New Age Nostalgia
SENTIMENT
Beyond the 90s & Film Grain
WRITTEN BY
TEE BAKER
Blockbuster cinema. An endless scroll of streaming platforms. Short-form content. Long-form content. There’s more to watch than ever before, and yet we keep returning to what we’ve already seen.
Gone are the days of TV guides, of tuning in at seven to watch your favourite show. Gone are the slow-burning arcs, the will-they-won’t-theys, the fledgling romances and messy heartbreaks. Gone, too, is the sometimes politically incorrect but undeniably compelling storytelling of old TV.
In an age of hyperrealism and 4K perfection, it’s ironic that many of us are choosing to rewatch films and series in search of something old, and something true.
“That warm golden-hour glow, slightly blown out and grainy, has become shorthand for emotional storytelling, a nod to depth as we collectively pursue an aesthetic from a bygone era.”
The Colour of Memory
The quest for the “good old days” goes beyond leisurely watching — content creators are buying Fujifilms in droves. That warm golden-hour glow, slightly blown out and grainy, has become shorthand for emotional storytelling, a nod to depth as we collectively pursue an aesthetic from a bygone era.
Meanwhile, on our something-inch flat-screen TVs, we endlessly scroll before settling into now-crowned classics: Gilmore Girls, The Holiday (before cottagecore had a name), and Gillian Armstrong’s Little Women.
Comfort shows and rewatch culture are no longer niche. Clips resurface daily on social media, uniting fans across cultures and generations. But what is it we’re really seeking as we surf through what should be great content?
Something Old, Something True
The shows are new. The settings, global. The casts, inclusive. The scripts are algorithmically on point. But, with few notable exceptions, today’s stories often fall disappointingly flat. It’s almost as if, by ticking all the boxes, by being politically correct on paper (and screen), a story loses its soul. Where there’s an abundance of novelty, there’s a drought of essence.
Older stories offer something different. They allow us to connect with characters beyond any agenda. We’ve all been Andy on her first day at the big job, Amanda Woods eluded by love, and Jo Bennet, ambitious and defiant despite the odds.Comfort shows go beyond the surface level of aesthetics. They offer slowness. Space to grow into the narrative. Time for us to care.
“Where there’s an abundance of novelty, there’s a drought of essence.”
Beyond Aesthetics
Recreating vintage aesthetics — film grain, yellow subtitles and retro tones — is a symptom of our sensory longing. We crave those days of slower creation. We miss tuning in rather than streaming on demand. The ritual involved polishing DVD sets and rewinding video cassettes. The culture of true household cinema.
The saying “a lot is lost on screen” feels more relevant now than ever. Through the convenience of instant gratification, we have inconvenienced our storytelling spirit, and despite being shot in hyperrealistic 4K, our narratives have never felt more lifeless.
What may at first appear as surface-level nostalgia is actually a hunger for depth. For texture and atmosphere. For flawed characters, unresolved endings, and stories that stay with us long after the credits roll.
In the Steep
The next time you settle down to watch something, try doing it with more intention. Binge less. Watch with others more often. Talk about what you’ve seen, what you loved, what you hated, what could have been better.
And whether you’re rewatching a favourite or pressing play on something new, seek the stories that say ‘stay a while’ and feel like friends round the fireside.
Behind the Pour
Tee Baker is the Founder and Editor of Spill. A graduate of Falmouth University with a degree in screenwriting, she brings over eight years of professional experience crafting compelling narratives for clients across PR, social media, and digital storytelling. In 2020, Tee published her debut book, Bark & Ink. When she’s not writing, you’ll often find her exploring the outdoors on foot or horseback.