12 Feel-Good TV Shows To Cozy Up With This January
Let’s face it, January can be a bit of a drag.
The holidays are over, it’s freezing outside, and we’re pretending it’ll be easy to stick to our New Year’s resolutions into February. But hey, that’s exactly why it’s the perfect time to wrap yourself in your favorite blanket and dive into some comfort TV. Here are twelve feel-good shows that will have you forgetting all about those winter blues.
Ted Lasso
Who knew an American football coach managing a British soccer team would become television’s ultimate comfort watch? Ted Lasso’s endless optimism, along with his inspirational quotes and speeches, can melt even the coldest cynicism. The Apple TV+ series tackles heavy topics, but it never loses its heart. And refreshingly, it proves that kindness isn’t a weakness. Sure, Ted’s mustache-adorned wisdom might seem cheesy at first, but give it two episodes. Before you know it, you’ll be making shortbread biscuits and believing you can achieve anything.
Schitt’s Creek
The Rose family’s journey from riches to rags shouldn’t be this heartwarming, but here we are. What starts as a fish-out-of-water comedy transforms into a beautiful story about family, love, and finding yourself in the most unexpected places. The character growth happens so naturally that it’s almost sneaky – one minute you’re laughing at Moira’s wigs, the next you’re crying at David’s happiness. And let’s be real, “Ew, David” never gets old.
Parks and Recreation
A mockumentary-style series like The Office, Parks and Recreation serves up optimistic government shenanigans and friendship goals. Leslie Knope’s unwavering dedication to making Pawnee a better place, while surrounded by the weirdest cast of characters ever assembled in local government, is both hilarious and wholesome. Between Ron Swanson’s meat-loving wisdom and Andy’s puppy-dog enthusiasm, the series shows us how to find laughter and joy in the most mundane moments.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Life gets messy when a 1950s housewife discovers she’s got a killer comedy set hidden behind her perfect facade. The show zips along with dialogue faster than a New York minute, while serving up gorgeous costumes and sharp wit in equal measure. Watching Midge navigate the comedy world while dealing with her traditional family feels both timeless and incredibly relevant.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Cool cool cool cool, no doubt no doubt – this precinct knows how to bring the laughs. The show manages to balance silly workplace humor with thoughtful takes on serious issues, never losing its charm along the way. Jake Peralta’s growth from immature detective to actual adult (while still keeping his Die Hard obsession) is tons of fun to watch. And Captain Holt’s deadpan delivery? Simply unmatched.
Heartstopper
Sometimes a show comes along that just feels like a warm hug, and this sweet coming-of-age story nails it. Based on Alice Oseman’s webcomic, the series captures all the butterfly moments of first love with remarkable authenticity. The friendship dynamics feel real and messy in the best way possible. And those little animated leaves and sparkles that pop up during romantic moments are absolutely adorable.
The Great British Bake Off
Drama? Sure. But it’s about whether someone’s cake will set in time, not manufactured reality show chaos. Watching talented home bakers support each other while creating incredible treats has become television’s coziest tradition. The show somehow manages to be competitive without losing its heart, proving that kindness makes the best entertainment. And yes, every viewer eventually starts speaking in British baking terms.
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist shows us what happens when a tech worker suddenly starts hearing people’s inner thoughts through musical numbers. The show balances its quirky premise with genuine emotion, tackling everything from family illness to workplace drama through creative musical numbers. The cast nails both the dramatic moments and the elaborate dance sequences. And somehow, the random musical outbursts start feeling completely natural.
Gilmore Girls
Welcome to Stars Hollow, where the coffee flows freely and everyone talks like they’ve had ten cups of it. This mother-daughter duo’s rapid-fire banter and pop culture references create a world that feels both cozy and razor-sharp. The town’s quirky residents become family over time, making every festival and town meeting feel like coming home. And that theme song is guaranteed to get stuck in your head.
Downton Abbey
Upstairs, downstairs, and all the drama in between, Downton Abbey elevates soap opera plots into an elegant British art form. The Crawley family and their servants navigate changing times with varying degrees of success, serving up both historical commentary and timeless relationship drama. Lady Violet’s one-liners alone make the show worth watching.
The Office
The Office defined workplace comedy for a generation (that’s what she said). Starting rough but finding its groove, the series captures the mundane absurdity of office life with hilarious accuracy. The love stories and friendships that develop over multiple seasons feel earned and real, even amid the chaos of Dwight’s hairbrain schemes. Somehow, paper sales have never been more entertaining.
Jane the Virgin
This telenovela-inspired series takes an outrageous premise and turns it into something magical. The show embraces its soap opera roots while adding layers of genuine emotion and self-aware humor that elevate it beyond its genre. The narrator becomes everyone’s favorite character, delivering commentary that’s both hilarious and heartfelt.
