Welcome to the Summer of the Rewatch
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A friendly PSA: the next life-changing show you have to put on your watchlist… is something you’ve already seen before. Maybe even more than once. That’s right—I’m about to indoctrinate you into the summer of the rewatch. With the SAG-AFTRA strike raging on, we've taken to revisiting old comforts. We're diving back into everything from an adult animated series about aliens and cults, a gritty dramedy about surviving childhood trauma, and a certain docuseries about a basketball GOAT.
Believe it or not, your brain will thank you for treading familiar ground. According to research in this area, rewatching shows gives us a sense of control over our daily lives. You already know how the show ends and what happens to its characters—you don’t need to fret about it. You can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. It’s like catching up with an old friend. Here's what Esquire editors are queuing up for the second (or eighth) time.—Sirena He
Mad Men
Some call Mad Men the origin of prestige television, the best modern drama of our times, and a shining example of flawless storytelling. Me? I call it a comfort show. Mad Men has the perfect qualities for a rewatch. It boasts rich characters with complex inner lives, a thoroughly faithful adaptation of the culture and aesthetics of the 1960s, and a workplace drama that reflects the societal conflicts of the time. Mad Men is a show about self-actualization, humanity’s search for meaning, or the cyclical nature of human desire. During a rewatch, maybe you’ll finally figure it out.—S.H.
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Law & Order: SVU
After 24 seasons (and counting!), Law & Order: SVU is not only one of the longest-running TV shows of all time—it’s even better on a second viewing. With decade-long syndication and stories with some of the most off-the-wall plot twists your mind could come up with, there’s no way you’ll remember every episode. Even after multiple rewatches, you’ll still find yourself shocked by an ugly reveal—or by a surprise guest star in one of their earliest roles. Everyone has had a cameo in Law & Order: SVU—Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Pedro Pascal, Sarah Hyland, Ludacris, Hilary Duff, Martin Short—the list goes on! Start your rewatch and see how many stars you can recognize.—S.H.
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Futurama
A show that’s more resilient than the American economy, Futurama has been canceled, turned over to different networks, cancelled again, and rebooted. No matter what iteration it takes on, the show manages to carry over its fun and quick-witted charisma along with its gang of lovable characters. I mean, who doesn’t quote Bender on a regular basis?—S.H.
Watch on Hulu Watch on Apple TV
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The original vampire heartthrob wasn’t Robert Pattinson’s Edward Cullen—it was Angel! He's the broody, centuries-old vampire whom our young vampire slayer, Buffy, pines after. Their love defined '90s TV. Watch all their trials and tribulations again as they try to save the little town of Sunnydale from the forces of evil. Get comfy as the show’s perpetual fall moodiness envelops you like a warm mug of pumpkin spiced chai.—S.H.
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Seinfeld
Even if we weren’t writing this list, I’m rewatching Seinfeld anyway. The reason “Modern-day Seinfeld” jokes are so funny? It's because of how timeless the show already was. Nowadays, every sitcom that isn't trying to be the new Friends is trying to be the new Seinfeld. Most of the time, I’d rather just rewatch Seinfeld.—Josh Rosenberg
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Yellowstone
Yellowstone may never return. Taylor Sheridan and Kevin Costner’s off-screen feud may have sent the series into oblivion—only to come back sometime in the future with Matthew McConaughey as the new lead. So, what better time than now to relive the good ol’ days on the Dutton Ranch? It may be all we ever get.—J.R.
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The Sopranos
The Sopranos is the best TV show humanity has ever seen—and it may very well just stay that way. Putting aside that commercial where Meadow drives an electric Chevy, the HBO series has remained a diamond in the rough. No character on TV has displayed anything near Tony Soprano’s charisma—even when he’s just walking down his long driveway in a bathrobe to pick up the morning paper.
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Grey’s Anatomy
Once a year, I find myself living in Shondaland. I’m a fan of every Shonda Rhimes show, but Grey’s Anatomy is my favorite of the bunch. The wildly-long series follows a group of medical interns who are training to become doctors. Along the way, they fall in love with each other, break up, and witness medical marvels—all while learning how to become better physicians and people. It’s a dramatic (and sometimes heartbreaking) series that’s ripe with nostalgia. Also, there are over 400 episodes to choose from. All you have to do is pick one, sit back, and enjoy.
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Superstore
I love a good sitcom, and Superstore is the best of the best. The show follows a team of employees working at Cloud 9, a megastore that resembles Walmart. Have you ever wondered what goes on in the break room while you’re wandering through the aisles of a store? How about after hours, when all the customers have gone home? Superstore takes those daydreams and turns them into a hilarious reality. Come for the feel-good teamwork, and stay for the inevitable hijinks.
Watch on Hulu Watch on Peacock
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The Last Dance
If I'm ever in need of instant motivation, I pick a random episode of The Last Dance and let it play in the background while I do chores. Find me washing dishes on a Friday night, mumbling to myself, If you don't wanna play that way, don't play that way. BREAK.—Brady Langmann
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