Comfort viewing
Fudge brownies, hot chocolate, marshmallows, toasted cheese sandwiches ... comfort food.
Many of us also have comfort viewing - the film or television equivalent of comfort food. It's an old favourite that fills a need, warms us up, reminds us of all that is good about that series or film, and above all, makes us happy.
Often these favourite episodes are those which confirm a view that all can be right with the world, that love and friendship prevails, hatred can be conquered and it ends with a cheering shot of the cast signifying togetherness. Christmas specials are often favourites for that reason. Anyone for Christmas with the Vicar of Dibley? Or with Dr Mark Sloan from Diagnosis Murder? You can be guaranteed a warm and happy 'comforting' ending from these.
Comfort viewing with science fiction or fantasy series is, I believe, a much more individualised thing. For starters, there aren't necessarily episodes that in standard drama or comedy series would be marketed as heartwarming (eg holiday season episodes). Comic episodes that one person might like and watch again (Avatar 2.0 from SG-1) may be loathed by many yet seen as comfort viewing by others. (And those people won't admit it! Except for DH and me.) I think that some of the episodes that are deliberately set out to be humorous or heartwarming in s-f/fantasy series often have a large percentage of the cringe factor and I know that makes me automatically remove it from the 'comfort viewing' list.
Is it possible to be an active fan of a series or film and not have any comfort viewing episodes/sections? Does comfort viewing need to be a really happy episode or scenes?
Please share your 'comfort viewing' for your favourite series! Maybe there is someone else who has the same tastes as you!
Many of us also have comfort viewing - the film or television equivalent of comfort food. It's an old favourite that fills a need, warms us up, reminds us of all that is good about that series or film, and above all, makes us happy.
Often these favourite episodes are those which confirm a view that all can be right with the world, that love and friendship prevails, hatred can be conquered and it ends with a cheering shot of the cast signifying togetherness. Christmas specials are often favourites for that reason. Anyone for Christmas with the Vicar of Dibley? Or with Dr Mark Sloan from Diagnosis Murder? You can be guaranteed a warm and happy 'comforting' ending from these.
Comfort viewing with science fiction or fantasy series is, I believe, a much more individualised thing. For starters, there aren't necessarily episodes that in standard drama or comedy series would be marketed as heartwarming (eg holiday season episodes). Comic episodes that one person might like and watch again (Avatar 2.0 from SG-1) may be loathed by many yet seen as comfort viewing by others. (And those people won't admit it! Except for DH and me.) I think that some of the episodes that are deliberately set out to be humorous or heartwarming in s-f/fantasy series often have a large percentage of the cringe factor and I know that makes me automatically remove it from the 'comfort viewing' list.
Is it possible to be an active fan of a series or film and not have any comfort viewing episodes/sections? Does comfort viewing need to be a really happy episode or scenes?
Please share your 'comfort viewing' for your favourite series! Maybe there is someone else who has the same tastes as you!