JAG

1995 – 2004

Think back to the days before NCIS. NCIS began as a backdoor pilot from a season 8 episode of JAG. How crazy is it to think that all the NCIS spin-offs originally began with JAG? And yet JAG gets so little love.

As for JAG itself, it introduces Harmon Rabb, or Harm to his friends. Once a Naval Aviator, he suffered from night blindness and crashed a Tomcat at sea in the dark. After that, he went to Navy Law school to become a lawyer in the Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG). He still loves flying though, which causes some conflict over the course of the series. Complete with tragic backstory, Harm’s Father was also a Naval Aviator and was shot down on Christmas Eve 1969. The early seasons touch on whether or not his Father may actually still be alive.

JAG actually has a bit of a patchy backstory. The first season is completely different from seasons 2-10, but still worth the watch for later context (and, let’s face it: a young David James Elliot). You can start at Season 2 as long as you know why Harm is a lawyer and was a Naval Aviator at one point. The show goes to great lengths to remind you.

After season one the show faced low ratings, facing cancellation and was retooled and purchased by another network. Only then did it start to become a hit and remained a mainstay of the mid-90’s and early 2000’s.

From season 2, enter Marine Corps Commander Sarah “Mac” McKenzie. There’s the ship. It starts from the very first episode of Season Two and drags on interminably (both fun and cheesy at times and plays on the “idiots in love” trope) until season 10.

Why should JAG be a comfort watch? Well, most if it was set in the 90’s. It can be so very cheesy at times, especially in the earlier seasons but I have always enjoyed watching it.

It is more character-based than NCIS – though I do admit to not having watched all of NCIS or its various spin-offs. The supporting JAG actors have huge arcs of their own – Bud, Harriet, Admiral Chegwidden, the Gunny, even Tyner. Over the course of 10 seasons it is at times both tragic and funny.

Take it for what it is, a 90’s Bellisario production with some good stories, enjoy the eye-candy that is David James Elliot and let me know what you think.

It is not on any streaming service that is accessible in Australia, but search for it if you can. It really should be on Paramount Plus with the rest of NCIS but this is not the case in Australia – maybe it is in other countries, or maybe the rights to the first season make it difficult. There’s always a way!

Lucifer

2016-2021

Lucifer: A show about the devil doesn’t really sound like it would be a comfort watch, but if you’ve never seen this Fox created, cancelled and fan saved show bought by Netflix, you’re really missing something great.

Lucifer is difficult to explain. Yes, he really is the actual Devil.

It shouldn’t work. However as Lucifer sings himself: “Crime solving Devil; don’t overthink it.” There are a very small number of episodes that border on the absurd. But the supernatural elements are a framework for a love story – a truly great, star-crossed love story – as well as sibling struggles, found-family, and redemption.

If you’re worried about the Devil angle (I was a little, at first. I went to a Catholic school, it was engrained in me). But Tom Ellis plays it so well, he can be so vulnerable it hurts to watch, but kick-ass if he needs to be to protect his human friends. Lauren German’s acting is the great counterpoint to his character, she is the balm to his temper.

But it’s not just the Lucifer and Chloe show. The ensemble cast really shines.

This show probably needs a whole page to itself, which I will try to do in the future.

I know a lot of people who are religious and they love this show. 80 year old Grandmothers love this show. It’s not what you’re expecting from the title. Trust me. Try a few episodes. At least get through the first season and come back and tell me. It will become a comfort watch.

The first three seasons were produced by Fox, then cancelled even though it was gaining popularity (a tale of the ages, sigh). The fans were understandably devastated at the cancellation and with the help of the cast and writers, launched a “Save Lucifer” campaign. It worked and Netflix purchased the show. The first Netflix produced season is season four. But, start at season one, the beginning and enjoy the characters arcs.

Bonus: Tom Ellis sings quite a few times during the show’s run, including the famous musical episode. It was actually Ellis’ version of “Sinnerman” that first caught my attention and made me think we have something really special.

Cold Case 2003 – 2010

Reasons you should watch Cold Case 2002-2010

This series seems like a standard crime procedural and in some ways it is. But unlike other procedurals, Cold Case takes you back to the era of the case they’re investigating. Episodes from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s and in some cases even earlier.

The real beauty of this show and one of the reasons I find it so comforting to watch is that they use the music from the era, especially at the end of the episode. The series relied on particular tracks from across many decades. This is supposedly the reason Cold Case has at the time of writing, never had an official DVD release.

However – fear not, thanks to the magic of streaming, Cold Case is now available on Amazon Prime. From memory, the songs haven’t changed and thank goodness too – so much would have been lost from the context of the show. (I’m side-eyeing you, original Charmed – I guess the rights for streaming didn’t go so well. How can “How Soon is Now” be replaced as the theme song?).

But I digress..

Apparently at the time (or due to artistic licence) a female homicide detective in Philadelphia was unusual. Lily gets referred to as “Homicide Barbie.”

Also watch for the “No drugs today” episode/s, where the supporting Cold Case cops set themselves up in sun chairs on a street until they get the information they need to solve a cold case.

One stand-out episode is based around the audience interaction in public movie theatre viewings of the Rocky Horror movie that were very popular in the 70’s and 80’s (they can still be seen today in certain places) and actually guest stars Barry Bostwick, of the original Rocky Horror Picture Show movie.

Cold Case was a stand-out at the time and age has only improved it.