Comforting shows to binge on Netflix in these troubling times

With the rapidly spreading coronavirus forcing people to practice social distancing and in some cases, self-quarantine, we are all likely to have some leisure time on our hands as we stay at home in hopes of slowing the illness's spread. One of the best ways to pass the time now is to stream some good television shows. While Netflix's library is home to popular, contemporary comedies like The Big Bang Theory, Brooklyn Nine-Nine,The Good Place as well as classics like Friends,That 70s Show and Gilmore Girls that wrap us up in a nostalgia cocoon, there are several lesser-known feel-good shows that many may have missed out on.

Anne with an E

Schitt’s Creek

The sitcom, Schitt's Creek, has amassed a devoted following since it premiered in 2015. In the riches-to-rags story, the Rose family has to move to a tiny town of Schitt's Creek after losing their entire fortune. If you loved the eight-part book series, Anne of Green Gables, and the subsequent adaptations, you'll find Netflix's Anne with an E that much more entertaining. The titular orphaned character, Anne Shirley (Amybeth McNulty), is still mischievous as ever while coming into her own as a young woman. It's that same spunk and the family dynamic with her, Matthew (R H Thomson), and Marilla (Geraldine James) that'll make you want to watch this on repeat on bad days.

Kim’s convenience

Virgin River

Kim's Convenience is the kind of sitcom that will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling. The show follows a Canadian-Korean family that owns a convenience store (as the title would suggest). Expect idiosyncratic customers floating in and out of the store, funny and relatable intergenerational misunderstandings and a family you wish were real. Moreover, One Day at a Time is a throwback family sitcom filled with brilliant comedic performances. This clever remake of Norman Lear's '70s hit about a single mother raising two teenage daughters finds familiar laughs in the way generations clash and families wage war, but it's also socially engaged and leisurely paced in a way that makes it stand out.

Lastly, Netflix's Virgin River is comforting and a welcome respite. The story follows the protagonist, Mel, navigating the ins and outs of a town where everyone knows each other, and dealing with the old-fashioned views of Doc Mullins, both when it comes to medicine and gender roles.

These shows offer humour, heart and in some cases, just relaxation. Hopefully in these troubling days, they can provide you with some relief for a few hours.