When it comes to declaring your favourite TV show, many of us reach for the prestige options – the shows that clean out the awards circuit, and are heaped with praise by renowned critics.
Recently, The Hollywood Reporter announced their team of critics had compiled the definitive list of the 50 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century and there were some expected titles at the top of the list. Shows such as Mad Men, The Sopranos, Succession, The Wire and Better Call Saul were all predictably at the top of the list.
But what about the TV shows that will never make it onto a critics' list? The ones we watch on a Saturday morning for a bit of indulgence, or late on a Friday night as a way to wind down from the week? The shows we watch over and over again when life feels hard, when we're nursing a broken or just want a welcome hit of nostalgia?
So we asked 11 women to share their ultimate comfort TV series – the under-the-radar shows you may never have heard of, but that keep them coming back over and over again.
Cashmere Mafia.
"A glossy show about four best friends living in New York and navigating their high-profile jobs alongside romance, parenthood, and a few feuds and affairs. Lucy Liu plays a magazine publisher and it’s one of her best roles – everything from the incredible fashion to the chemistry between the four leads makes it the kind of show you can watch over and over again" - Laura.
Watch it on 7Plus.
Chuck.
"Chuck is an action romantic comedy (the best blend of genres) about a nerdy guy working in an electronics chain store in California who accidentally has a secret government software program downloaded into his head. The best agents from the NSA and CIA are then sent to protect and work with him. It has the best-supporting cast of characters, is hilarious, and contains one of the best slow-burn TV love stories of all time. Everyone I force to watch this series falls completely in love with it." - Laura.
Watch it on Prime Video.
Lipstick Jungle.
"This show often gets labelled as a subpar Sex and the City but it stands alone as its own series (even though it’s also based on a book by Candace Bushnell). The show centres on three best friends living glamorous lives in New York (always the recipe for a good comfort show). Brooke Shields plays the head of a movie studio and there are some pretty salacious love stories and very good clothes. You can easily binge 10 episodes in a day" - Laura.
Watch it on Prime Video.
The Inbetweeners.
“I remember stumbling across it on Netflix and I found it the funniest show. It's silly, the British humour is certainly off-the-cuff, and it perfectly shows that awkward stage of high school. And whenever I re-watch, I still laugh – that's always a good sign.” - Isabella
Watch it on Channel 4.
Scrubs.
“Even after 22 years, it still (mostly) holds up. It's got a lot of heart, it's so funny, and the characters are so well-defined and loveable. It's the perfect sitcom and there are something like nine seasons of it, so you have a lot of material to work through in your downtime.” - Elfy
Watch it on Hulu.
Midsomer Murders.
"I think my main one might be Midsomer Murders – just some cute British villages, lots of tea drinking, quirky characters and silly story arcs with a side of murder." - Laura
Watch it on Prime Video.
Rizzoli & Isles.
"It's a crime show set in Boston and the two main characters are female (right up my alley). It's super campy and easy to watch and you can start from any episode. Also... I think I have a crush on Angie Harmon so that could also be a contributing factor." - Maddie
Watch it on Max.
Orphan Black.
"I don't think I've stopped thinking about this show since the first time I watched it. It's a bit sci-fi, a bit family drama, and Tatiana Maslany (who is amazing) plays six different characters (that are all clones). It's so fun and engaging and a little bit dark, and the performances are so strong." - Alex
Watch it on Stan.
Outback Opal Hunters.
"We've made it a game to see who can guess how much the opal they find is worth." - Paris
Watch it on Discovery Plus.
The Great Pottery Throw Down.
"I love any show where you see people creating things – I once binge-watched The Great Pottery Throwdown, it got emotional." - Talia
Watch it on Channel 4.
The Repair Shop.
"I don't binge it, but if The Repair Shop is on, I will ALWAYS watch it. It's the most wholesome s**t." - Alex
Watch it on ABC iview.
Manifest.
"[It's] one of the worst TV shows I’ve ever watched but couldn’t stop watching." - Talia
Watch it on Netflix.
Broad City.
"It's funny and has become my relief show as it is about two women in their 20s who are trying to navigate living in New York City. They fail. Often. And it's glorious." - Shannen.
Watch it on Stan.
Million Dollar Listing.
"Fabricated drama, cheesy one-liners and fast cars stuck in New York traffic – is there anything better? Peering into the homes of the rich and famous is the ultimate balm on a bad day." - Eliza
Watch it on Binge.
Dance Academy.
"This show was the pinnacle of my childhood. It's so 2012, and whenever my housemate or I have a rough day we turn it and feel like we're 11 again and suddenly want to become professional ballerinas... [Spoiler alert] The scene when Sammy dies gets me every time.” - Olivia
Watch it on Disney Plus.
Feature Image: Netflix/Stan/Abc Signature/Mamamia.
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