The winter season that drags on from December through February every year is filled with bitterly cold temperatures and freezing snow and ice. Since I don’t particularly enjoy this chilly season, finding joy and warmth remains a necessity, and multiple television shows are necessary winter watches to fulfill that desire.
My number one comfort watch in winter remains Anne With An E. This astounding show based on the novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery focuses on Anne Shirley-Cuthbert, an orphan who finds a home in a small town and parents in the elderly siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. This show features a snowy, winter environment in many of its episodes. I cannot watch these episodes without a strong sense of nostalgia and yearning for Christmas to be as magical and simple as it was in elementary school. For example, in one episode, Anne’s small school decides to put on a Christmas play, and she originally gets assigned a small role. However, at the last minute, Anne gets to perform one of the main roles, and Matthew has to reluctantly act in the play. Anne gets a chance to shine, and Matthew starts to heal from past childhood struggles. It’s incredibly wholesome and helps remind me of the joy of a simple winter night.
My second favorite winter comfort watch is The Great British Bake Off. This show features twelve enthusiastic British bakers who compete in creating warm baked goods; it provides a source of peace and warmth in a freezing season. From bread to the most complicated layered cake, bakers find companions in each other and deal with unforeseen challenges. The wholesome relationships between the contestants remind me of my own family and friends, and it helps me get into the winter spirit, as winter is my favorite season to spend time with family and friends.
My third favorite comfort watch in winter is The Office. While this show takes place across all four weather seasons, its winter episodes stand out the most. While many of the characters do not get along, the show’s winter episodes feature the employees bonding over small winter joys, in doing so, reminding me to celebrate the joy winter brings, such as snowball fights and ice skating. In addition, each season features an episode that revolves around the office’s winter party. These turbulent episodes remind me that while winter can be a chaotic and upsetting season at times, in the end, the joyful moments overpower the chaos.
Anne With An E, The Great British Bake Off, and The Office are the perfect winter comfort watches to provide a sense of warmth and nostalgia during a cold, snowy season.