November 6, 2025
MANILA – Lights off, blanket pulled up to the chin…the only glow in the room comes from a laptop screen. A Gen Z viewer leans in as the familiar theme song of a decades-old sitcom begins to play. They’ve already watched the series more than five times, but tonight, they’re ready to binge it all over again.
‘Friends,’ ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ ‘Gilmore Girls,’ ‘Modern Family.’ These are some of the series that became a “comfort show” for some Gen Z even though they were not yet born the day these series’ first episode were released.
Why are these shows so popular? How do they offer relaxation and a sense of familiarity to young audiences today?
Emotional blanket
As time passes, new generations emerge and new shows are produced. But, despite the constant wave of fresh content, many Gen Z viewers keep returning to older series—rewatching them endlessly, loving them as if they were new.
Aljane Mae Manalo, a resident psychiatrist from Baguio General Hospital, told POP! that comfort shows provide a grounding effect since they help regulate emotions by offering familiarity and stability in moments of stress.
These are mostly shows from the ’90s to early 2000s, with wholesome characters and humor the audiences love.
“For someone feeling lonely, the characters and storylines can act like a form of social companionship, giving a sense of connection,” said Manalo. “It’s almost like revisiting old friends who never change and are always there when needed,” she added.
This rings true to for those who love to indulge in these kinds of shows.
“It’s like a safe space,” said Navrec Bantolo, who has watched ‘Friends’ twice already. “I usually watch it alone, especially when things start to feel heavy. Watching it makes everything feel lighter,” he added.
He added that he feels comfort, happiness, and a sense of relatability to the characters’ experiences.
These shows often mirror life stages that Gen Zs can identify with, making them feel seen.
Another reason these series remain so popular is their simplicity. With lighthearted plots and predictable storylines, they don’t demand heavy thinking or emotional energy from the viewer. In the face of stress and pressure, Gen Zs find these shows worth watching again and again.
“The themes and humor are lighter compared to newer series. It also doesn’t feel forced,” Bantolo shared.
According to Manalo, these shows often function like an emotional security blanket.
“Rewatching shows where they already know the storyline creates a safe and controlled experience, which can be very reassuring when life feels uncertain,” Manalo shared. “It reduces the anxiety since they don’t need to anticipate or process new outcomes, and instead, they can just relax into something that feels stable.”
For Rain Tolentino, an avid fan of ‘Modern Family’ and ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ said she’s watched both shows five times already. “I feel comforted and happy when watching these shows because they are feel-good,” she said.
She furthered, “They don’t have episodes that will make you cry too much, maybe if there are some, you’ll just get a little teary-eyed but not the ones that are really heartbreaking.” For her, watching these series guarantees her happiness and comfort.
Learning through imperfections
However, the Gen Zs don’t watch these shows blindly.
Though produced years ago, many popular series include themes that don’t sit well with today’s generation. Viewers are quick to notice these problematic characters and plots, outdated jokes, and politically incorrect statements.
“I think with ‘Modern Family,’ since it includes different races, there are some jokes that seem racist. They also make jokes about gender identity and stereotypes, which could come across as offensive,” Tolentino shared.
For Bantolo, the issues weren’t obvious when he first watched ‘Friends’ as he was only 14 years old at the time. But on rewatch, he noticed jokes about gender, body image, and sexuality would be deemed problematic today.
‘Glee’ the hit 2009 comedy-drama, is another example. Over the years, people loved watching the series because it gave them a nostalgic feeling, with clips going viral on different social media pages.
However, the series has also faced growing criticism for its problematic themes. Modern viewers have pointed out issues such as plotlines involving sexuality, teacher-student boundaries, and lapses in representation.
So why does Gen Zs keep coming back to these shows despite having problematic themes?
These viewers can’t deny the comfort and happiness these shows give them. Instead of rejecting it completely, they come to watch it critically.
“I learned to balance enjoying the show by understanding that there’s a culture difference,” Bantolo said. “I live in a more conservative country, while the show comes from a more liberal one. What may seem normal or funny to them can be uncomfortable to us.”
He added that he sees the show as a reflection of its time, not something to copy or agree with.
“I think it’s possible to love something while still being critical of it,” Tolentino expressed. “Even though I acknowledge that the show has its flaws, I still find comfort in watching it. At the end of the day, it gives me a kind of comfort that other shows can’t.”
These shows may have problematic themes that don’t sit well with the generation today, for these viewers, there’s more to learn from it than focusing on these issues.
“Sometimes, it can even teach you awareness and empathy—and for some people, it can even save lives by giving them comfort during hard times,” Bantolo emphasized.
It’s all about balance
Comfort shows serve as an escape—to breathe, laugh, and relax. But, relying too much on them as a coping strategy may have a downside for its viewers.
“While rewatching shows offers relief, it can also lead to avoidance, where people escape into media rather than actively addressing stressors or building healthier coping skills,” Manalo expressed. “This might prevent them from developing resilience or from engaging in more growth-promoting activities.”
While it’s okay to lean on comfort shows, they shouldn’t be the only outlet for dealing with life’s challenges. These shows provide relaxation, emotional grounding, and a break from stress through nostalgia, laughter, and a feel-good atmosphere that young people seek. But, pairing them with other healthy coping strategies leads to a more balanced approach to stress.
“They serve more as a temporary emotional reset rather than a long-term solution. Ideally, they should be seen as one tool among many in a person’s coping toolbox, not the only one,” Manalo posited.
Even so, no one can deny the comfort and peace these shows offer. They are more than just entertainment, even after years passed—they are emotional anchors. They’re therapists, nostalgia, and friendship rolled into one familiar rerun.
Just like the ‘Friends’ theme song promises, “I‘ll be there for you (When the rain starts to pour), I’ll be there for you (Like I’ve been there before), I’ll be there for you, (‘Cause you’re there for me too),” comfort shows are always there you need them most, acting as loyal companions.
But more importantly, while comfort shows may be there for you, but learning to be there for yourself matters just as much.