Why Do We Watch Shows About Work After Work?

• We watch shows for themes and characters that resonate emotionally, not setting
• Shows about work are really about relationships, power dynamics, and moral values
• In times of disruption, shows provide comfort, escapism, and reaffirm order and connections to characters can help us reflect on what we find meaningful in our lives

Going by ratings, Americans are obsessed with watching shows about work. Just as many return to the office, new hit shows, such as Succession, Severance, Industry, The Bear, Inventing Anna, and The Dropout, are all about navigating or being driven by professional success. When we were stuck at home, The Office was the most popular streamed TV. Why would we want to be on the job all day at home or in the office and come home and watch shows about work?

While it might seem that these shows share a common topic, the appeal of programming tends to reflect deeper themes. Shows like the Office, like Cheers and Friends, aren’t really about work. They are about relationships. Like all good comedies, they tackle real experiences with humor and warmth. The characters are quirky, funny, familiar, lovable for all their foibles, and reliably ‘in character.’ These shows are ways to restore feelings of comfort and “being around friends,”, especially during periods of social isolation…