Everyone has their own way of coping with anxiety. For some, it is meditation, for others it is watching a good show. Or, not even a good show, it could be a terrible show but as long as it distracts you and makes you feel better for a while, then that is all that matters.
If you are someone, however, who needs to be completely engrossed in a great series to take your mind off your troubles then there are a few things to consider. You want a show that is realistic, but you don’t want your own problems played out on the screen in front of you. You want something a little funny, but still engaging, so it sucks you in and your mind doesn’t have time to wander. It sounds a bit like a unicorn, but there are plenty of shows that fit the bill.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is the latest offering from Gilmore Girls creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, and the winner of a whopping twenty Prime Time Emmy Awards. Set in 1958, the show follows Miriam "Midge" Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) a New York housewife who discovers she has a knack for stand-up comedy after her world is turned upside down when her husband suddenly announces that he is leaving her. Joined by her gruff manager Susie Myerson (Alex Borstein), Miriam makes it her mission to break into the male-dominated world of comedy.
In true Amy Sherman-Palladino style, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel moves at a mile a minute, if you look down at your phone or get distracted by negative thoughts for even a second you are bound to miss out on some whip-smart dialogue. It is also a visual delight, the scenery and costumes are beautiful, especially in the episodes that take place in the Catskills.
Better Things
When you are feeling anxious sometimes you just need a show where you know nothing intense is going to happen, in this case, Better Things is a perfect choice. It follows the day-to-day life of Sam Fox (Pamela Aldon), an actress trying to balance her career and life as a single mom. It is highly relatable though not in a way that makes you reflect on the life choices that cause you the anxiety that you are trying to escape from.
Better Things is deliberate and thoughtful in its detail, it's the little things that Sam and her daughters do that make the show feel so incredibly personal. One of the best examples of why this show is a must-watch for anyone who is struggling is in the episode "Steady Rain" when Sam's best friend Rich (Diedrich Bader) is heartbroken. Her twelve-year-old daughter Duke (Olivia Edward) puts her little hands on his face, looks into his eyes and says, "You’re going to get through this. Time is your friend. We are all here for you, and you'll find love again and if you put in the work now you’ll be better in the long run, and when you meet someone again they’ll be better for you because you’ll be better than too."
Mythic Quest
Mythic Quest is the Apple TV+ comedy series created by It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney and Megan Ganz. Starring Charlotte Nicdao, Danny Pudi, and Rob McElhenney, the series follows the creative team behind Mythic Quest, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). It is the perfect show for binging if you want to escape your own work-related anxieties.
Any high-achieving creative will see themselves in the characters leads, Poppy Li (Charlotte Nicdao) and Ian Grimm (Rob McElhenney) as they struggle to create the next chapter of their uber-successful game, a chapter that is even bigger and better than the one before. All-in-all, Mythic Quest is a relatable, intelligent, workplace comedy however, it is in the moments that Ian and Poppy let their guards down that the series really shines.
Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso is a Peabody Award-winning, feel-good comedy about a college football coach who moves to London to coach a soccer team. Having very little knowledge of soccer and zero experience playing or coaching it, Ted (Jason Sudeikis) and his assistant, Coach Beard's (Brendan Hunt) arrival at AFC Richmond is met with a mixed reception from players and fans.
If everyone had a Ted Lasso in their life, the world would be a better place. A man literally oozing with hope and optimism in a way that isn’t even the slightest bit annoying. His quirky words of wisdom and positive attitude inspire everyone around him to be the best version of themselves. This is the perfect show to watch when you need a pick-me-up, if you can suck up even an ounce of its goodness it is going to help. It’s not just Ted that makes this show so brilliant, everyone character brings something special to the table, whether it's Keeley (Juno Temple) the ex-model and influencer trying to start a new career, Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) the bad mouth team captain with the tough exterior that Ted is desperate to crack, Coach Beard the hopeless romantic, or the players themselves for whom football is life.
The Great British Bake Off
The Great British Bake Off is without question the most wholesome show on TV. Each series sees twelve bakers compete for the title of Britain's best amateur baker. It is pure joy in reality TV form, and there is no cattiness or dramatic storylines, it is simply twelve people taking some time out of their busy lives and work schedules to do what they really love...bake.
