4 Best Comfort TV Shows for Nostalgic Escapism and Relatable Realism

In a column, writer Caoimhe Mahon explores how 2000s comfort television shows such as Friends, Gilmore Girls, The Bold Type, and Gossip Girl offer fun, light-hearted escapism alongside relatable realism for early adulthood.

Mahon writes that these programs provide fun, light-hearted escapism paired with a dash of relatable realism for viewers in their twenties. Among these, Friends stands out as a primary comfort classic more than two decades after its series finale aired on May 6th, 2004.

The author notes that she quotes the series on a weekly basis and highlights a particular exchange between Monica and Phoebe as the ultimate encapsulation of the post-college experience. In that scene, when Monica asks if she has a plan, Phoebe responds, “I don’t even have a pla’.”

“I don’t even have a pla’.”

That sentiment mirrors Mahon’s own post-graduation reality, where the expectation to have a structured future often clashes with unpredictable life paths. The essay points out that even characters like Ross or the career-pivoting Rachel encounter unexpected personal messes and leaps into the unknown.

The column also examines Gilmore Girls and its association with autumnal comfort. Mahon explains how the series moves away from cozy small-town tropes as Alexis Bledel’s Rory faces complicated relationships, career setbacks, and identity crises.

Moving to New York City-centric programming, Mahon highlights The Bold Type as a love letter to young women tackling career ladders and dating after college. Similarly, she describes Gossip Girl as an ultra-glamorous creation defined by whirlwind relationships and messy character arcs that offer a comforting change of scenery.

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