Top 10 Most Rewatchable TV Shows That Never Get Old

Top 10 Most Rewatchable TV Shows That Never Get Old

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the live-action shows that we’re always down to revisit. For this list, no animated shows will be included.

#10: “The West Wing” (1999-2006)

Aaron Sorkin’s political drama sometimes feels like it fits more in the fantasy genre. The benevolent politicians at its center somehow always find a way to come together to do what’s best for the American people, despite what side of the aisle they’re on. Maybe that’s why fans keep coming back to it. There’s a maturity and dignity to the way politics works in the world of “The West Wing” that feels completely bizarre next to the real world. Despite its setting, it still finds time to invest in the characters’ relationships, letting them have fun and be human beings amid the important decisions they make on a daily basis.

#9: “Parks and Recreation” (2009-15)

Leslie Knope’s irrepressible optimism and dedication to the local Parks and Recreation Department could have grated on our nerves. Instead, it became exactly why we love going back to Pawnee, Indiana. There’s something for everyone here. If you can’t deal with too much optimism, you have Ron Swanson, the bacon loving libertarian, and April Ludgate, the dead-eyed cynic to balance the scales. But in the end, they’re all working toward the same goal. They may not always be the most competent, but they are always entertaining. The first season was a bit uneven, but rewatching any episode can make a bad day better.

#8: “Gilmore Girls” (2000-07)

When fall hits, some people run right for the horror movies. Some of us use it as an excuse to dip back into the small town comforts and pop culture-packed repartee of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. As clever as the dialogue is, the show itself is refreshingly innocent without being naive. Even when the Gilmores struggle with relationships, romantic or otherwise, there’s always the hope that things won’t get too heavy. From its autumnal opening titles to its unbreakable mother-daughter relationship, “Gilmore Girls” is as warm and hearty as a bowl of chicken noodle soup. It’s seven seasons of comfort food.

#7: “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (2013-21)

Cops living out their action hero fantasies shouldn’t be this charming, but there’s something comforting about “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” that makes fans want to relive it again and again. Despite being led by the strict Captain Holt, the officers of the 99th precinct are an unruly bunch. We watch them play at being cool, but they’re all as kooky as any sitcom ensemble. Whether you want to relive Peralta and Santiago figuring out how much they like each other or pay tribute to its late star, Andre Brougher, there’s no shortage of reasons to binge it again.

#6: “The Office” (2005-13)

Everyone at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company is bizarre. Even the ones who think they’re normal are lovably eccentric. This motley crew of misfits, misanthropes, and freaks just trying to get through their work day somehow becomes a family over the show’s nine seasons. What started out as an adaptation of a dark British sitcom with a hapless idiot at its center soon turned into something very, very different. Michael Scott is still a fool, but as “The Office” grew into a different kind of show, he turned into a fool with a lot more depth and warmth. If you’re not grabbing a tissue by the time you finish your second, third, or fourth watchthrough, you’re stronger than the rest of us.

#5: “Grey’s Anatomy” (2005-)

Powerhouse writer-creator Shonda Rhimes made her name with this long-running medical soap, whose sprawling cast, rich writing and acting, and over-the-top plot twists made it must-see TV. There are so many seasons that going back and tracing the relationships from the beginning can reveal insights even years afterward. “Grey’s Anatomy’s” rewatchability has a lot to do with its rich and complex characters. No one who was there from the beginning stays exactly the same person. It’s a rare show that lets its characters fundamentally transform over time. Like life, their relationships and experiences really change them.

#4: “Scrubs” (2001-10)

Taking the hospital setting and injecting it with comedy, this sitcom follows two best friends as they begin their careers at Sacred Heart Hospital. Equal parts surreal and broad in its humor, “Scrubs” won its following by offering a medical show with a relentless quirky cast of doctors. While the show is beloved for how funny it is, it also hits you with some really sad episodes that are just as rewarding to experience again. This show is so rewatchable, even the actors have gotten in on it. In 2020, co-stars and friends Zach Braff and Donald Faison began recording a “Scrubs” rewatch podcast.

#3: “Seinfeld” (1989-98)

Classic sitcoms usually don’t have much in the way of continuity anyway. For the four misanthropes of “Seinfeld,” there’s even less in the way of character development to follow. You can pick it up from any episode at any time, and you’ll find variations on the same theme: rude people being rude to other people. Crisp, observational humor, quotable dialogue, and the genuinely great performances of its four leading actors are what sets it apart. Jam-packed with awkward situations and quotable punchlines, it has nothing to teach you and no overarching message to impart. It’s just well-made, low-stakes viewing.

#2: “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)

Whether it’s monsters you crave or some ultra-90s vibes, the saga of Buffy Summers and her Scooby Gang is always ripe for rewatching. The flagship series of the Buffyverse isn’t just for horror and fantasy lovers. Yes, there’s vampires and demons and doomed romances. The great thing about “Buffy” is that themes of family, love, and death are given equal weight to the supernatural threats. There are battles that rival Hollywood blockbusters, and tragedies that’ll wring the tears right out of you. What makes it worth coming back to is the great talent involved, and the way the show makes you care for every single character.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Breaking Bad” (2008-13)
The AMC Drama Is So Good You Have to Watch It Again

“Supernatural” (2005-20)
Come for the Monster-of-the Week, Stay for the Winchester Brothers

“The Golden Girls” (1985-92)
The Ladies’ Humor & Attitudes Have Only Aged Up Since the 80s

“Schitt’s Creek” (2015-20)
Dan & Eugene Levy’s Family-Centered Sitcom Feels Like a Warm & Hilarious Hug

“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (1990-96)
Between the Laughs, There Were Also Moments of Timeless Social Commentary

#1: “Friends” (1994-2004)

Chandler, Joey, Monica, Phoebe, Rachel, and Ross don’t always navigate life in the most sensible way. You can stand back and laugh at them because there’s something endearing about how they fumble and stumble through young adulthood. We could talk all day about how funny “Friends” is, but that’s not what makes it rewatchable. It’s also awkward and aggravating and totally relatable. In that way, watching “Friends” is exactly like being in your 20s. Coming back to it is like reliving those years all over again, with time and distance offering a fresh perspective on some of the more questionable moments.

Which of these shows are you rewatching next? Tell us in the comments.