Why Rewatching Your Favorite TV Shows Feels So Good

It’s the end of a long day, and you’ve just plopped down on your couch to watch some TV and unwind. Do you dive into a new show, or tune into the latest episode of a popular medical drama? Or do you instead opt to rewatch episodes of The Office, Friends, How I Met Your Mother, The Golden Girls, or Schitt’s Creek (to name a few cult classics), even though you’ve seen every episode multiple times? If you find yourself choosing to watch your favorite TV shows over and over again—especially when you’re stressed or emotionally exhausted—you’re not alone. 

“Just like kids begging to hear the same book read to them every night or listening to our favorite song on repeat, many of us find comfort in rewatching our favorite TV shows,” says Kate Jansen, PhD, clinical psychologist. “We might know that there are new and interesting shows available or intend to check out a new series that multiple people have recommended, but in the end [we] find ourselves watching the same series over and over again.” We spoke with three psychologists and an expert in television studies to find out why watching the same shows on repeat is a comforting act of self-care.

They’re Predictable

There’s a reason why the Full House theme song opens by posing the question: “Whatever happened to predictability?” There’s something reassuring about knowing how something will play out and end, and TV shows are no exception. “Our central nervous system prefers familiarity, consistency, and predictability, because it helps us feel safe,” says Lauren Freymuth, LPC, therapist. “Rewatching favorite TV shows provides exactly those experiences; we know the characters, the storyline, and what will happen.”  

Our familiarity with the show eliminates the risk of unexpected emotional reactions from surprises and plot twists—which can be exciting, but tend to be less appealing when we’re anxious, exhausted, or simply seeking comfort, Jansen explains. “Entering a predictable world, like the coffee house in Friends, is much more soothing,” she says. “We know which episodes make us cry and which ones make us laugh, and can safely choose accordingly.”

They’re Nostalgic

Rewatching a show can be comforting because of the nostalgia factor, says Lori Bindig Yousman, PhD, communication and media professor. “[A familiar TV show] can bring the viewer back to the time in their life when they first watched it,” she explains. “If it is a show from their youth or a particularly happy period in their lives, those memories are wrapped up with the show.” Similarly, revisiting an old TV show can evoke cherished memories, or remind us of who we once were, says Patricia Dixon, PsyD, clinical psychologist. “This reconnection can be particularly valuable when we feel lost or disconnected from our identities.”

They’re Comforting

In addition to being nostalgic, rewatching our favorite TV shows can also provide comfort and solace during periods of stress or emotional turmoil. “The humor and warmth we remember can act as a balm for our feelings, helping us navigate difficult moments,” Dixon says. According to the American Psychiatric Association, 34% of adults say they were more anxious in 2024 than they were in the previous year, and nearly a quarter of U.S. adults rate their stress levels as an eight, nine, or 10 out of 10—so we can all benefit from the comfort our favorite TV shows bring. “Even when we know there are great new shows to explore, the comfort of something familiar often outweighs the effort of making a new choice,” Jansen says.

They Give Our Brains a Break

Stress aside, most of us are constantly thinking about a million different things at once, which can get exhausting. Tuning into a new TV show or even the latest episode of a show we watch regularly requires us to pay attention and use more brain power. “Familiar shows require less cognitive effort, allowing us to relax without the need to concentrate intensely,” Dixon says. “In these moments, escaping into a predictable narrative can be incredibly comforting, offering a safe space where we know what to expect and can lose ourselves in a world that feels manageable.”

They Help Us Have More Willpower

Rewatching a beloved TV show can also provide us with a mental boost when we need to complete a task, according to a 2012 study published in the journal of Social Psychological and Personality Science. “People have a limited pool of these valuable mental resources,” Jaye Derrick, PhD, the author of the study, explained in a statement. “When they use them on a task, they use up some of this limited resource. Therefore, they have less willpower and self-control for the next task.”

Derrick found that catching a rerun of a favorite TV show may help restore the drive to complete tasks in people who have used up their reserves of willpower or self-control, because it taps into the surrogate relationships people form with the characters. “When you watch a favorite rerun, you typically don’t have to use any effort to control what you are thinking, saying, or doing,” he says. “You are not exerting the mental energy required for self-control or willpower. At the same time, you are enjoying your ‘interaction’ with the TV show’s characters, and this activity restores your energy.”

They Help Us Avoid Decision Fatigue

The sheer number of entertainment options can lead to choice overload, Jansen notes. “With hundreds of shows accessible on a single streaming platform, selecting something new can feel overwhelming,” she says. “We may spend excessive time scrolling through options, considering factors like genre, tone, and length, only to feel mentally drained and default to a familiar favorite.” This phenomenon contributes to decision fatigue, which occurs when the accumulation of choices throughout the day leads to mental exhaustion. “By evening, after making countless decisions at work and home, many of us struggle to make yet another choice,” Jansen says. “Rather than weigh[ing] all of our options and picking something new, we can avoid one more decision and default to our old favorite.”

They Help Us Feel Less Alone

A 2009 study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that rewatching our favorite TV shows can help us feel less lonely and provide the experience of belonging. As we get to know these characters intimately over the years, they can feel familiar—like we’re spending time with an old friend. We may also see ourselves in these characters. “The characters and storylines often resonate with our own experiences, creating a sense of relatability that can lead to new insights or a renewed understanding of our feelings,” Dixon says. “In essence, rewatching a beloved series can be both a comforting escape and a reflective journey, allowing us to explore our emotions in a safe and enjoyable way.”