By Isabelle Houston ‘25

Not many experiences compare to relaxing with a series that has cozy vibes, a pleasant ending and plot, and compelling characters. If you’re looking for a delightful activity to enjoy at home this winter, consider curling up with a blanket and a warm drink to watch these Netflix comfort shows.

Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls is an American comedy-drama series that debuted on October 5, 2000. The story focuses on the lives and relationship between a girl named Rory Gilmore and her mother, Lorelai Gilmore, who gave birth to her at 16. They live in the small town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, where family and friends of the Gilmore Girls live.

This show has seven seasons, making it excellent for binge-watching. Catlin Gabel School (CGS) faculty member Marisa Ikert shares her experience of the show.

“Gilmore Girls was the show I watched with my parents on DVD in middle and high school and I've rewatched it so many times since!” said Ikert. “In 2020–2021 I got through a tough pandemic teaching year by watching one episode of Gilmore Girls a day, half in the morning during breakfast and half over dinner after school; it took me the whole school year to get through the entire series. Now I still choose a random episode on Netflix whenever I want to relax and don't know what else to watch”.

Another comforting quality in the show is the genuine mother-daughter relationship. They fight, make up, and have moments of teaching and learning.

Lastly, the setting in Stars Hollow is primarily depicted in a state of fall, with warm colors all around to bring a cozy feeling. The sweet and entertaining story of Gilmore Girls makes for a great comfort show.

Anne with an E

Netflix adapted L.M. Montogomery's book, Anne of Green Gables, to tell the story of Anne, a unique, intelligent, and kind-spirited girl who changes the lives of everyone she meets. Anne is an orphan with a rough past and is accidentally sent to live with siblings Mathew and Marilla Cuthbert on Prince Edward Island, Canada. This coming-of-age period piece follows Anne as she forms meaningful relationships and finds her place in the world.

Many of Anne with an E’s comforting qualities come from Anne’s curious and compassionate personality. This piece is set in the 1890s and is soothing to watch, taking one out of the current day. The story has complexity but is easy to follow, creating a welcoming environment. Watching Anne navigate the world and young love brew, as well as her happiness grow, illustrates the comfort found within Anne with an E.

The Great British Baking Show

The Great British Baking Show, also known as The Great British Bake Off (GBBO), has a non-competitive nature compared to most other cut-throat cooking shows. The show features a new set of 12 bakers every season and, when first released, had judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. Later, Prue Lieth took Berry’s place. Bakers compete in three challenges a week with the short-term goal of winning star baker for the week and a long-term goal of winning the whole season.

This baking competition is light-hearted and funny, with the wholesome relationships formed between bakers, and the hosts always cracking jokes. It’s easy to put on an episode and get lost in the delightful world of baking. The GBBO has a total of 13 seasons, with five collections currently airing on Netflix, making this show perfect for binging. This competition is a magical space where everyone can enjoy baking.

The Good Place

The Good Place is a comedy that comforts you through the humorous characters and will make you think about the afterlife and morality in a whole new light. The show follows Eleanor Shellstrop, who has been “re-born” in The Good Place, which is essentially heaven. She makes every effort not to get caught by the friendly architect of the neighborhood, Micheal, and sent to The Bad Place, which represents hell, where she belongs.

Eleanor realizes early on that she was mistakenly sent to The Good Place. The information Michael has on her life is incorrect, and it becomes clear that Eleanor Shellstrop is not the Eleanor that is supposed to be in The Good Place.

One of her efforts to not get caught as the wrong Eleanor is forcing her “soulmate” Chidi, a philosopher, to teach her everything there is about being good. With many strange interactions and occurrences, it becomes apparent that The Good Place is much more complex than initially introduced.

The Good Place has 4 seasons and a satisfying ending and has complexity in the plot with many exciting twists. This series invites viewers to think about the afterlife in a different and captivating way.

“The Good Place had really well-written, compelling characters, with a very engaging plot. It also made me think about morality in a way that no other show had,” said CGS senior Dylan Beckett.

The comedic aspects of this show create a very pleasant atmosphere with plenty of dramatic irony and hilarious characters. The story reveals the mistakes that Eleanor made in the past but demonstrates her effort to try and become a better person, making her character more realistic. The comedy, plot, and characters all come together to build an incredibly comforting show.

The winter season can be depressing, with colder weather, and darkness taking up most of the day. Hopefully, these shows provide comfort and joy as we travel deeper into the cold winter months.

Must-Watch Netflix Comfort Shows

Gilmore Girls

Anne with an E

The Great British Baking Show

The Good Place