A familiar 2000s favorite lands on Netflix
If you’re craving a breezy, nostalgia-soaked sitcom to unwind with, Netflix has added What I Like About You to its streaming lineup. The series, which first aired on The WB from 2002 to 2006, centers on two sisters navigating young adulthood in New York City. With Amanda Bynes in one of her most memorable television roles and Jennie Garth opposite her, the show delivers the exact kind of light, dependable comfort many viewers seek after a long day.
The premise: sisterhood at the center
What I Like About You opens with a simple, relatable setup: teenager Holly (Amanda Bynes) faces an impending move to Japan when her father’s career relocates the family. To avoid leaving her social life behind, Holly persuades her older sister Valerie (Jennie Garth) to let her move into Valerie’s New York apartment. The contrast between Holly’s impulsive, emotional energy and Valerie’s more controlled, Type A tendencies forms the series’ comedic and emotional backbone.
Each episode follows their day-to-day misadventures—romantic skirmishes, career blunders, and friendship drama—always circling back to the sisters’ bond. That recurring return to each other is what keeps the show grounded and feel-good, even when plots lean into the silly or over-the-top.
Cast chemistry and standout performances
Amanda Bynes brings the exuberant, occasionally chaotic energy of a younger sister to Holly, deftly moving between broad comic beats and moments of sincerity. Jennie Garth’s Valerie plays the foil: guarded, detail-oriented and often quietly exasperated, but deeply committed to her sister. Together their chemistry captures the familiar push-and-pull of sibling relationships—contentious one minute, supportive the next.
Supporting characters round out the ensemble:
- Wesley Jonathan plays Gary, Holly’s affable, good-natured best friend.
- Leslie Grossman appears as Lauren, Valerie’s work friend and sounding board.
The dynamic between the leads and their friends keeps the show lively and gives it the ensemble warmth common to classic sitcoms.
A comfort sitcom in 2000s form
What I Like About You wears its era on its sleeve: a multi-camera format filmed in front of a live audience, punchy sitcom timing, and storylines that favor feel-good resolutions over serialized complexity. It doesn’t aim to reinvent television; instead, it celebrates the conventions of the genre—laugh tracks, episodic plots, and a focus on relatable family and romantic mishaps.
That approach is part of the series’ appeal. Episodes are easy to drop into, and the rhythms of the show foster a communal, cozy viewing experience—the kind that evokes evenings when viewers tuned in together and shared the same jokes at the same time.
Why it still works now
There are a few reasons the show endures as a comfort binge:
- A central, emotionally honest relationship (sisterhood) that provides continuity across episodes.
- Amanda Bynes’ comedic instincts, which balance exuberance with moments of genuine feeling.
- A light, forgiving tone that’s ideal for low-stakes viewing—perfect when you want something entertaining but undemanding.
Fans of female-led, dialogue-driven series will likely appreciate the show’s blend of humor and warmth. If you enjoy the interpersonal focus of early-2000s comedies, this one fits neatly in that lane.
Quick facts
- Title: What I Like About You
- Original run: 2002–2006
- Network: The WB
- Rating: TV-PG (Comedy/Drama)
- Notable cast: Amanda Bynes (Holly), Jennie Garth (Valerie), Wesley Jonathan (Gary), Leslie Grossman (Lauren)
- Directors who worked on the series include Shelley Jensen, Steve Zuckerman, Gary Halvorson, Peter Marc Jacobson, Rich Correll, Sheldon Epps, Brian K. Roberts, Dan Cortese, Fred Savage, Mark Cendrowski, Peter Bonerz and Philip Charles MacKenzie.
Who should watch
Tune in if you want:
- A light-hearted, episodic sitcom to relax to.
- Nostalgia for 2000s television and Amanda Bynes’ early career work.
- A series centered on family dynamics—especially sisterly bonds—that’s equal parts comforting and funny.
With its approachable tone and amiable leads, What I Like About You remains a dependable pick for a comfort binge now that it’s available on Netflix.