- Netflix offers a variety of comfort shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Great British Baking Show, Atypical, and Derry Girls that are perfect for background viewing.
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine features a diverse cast of characters in a feel-good cop comedy that is easy to jump into and enjoy on Netflix.
- The Great British Baking Show, Atypical, and Derry Girls are other light-hearted and easy-watching options on Netflix that cater to different tastes and preferences.
Whether you’re just trying to kill some time or you have some chores to get done, there is nothing worse than sitting around in silence. To me, having a little background noise can ease the pain of any mundane task. I particularly like to put something on that I can half pay attention to, which usually means opting for something light and easy.
Netflix has a ton of great options that you can stick on to keep the silence at bay, from hilarious episodic comedies to challenge-focused cooking shows. A lot of my go-to choices live on the platform, with the below being just a few that have joined my heavy rotation of comfort shows that I work through repeatedly throughout the year.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Cop comedy with a heart of gold
Brooklyn Nine-Nine centers around detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg), whose goofy exploits get him into all kinds of trouble. The 99th precinct is full of a diverse set of characters, from the strong and silent Captain Holt (Andre Braugher) to the somewhat OCD Detective Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero). It might center around cops and criminals, but Brooklyn Nine-Nineis one of the best feel-good shows out there.
You can currently watch seasons five to eight on Netflix, with the platform rotating newer seasons in and older seasons out. It isn’t difficult to get into, though, and is worth jumping into even if you haven’t watched the earlier seasons. Its slapstick comedy and fantastic one-liners make it perfect for playing in the background while you do other things.
The Great British Baking Show
Light-hearted and mouth-watering
I love having a good cooking show on in the background. They don’t demand a ton of my attention, and I can jump in and out of episodes without missing all that much. Who doesn’t love looking at mouth-watering treats and crazy challenges? In the genre of food-focused series, The Great British Baking Show,also known as The Great British Bake Off,is one of my favorites and a great comfort show.
Contestants might change, but loveable and iconic judges, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, and hilarious host Noel Fielding, make every episode feel homely. Each episode follows a specific theme, where contestants are made to demonstrate their skills by baking anything from hearty biscuits (the British kind) to delicate pâtisserie.
Atypical
Teenage life on the spectrum
One of the best kinds of shows to keep rolling while you get things done are family comedies. Watching people like you tackle normal everyday challenges, all with a good couple of laughs thrown in, can give you a warm fuzzy feeling like no other. Atypicalis a modern family dramedy that showcases just how hard it can be to be a teenager on the spectrum, and all the silly shenanigans that come along with growing up.
Atypicalfocuses on Sam (Keir Gilchrist), an 18-year-old on the autism spectrum, trying to navigate his senior year of high school and his ever-shifting family dynamics. It is easy watching, with a lot of heartfelt moments. While there is a decent overarching plot, it isn’t hard to follow, and I often jump in and out of the show while my wife binges it.
Derry Girls
Hilarious if you can follow the accent
Another show that perfectly captures how difficult it is to be a teenager is Derry Girls. It took me a long time to actually give it a shot, but it quickly joined the lineup of comfort shows that I watch on repeat. The only caveat is that the characters have a strong accent, which might be a little hard for some people to follow, but if that’s something you can get past, it is a great show that doesn’t demand your full attention.
Set in the midst of Northern Ireland during the early 90s, Derry Girlsfollows a tight-knit group of trouble-making friends trying to navigate the complexities of being a teenager as well as the tough political climate at the time. Every episode brings more fast-paced havoc, all underlined by a heartwarming friendship that endures through just about everything.
Netflix is loaded with easy-watching classics of all genres
There is a swath of content on Netflix that will keep you entertained, even if you just want something to make your house a little less quiet while you get on with your day. If you’re more of a movie person, you can load up something like JawsorKnocked Up.Or, if you want something that will keep your attention, check out the likes of Talamasca: The Secret OrderandRevival.
