A chill has descended. The days are darker. The atmosphere? A bit harsh. We're talking about those late fall days, of course, when the reality of a new season sinks in. Who could have forecast it would be so gloomy so early? Well, some people. Many have bristled as they've adjusted to this new weather. (For others, it might feel perfectly balmy out there!)
You might require a comfort watch -- for whatever reason! Here are 11 of our picks.
'Community': Twists on the familiar
Return to menu
To anyone who spent their early years consuming too much pop culture, "Community" cannot help but feel like a warm Snuggie. With a killer cast including Joel McHale, Alison Brie and Donald Glover, Dan Harmon's absurdist sitcom is a love letter to Hollywood. Nearly every episode is a sidesplitting homage to something familiar including "Law & Order," spaghetti westerns and "My Dinner With Andre." So I'll issue the rallying cry of its fans: Six seasons and a movie! (Streaming on Peacock) -- Travis M. Andrews
Skip to end of carousel
The Style section
Style is where The Washington Post explains what's happening on the front lines of culture -- including the arts, media, social trends, politics and yes, fashion -- with wit, personality and deep reporting. For more Style stories, click here. To subscribe to the Style Memo newsletter, click here.
End of carousel
'The Good Wife': Nostalgia for scandals with hopeful outcomes
Return to menu
Since I discovered Robert and Michelle King's masterful juggernaut of a procedural nearly a decade ago while sick on the couch, there has not been a time that "The Good Wife" has not been playing on a loop in my house. It has everything I crave: colorful, complex characters; discerning social critique; a sideways sense of humor; Obama-era optimism; reckless affairs between sensible professionals; Christine Baranski. Plus, Alan Cumming playing straight and Jewish! Josh Charles in his most important role since "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead"! And an endless parade of top-notch Broadway actors in fabulous one-off and recurring roles: Give Bebe Neuwirth a judge's gavel in anything, and I'll be convinced that everything is going to be okay. (Streaming on Paramount Plus and Amazon Prime via Freevee) -- Naveen Kumar
'Broad City': A stoner comedy with a heart of gold
Return to menu
The premise for "Broad City" is a familiar one: Young, chaotic friends take on the big, chaotic city, finding love, laughs and (maybe) gainful employment. But the sitcom starring Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson is also a treasure trove of surreal and silly delights. You'll find surprise cameos (RuPaul, Cumming, Fred Armisen) and the origins of more than a few popular millennial memes. What keeps this stoner comedy grounded, though, is its heart: Glazer and Jacobson's madcap antics are fueled by their complete acceptance of and love for each other. The world you encounter may be messy, the people in it strange or disturbing, but you'll get by with a little help from your friends. (Streaming on Disney Plus and Hulu) -- Anne Branigin
'That's So Raven': It's so timeless
Return to menu
We may not be able to glimpse into the future, or even want to, so maybe a blast from the past is in order. Centered on the endearingly mischievous Raven Baxter (Raven-Symoné) navigating adolescence as a psychic, "That's So Raven" will take you back to the mid-2000s, with chunky bracelets, bedazzled denim and physical comedy that will have you laughing so hard you'll need to catch your breath. There's a reason the show, which aired during Disney Channel's unofficial golden age, was the first on the network to reach 100 episodes. (Streaming on Disney Plus and Hulu) -- Samantha Chery
'Castle': A killer reprieve from the real world
Return to menu
Watching "Castle" is a test in reality suspension. Do not try to rationalize why an author with absolutely no experience is allowed to assist in police investigations. It has the necessary ingredients for a campy take on a romantic police procedural: two-dimensional supporting cast members, quippy one-liners and devastating chemistry between the two leads (Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion). This recipe results in the perfect turn-off-brain show. None of the murders are remotely realistic. This isn't "SVU," it's "Castle," which means you get a serial killer played by Meghan Markle who murders women and dresses them up like fairy tale characters. (Streaming on Disney Plus and Hulu) -- Olivia McCormack
