Watching for Comfort: Movies (& Shows) I Come Back To Over and Over Again

If there's one thing about me that surely drives my husband crazy, it's my aversion to (added) anxiety that comes from watching a new movie or TV show. Add to this that he's a movie buff, and it truly must be a sore spot for our marriage. I'll put aside my (anxieties) once in a while and watch something new with him, but when I just can't be bothered, I will fall back on one of my go-tos.

There was a phrase that became popular a few years ago, perhaps during---and possibly because of---the pandemic: "comfort-watch". Your "comfort-watch" was the show you went back to because you already knew the plot, knew how it ended. Felt like the characters were friends instead of strangers you have to get to know. This feels like a very millennial thing; after all, we are the generation that grew up with anxiety riding in our sidecars, except no matter how sharp the turn, we're never able to (toss) it out.

My comfort-watches are typically romances, many are fantastical, but there are a few on this list that might surprise you.

50 First Dates

There's something about this movie. It might be that this was the first Adam Sandler movie I watched where I realized the values and lessons he is trying to impart with each story. It might be the absolutely beautiful chemistry between him and Drew Barrymore. It might be all of the emotions you absolutely can't avoid cycling through while watching (I still cry EVERY TIME). It's probably all of the above. I love this movie, and it will always be my favorite. When I'm sad, when I'm happy, when I want to zone out, when I want to remember what's good about life... I watch it. How much better can it get than watching Drew sing terribly while painting a huge floral mural? How much more beautiful can it get than a family so intent on keeping you happy that they put themselves through hell day in and day out to make sure you're mentally safe? A whole community comes together to keep you happy, to keep you uplifted? And LOVE, despite it all?? I'm already crying okay bye.

Virgin River

When I was a kid, the only TV we really watched was when we'd watch a show as a family. Namely, we watched Star Trek, and we watched Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. God I was obsessed with Dr. Quinn (it's so weird now to see Jane Seymour in all of these sexy cougar roles). When Virgin River came out, I understood it as a modern-day Dr. Quinn and probably because of that reference I had, I was immediately hooked. I know many people watch it for McDreamy (or McSteamy? IDK, clearly I didn't watch Gray's Anatomy), but I watched it for the medical drama and the gorgeous scenery, and now I turn it on as background sound when I'm working on a sewing project. I will admit, though, I wish Jack had that long, pioneer man hair like Dr. Quinn's love interest. I was a big fan.

Stardust

We'll save the NG conversation for another day... Stardust is one of my favorite movies of all time. I watched it on a plane to Bosnia when I was in college and bought a copy (blackmarket? who can tell?) of it on DVD while I was in Banja Luka. I loved Tristan. I loved the relationship he had with his father. I loved how ridiculous Humphrey was (and only found out like 20 years later that that's Henry Cavill...). I love the names of the sons and was OBSESSED with Mark Strong as Septimus. I love the witches, and I love how stubborn Yvain is. It's just... magical. I've seen this movie at least 20 times.

The Bodyguard

If this movie was on TV, I would stop flipping through channels and watch it. And actually, I've never watched this movie in its entirety from start to finish, because I've only ever watched it if I happened to pass it on TV. But I LOVE this movie. One of my favorite scenes is when Whitney Houston is running and Kevin Costner gets pissed at her for risking her life. UGH. Romance GOLD. I aspire to write relationships between characters that sizzle the way these two do in this movie.

Bridgerton

This morning I went to a new coffee shop. I asked the barista for a matcha, and then my eyes landed on their specialty menu: The Bridgerton: espresso latte with pistachio and rose. Well that was a no-brainer. It was delicious. It also had me hopping and dancing in the kitchen while chopping carrots (dangerous, do not try this at home) because I don't drink that much caffeine anymore, but I digress. I LOVE Bridgerton so much that husband and I have gone as Daphne and the Duke for Halloween, and I've had a Bridgerton themed tea party (which I may or may not repeat for my birthday this year...).

Do we have any comfort-watches in common?