Like catching up with an old friend or, during a spontaneous deep clean of the entire house, stumbling upon a trinket that you thought you’d lost lifetimes ago, there’s such a sweet comfort in rewatching one of your favourite TV shows or films years later.
This past Christmas, my brother – the youngest of the three of us – gifted me nostalgia in the form of a 23-disc box set. Doctor Who, Series 1-4. Not unexpected, given his out-of-the-blue “btw do you guys like the 11th doctor? Or just 10?” text in our siblings' group chat in early December. For two nerds who spent their early teens charmed by David Tennant’s performance as the time-travelling spaceman, the answer from my sister and I was a no-brainer and an immediate “obviously, 10”.
Not long after gifts had been opened and Christmas dinner devoured, we three made plans to rewatch this beloved show from our childhoods together. My TV, my sister’s PS4, and my brother’s snacks all made their way to our parents’ room to take over the space. Three overgrown children squished together on the bed for a Christmas movie night, popcorn and drinks in hand.
Right away, my sister and I began our excited whisperings, pointing out foreshadowing and throwaway lines that would come back to haunt the characters, and practically cheering at iconic quotes. Thankfully, our brother is a patient man and paid no mind to our incessant yapping, instead focused on the story unfolding before him that he had been too young to understand the first time around.
Although I genuinely love exploring unfamiliar worlds in new stories, I can’t deny how thrilled I am when a loved one tells me “Oh, I’ve never seen that. Would you want to watch together?”.
And I’m hardly alone if all the nostalgia talk and endless reboot after remake after sequel is anything to go by.
But why is that? Why do we enjoy revisiting the stories – the “old friends” – we love so much, instead of just seeking out the new?
What is Nostalgia?
Nostalgia is a concept I’m sure you’re all too familiar with – the bittersweet ache of memory, the moment of melancholy, the wave of familiarity and ensuing mourning. Often paired with a wistful sigh, nostalgia is “a feeling of pleasure and also slight sadness when you think about things that happened in the past”.
When it comes to stories, one of the most entertaining aspects of rewatching a favourite show or film is the fun of noticing details that you missed the first time around. The foreshadowing and “how on earth did we not notice that?” hidden-in-plain-sight Easter eggs. With every revisit to a beloved “old friend”, there are new truths discovered and depths revealed. In a well-crafted piece, it’s a chance to find a greater appreciation for the artists and their artistry.
Research shows that we are comforted by familiarity and expectedness compared to the unpredictability and perceived risk of trying something new. This is also true for the stories we read and watch. How many times have you felt down and leaned on a romcom or classic for comfort? It’s comforting and familiar stories are far less cognitively demanding in times we already feel overwhelmed.
In a world of unpredictability, the predictability of our “old friends” can provide that much-needed sense of escaping and stability. Sometimes it helps to just have an episode of a show you’ve seen countless times playing in the background as you think and deal: a small consistency during moments of turbulence. Alongside escapism, in particularly high-stress times – like the first year of the pandemic – nostalgic thinking can promote optimism and act as a buffer for deteriorating mood.
Nostalgia as a Social Experience
We are all sentimental about something. Whether it be the “good ol’ days” or chocolates we had as children.
This missing what once was is a shared feeling allowing us to feel closer connected to those around us. In this way, nostalgia is a social experience and more than just a yearning but also a way to strengthen our sense of belonging, identity, and self-regard. This collective nostalgia is often utilised in politics, particularly in more conservative groups, in which the dissatisfaction with present-day events motivates a mission to turn nostalgia from just reminiscing into a world necessary to return to. In contrast, studies in the United States shortly after Donald Trump’s election into office found that “Obama nostalgia” predicted political engagement and voting intentions. Though nostalgia and how we engage with it can certainly be a form of avoidance, research also suggests that nostalgic thinking regulates avoidance and motivates action.
Of course, the world of politics is by no means the only way collective nostalgia is utilised...
Nostalgia as Marketing
In advertising, relatability and sentimentality are exploited. Our nostalgia is targeted as a marketing strategy every day – and sometimes, nostalgia for times we weren’t even alive for. And it works! People will heavily dispute the quality and necessity of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, but we all spent the money on cinema tickets and saw those films. Why? Because it’s Star Wars! Of course, you’re going to watch the ‘nth new show for the chance they’ll throw in a cameo or line about a character you’ve been attached to since you were a child. It’s a story you grew up with, that so many love, you’d be a fool to miss out on seeing something this important together, right?
As cynical as it sounds, targeting your love for the story and the childhood attached to it worked and the goal of the production was met: to make as much money off an established brand as possible. For better or for worse, trust that you and your grandkids will be seeing new Star Wars films and TV shows until the end of time. And what does this tell us, as audiences?
Nostalgia sells – originality just doesn’t.
Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule but generally, this seems to be the stance taken by production companies. Look, for example, at the rate of cancellations of new series over the years. Netflix is becoming increasingly known for how soon after a first season is released, they announce its cancellation. This isn’t an exaggeration and Netflix isn’t the sole culprit; just recently, Amazon Prime received criticism for its similar response to the series My Lady Jane, released on June 27th and cancelled just over a month later on August 16th.
More often, audiences are asking ‘What’s the point of starting something new if it’s going to get cancelled before I get a chance to even finish watching the 8 episodes they have out?’. Instead, we then turn to shows that concluded years ago and, conveniently, paying for licences to host these shows rather than paying for full original productions (except reality shows) is far more cost-effective for streaming services like Netflix and Prime.
And so, we end up trapped in a nostalgia-fed time loop.
Nostalgia and You
This doesn’t mean we should stop seeking new stories ourselves or that we should feel bad for nostalgic thinking or enjoying the latest remake reboot sequel. As with most things, there is nuance to the topic and no distinct right or wrong answer.
Revisiting “old friends” is also a chance to reflect on how we and the world have changed in the years since that first watch. However, in cases where that change may be upsetting or uncomfortable, studies have shown that nostalgic thinking can positively impact self-continuity, which in turn can promote "meaning in life" (i.e., that the events in one's past connect them to who they are today, providing coherence).
As we mature, our perspectives shift, as do our interpretations of the same story. To younger-you, what once was a simple comedy may now, to adult-you, reveal profound bittersweet insights into what it is to be human. Or perhaps a theme that went right over your head as a child now hits like a ton of bricks, leaving you an emotional wreck for hours after.
Revisiting “old friends” is more than a nostalgic trip down memory lane. It’s finding new appreciation for the craftsmanship, finding solace in familiar stories, connecting with loved ones, or reflecting on how you’ve changed. It’s a timeless joy.
So, the next time you find yourself in need of a pick-me-up, why not dust off that old box set and embark on a journey back to the stories and worlds that captured your heart years ago?