10 Best TV Shows To Turn Your Brain Off To

TV shows with complex and thought-provoking storylines are often held up as the best of the medium, but there’s something special about series that enable viewers to turn their brains off while they’re watching them. Prestige television like Breaking Bad and Succession requires audiences to pay attention to every little detail, as even the smallest one can come back later in the story — and it won’t necessarily be spelled out for viewers. And it’s no secret that fantasy and sci-fi series demand effort from the people watching them; there’s no other way they’d remember all the world-building elements.

It’s great to experience TV shows that force viewers to put work in, but simpler series are just as important to the television landscape. When audiences want to unwind in front of their televisions, it’s these shows they’ll turn to. Most of them still tackle important or serious subjects, but they do so in a way that’s easily digestible. This makes them great to watch and rewatch, even when viewers are tired or juggling multiple tasks at once.

10 Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)

7 Seasons & A Revival

Gilmore Girls is the ultimate comfort show, and it’s so easy to relax and turn one’s brain off when watching the characters of Stars Hollow — whether it’s for the first time or the 100th. The series has no shortage of clever one-liners or drama, but neither of these things require viewers’ undivided attention to work. Gilmore Girls is easy to throw on when you’re tired after a long day or in the middle of another task. The entertaining banter still lands, and it isn’t hard to keep up with the relationships that drive the series forward.

As long as viewers are familiar with Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, everything else falls into place, no matter what episode of Gilmore Girls someone is watching. Even Lorelai and Rory’s backstory comes up often enough that viewers can dive in anywhere. And although the beloved series raises fascinating questions about generational trauma and parenting, it never gets too dark or requires too much effort for viewers to follow. The world of Stars Hollow is comforting and delightful to immerse oneself in, making it the ideal show for someone hoping to unwind.

9 Parks & Recreation (2009-2015)

7 Seasons

Parks and Recreation is another TV show that elicits joy more than any other emotion, and its episodic storytelling ensures that viewers don’t need to watch too closely to follow the sitcom. There are overarching narratives when it comes to Leslie Knope’s career and the central relationships that form over Parks and Rec‘s seven seasons. This makes watching the series in order much more satisfying, but it doesn’t mean viewers can’t tune in and out while working through it.

It’s totally possible to turn one’s brain off when watching Parks and Rec, and the show’s lighthearted storylines actually make it easy to do so. The sitcom’s running gags and relationship payoffs are well worth picking up on, but they don’t require the level of attention that a series like Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones demands. Like Gilmore Girls, Parks and Recreation is a comfort show first and foremost. That’s precisely why it’s a top series to turn one’s brain off to.

8 New Girl (2011-2018)

7 Seasons

Comfort shows are the easiest ones to turn one’s brain off to, and New Girl is another great option for viewers looking to relax and keep things light. As with any sitcom, New Girl requires some knowledge of the characters and their circumstances to understand. However, once audiences are in the loop when it comes to the main characters’ relationships with one another, they can watch on autopilot and still get plenty of enjoyment out of the Fox comedy.

Everything from New Girl‘s impressive performances to its clever dialogue makes it easy to fall into, and its short runtimes make it less of a commitment than a comfort show like Gilmore Girls. The series boasts humor and plenty of heart, and it focuses on topics that are relatable and easy to understand. It doesn’t need overly complex storylines, and its simplicity is exactly what many viewers seek out after a long day.

7 The Office (2005-2013)

9 Seasons

If Parks and Recreation is ideal for winding down, the same is true of The Office. The other workplace comedy is also episodic in nature, and it boasts a cast that’s easy to recognize and follow. Additionally, it capitalizes on a brand of humor that doesn’t require much effort to understand. The Office is the perfect show for someone looking for a laugh, and its storylines hardly ever get too intricate or emotional.

Like Parks and Rec, there are some great moments between The Office‘s characters over its nine-season run. But those are built towards throughout the series, and even the least engaged viewer can keep up with them. There’s also plenty of clever commentary, but it’s relatable enough that viewers will easily grasp what’s being said. All of these things make The Office the perfect comfort show. There’s a reason the series has a reputation for being rewatched repeatedly.

6 Friends (1994-2004)

10 Seasons

Friends is the quintessential sitcom, and it aired at a time when viewers were catching random episodes of TV shows on Cable rather than binge-watching series from start to finish. For this reason, Friends keeps its premise incredibly simple, ensuring anyone can jump in at any point of the series. This was necessary at the time it came out, but it also proves useful today. There’s no easier series to wind down to, as Friends keeps its focus primarily on the same six characters and never gets too convoluted.

