The heyday of teen romance TV shows from the late 1990s to the early 2010s created some of the best and most influential adolescent series of all time. This was the period when teenagers and the pangs of adolescence were starting to be taken seriously by film and television, as young adults were proving themselves to be a vast and marketable audience base. While there are many other great shows about teenagers that feature love stories, not all of them share the specific tone and atmosphere that makes a teen romance TV show so unique.

There are plenty of toxic couples in teen dramas, as most of the relationships presented in these shows are far from perfect and often problematic. However, these are easy to spot looking back on these shows, and it's important to to take most storylines and romantic interests in teen dramas with a grain of salt. Using outlandish storylines and leaning into melodrama over realism are common features of the teen soap operas that are still so popular today. This makes them stand out from the other shows on TV and provides fun escapist fantasies for all viewers to enjoy.

10 The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022–Present)

Jenny Han's book trilogy has become an iconic part of 2020s teen TV

Amazon Prime's teen drama based on the hit book series by Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty, is a great example of how shows about adolescence have evolved over the past several years. Following the central love triangle between Belly (Lola Tung) and the brothers Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno), The Summer I Turned Pretty isn't afraid to put its characters in awkward situations. Though she's not always likable, Belly has captured the audience's hearts with her journey of self-discovery.

Though season 1 was stronger than 2, based on the books, the next story arc will see more drama and unbelievable heartache between Belly and the Fisher boys.

The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 delay will be worth the wait, as the next installment of Belly's story will have more episodes than the previous two seasons. Though season 1 was stronger than 2, based on the books, the next story arc will see more drama and unbelievable heartache between Belly and the Fisher boys. The series is a pure romance with an undercurrent of coming-of-age drama, making it feel just as intense and unforgettable as the first pangs of love do during the teenage years.

9 Teen Wolf (2011–2017)

The intense feelings of teenage years are enhanced by the supernatural elements of Teen Wolf

Tyler Posey and Dylan O'Brien are the best friends and heartthrobs of Teen Wolf Scott and Stiles. They get involved in a supernatural realm they didn't know existed when Scott is transformed into a werewolf and must deal with the pitfalls of high school while his life is upended. Though Scott is the protagonist of the series, the love story that's the easiest to root for is that between Stiles and Lydia (Holland Roden), who goes from seeing Stiles as a nobody to a friend to a caring and ive romantic interest.

It's common for teen dramas to weave in supernatural elements, and Teen Wolf strikes a good balance between the otherworldly aspects of the plot and the everyday difficulties of being a teenager. While vampires were all the rage during the late 2000s and early 2010s, the fact that Teen Wolf focused on werewolves set it apart from the many similar offerings on television. As Scott comes into his own as a werewolf, he struggles with balancing his loyalties to his friends and family with his duties as a protector.

8 Pretty Little Liars (2010–2017)

This mystery series kept audiences guessing until the very end

Full of mystery and crime drama elements, Pretty Little Liars is one of the most outlandish teen romance TV shows of the 21st century, but this is part of the fun of watching the series. Though the young women on the show were all preoccupied with discovering who A was and the constant blackmail they faced, their day-to-day lives frequently revolved around their love interests. One of the highlights of PLL is how it centered on LGBTQ+ love stories through Emily's (Shay Mitchell) arcs, which was a big deal in the early 2010s.

Despite being a show for teens, Pretty Little Liars puts its characters in intense and terrifying situations throughout the seasons and sees them forced to give up some of their biggest love interests. While many of the plot lines are so unreasonable, they border on impossible; there was never a dull moment throughout the run of Pretty Little Liars, and rooting for a favorite ship was one of the most compelling parts of the series. Even when they're playing an evil twin or being kidnapped, the main actors bring heart and maturity to the show.

7 One Tree Hill (2003-2012)

Even after high school, One Tree Hill provides the same level of drama

The early seasons of One Tree Hill are the best of the show, but that doesn't mean that the series stopped being compelling when the characters left high school. Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan Scott (Jame Lafferty) are the half-brothers at odds in One Tree Hill, with their personal lives and rivalries playing out on the basketball court. It doesn't take long for them to be at odds romantically as well when Nathan starts dating Haley (Bethany Joy Lenz), Lucas' best friend. Many of these complicated pairings arise on One Tree Hill.

Brooke soon turned out to be the most enduring character in the series, and watching her learn to love herself was one of the greatest arcs on the show.

Who Lucas should have ended up with was a hot debate during the heyday of One Tree Hill, as his relationships with Peyton (Hilarie Burton) and Brooke (Sophia Bush) made for a stellar love triangle. However, Brooke soon turned out to be the most enduring character in the series, and watching her learn to love herself was one of the greatest arcs on the show. Brooke's story, along with Haley and Nathan's strong relationship, helped keep One Tree Hill relevant in the later years.

6 Veronica Mars (2004–2019)

Veronica solves many mysteries but struggles to open her heart throughout the show

Kristen Bell leads Veronica Mars as the titular teen sleuth who puts Nancy Drew to shame with her expert investigative skills. A large thrust of the series is the central relationship between Veronica and Logan (Jason Dohring), who begin at odds, making for a fantastic enemies-to-lovers arc. The show takes their love story seriously, realistically chronicling the ups and downs of their lives as Veronica struggles to open up to Logan and he attempts to change and be a better person.

