Why we still re-watch comfort shows

Streaming services offer more programmes than anyone could watch in a lifetime, and still the most-played titles on many platforms are shows that viewers have seen before, sometimes many times.

It looks like a paradox. Psychologists say it is a sensible, even healthy, way of using television.

Predictability as relief

A familiar story removes uncertainty. You know the jokes, the characters and how the conflict will resolve. For a brain that has spent the day making decisions, that is restful.

Studies of re-watching suggest people choose familiar content most often when they are tired, stressed or lonely, and report feeling calmer afterwards.

Parasocial company

Long-running series give viewers something like a social circle. The characters are always available and never judge. Researchers call these one-sided bonds parasocial relationships, and they are common, harmless and often comforting.

The pleasure of noticing

Watching again also changes the experience. Once the plot is known, attention shifts to details: foreshadowing, the performances, the editing. Many people find the second viewing richer than the first.

What it says about choice

Behavioural economists point out that too many options can be tiring. Picking something you already know is a way of opting out of the endless search. It trades novelty for certainty.

• Choose a rewatch when you need rest, not stimulation.
• Try something new when you want to be surprised.
• Notice which one you are reaching for and why.

Familiarity is not the enemy of enjoyment. Sometimes it is the whole point.

Is there a downside?

If rewatching crowds out sleep, friends or other interests, it may be worth reflecting on. For most people, though, an evening with an old favourite is a small, reliable kindness to themselves.