Cosy shows that aren't too cosy?

[Thematic]

I renovate houses for a living and spend a lot of time doing things like decorating. I like to binge watch box sets in the background whilst I work. I need shows that are easy to follow without always having to be looking at the screen so tend to enjoy things which are quite 'cosy' as they don't have too much action, and that are dialogue driven. I'm looking for my next watch. I've recently finished Last Tango in Halifax which I really enjoyed, and have been watching an old show, 2000 Acres of Sky, which I'm also quite liking. I quite like cosy shows with a little humour, like Detectorists and crime mysteries like The Chelsea Detective, Ludwig, Poirot, Slow Horses and Death in Paradise. I'm looking for some recommendations for more shows I might like. I like cosy but not TOO cosy - for instance I really didn't like Shakespeare and Hathaway or Agatha Raisin as they were a little too silly for me, and I'm not mad keen on what I think of as 'girly' stuff like Call the Midwife. I like a few lighter US detective shows like The Rookie and Magnum PI, and have a weak spot for naff old detective shows like Hart to Hart and Diagnosis Murder.

So hit me up with some more suggestions please. Older shows that can be binge watched would be good as I like to watch one show back to back till I've watched everything going - obscure is fine, but more than one series would be good. I have most of the streaming services.

Thanks!

Fair point there!
I wonder does it stand the test of time? Pretty sure I have the DVD somewhere, must dig it out.

Yes, I'm not sure. Did you watch the follow-up one they did about ten years later? I'm not sure how successful that was, but maybe the original would stand up to a rewatch as a period piece.

Has anyone suggested Schitt's Creek yet? I absolutely adored it and have watched it all twice, but you need a few episodes to get into it.

A Good Girls Guide to Murder - obviously about murder so not too cosy, but well worth a watch.

Just remembered Freaks and Geeks, the greatest tv series of all time. US high school comedy drama from 2000ish but set in 1979/80. So funny, and has so much heart without being cheesy at all. I adore every character.

It’s all on Prime.

Newsroom with Jeff Daniels on Now, gritty but if I remember correctly quite dialogue driven so would work for not 100% watching

Russian Doll which a PP mentioned earlier is brilliant but there is a lot of physical comedy (one of my all-time favourite scenes, I could watch it 10 times and still pmsl!)

I discovered this recently and loved it.
Other ideas
The Newsreader
House
Supernatural
Rosemary and Thyme
The Mallorca files

I don't know if these are available but other old USA crime series that may fit your bill
McMillan and Wife
The Rockford files
Murder 101
Starsky and Hutch
Cagney and Lacey
Kojak

They always put them straight back in again

Sally Wainwright who you know wrote Last Tango is currently filming something new she’s written so watch this space.

The Durrells is one of my favourite escapist series.

Also on ITVX, where it's free, although you have to put up with itv 's terrible user interface and ads. Fantastic series!

That's a relief to know.

The Mindy Project on Prime, laughed like a drain at that.