Are you looking to be cheered up? Honestly, who isn’t?
We could all always use another reason to smile. Whether you’re feeling blue and want to be uplifted or you’re feeling great and just want to keep the good vibes rolling, these five Netflix shows are the perfect solution.
From heartwarming comedies to good-natured reality TV and awe-inspiring documentaries, there’s something that will make you happy on our October 2025 list of joyful Netflix series.
Check out the Watch With Us team’s top choices below.
‘Gilmore Girls’ (2000–2007)
It’s a law of nature: as the leaves start to turn, we start to hear those distinctive “La, la, las” that mean it’s time for a Gilmore Girls rewatch. There’s something so soothing about returning to the world of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, where mother-daughter duo Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) talk at a rapid pace about coffee and pop culture at Luke’s (Scott Patterson) Diner.
Whether they’re navigating Lorelai’s prickly relationship with her parents, Richard and Emily (Edward Herrmann and Kelly Bishop), or Rory’s tortured love life (Team Logan forever!), the stakes are low, the quips are clever and early 2000s fashion is… let’s call it eye-catching.
‘A Man on the Inside’ (2024–Present)
The Good Place creator Michael Schur joins forces with Ted Danson once again for this mystery sitcom about Charles, a retired engineer who takes a job assisting a private investigator when his daughter (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) encourages him to find something to do with his time. Instead of organizing paperwork, Charles ends up going undercover in a nursing home to recover a stolen necklace.
Warm and witty, A Man on the Inside is full of twists, but it still feels calm and sweet. The show is returning for a second season on November 20, so October is the perfect time to get to know the charming cast of characters, which includes Stephanie Beatriz and will feature Danson’s wife, Mary Steenburgen, in season 2.
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‘The Great British Baking Show’ (2010–Present)
It’s referred to as The Great British Bake Off or The Great British Baking Show, depending on your region, but one thing is universally agreed upon — the supportive, nonjudgmental vibes and the culinary artistry on this show are an absolute delight to watch.
Judges like Paul Hollywood, Mary Berry and Prue Leith lend their sweet expertise to these talented bakers, who assemble under a tent to create some truly mind-blowing confections.
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‘Is It Cake?’ (2022–Present)
Speaking of mind-blowing pastry creations, remember that weird internet trend when people were doing pranks with stuff that was actually made out of cake? Somehow, that became a TV show — and somehow, it’s really fun to watch. Saturday Night Live alum Mikey Day hosts this reality competition series, in which bakers are challenged to make everyday objects out of cake while guest judges determine which one is the real deal.
Judges have included fellow SNL stars like Ego Nwodim, as well as comedy favorites like Joel McHale and fitness influencer Ally Love. And the cakes can be anything from bowling balls to hamburgers to high-end sneakers. So … is it cake??
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‘Wild Babies’ (2022)
It’s hard to imagine a sentence that sells a show better than “It’s a bunch of baby animals,” but we’ll do our best. In Wild Babies, we follow young creatures, including dolphins, orangutans, pangolins, and many more, which are beautifully personified by the filmmakers. Narrated by the always charming Helena Bonham Carter with a certain cheeky flair, the eight-part docuseries takes the struggles of these animals seriously. After all, growing up is hard for every species.
When you consider the fact that we almost never worry about being devoured by predators, we humans actually have it pretty easy. Despite the many obstacles these adorable creatures face, it’s hard not to be delighted by these Wild Babies — in fact, we dare you to try.
