OH ALSO: Watch Bunheads. Again, you have to make it to the end of the first episode to really get into it. But SO many fun Gilmore Girls cameos and it gives true GG vibes (obviously since it’s an Amy Sherman Paladino show)
I definitely relate to this!! I cycle through the same set of shows often as well because so many shows are either too slow to get into or their ending just doesn't live up to the rest of the show.
I seem to have pretty similar taste in shows as what you've listed, so here are a few that I have loved (and several that I have returned to over and over)! Abbott Elementary (so so good!), Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Superstore, The Bear, How I Met Your Mother, The Good Place, The Residence, Heartstopper. Some of these are shorter (just 1-3 seasons), but some have several seasons that still seem to (mostly) hold up!
Oh my gosh, I adored The Good Place! I totally forgot that was another show I made it through after the disastrous GOT finale (guess I'll need to update my post now!). And I love love love Heartstopper! That one I felt confident going into since I read and loved the graphic novels. So excited to see how it wraps up with the movie!
I get your struggle! I’ve wanted to watch a lot of the “prestige TV” from the early 2000s, and it’s a commitment and sometimes takes a season or more to really get into it. But I will say Breaking Bad (and its prequel, Better Call Saul) are two of my all-time fav shows, which I do think hit the ground running right from the pilot 🙈
It’s been a long time since I’ve tried Breaking Bad. I don’t think I was into that type of show at the time but have definitely come around since so I may give it another try!
I watch a lot of similar shows and Only Murders in the Building is worth it! Selena Gomez is a…slightly annoying actor with the monotone delivery, I agree, but I think it manages to balance the show with the flamboyance of the Martins.
No please I’m BEGGING YOU to give one tree hill another chance. You have to push through the first half of a season, but I PROMISE, promise it gets so good. The pilot is so slow and boring and so are a handful of the first few episodes but then the love triangles start, the angst is angsty, the drama starts getting wild. I had a hard time getting into it at first, it took me a few weeks to watch the first few episodes; and then I spent my entire Christmas break watching it from the time I woke up until the time I went to bed. Like 15 solid hours of OTH. Justice for OTH!!!
(Also the creator thing is a disappointment, but the girls have made a rewatch podcast and have truly taken back their power from him and it’s a fascinating look into how culture has changed surrounding sexual harassment since the 2000s. Plus Dan in the show in real life (Paul) was the girls’ protecter behind the scenes which once you see Dans character it makes it even more interesting.
Relatable: Gilmore Girls is an all-time comfort show for me (sidebar: just wrote a little piece with my seasons power rankings on that! https://wordvomdotcom.substack.com/p/power-rankings-gilmore-girls?r=18ply), and when all else fails and I feel overwhelmed with options, I return to that over and over.
But, I also watch a lot of new TV too, including quite a few of the shows you listed in your consideration set, so thought I'd lend my POV:
The Pitt: Excellent. Would not recommend if you're going for cozy vibes, but the special effects and realism in the show are impressive, and we get character depth built in the 15 episodes even though we only see them during one shift inside the hospital the whole time!
The Bear: Extremely stressful to watch but very good! The first episode is very chaotic feeling, even in the way they film it so be warned.
Severance: Very cerebral. If you like puzzles and theories, you'll like this show. I watched the seasons as they aired, and there was so much time between one and two that I forgot stuff and missed a lot of the references.
Only Murders: I think the first season felt very novel and fun and successful. The subsequent seasons haven't held up as well imo and it took be a long time to finish the latest season.
Abbott: Based on loving Parks and The Good Place, I think you would very much like this show. It's a delight!
Etoile: I watched the first episode only. Not sure I'm going to go any farther... shmoops.
I second the other comment that mentioned Brooklyn 99 and Superstore too! I would also suggest The Residence on Netflix — a fun whodunnit with only one season so far. Happy viewing!
Larisa you KNOW I have too many TV shows to recommend to you -- but if you haven't already (can't remember if you mentioned in a previous podcast episode that you already started it or not), Abbott Elementary is the way to go. Episodes are short enough to not require a huge commitment, but deliver amazing storyline arcs in that short time period that always make you laugh or cry or both. Plus it's got SO MUCH HEART. Never has a show had so much heart before, seriously. And it's never depressing, which is what we all need right now.
That said, if you also end up having enough time and attention to add another into the mix, Only Murders is just so so good for many of the same reasons, in a totally different package.
Hope you find something that hooks you and that you love!
I’m the same way. There are too many options and it overwhelms me. Would recommend severance. It’s thought provoking and well written. Definitely watch that, if you have someone to watch it with, watch it with them. :)
OH ALSO: Watch Bunheads. Again, you have to make it to the end of the first episode to really get into it. But SO many fun Gilmore Girls cameos and it gives true GG vibes (obviously since it’s an Amy Sherman Paladino show)
I’ve watched that one! It wasn’t my fave but it was very cute! ☺️
I definitely relate to this!! I cycle through the same set of shows often as well because so many shows are either too slow to get into or their ending just doesn't live up to the rest of the show.
