18 Throwback TV Shows For You To Comfort Binge

Times are stressful, and with the world constantly turning at higher anxiety-fueled frequencies than ever before, there is nothing people need more than to lose themselves in a good old fashioned episode of television. 

Problem is, with all the content available today, finding the right show for you can be fairly overwhelming. Which is why sometimes, it’s best to back away from the new and go back to something you know — something familiar.

The ’90s and early ’00s were a golden era of television — a time where character-focused, morally centered TV was the program of choice, and TGIF’s left you with hope, newfound life lessons, and the feeling that no matter what happened, everything would somehow be okay.

We’ve compiled a list of the best shows from those blissful years, so next time you sit down in desperate need of comfort and escapism, you know exactly where to press play.

After all, there’s nothing more comforting than nostalgia. 

1. Gilmore Girls

It’s safe to say there isn’t anything much more comforting than immersing oneself in Gilmore Girls. Lorelai and Rory may have their fair share of boy problems, but nothing truly terrible ever happens in Stars Hollow.

There are a few out of control house parties, a crisis over forgotten easter eggs, and a car accident or two, but you’ll never have to worry about pandemic level drama hitting your favorite townspeople.

From seasonal decorations, to weekly town meetings, and the comforting reliance of a fresh cup of coffee at Luke’s diner, Stars Hollow becomes more than just a pretty place to look at — it transforms into a place you feel safe.

Someone like Jess Mariano may hate living there, but you’re bound to fall in love.

2. Dawson’s Creek

Not everything on Dawson’s Creek comes up butterflies and roses; the gang at Capside certainly has their fair share of trials and tribulations. Still, it’s the perfect show to help you forget all your problems, even if for just a little while.

Dawson’s Creek is set in the fictional, yet beautiful, town of Capeside, Massachusetts, and the backdrop alone is enough to suck you in as the story of Dawson and his friends unfolds in four stellar (and two mediocre) seasons of television.

There may be drug dealing fathers, SAT cheating scandals, and enough relationship drama to last a lifetime, but there are also stories of camaraderie, finding oneself, and the importance of family and friendship in times of strife.

Plus, who doesn’t enjoy a good old fashioned love triangle?

3. Boy Meets World

If you’re looking for life lessons, and a show that’s always going to end on the moral high ground, Boy Meets World is the perfect binge show for you. Cory and Shawn have one of TV’s all-time most solid friendships, while Cory and Topanga live out one of TV’s all-time best love stories.

Combining the unconditional love of the Matthew’s family, guidance from school teacher-turned-principal Mr. Feeny, and the comedic relief of Eric’s ever-growing shenanigans, make for a perfect recipe of laughs, tears, and heartwarming moments.

You’ll be feeling warm and fuzzy all binge long. 

4. Clarissa Explains it All

So maybe Clarissa didn’t exactly explain it all to us — she definitely skipped over this whole global pandemic thing. We’re going to go ahead and forgive her though because nothing is better than watching Clarissa try to “explain the world” from her bedroom. 

You can relive adolescence via Clarissa, swoon every time Sam climbs through her window, and reminisce about the epic showdowns you had with your overly annoying little sibling.

What’s more nostalgic and comforting than that?

5. Felicity

There isn’t anything more soothing than a world of sepia-tone and oversized sweaters, and Felicity is absolutely drenched in both.

Felicity steeps itself in the terrifying and thrilling feeling of navigating newly adult life in the ’90s, but the situations she constantly finds herself in, via family, friends, and relationships, are still relative and relatable to anyone today.

The show truly is perfect escapism. You can relive your best college years through rose-colored glasses and a beautifully crafted love letter to New York City.

There’s also enough eye candy to keep you daydreaming all series long. 

6. One Tree Hill

Sometimes it really is all about setting, and there’s only one Tree Hill — the place where everything’s better, and everything’s safe.

Okay, so not everyone’s safe, especially with dad-turned-villain Dan Scott lurking around.

Besides all that, Tree Hill is the perfect North Carolina town. It won’t take much to have you jumping through your screen to enjoy a cup of coffee at Karen’s Cafe, play a game of HORSE on the River Court, or take in a concert at local teen club Tric. 

If nothing else, the flashbacks of the outrageous fashion, hilarious trends, and incredible music of the early ’00s will make this gem of a show well worth your time. 

7. Friends

No one told you life was going to be this way. Your job’s a joke, you’re broke, and your love life is DOA (who can date when we’re all stuck at home?). 

2020 hasn’t been anyone’s week, month, or year, but Friends is always there for you — ready to keep you laughing and in good company, no matter what. 

You can pick teams as Ross and Rachel argue about being on a break, witness Monica and Chandler falling in love, relate deeply to Joey’s love of pizza, and jam out to Pheobe’s hit, “Smelly Cat.”

Whether they’re meeting up at Central Perk or Monica’s apartment, hanging out with these six friends is the perfect way to let go of your troubles, and feel a little less alone.

The best part? Friends is ten seasons long, and the show never loses its spark.

8. Seinfeld

Being lazy on the couch can lead to guilty feelings about not being productive enough, and Seinfeld is the perfect series to turn on when you need to ease that guilt.

The show boastfully prides itself on being a show about nothing, but Elaine, Jerry, George and Kramer sure do have a lot of fun. It’s the perfect outlet to help you find some belly laughs, and feel a little less ashamed for enjoying the growing amount of days at home in your schedule. 

Hey, the Seinfeld gang does it for years, you’ve only been doing it for a couple of months. No shame in that game.

9. My So-Called Life

If you think you’re whining about life’s circumstances too much lately, you’ve never met Angela Chase.