Friends’ best running gags and character arcs can be more easily enjoyed by an attentive watch from beginning to end. However, this certainly isn’t required to get enjoyment from the beloved sitcom. There are plenty of people who are well acquainted with Friends but haven’t seen every episode. The show isn’t hard to follow, even with such gaps. This is a large part of the reason viewers can turn their brains off to Friends, though the familiar and comforting relationships between characters also help in this regard.

5 Ginny & Georgia (2021-Present)

2 Seasons

Ginny & Georgia often gets compared to Gilmore Girls, with the caveat that its adult lead is a con artist and killer. This makes the Netflix series more fast-paced and exciting. But even with Georgia’s antics requiring more attention than a show like Gilmore Girls, it’s not hard to follow the drama that unfolds over Ginny & Georgia‘s first two seasons. The series is gripping enough to demand a person’s attention — even if they’re winding down or half-engaged — but still remains straightforward.

Despite tackling some serious and dark subjects, Ginny & Georgia still has many hallmarks of a standard comfort show. Even when it gets serious, the Netflix series often feels refreshing in its candor. Its honest approach to parent-child relationships and growing up makes it stand out. Given that most people can empathize with such challenges, Ginny & Georgia strikes a solid balance that makes it easy to fall into. Its lovable cast of characters also helps immerse viewers.

4 Abbott Elementary (2021-Present)

3 Seasons

Medical dramas and legal procedurals are series many viewers turn their brains off to, and the same can be done with Abbott Elementary. It uses a different profession to immerse viewers in its story, but one could argue that following teachers is even more relaxing than doctors or lawyers. After all, saving lives and convicting criminals is often darker and more dramatic than teaching. Abbott Elementary has all the strengths of episodic network shows, but its premise allows it to be more lighthearted and fun.

That’s not to say Abbott Elementary doesn’t deal with serious subjects, but it often does so in an endearing way. The passion of its main characters shines through, giving viewers hope and joy while watching the ABC show. Such positivity is often needed when viewers are unwinding, and it makes Abbott Elementary a perfect choice for such a scenario.

3 House (2004-2012)

8 Seasons

There are several great medical dramas that viewers can turn their brains off to, but House is undeniably the best of them. With a powerful lead, a compelling cast of characters, and humor that’s often difficult to pull off, House excels at sucking viewers into its world. As the series is episodic, it’s easy to leave on in the background or watch while feeling drained. And the diagnoses are often incredibly rare and outlined by Hugh Laurie’s lead as he’s solving the case. This makes even the most complex medical jargon simple enough to absorb.

In addition to delivering medical information in an easily digestible way, House strikes just the right balance when it comes to personal drama between its medical professionals. The friendships and relationships don’t take up a lot of the show, but they’re present enough to invest audiences in the characters’ lives. And the fact that there isn’t a ton to remember when it comes to every relationship makes these dynamics easier to follow as the series continues.

2 Scrubs (2001-2010)

9 Seasons

Perhaps humor makes medical dramas easier to unwind to, but Scrubs is another one that requires very little effort for viewers to enjoy. The nine-season sitcom is incredibly character-focused, even as it tackles various medical cases and larger themes surrounding the medical profession. The characters are what makes Scrubs so easy to immerse oneself in, though the show’s signature humor also does a solid job of selling it.

Like most medical shows, Scrubs is very episodic, and its shorter episodes make for an enjoyable and relaxing binge-watch. Even when Scrubs gets serious, it returns to its hopeful tone soon enough. The show’s lengthier storylines also give viewers a reason to keep hitting play, as it’s difficult to avoid getting invested in the romances and character struggles that unfold across seasons.

1 The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)

8 Seasons

Supernatural shows often demand viewers’ full attention, as they depend on complex magic systems and world-building details that audiences must remember. The Vampire Diaries stands out in this regard, as its fantasy elements feel easy to digest and follow over its eight-season run. The heart of the CW show is its characters and their relationships with one another. This means viewers won’t want to miss too many episodes of The Vampire Diaries, but it also makes the show feel more like a teen drama than a complex fantasy story.

This actually works in The Vampire Diaries’ favor, as all the drama is entertaining and easy to follow. It’s well-balanced with the overarching supernatural storylines, and even those never get so complex that they require too much energy to follow. Anyone looking for a fantasy series they can unwind to should consider this one. It’s another TV show that fans rewatch regularly, and it’s not hard to understand why.