Unfortunately, when Veronica Mars returned for a reboot in 2019, it didn't capture the same magic as the original series since a large part of the draw was the missteps of young adulthood. As Veronica Mars progressed, it struggled to maintain the momentum and originality of season 1, but this doesn't mean it should be forgotten. Veronica Mars is as fresh, relevant, and poignant today as it was when it first premiered.

5 Dawson’s Creek (1998–2003)

Dawson and his friends navigate their coming-of-age in this seminal series

Dawson's Creek was a hallmark of teen TV during the transition from the '90s to the 2000s because of its controversial and subversive storylines. Critics and audiences alike were taken aback by how willing Dawson's Creek was to touch upon traditionally taboo subjects in a teen series. Even when Dawson's Creek introduced unrealistic storylines, it always treated the teen characters with respect and framed their lives and romances closer to those of adults.

Watching Pacey fall head-over-heels for Joey and witnessing them continually come back to each other is one of the best parts of the show.

Throughout the show, Dawson (James Van Der Beek) is desperate to be treated like a grownup, but he and his friends are just beginning to understand how they fit into the wider world. When the series starts, Dawson and Joey (Katie Holmes) seem like they'll be the series' central romance, but Joey's connection with Pacey (Joshua Jackson) proves to be much more compelling. Watching Pacey fall head-over-heels for Joey and witnessing them continually come back to each other is one of the best parts of the show.

4 My So-Called Life (1994–1995)

A short-lived teen drama series that changed the genre forever

My So-Called Life is one of the worst TV show cancelations after just one season, as the series had the potential to do so much more. Starring a young Claire Danes as Angela, the protagonist who's more self-aware and nuanced than most teens on television, the series follows her navigating the parts of adolescence that would normally be swept under the rug. In the mid-90s, most serious topics would be covered in a single episode of the season, but this wasn't the case with My So-Called Life. Every episode of the show saw Angela and her friends struggle to fit in and understand themselves.

The only reason My So-Called Life doesn't rank higher is because it never got the chance to fully develop over multiple seasons. Additionally, the show might revolve around Angela's obsession with Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto), but it's much more than a romance. Despite receiving enormous critical acclaim, My So-Called Life never got to come into its own and continue pushing boundaries. However, it paved the way for even more subversive teen dramas in the years to come.

3 Gossip Girl (2007–2012)

Backstabbing and betrayal are the beginnings of great romances in Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl begins as a reverse Cinderella story, with the young and unknown Dan (Penn Badgley) falling in love with well-connected it-girl Serena (Blake Lively). This leads to Dan entering a world unlike anything he's ever known, and the audience watches the characters fall in and out of love with each other as they climb the social ladder. While Dan and Serena have plenty of drama, Blair (Leighton Meester) and Chuck (Ed Westwick) provide the best will-they-won't-they dynamic.

Though Gossip Girl was rebooted in 2021, the contemporary series lacked the drama and, for lack of a better term, the messiness of the original series. The first Gossip Girl is unafraid to be just as scandalous as its characters, which makes for great drama. There's no question that the series sometimes went too far and strayed into problematic territory, but this was because Gossip Girl had fun with its characters and premise. The sexual content and inappropriate relationships made it the subject of heated debate throughout its run, but this has cemented its iconic status.

2 The O.C. (2003–2007)

Though the setting might be idyllic, the characters in The O.C. face many problems

It's impossible to forget the moment when Ryan (Ben McKenzie) first meets Marissa (Mischa Barton), and the events of The O.C. and their doomed romance are set in motion. Ryan is the perfect protagonist, as he's the audience's window into the lives of the elite and impossibly privileged residents of Newport Beach in the series. However, just because they're wealthy, that doesn't mean the characters are short on drama, as the tangled love lives and betrayals of the high schoolers and parents alike make for great television.

Though Ryan and Marissa were the most dramatic, Seth and Summer (Rachel Bilson) are the sleeper hit couple of the show.

The O.C. is one of Adam Brody's best TV shows, and his turn as Seth Cohen inspired a renaissance of the "nerd" archetype, cementing Brody as one of the early 2000s most synonymous heartthrobs. Though Ryan and Marissa were the most dramatic, Seth and Summer (Rachel Bilson) are the sleeper hit couple of the show. Their relationship grows into something stable, healthy, and worth rooting for. The same can't be said for many series like The O.C.

1 The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017)

An iconic supernatural romance for the ages

As one of the best vampire TV shows of all time, in addition to being an enduring romance series, The Vampire Diaries has something for everyone. Though the series begins with the love triangle of Elena (Nina Dobrev), Stefan (Paul Wesley), and Damon (Ian Somerhalder), it soon expands to include great romances for all the characters. From fan-favorite couples like Caroline (Candice King) and Klaus (Joesph Morgan) to later relationships like Bonnie (Kat Graham) and Enzo (Michael Malarkey), almost every romantic pairing was explored.

Like any good supernatural romance series, The Vampire Diaries makes the stakes as high as possible, putting the lives of the characters on the line many times to test how they feel about each other. The two spinoffs, The Originals and Legacies, expanded upon the lore and intrigue of the first show, but none could live up to the bar set by The Vampire Diaries. The lines between good and evil are blurred throughout the show, with characters constantly changing allegiances and romantic partners, making for enthralling drama.