Whether a teen drama focuses on the supernatural, romance, friendships, deep topics, or all of the above, it's no wonder that this TV genre is still beloved. The 1990s and 2000s were particularly amazing decades for TV shows about high schoolers, although there have been some great contenders in the past few years that examine the same themes of hope for the future and confusion about the present.
From some '90s series that still hold up to more recent fare that fans of the genre have enjoyed, these teen dramas are some of the most popular and fans are talking about them on Reddit.
Euphoria
When a teen drama fan asked if anyone has recommendations for similar shows, Euphoria (starring Zendaya). An absolute masterpiece, with a lot of complex teen characters that are well-fleshed out and have intriguing background/motives."
It's incredibly moving watching Rue leave rehab and do her best to live a drug-free life and deal with her addiction. Viewers also learn about the people in Rue's life, from Nate to Lexi. While the show is dark, it doesn't shy away from talking about important topics.
Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights, writing, "It was the best series I binged watched ever." Reddit wishediwasagiant added, "Matt might be one of my fav characters ever and no one comes close to Coach and Tami's relationship."
Friday Night Lights deals with serious issues and whether storylines revolve around football, family tension, dating problems, or questions about the future, viewers are always on the edge of their seats. The show's tone is often emotional, and even those who don't like sports can fall for the characters and become invested.
Ginny And Georgia
Ginny And Georgia, writing that it's "like pretty little liars meets euphoria meets mean girls."
Many TV fans loved binge-watching this Netflix teen drama when it came out at the beginning of 2021. While Ginny's complex relationship with her mom Ginny is the core storyline, especially as Ginny finds out that Georgia killed her most recent ex-husband, Ginny's new friends in Wellsbury make this a contemporary classic. Ginny and the MANG group have fun, party, and fight, and they belong in the same category as other beloved teen drama friend groups.
Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars because "It was clever and witty in a way that I don't often find on television shows lately, and it tackled a lot of serious issues with humor and heart."
There's something special about this story, and fans love watching Veronica's close relationship with her detective father Keith and her dramatic romances with Piz, Logan, and Duncan. Veronica is such a well-written character as she displays toughness and independence while being vulnerable.
My So-Called Life
Freaks and Geeks are both all-time classics that only lasted a season."
Although there are only 19 episodes of My So-Called Life, they tell the fascinating and compelling story of teenage girl Angela and her best friends, love interest Jordan, and her sweet but sometimes clueless parents who have their own struggles. Angela tries to find herself while she falls for Jordan, and she realizes that everything is more complicated than she realized, as Jordan isn't interested in commitment and her good friend Rayanne feels neglected by her single mother.
The 100
The 100, saying it's "the show you're looking for. I was hooked after the first ten minutes."
Fans love the couples on The 100, the science-fiction setting, and the main premise that survivors are now living on Earth again, trying to see if it's possible to live there again. The show definitely keeps viewers guessing and has plenty of unexpected and dramatic plotlines, with some juicy romance that is so beloved on teen dramas.
Dawson's Creek
In a Reddit thread about a teen drama that "captured the feeling of high school," Dawson's Creek, minus the vocabulary."
There are many reasons why this show will always endure, from Joey and Dawson's love story and eventual realization that they're platonic soulmates to Pacey's jokes. While the college years might not be quite as relatable as the first four seasons that focus on high school, all 6 seasons of Dawson's Creek are still worth watching today.
Degrassi
The Degrassi franchise will always be a beloved part of the teen drama genre, and it has definitely endured, from the original '80s series to Degrassi: The Next Generation and Netflix's Degrassi: Next Class.
One Tree Hill, Friday Night Lights, etc. I think this was the golden era of teen dramas." Degrassi's popularity can be attributed to how genuine the characters feel, as their storylines seem like they could actually happen and they're never too much or over-the-top.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
From the Buffy," adding that it has "typical teen drama aspects."
When it comes to a teen drama that focuses on how tough it is to be in high school along with creatures, vampires, and other strange happenings, this show can't be beat.
The Society
In a Reddit thread about teen drama series recommendations, The Society and Reddit Jess_U725 replied, "It was a great show, I still can’t believe we are never getting an ending!"
While it's sad that there's only one season of this popular series, these episodes stand out as they show how a group of teenagers handle the fact that all the adults in their town are suddenly gone. There's romance, friendships falling apart, and lots of conflict, making The Society just as good as other entries in the genre.