will happen. A comfort show offers an opportunity to relax because people can anticipate what characters they will see on-screen and what situation will develop.
Additionally, comfort shows often become a form of pseudo-social activity and background noise. It is obvious that the characters are not our real friends; however, by watching the lives of these people for several hours a day, we get to know them quite well. The familiar sounds of the characters and the music from the show provide a feeling of companionship.
That is probably why finishing a comfort show feels like such an event. For me, finishing “Outer Banks” was not just finishing a TV show. I was finishing my time in an often-visited world. I was parting ways, at least for the moment, with the characters I’ve grown fond of and familiar with, even though I know they are fictional. Perhaps this is why I felt like I needed to start watching another show. I was not looking for entertainment per se. Rather, I was searching for another safe place to be in.
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