Stuck in a perpetual state of teen angst, Angela finds a way to complain over just about everything. Disagreements with her mother over hair color, pining after the school’s notorious bad boy, and being endlessly annoyed she is the “last girl on earth who hasn’t had sex,” My So-Called Life will make you feel a whole lot more valid about things you complain about. 

Whiny or not, Angela and her friends are still a blast to watch and will take you right back your low self-esteem, intensely crushed out, rebel against my parent’s glory days.

10. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

If you’re feeling down in the dumps, who better to lift your spirits than the Prince of Bel-Air himself, Will Smith? West Philadelphia born and raised, he spent most of his days on a playground, before embarking on a new adventure in Bel Air with Uncle Phil. 

Timely, heartwarming, informative, and always hilarious, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is undoubtedly one of the strongest sitcoms in history, proving that black and POC culture paved the way for half-hour comedies before the rest of Hollywood could even catch on.

he Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a source of constant hilarity, and it’s a treat to watch Will Smith find his footing as the iconic actor and comedian we know him as today.

The brightly dawned clothes, constant hijinks and shenanigans –not to mention Carlton’s epic dance moves — all make the perfect comedy cocktail, bound to leave your heart feeling happy.

11. Saved By The Bell

For some of us, sleeping through the alarm and being late to school isn’t exactly an issue for us right now, but watching Zack, Kelly, Lisa, AC, and Screech try to make it on time sure is a lot of fun.

Zach Morris is the kind of iconic teen character you love to watch scheme just as much as you love to watch get caught. There’s never a dull moment for Zack and the gang, and besides a few minor stints involving caffeine pills and teenage heartbreak, Saved By The Bell never gets too heavy.

The best part? You’ve got Saved By The Bell, The College Years, The New Class, two spin-off movies, and an impending revival to keep you busy for quite a while. 

12. Sabrina the Teenage Witch

The best thing about Sabrina The Teenage Witch is that the show is just as much for you, as it is for your feline friends. You can watch Sabrina navigate high school, Harvey, and settle into her new witchy powers, while your cat laughs along at Salem’s ever sarcastic witty one-liners.

Yes, we are assuming you’re at the point in 2020 where you have conversations with your pets.

Just be sure your cat doesn’t take too much from Salem’s agenda — he is plotting world domination, after all.

13. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Tuning into Buffy the Vampire Slayer is like opening a manual on how to survive the apocalypse, and let’s be real — that could come in handy these days.

Based on top of the literal hell-mouth, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a seven season-long lesson on how to defeat even the greatest of adversities…and in heels, yet.

By the series finale, you’ll have felt like you’ve helped Buffy and her friends save the world countless times, leaving you fully skilled to survive any type of potential end-of-the-world catastrophe that may pop up in these extremely uncertain times.

14. Charmed

If your vampire slayer skills aren’t quite up to snuff, you can always turn to the women of Charmed to help you defeat evil — this time by way of spells and masterful witchcraft.

Okay, they might also have supernatural powers you probably don’t, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn a thing or two from these incredibly powerful, intelligent, and fashion-forward women.

At the very least, you can get yourself lost in the land of make-believe, and leave the stress of reality even for just a little while. The power of three really will set you free.

15. Roswell

Let’s be honest — between the news, politics, and never-ending zoom meetups, you might be pretty tired of the human race right now. Well, there’s no better time to tune out and spend some quality R&R with three of TV’s all-time favorite aliens.

Max, Michael, and Isobel may be immune to human disease, but they have plenty of their own problems to worry about.

From hiding their true identities, discovering the truth about their heritage, passing high school, and falling in love, these extraterrestrial beings are bound to take your mind off your mundane “human problems,” and make you thankful you don’t need to phone home.

16. Living Single

If you’re looking for a fun 90’s show that highlights the support of a group of girlfriends, jam-packed with comedy, heart, and a whole lot of good-natured ribbing, Living Single is the show for you.

Navigating life together in their 20’s, Kadijah, Regine, Max, and Sinclair are so very different, but work together to keep each other grounded, and stay on top of their comedy game throughout the series.

It’s absolutely worth a binge to keep you distracted for a while, and you’ll walk away feeling like you’ve made four new fabulous friends. 

17. The Golden Girls

Picture it: NBC, 1985! A show about four women living in a home in Miami, Florida has come to air and will garner much critical acclaim.

The four leads; Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty would each go on to win Emmy Awards for their work on the series, and the finale that aired in 1992 would be watched by 27.2 million viewers.

That series is The Golden Girls, and it’s an icon of pop culture that explored themes of sisterhood and resilience. Throughout seven seasons, Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia explore topics about family, dating, getting older, and more in an environment that feels and inviting accented by quippy dialogue and good-natured riffs.

Many of the scenes take place in the kitchen where the ladies all share their unique insights and perspectives over coffee and food. Though the show dabbles in serious topics including coming out, homelessness, elder care, and HIV/AIDs, it always balances it with a dose of humor.

18. Greek

Set at the fictional college of Cyprus-Rhodes University, this delightfully light-hearted and hilarious series follows the members of multiple sororities and fraternities as they navigate through their 4 (or in some cases, 5) years of college. 

Plus, if you’re looking for a high stakes love “quadrilateral” that flourishes into one of TV’s most iconic love stories, you’ve found the show of your dreams.

There’s romance, prank wars, epic parties, and a surprising amount of heartfelt endearment. There are characters you’ll love, characters you’ll love to hate, but for all four stellar seasons, there won’t be a single storyline that doesn’t grab your attention.

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Do you have a favorite comfort show from the ’90s, or are you going to try some of our suggestions for the first time? Let us know in the comments below!

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