I seem to have pretty similar taste in shows as what you've listed, so here are a few that I have loved (and several that I have returned to over and over)! Abbott Elementary (so so good!), Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Superstore, The Bear, How I Met Your Mother, The Good Place, The Residence, Heartstopper. Some of these are shorter (just 1-3 seasons), but some have several seasons that still seem to (mostly) hold up!
Oh my gosh, I adored The Good Place! I totally forgot that was another show I made it through after the disastrous GOT finale (guess I'll need to update my post now!). And I love love love Heartstopper! That one I felt confident going into since I read and loved the graphic novels. So excited to see how it wraps up with the movie!
You've given me confidence for Abbott Elementary!
I get your struggle! I’ve wanted to watch a lot of the “prestige TV” from the early 2000s, and it’s a commitment and sometimes takes a season or more to really get into it. But I will say Breaking Bad (and its prequel, Better Call Saul) are two of my all-time fav shows, which I do think hit the ground running right from the pilot 🙈
It’s been a long time since I’ve tried Breaking Bad. I don’t think I was into that type of show at the time but have definitely come around since so I may give it another try!
I watch a lot of similar shows and Only Murders in the Building is worth it! Selena Gomez is a…slightly annoying actor with the monotone delivery, I agree, but I think it manages to balance the show with the flamboyance of the Martins.
They’re really why I want to watch it!
No please I’m BEGGING YOU to give one tree hill another chance. You have to push through the first half of a season, but I PROMISE, promise it gets so good. The pilot is so slow and boring and so are a handful of the first few episodes but then the love triangles start, the angst is angsty, the drama starts getting wild. I had a hard time getting into it at first, it took me a few weeks to watch the first few episodes; and then I spent my entire Christmas break watching it from the time I woke up until the time I went to bed. Like 15 solid hours of OTH. Justice for OTH!!!
(Also the creator thing is a disappointment, but the girls have made a rewatch podcast and have truly taken back their power from him and it’s a fascinating look into how culture has changed surrounding sexual harassment since the 2000s. Plus Dan in the show in real life (Paul) was the girls’ protecter behind the scenes which once you see Dans character it makes it even more interesting.
Anyways, please watch. 😭
Oh that’s all really good to know! Maybe I’ll give it a second chance.
Relatable: Gilmore Girls is an all-time comfort show for me (sidebar: just wrote a little piece with my seasons power rankings on that! https://wordvomdotcom.substack.com/p/power-rankings-gilmore-girls?r=18ply), and when all else fails and I feel overwhelmed with options, I return to that over and over.
But, I also watch a lot of new TV too, including quite a few of the shows you listed in your consideration set, so thought I'd lend my POV:
The Pitt: Excellent. Would not recommend if you're going for cozy vibes, but the special effects and realism in the show are impressive, and we get character depth built in the 15 episodes even though we only see them during one shift inside the hospital the whole time!
The Bear: Extremely stressful to watch but very good! The first episode is very chaotic feeling, even in the way they film it so be warned.
Severance: Very cerebral. If you like puzzles and theories, you'll like this show. I watched the seasons as they aired, and there was so much time between one and two that I forgot stuff and missed a lot of the references.
Only Murders: I think the first season felt very novel and fun and successful. The subsequent seasons haven't held up as well imo and it took be a long time to finish the latest season.
Abbott: Based on loving Parks and The Good Place, I think you would very much like this show. It's a delight!
Etoile: I watched the first episode only. Not sure I'm going to go any farther... shmoops.
I second the other comment that mentioned Brooklyn 99 and Superstore too! I would also suggest The Residence on Netflix — a fun whodunnit with only one season so far. Happy viewing!
Thank you for all the insight! I will definitely check out your Gilmore Girls rankings! And The Residence is Shonda’s new show, right? I may try it!!
Yes, The Residence is from Shondaland!
Etoile is only 8 episodes (so far) so finishing it is pretty achievable! Plus I need people to discuss it with me.
That definitely seems manageable!
Larisa you KNOW I have too many TV shows to recommend to you -- but if you haven't already (can't remember if you mentioned in a previous podcast episode that you already started it or not), Abbott Elementary is the way to go. Episodes are short enough to not require a huge commitment, but deliver amazing storyline arcs in that short time period that always make you laugh or cry or both. Plus it's got SO MUCH HEART. Never has a show had so much heart before, seriously. And it's never depressing, which is what we all need right now.
That said, if you also end up having enough time and attention to add another into the mix, Only Murders is just so so good for many of the same reasons, in a totally different package.
Hope you find something that hooks you and that you love!
I’m the same way. There are too many options and it overwhelms me. Would recommend severance. It’s thought provoking and well written. Definitely watch that, if you have someone to watch it with, watch it with them. :)