Help me find calming, comforting TV please!!

[VioletLemon]

Hi, I recently had a difficult MH setback and am finding it v hard to stop overthinking. I don't want to use the extra meds I have as its really strong and I tend to check out too much when taking it. TV has the same effect, can you help suggest anything?

I love period stuff like Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife and Yellowstones prequel (?). I also love fluffy bollocks (not literally) like MAFSUK and true crime. I feel I've over immersed in true crime seen them all I think and it's neither calming nor comforting.

I've watched and loved twee C5 creatures great and small, the crown, Strike, Gosford Park movie last night. Anything 1950s set reminds me of my Mum I suppose and it feels comforting but I will try anything. I just need a good story, can anyone suggest something good? I have all the subscriptions too. Any ideas at all would be really appreciated, thanks.

The dectectorists 100% fits the bill. Such a lovely calming show

Oh gosh yes, the Durrels! How could I forget that! That series was like a warm bowl of soup on a cold day.

Thanks for starting this thread OP. Loads of inspiration for the dark evening here.

Another vote for Gilmore Girls on Netflix although sometimes they do set my teeth on edge when they're twittering on and on. So depends on my mood. But the whole small town setting is cosy and comforting.

You beat me to it. I was going to recommend these 2 as my absolute favourites! I watched Schitt’s Creek last year and have started it again.

Just recently discovered Ghosts and I love it. It’s so funny. The episodes are short and it’s easy to watch a couple back to back.

Hope you feel better soon VioletLemon💐

My go to is old series of Beauty and the geek... esp the Aussie version .
Soothing on the mind lol

Where can you get the downtown movies?

Oh is it? Thank you so much 😊 i think I was mixing the titles up lol

Brideshead Revisited used to be my go-to comfort rewatch. Have you gone through all the old BBC box sets? North and South is really really good, Cranford, Wives and Daughters, Middlemarch, then more recently, the NEW Emma with Anya Taylor-Joy and Bill Nighy, the NEW Persuasion that everybody hated is actually lovely. I Capture The Castle is lovely (I will watch Bill Nighy in anything I love him so much). The new BBC Pursuit of Love (watching it this week with my kids, in fact, and it's lovely!) - I am completley in love with Lord Merlin.

Oh there are some really peaceful anime series you might like - Komi Can't Communicate, and My Happy Marriage are both on Netflix and very gentle. Anime fans might recommend more.

The Great is fantastic if you want glitzy period stuff (Catherine the Great - such a fun series.) I'm also watching The Empress on Netflix - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Empress_(TV_series) - it's good, quite slow moving? There's another series about her at the moment too, weirdly, but I can't find it on UK streaming - https://www.lionsgateplus.com/mx/en/series/sisi/season-1/66816

Gilmore Girls seems specifically designed for this eventuality though. And Schitt's Creek.

I know DA movie 1 is sometimes on either ITV1 or ITV3, haven’t seen DA movie 2 on tv yet but you could try Netflix or Prime maybe

Anne with an E is fantastic

Thanks

The Gilded Age for the Downton vibes l.

Thanks so much everyone, I really do appreciate the helpful pointers and taking the time to post. Excited about lots of great ideas to try and loads I've never heard of! I'll get scrolling this afternoon.

Endeavour is great. Hustle - if you can find it anywhere - is fun and comfy for a modern drama although not ultra modern as pre smartphone. Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill. Difficult to beat Downtown, I do like The Crown though.

Non drama - House of Games is very relaxing. Occasionally there’s a “Me, Me,Me!” type on, but they usually contrive to make a fool of themselves. Ronnie Ancona was hilariously irritating and the DC and I fell about on the sofa as she kept going on ‘Why didn’t I get a point for that?’

I'm on series 15 of Midsomer murders.
Watched Home Improvement 9 series
Now last man standing 9 series

Going to watch Hot in Cleveland next.

I like light stuff too

Films, but if you can get hold of them, Paddington and Paddington 2. I absolutely loved both. Not just for kids! I feel the same about the Toy Story films.

Heartland? There is about 17 odd seasons. Very wholesome

Winter Walks is fantastic slow TV. Just a person with a camera on a stick going for a walk somewhere beautiful and rambling. I particularly enjoyed Lemm Sisay, Rev Richard Coles, and Alastair Campbell.

I also find This Farming Life quite relaxing. We were watching that the other night because DH is too stressed to cope with anything too loud (there’s a lot going on for him at the moment).

I have just finished that, thought it was really good, I am waiting for season 17 now to be shown in the UK. Hopefully it will be next year

Grantchester is lovely and I like The Good Place too

2nd Downton film is on Now TV or Sky Cinema

I echo the suggestion of Gilmore girls. It took me a few episodes to adapt to the slightly cloying sweetness of it but then I loved it.

Slightly odd as it’sa children’s series but I enjoyed Hetty Feather (cbbc) for an easy watch when life was very challenging. There are loads of series of it.

In addition to these, if subtitles don’t bother you, I love watching slow paced French films. I like how they don’t feel the need for flashy over-exciting stuff and are like character studies. If this appeals let me know and I’ll come back with a list.

When stressed Designing Miami was good. Also the Glow Up series. Plenty of episodes and non stressful.
Selling Sunset got me through a lot two years ago.

When I need comfort I often mainline As Time Goes By with Judi Dench. Don’t know if it’s being broadcast anywhere at the moment as I have the DVDs, but perfect comfort and humour.

Websites Reelgood and Just Watch tell you where different things are screened, I just looked up As Time goes By and it's on ITV X Premium and Britbox