The show is hosted by comedians Matt Lucas who starred in Little Britain and Bridesmaids, and Noel Fielding from The IT Crowd. Part of what makes the show so wonderful is the fact that the bakers are always genuinely happy for each other when they succeed and unlike other cooking shows, the judges, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith (or Mary Berry in earlier seasons) are rooting for the contestants as much as the viewers are. Once you've binged all twelve seasons, if you are still in need of a dopamine boost there are also a range of specials to watch, including The Great Sport Relief Bake Off, The Great Comic Relief Bake Off, and The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off, just to name a few.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Michael Schur has produced some of the greatest shows of the last two decades including The Office, Parks and Recreation, Hacks and Master of None. While any of them would be a great choice to watch when you're feeling down, the Emmy Award-winning, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is always guaranteed to make you laugh.
Starring Andy Samberg, Terry Crews, and Chelsea Peretti, the series follows the shenanigans of the police officers of the NYPD's 99th Precinct. From misguided pranks to Halloween Heists, the gang is always up to something ridiculously funny. Though the team spend a lot of time making fun of each other, there is a lot of love between them all, making the show just as heartfelt as it is hilarious.
Schitt's Creek
Schitt’s Creek tells the story of the Rose family, millionaires who lose everything and have to start again in a small town. There are a lot of good reasons to watch this show when you feel anxious, firstly, it is a hilarious distraction, secondly, the relationships built throughout the show will warm your heart, and thirdly, it is a good reminder that even if things don’t go the way you planned, everything will still be ok in the end, in fact, they might be even better.
The cast of Schitt's Creek is something to behold, led by Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara, who’ve starred together in many a critically acclaimed comedy including Best In Show, it also stars newcomers Dan Levy and Annie Murphy who play David and Alexis Rose, the funniest siblings on TV. When you've finished binging the entire series before you start it again (and trust me you are going to want to start it again) do yourself a favor and watch the Netflix farewell special Best Wishes, Warmest Regards, the documentary is filled with behind the scenes footage and gives you a glimpse into the huge impact that the show has had on peoples lives around the world.
The Chef Show
If you've ever dreamed of buying a food truck with your best friend and traveling around the country, then this is the show for you. The Chef Show is inspired by the film, Chef, and follows actor, producer, director Jon Favreau, and his buddy renowned chef, Roy Choi as they cook their way around America. Meanwhile, they also visit some of the best restaurants in the country.
Watching the passion and genuine excitement that the pair have for food is inspiring and contagious, as is the affinity they have for their special guests that include David Chang, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Holland, Christina Tosi and Seth Rogen, just to name a few. Watching chefs like Roi Choi and Christina Tosi, cook when they are in the zone is relaxing as all get out, and by the time they are done, all you will be thinking about is food.
The Good Place
A show about the afterlife might not be the first thing that comes to mind when looking for something to watch to make you feel less anxious however, The Good Place is so much more than a comedy about where you go when you die. Starring an ensemble cast that features Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, D'Arcy Carden and Ted Danson, the show explores ethics and philosophy, ultimately asking, "what makes someone good or bad?" It is supremely intelligent while remaining light-hearted and funny.
The Good Place follows Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), a woman who wakes in the afterlife to find that she has been sent to 'The Good Place', quickly realizing that the life she led was not 'good' enough to secure a spot there, she scrambles to work out a way to stay, enlisting the help of ethics professor Chidi Anagonye (Harper). While it is a fun series and a great escape from reality, it is the character development throughout the series that will help elevate your anxiety, especially if you want to feel better about your own choices.
Making It
Fans of Parks and Recreation rejoice Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman aka Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson are reunited in the NBC crafting competition series, Making It. The reality series sees craftspeople from all over America compete for $100,000 and the title of "Master Maker".
It is soothing to watch the different Makers in their element, as they work away at their craft projects, and it is incredibly satisfying to see it all come together at the end. Similar to The Great British Bake Off, there are no dramatic take-downs or excessive competitiveness, the contestants are just all really happy to be there, as are the hosts and judges, Dayna Isom Johnson and Simon Doonan.