The Best Series To Revisit

There’s no shortage of great television shows to binge, but some of the best series are even better the second time around. Whether it’s because they have hidden details or because they’re incredibly comforting, some titles are simply more rewatchable than others.

Not every TV show lends itself to a rewatch, but the ones that benefit from a second or third look tend to have lasting legacies. When audiences return to them, they form a deeper connection to their stories and characters. Oftentimes, this makes it more tempting to return to these titles again in the future, ensuring they remain compulsively rewatchable.

Gilmore Girls

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Gilmore Girls is a series that many fans revisit every year, and it never seems to get old — even if certain elements of the show don’t necessarily hold up today. Part of Gilmore Girls‘ appeal is its small-town setting, and Stars Hollow feels timeless in many ways. The comforting backdrop makes it a joy to revisit, but that’s not the only reason to return to it.

Gilmore Girls doesn’t rely on plot twists to tell its story, leaning into the relationships between its characters and snarky dialogue instead. Such things are just as enjoyable on a rewatch, and that’s precisely why many count the series among their favorite comfort shows. It’s a pleasure to return to the jokes and drama, even if viewers know they’re coming.

The Vampire Diaries

The Vampire Diaries is another frequently rewatched series, with viewers often picking it up in the fall. Like Gilmore Girls, The Vampire Diaries features many beloved characters and relationships, all of which make it easy to revisit. Additionally, the town of Mystic Falls is charming and atmospheric, so returning to the show feels like coming home.

While later seasons of The Vampire Diaries are hit or miss, the earlier ones are light and entertaining, making them perfect to binge over and over. The tensions between the main characters never get old, and despite many series having similarities, there’s nothing quite like it. Its nostalgia factor makes it even more tempting to return to.

Friends

Decades after being on the air, Friends remains one of the most influential sitcoms — and its rewatchability is at least partly responsible for that. There’s a reason people still pick up Friends, many of them doing so despite having seen it before. Though some storylines show their age, the concept of a tight-knit group grappling with adulthood together never gets stale.

And the fact that Friends’ core characters tend to overcome their obstacles makes the series comforting, as does the nostalgia surrounding it. As it aired before the streaming era, it’s also easy to jump in at almost any point of the show. All these things make Friends extremely rewatchable all these years later.

Schitt’s Creek

It feels as though Schitt’s Creek evolves into a totally different show from season 1 to season 6, and that’s exactly why it’s such a great series to rewatch. Revisiting the earlier outings of the sitcom drives home just how much the characters grow, making viewers appreciate their journeys even more.

The Rose family offers enough incentive to return to Schitt’s Creek, but the small town, accepting nature of the characters, and timeless humor also cement it as an incredible rewatch. It’s easy to see why this is a comfort series for many, and Schitt’s Creek does a better job of not aging itself than many other sitcoms.

The Office

The Office is one of the best workplace sitcoms of all time, and it holds a special place in many viewers’ hearts. Nostalgia ensures that The Office is among the most rewatchable TV shows out there, and it’s thanks to the series’ unique characters that audiences want to return to it so often.

The growth of The Office‘s characters makes it fun to return to the beginning of their stories, if only to see how they evolve — and how their relationships develop — from a new vantage point. The humor is also familiar, and the stakes are never too high, making this a pleasure to fall back into.

Parks And Recreation

Given its similarities to The Office, it should come as no surprise that Parks and Recreation also has incredible rewatch value. Similar to the other hit sitcom, Parks and Rec boasts lovable characters and a familiar and fun setting. Both make it the ideal series to return to, especially for fans who associate both with feelings of nostalgia.

Of course, Leslie Knope’s energy and optimism is also contagious, making the NBC series even more joyful to return to. Anyone looking for a show to cheer them up will find that in Parks and Rec, and it has the same effect on a second, third, or fourth viewing.

Scrubs

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There are a few medical shows that make for great rewatches, but Scrubs is probably the most enjoyable to revisit. One of the series’ greatest strengths is its ability to balance heavy emotional beats with lighthearted humor, and that’s the ideal type of story to immerse oneself in over and over.

The humor and big character moments make returning to Scrubs entertaining, but like many other series on this list, the show is also nostalgic and will take viewers back to a familiar setting and cast. Catching up with J.D. and Turk makes rewatching it worthwhile, and the series makes for great background noise if you’ve already seen it.

House

House is another incredible medical series to watch over and over, which might sound surprising, since viewers will know the outcome of the show’s mysterious medical cases the second time around. But the fact it’s still entertaining to revisit proves that House‘s appeal isn’t its medical storylines; it’s the characters and their day-to-day struggles.

Hugh Laurie’s lead is especially compelling, with his flawed and often outrageous behavior making for a great viewing experience, no matter how many times you’ve followed his journey. Knowing certain twists and how characters will evolve also puts a new lens on the earlier outings. Viewers may appreciate them more after diving back in.

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

’90s sitcoms are fun to revisit or even leave on in the background, but many of them aren’t as impressive now as they were three decades ago. Fortunately, that’s not the case for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air holds up extremely well, all things considered, and rewatching it is still a riotously good time.

It’s not just the humor, Will Smith’s charming lead, or the catchy theme song that make The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air so much fun to pick up again. The show gets refreshingly deep, tackling issues that are still relevant today, and its familial relationships are believable and comforting.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is another ’90s classic, and although some of its effects and narratives fall victim to the series’ aging, it’s still a pleasure to revisit, especially for longtime fans. The hit supernatural show is one that defines many viewers’ childhoods and teen years, so it has the necessary nostalgia factor for a rewatch.

The characters and their relationships also boast the familiarity of those in shows like The Vampire Diaries. Buffy benefits from a compelling lead with timeless values, and that ensures that watching Sarah Michelle Gellar navigate her journey never gets old.