Why Do We Rewatch Shows?
By Yamilet Chabla Urgiles ('25)
Photo courtesy of ThePrint
Rewatching old shows is comforting. Whether we rewatch old shows from when we were younger or shows we used to enjoy. We try to have the same feelings we used to have watching these shows, trying to feel the joy they used to bring us. I recently rewatched Gilmore Girls, a popular series from back in the early 2000s. I remember watching it when I was younger. It brought me a sense of nostalgia and comfort, and it’s almost like I grew up with the characters. But why did I, and so many others, do it?
During the pandemic, many people turned to rewatching old shows due to the stress they faced. It was like rewatching those shows again helped relieve some of that stress we had. Under that type of stress, we may often turn to those shows that we have seen before and that we love, instead of viewing new ones. That way we don’t need to think about the show too much, since we’ve already watched it before.
Watching new shows can involve learning new characters, making predictions for what might happen in the show, and experiencing new plot twists. But when rewatching old shows, there is no guesswork involved. We know the plot, the characters, and everything else about the show. Take, for instance, Gilmore Girls. I know what happens to Rory, and the story of the show. I know how it ends and expect the twists. There's no guessing, which takes off the pressure. There is also comfort in knowing that there aren't any surprises anymore, giving a sense of control.
I took to the hallways of NR to find out some of my classmates' favorite shows to rewatch and here's what I found out!
Photo courtesy of IMDb
Leslie Urena ('24) absolutely loves The Good Place! This show is directed by Michael Schur (famous for his writing and production involvement for The Office). The main cast includes Kristen Bell (Eleanor Shellstrop), William Jackson Harper (Chidi Anagonye), Jameela Jamil (Tahani Al-Jamil), Manny Jacinto (Jason Medoza), D'Arcy Carden (Janet), and Ted Danson (Michael). It's a comedic television series revolving around a woman named Eleanor who unexpectedly finds herself in the afterlife and tries to become a better person to stay in "The Good Place." Along the way, she meets other residents and learns about the nature of morality, ethics, and what it means to lead a good life...or so she thinks.
Leslie loves the fact that the "humor never gets old," and is "timeless." She also takes notice of the fact that the "philosophical themes are easily digestible" and understood among the watchers!
Photo courtesy of IMDb
Jesseny Perez ('23) finds Impractical Jokers the funniest show on Earth! The show is a hidden camera reality TV show, featuring four lifelong friends - Joe, Sal, Q, and Murr - who compete to embarrass each other in public by completing outrageous and humorous challenges. The challenges are assigned by the other members of the group, and the joker who loses the most challenges in an episode has to suffer a punishment.
Jess loves that any person would be able to "experience the most amount of laughs" in minutes! It's especially funny when "the jokers turn acts of embarrassment into peak comedy" moments. She even feels that it might be of consideration to try out one of their challenges to have a fun time with friends!
Photo courtesy of Nickelodeon
Kelly Barros ('23) loves to spend time rewatching Victorious! The Nickelodeon kid's show was directed by Dan Schneider (unfortunately) and was one of the most popular kids' shows of its time. While watching the series, everyone would wonder what it would be like to be in a school with crazy fun like the Hollywood Arts. The cast included Victoria Justice (Tori Vega), Elizabeth Gillies (Jade West), Ariana Grande (Cat Valentine), Avan Jogia (Beck Oliver), Daniella Monet (Trina Vega), Leon Thomas III (Andre Harris), and Matt Bennett (Robert Shapiro). The show is a sitcom following the life of Tori Vega, a teenage girl who attends a performing arts high school and dreams of becoming a singer. Throughout the series, Tori navigates the ups and downs of high school while making new friends and enemies along the way. The show features musical performances from the characters.
Kelly likes to rewatch this show because it brings back "childhood memories" of her watching it and she also enjoys the moments of laughter that hits her!
Photo courtesy of Collider
Last, but not least is Jane the Virgin, which Dylan Bulusan ('23) loves to rewatch, and can't seem to stop! The show's cast includes Gina Rodriguez (Jane Villanueva), Justin Baldoni (Rafael Solano), Yael Grobglas (Petra Solano), Andrea Navedo (Xiomara Villanueva), and Brett Dier (Michael Cordero Jr.). The show is a comedy-drama, following the life of Jane Villanueva, a devout Catholic woman who is accidentally inseminated with the sperm of her boss, Rafael Solano, during a routine gynecological checkup. The show explores the challenges that arise as a result of the unexpected pregnancy, including Jane's relationship with Rafael and her fiancé, Michael Cordero. The series is narrated by an unseen voice, which adds a unique element of humor and commentary.
Dylan enjoys rewatching the show because it's "thrilling" and also because he "doesn't like starting new shows" when he's busy multitasking while working on things like homework.
A few TV shows that come to mind and that are always worth rewatching in my opinion are Gilmore Girls, iCarly, Dawson's Creek, Friends, and Seinfeld!
What can be gathered is that the more we are exposed to something, the more we tend to like it later on. When something is easier to process, it gives us more positive emotions, which makes us like it more.
When we rewatch old shows (or movies), we know what’s going to happen, and our brains don’t have to work. We could also put old shows on as background noise when we are doing something, like taking a walk, because we don’t have to pay attention. It’s not bad to watch old shows. It may be different trying out other shows, but I know I can always revisit some of my favorite shows!
Cover photo courtesy of The Odyssey Online
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