Why this summer TV trend is exactly what we need right now

If you're looking for a break from stress, trauma and chaos, you might not have found escape on TV in recent months.

While breaking news seems relentless in its tragedy and terror, many of the most popular and talked-about TV shows of 2026 so far have been dark and stormy in their own right.

HBO Max's "The Pitt," which just received 25 Emmy nominations, tells the story of an understaffed and overburdened emergency room where patients die all the time. "Game of Thrones" spinoff "House of the Dragon" on HBO is a story of a brutal civil war, not just within a country but within a family. Paramount+'s "Dutton Ranch" is an exercise in western-tinged soapy tension. Even reality TV hits like "Love Island USA" are not exactly "easy" watching, with constant contestant drama, fights and off-screen controversies.

So, for the segment of viewers looking for something a little more casual, a little more chill and a little more comforting (who are sick of re-watching old episodes of "The Office"), a slate of breezy TV shows have recently premiered, ready to offer escapism and relief from the high-paced, high-stress modern world.

Netflix brought back 1970s classic "Little House on the Prairie," a nostalgic family drama that reaches out to hug viewers with open arms and linen dresses. Peacock's "Five-Star Weekend" turns trauma into beautiful coastal views and pajama dance parties. HBO's "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" turns the war-torn world of "Thrones" into a quirky comedy.

There's also Apple TV's "Widow's Bay," which is like a light-hearted "Twin Peaks" on the East Coast, filled with quirky characters, light mysticism and smiles from a charming father figure. NBC's "The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins" turns the odd couple of Daniel Radcliffe and Tracy Morgan into light comedy gold. And Britbox's "The Other Bennet Sister" is a "Pride and Prejudice" spinoff with a heart so warm it can't help but brighten your mood.

These shows don't all look and feel the same, but they share the ability to make their audience feel good – whether through laughter, romance, mystery, light melodrama or beautiful scenery. They are not "feel-good TV" in the sense that they are cheesy, poorly-written or hacky. Instead, they represent a more hopeful point of view in a world and media culture obsessed with doom and gloom. And they might come at just the right time.

Exuberant celebrations for the 4th of July, America's 250th anniversary and the celebrity wedding of the century have come and gone. The weather is hot and muggy. The U.S. is out of the running for the World Cup. A food-borne illness is plaguing people across the country. Heck, on social media, we're pretending all the bad or silly facets of our lives are Netflix true-crime documentaries.

Some people may find comfort in intense dramas like "Dragon" or stressful "comedies" like FX/Hulu's "The Bear" – to which I say, more power to you. There have been times in my life when immersing myself in prestigious, dark, violent, heartbreaking and pulse-pounding stories has been its own form of escape – and even comfort – from the challenges of real life.

But one thing in particular shows like "House," "Five-Star" and "Bennet" have, which is hard to find in media at all these days (be it TV, movies, social media or music), is a slowness and patience.

Our lives are hyper-frenetic and overstimulating, as we scroll frenzied TikToks in doctors' waiting rooms, listen to alarmist podcasts as we walk and drive, attend loud sporting games and concerts, and interact with a world rushing us from one obligation to the next.

Cook your dinner, wash your dishes, do your laundry, scroll for an hour, optimize your sleep, shower, get ready, go to work, be productive, work out, socialize, do more and more and more. We are on a 21st-century hamster wheel of life that doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

But we can find slowness, and even stillness, in the art and entertainment we choose. No explosions or bloody battles make "Bennet" compelling − it is a quiet beauty that lets our senses relax, and hopefully our minds too.

There will always be a place for bombastic, somber and gripping TV. But I, for one, am grateful that Hollywood has also recognized the value in the other end of the sensory spectrum.

Sometimes, you just want to curl up on the prairie with a campfire, a harmonica and the quiet stillness of hopes and dreams for company.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why this summer TV trend is exactly what we need right now

Reporting by Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

This story was originally published July 12, 2026 at 9:01 AM.