You know, I got really tired of flipping channels or scrolling through streaming apps, only to land on something full of language I wouldn’t use myself, or scenes that just made me uncomfortable. It felt like finding something genuinely enjoyable and, well, clean was getting harder and harder. Especially when you just want to relax, maybe watch something with different family members visiting, without having to constantly be on edge about what’s coming next.
So, I decided I had to actually do something about it. Couldn’t just rely on luck anymore. My first step was pretty basic – just trying to use the search functions on the big streaming services. Typed in stuff like “family friendly” or “lighthearted.” Honestly? That was mostly a waste of time. The results were all over the place. Sometimes it pulled up kids’ cartoons, which wasn’t quite what I was after, or shows labelled “family” that still had stuff I wasn’t keen on.
Realized I needed a different tactic. Started searching online, looking for blogs or forums where people specifically talked about this problem. It took some digging. A lot of recommendation sites just list popular stuff, regardless of content. I had to find places where folks were really focused on shows without excessive swearing, gore, or sexual content. It was kind of like panning for gold – lots of dirt, but occasionally you find a nugget.
Then I thought, why not ask people I actually know? Started conversations with friends, family, coworkers. Asked them, “Hey, watched anything good lately that isn’t full of garbage?” Got some decent leads that way. People remembered older shows they liked, or maybe a specific newer one that surprised them by being decent.
Sorting Through the Suggestions
Okay, so now I had a growing list of potential shows. But a recommendation is just a starting point, right? I had to actually check them out. My process became pretty methodical. For each suggestion, I’d:
- Look it up: Read summaries, maybe check parent reviews if available (those can be helpful, sometimes).
- Watch the trailer: Gives you a quick feel for the tone.
- Sample an episode: This was the key. I’d watch maybe half an episode, sometimes a full one. You can usually tell pretty quickly if it fits what you’re looking for.
It was definitely trial and error. Some shows people called “clean” were just… boring. Others had maybe one bad scene or annoying character that ruined it for me. Tastes differ, obviously. What one person finds fine, another doesn’t. So, I really had to rely on my own judgment.
Building My Own Go-To List
Slowly but surely, I started finding shows that worked for me. It wasn’t about finding perfect shows, because few things are. It was about finding shows where the good far outweighed the bad, shows that felt more positive or at least didn’t rely on shock value.
What kind of stuff did I end up liking? Well, quite a mix, actually. Some older sitcoms held up surprisingly well. Found a few heartwarming dramas, the kind that focus on relationships and community. Even discovered some engaging nature documentaries and history programs that were just plain interesting without any added drama.
It took effort, for sure. You have to actively look and be willing to try things and discard them if they don’t fit. But honestly? It’s made watching TV way more relaxing. I don’t feel like I’m navigating a minefield anymore. When I sit down to watch something from my curated list, I know I can probably just enjoy it without unpleasant surprises. It’s about being intentional with my viewing time, and it feels much better.
