Do you have a favorite teen TV series, and how regularly do you follow it? We're not teenagers anymore, but we remember those feelings, including excitement, desperation, and pure joy, while watching a show. Through the events in it, we learn a lot about ourselves and the world. Here's our take on the top ten TV shows every teenager should watch. Also, you can always check out our Top 10 Best Original Netflix Shows You Should Watch.
10. Riverdale
What dark secrets are the residents of Riverdale hiding?
Let's start with everyone's obsession for years, The CW's teen drama, Riverdale. The story follows high school students trying to figure out how their classmate lost his life. While on the road to discovery, they encounter dark secrets about their hometown and its people.
In fact, the TV show is based on the Archie comic books series and represents a true teenage drama. We also have some of our favorite stars here, including KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, and Cole Sprouse. If you're interested in all the secrets hidden behind people's perfect images, you must watch it!
9. Smallville
Watch the young life of Clark Kent
This show started airing in 2001 when the WB introduced us to the young life of Clark Kent. Tom Welling portrays the main character, Superman, before he actually becomes who he is. As you probably know, the main setting is a fictional town, Smallville, Kansas, where Clark lives with his adoptive parents.
The first four seasons follow Kent's love life and high school events, while the rest of the series explores adult topics. Of course, we recommend watching this TV show to discover who Clark's Kryptonite is.
8. One Tree Hill
If you like basketball, you'll love this series
One Tree Hill is an American drama aired in 2003 on The WB and ran for nine seasons. The two half-brothers, Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan Scott (James Lafferty), make the main cast as they compete for their basketball team positions.
The series has everything a teenager could wish for, including sibling rivalry, love stories, and sports. If that's not enough for you, remember the actresses involved, including Hilarie Burton and Sophia Bush. We warmly recommend this TV show, as it truly captures the essence of youth.
7. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Follow Buffy Summers on her journey of fighting against dark forces of evil
This TV show is an American supernatural teen drama based on the 1992 film of the same name. It premiered on March 10, 1997, on The WB, and it lasted for seven seasons. Our main protagonist is Buffy Summers, played by everyone's favorite, Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Watching the series, we follow the latest in the line of women known as the "Vampire Slayer." Buffy is the chosen one to fight against demons, vampires, and other forces of darkness. Although she wants an everyday life, eventually, she accepts her fate and role. In particular, the TV show's success brought many related products, including comics, novels, video games, and a spinoff. Finally, it gave us some of the most shocking TV moments.
6. Gossip Girl
This TV show follows upper-class adolescents in Manhattan
Gossip Girl is a TV show based on the novels of the same name by Cecily von Ziegesar, and we had the privilege to watch it for six seasons. It was broadcasted on The CW network, and consequently, the main cast of this show became superstars. The series is narrated by Kristen Bell, as she portrays a mysterious blogger's voice.
The story follows privileged upper-class adolescents living in Manhattan's Upper East Side. In the beginning, we see Serena van der Woodsen's (Blake Lively) return from absence. As we find out later, she and Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) are frenemies, and her main love interest throughout the show is Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley). Ultimately, Gossip Girl's success led to many adaptations outside of the US.
5. The Vampire Diaries
Do you enjoy watching love triangles combined with supernatural occurrences?
Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, and Ian Somerhalder ensured that we were hooked on this show from the beginning! The Vampire Diaries is a supernatural fantasy drama based on the book series that shares the same name. This teen TV show collected many accolades, including the People's Choice Award and many Teen Choice Awards.
Here we follow the story and the setting in the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, where Nina Dobrev plays high school girl Elena Gilbert. After losing her parents in a tragic car accident, she meets and eventually falls in love with Stefan Salvatore. As it turns out, he's a vampire, and so is his brother, Damon, who appears later. If you're interested in love triangles, watch this series, as that's all we'll tell you…
4. Veronica Mars
And to think that a man was supposed to be the main protagonist of Veronica Mars…
This one is a noir mystery drama, taking us to the fictional town of Neptune, California. Of course, one of our favorite actresses, Kristen Bell, stars in this one, and we love it, as she's the show's heart. There were four seasons and a movie eventually about Veronica Mars, as fans saved the series.
Bell portrays a student who goes from high school to college while doing a job on the side as a private investigator. In every episode, Veronica solves a specific case, meanwhile working on a more complex mystery. Rob Thomas initially wrote this piece as a young adult novel with a male protagonist. However, he later changed it because he thought it would be far more interesting from a female perspective.
3. Euphoria
Euphoria is dark and heavy
Euphoria is a teen drama written by Sam Levinson and created for HBO. The inspiration for this show was an Israeli TV miniseries of the same name. It stars a great advice giver, Zendaya, a young and talented actress portraying the lead role.
The series follows high school students and their experiences, including drugs, sex, friendships, love, trauma, and the search for identity. The show has raised quite a controversy because of its adult topics. Euphoria is heavy and intense, so we don't recommend it for teenagers searching for something lighter.
2. Gilmore Girls
Who did you like more, Rori or her mother, Lorelai?
Starring Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore and Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore, this comedy-drama debuted in 2000 on the WB Network. As it turned out, it quickly gained a religious fan base and ran for seven seasons. In fact, the critics praised the show for its wittiness, a balance between drama and humor, and its cross-generational appeal.
It is a classic, so much so that Time magazine put it on the 100 greatest TV shows of all-time list. Many teenagers can relate to Rory and her hard work to fulfill her dreams while having a troublesome love life. Overall, we recommend Gilmore Girls, and not only for teens, as it's suited for all ages.
1. Beverly Hills 90210
Wealthy people also have problems and difficulties
Finally, we've reached the #1 spot on our list, and it's reserved for Beverly Hills, 90210, a show produced by Aaron Spelling. It's a teen soap opera that ran on FOX for ten seasons. In fact, this show is the first of six TV series in the Beverly Hills 90210 franchise and definitely, the most legendary one.
Specifically, it follows a group of high school friends living in an exclusive community in California as they transition from adolescence to adulthood. We think you must watch this one, as it's a reminder that being rich and beautiful doesn't mean you're safe from real-life problems. Just ask Tori Spelling, starring in the show, as she had her share of difficulties although being wealthy.
Finally, we can tell you to watch the series you can relate to the most, although all of them on our top ten list are worthy of your time!
What are some of your favorite teen or young adult TV shows? Which ones do you plan to watch? Let's chat in the comments section!
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