'Are You Sure?!': K-pop meets hygge
Return to menu
You don't need to be a fan of BTS to appreciate the low-stakes, mellow vibe of this docuseries, which follows members Jungkook and Jimin as they tour Japan, South Korea and ... Essex, Connecticut. (The show was filmed in 2023, before the pair began their mandatory military service.) The two may be global superstars, but their adventures are cheerfully mundane; major plot points include Jungkook falling from a canoe, Jimin getting an upset stomach and an extended water-gun fight. Their real-deal chemistry and wide-eyed delight at life's little pleasures combine to give you a show so soothing, it's the perfect end to a dreary day. (Streaming on Disney Plus) -- Anne Branigin
'Charmed': Still keeps you spellbound
Return to menu
Fashion. Sisterhood. Romance. Demons. Bad CGI. More fashion. These are the core principles behind "Charmed." Premiering a year after "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" as the latest girl-power, monster-of-the-week show, the story of sister witches fighting all things that go bump in the night oozes y2k aesthetics. Though not without its heartbreaking moments, the show is more about watching some of TV's coolest women protect the innocent, fall in love, fight for the greater good and wear some super cute shoes. (Streaming on Peacock) -- Olivia McCormack
Marvel's 'What If ... ?': A colorful cartoon escape
Return to menu
Want to leave this planet, galaxy and universe completely? Packed with alternate timelines of Marvel Cinematic Universe events, the animated "What If ... ?" (with two seasons logged and one more on the way) features characters like Zombie Iron Man or Jon Favreau's Happy Hogan as a purple Hulk who saves Christmas. It is suitable for children so the entire family can lounge around and see how Ultron gets the Infinity Stones or why Captain Carter ends up in 1602 with Wanda Maximoff. Most importantly, with the notable exception of the depressing Doctor Strange story in Season 1, the episodes typically end on a happy note. (Streaming on Disney Plus) -- Herb Scribner
'The Munsters': Wholesome weirdness
Return to menu
Every day after school in my preteen years I was glued to TV Land, watching the inhabitants of 1313 Mockingbird Lane. The Munsters have one of the healthiest family dynamics I have ever seen on television: They're a little odd but very loving. The outside world makes fun of them but the joke is that they, in turn, find the quirks of their normal neighbors and acquaintances quite strange. (Streaming on Peacock) -- Olivia McCormack
'Broadchurch': For the couch detective in all of us
Return to menu
Yes, it's a gloomy crime drama, but there's something deeply comforting about a slow-burning murder mystery that keeps you firmly planted on the couch. I came for U.K. darlings David Tennant and Olivia Coleman, who play clashing detectives tasked with solving the murder of an 11-year-old boy. But I stayed for the masterful writing, twisty plot, haunting score and the misty allure of a small seaside community brimming with secrets. The supporting cast brings some quirk and charm as the classic small-town archetypes -- while also delivering achingly raw performances, especially from Jodie Whittaker and Andrew Buchan as a married couple navigating the throes of grief. It's gripping, tender and immediately compels you to reach for your blanket -- and your loved one. (Streaming on Tubi and Peacock) -- Janay Kingsberry
'Breaking Bad': Yes, really, it's a comfort show
Return to menu
I know. I know. But hear me out: Few shows can pull you out of your own head -- and repetitive thoughts and private fears -- than Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould's stylish masterpiece about a chemistry teacher who becomes the best meth manufacturer in the Southwest. "Breaking Bad" is very violent and sometimes horrifying. It's also incredibly fun to watch. The camera does preposterously funny stuff as the show mines a certain kind of strained American middle-class domesticity for darker, reactionary layers. Best of all, "Breaking Bad" nails the landing (a rare thing in television). And it richly rewards rewatching (even rarer). So if the kind of "comfort" you require has shifted from feel-good stuff that lulls to well-built stories that can fully absorb your anxious attention, you could do worse. (Streaming on Netflix) -- Lili Loofbourow