Are you a fresher? Whether you’re missing home or simply need a comfort show to help you through feeling blue, the following list, tried and tested by contributors is sure to help you through tough times. They cater to every emotion you feel, as an incoming student. We’ve got movies and TV shows that are relatable, give you hope for the future with friends and shows that can help you escape your reality, therefore, providing you with the perfect distraction.
Film recommendations
My favourite comfort film has undoubtedly got to be Pride. When I’m feeling homesick, it is perfect as both a reminder of where I’ve come from and also to offer some hope of what’s yet to come. It’s partly set in Wales, so I take comfort in hearing the Welsh accents and seeing the familiar backdrops that remind me of home. Most importantly, however, I like the film as the main character, Joe, is very relatable. Pride follows the true story of the 1980s activist group ‘Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners’, and with the support of this group Joe discovers that he can move away from his family in order to do something life-changing, and is all the better for having made that choice. The cast is absolutely phenomenal, and Bill Nighy deserves a special mention for his heart-warming performance. This film will have you laughing and then crying – lots – and makes me take a step back and realise that the fears and worries I have, about university or otherwise, are so normal. There are so many people around you at university who are both in the same situation, and there to support you if you falter.
-Nia Hunt
When I think of something to watch for comfort, I mainly recall things from when I was younger. It’s familiar, straightforward, and makes me feel more at ease. It might sound silly, and please don’t judge me, but my recommendation is Shrek. If you’ve never watched the ‘fairytale’ films about the green ogre that lives in a swamp and meets a princess, then I don’t know what to tell you.
I’ve watched all four films more times than I can remember, and for good reason. The characters, parody, comedy, and basically everything about the film series is too good to just be for kids, especially now noticing some of the non-PG jokes as an adult. Honestly, any kind of animated film brings me comfort, including the Disney classics, Pixar collections, Dreamworks films- all of them. Who says animation is only for kids?
-Jasmine MK Alakija
When it comes to a comfort film, I look no further than Patch Adams. It is easily one of my favourite movies of all time, with one of my favourite actors, Robin Williams. This is why it always helps me no matter what mood I am in. The film is primarily a comedy but it does take you on an emotional rollercoaster along the way. This means that even if you are in a sad mood and need to cry as we all do sometimes, Patch Adams will make you laugh and feel better than you did at the beginning.
This film never fails to make me feel better which is why I would recommend it to others. The best part is, most of you reading this would have never heard of the movie. For me, Patch Adams is a perfect film and is guaranteed to make you smile, laugh, cry and feel inspired making it the ideal comfort movie for anyone.
-Connor Bragger
Bruce Almighty is one of the most versatile films which has ever been made. It is a comedy, starring Jim Carrey at his finest – body movements, overall charisma and light jokes, he can brighten even the grimmest day. The film has a very positive and uplifting message; Morgan Freeman teaches us that everyone is capable of mighty things, we just need to look inside and present who we truly are to the world. The plot follows a television reporter struggling to find fulfilment in his work, and while this may sound generic initially, it is very interesting to observe how both Bruce’s character and his attitude towards his divine power change over time. Another notable aspect is that the comedic elements in this film are often delivered via a visual medium, so the film can be enjoyed most when focused on fully, rather than being on as background noise. Bruce Almighty is light, old-school, and meaningful. There can’t be anything better if you are feeling down.
-Yaroslav Matveev
TV show recommendations
Orientation week can be quite an unnerving time, imagining yourself doing nothing but going into the SU, making a friend, getting their Instagram handles, and never actually chatting with them again. This endless cycle coupled with the unsettling realization that the time for you and your parents to part ways is nearing, makes you feel like you’re free-falling.
Being in the same situation just two years ago, I luckily found a safety net to catch me. The beloved TV show Friends had come to my rescue. Sitting in my room as I clicked on the first episode to rewatch the series, I realized I felt out of place just like Rachel. I didn’t have a job or family around and I had no idea what to do with myself. But as the show progressed, it gave me hope that exciting adventures with good company awaited me in the future.
While I started off watching the episode as a bundle of anxiousness, towards the end of it I understood, just like how Phoebe, Monica, Rachel, Joey, Chandler, and Ross found each other, I would find friends at university too. And they would be the family I choose. So, my advice to you as incoming freshers would be, as Monica said: ‘Welcome to the real world. It sucks. You’re going to love it.’
-Miette Dsouza
In terms of finding comfort and distraction on screen in my first few weeks of university, which current second years will agree were especially strange given the covid restrictions at the time, my go-to watch was the 2003 sitcom Arrested Development. Along with brilliant casting and hilarious writing, what made the show a comfort watch is how it is completely unrelatable, therefore making for great escapism. It follows the wealthy Bluth family, who often find themselves on the wrong side of the law in business. It is made up of nine central characters including Maeby (Alia Shawkat), the teenager who accidentally scams her way into a movie directing job, and Gob (pronounced Jobe and standing for George Oscar Bluth) (Will Arnett), a disgraced magician. The plotlines and concept of the show itself are so removed from most people’s reality, that the viewer can remain free of emotional investment, and find even the characters’ deepest struggles to seem lighthearted and funny.
-Chloe Aslett
I hadn’t even heard of Schitt’s Creek until one of my lecturers started using the TV show’s GIFs in her online lectures. When I finally gave in and watched the first episode, I instantly understood the hype surrounding it. The humour was simply unmatched and the level of domestic chaos was oddly similar to that of my own family back in Hong Kong.
Last year was my first time being away from home for 10 months straight. It was daunting and lonely at times, especially when I had no one to throw my sarcastic remarks to. Schitt’s Creek allowed me to vicariously experience the tough love of a hilariously witty family as they worked together to overcome the obstacles in their lives. Not only was the show heartwarming at times, but it was also very genuine at showing the relatable struggles of each character in their family dynamic.
Personally, I love the characters David and Alexis the most. As someone without siblings, their dysfunctional back-and-forth yet underlying love for one another is everything I would wish to have for myself. If you haven’t watched the show yet I would highly recommend it at a rating of 10/10.
-Monique Wong
My favourite series will always be Jane the Virgin. The plot follows Jane who becomes pregnant by being accidentally artificially inseminated, which is much more lighthearted than it sounds! The writing in this show is witty and clever, intertwining all of the plot lines which include a murder mystery. As a show inspired by Latin American telenovelas, it uses dramatic plot lines such as people coming back from the dead, evil twins, and identity swaps, all somehow fitting in alongside Jane’s pregnancy.
I love this series because it centres mainly around three Latina women in the US, with an emphasis on Latin American culture and discussion of topics like immigration and the experience of being a woman of colour.
The narrator of the show makes you feel as though you’re watching the show with a friend, which is what makes it so comforting. I love the relationships between all of the characters and the way I feel so invested in their lives. It is a show that, despite having 100 episodes, I love to go back to again and again.
-Imogen Bowlt
When I moved to university back in 2018, I experienced a mixture of emotions. I felt excited, nervous, and also homesick, which was something I naively did not expect. There was self-doubt too. I remember thinking, ‘can I do this?’ and ‘do these people actually like me?’ On these particularly down days, or if I fancied the occasional night to myself, I would watch How I Met Your Mother. I cannot even recall how many times I have watched the show, but still laugh at the jokes. This sense of familiarity brought a level of comfort to me. The university flashbacks and reminders that it is possible to stay in touch with university friends even when life gets in the way also helped me. Of course, it is entirely fictional, but it made me think that the late-night antics and rocking up to 9ams after clubbing until 6 am will give me stories to reminisce on with my university friends in years to come.
-Molly Powell