So many amazing teen shows get buried in the hodgepodge of other shows that suddenly appear and take over the world. While some are truly worth the time to watch, many feel like a waste of time, except for the teen shows that… get it.
Those feel few and far between these days, but thankfully, we have some picks here that we consider some of the best. From graphic novel adaptations to cozy hometowns to gossip spread across streets, these are the teen shows that you should check out—and of course, all of them are available to stream right now.
Heartstopper (Netflix)
First on this list is Heartstopper. Based on the graphic novel series of the same name by Alice Oseman, Heartstopper follows the story of Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke), two teenagers who meet at Truham Grammar School in England, develop a friendship that turns romantic later on, and go through their personal lives both at school and at home. It also follows their friends' lives.
I put Heartstopper here because it feels like one of the most accurate representations of the modern-day teenager. This show isn’t afraid to dive deep into sexuality, mental health, gender identity, and so much more, especially in later seasons, as we look into what adulthood might look like for these young adults.
It’s also just sweet. It’s rare to find a teen series that isn’t just yearning drama for four seasons straight these days, and this is one of those shows with decent storylines you really care about. The acting is also considerably amazing and makes it one of the best teen shows on Netflix. There’s even a movie called Heartstopper Forever that finishes up the story.
The Summer I Turned Pretty (Amazon Prime)
Based on the books by Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty is a drama series that follows Isabel “Belly” Conklin (Lola Tung) as she finds herself in a love triangle with two brothers from her childhood.
If you’ve heard of this series, you likely heard of it because of the amount of drama this love triangle caused, and yes, it is that serious. While Heartstopper is very sweet, this series is the opposite: it's full of drama and will make you want to keep watching the next episode.
It’s reminiscent of older teen dramas where every episode feels like something is happening, and in a good way. It’s just so much fun and such a great modern teen series. A new film is coming out which will serve as a conclusion to the series, but it won’t be released until next year, so you might as well check this out now.
Teen Wolf (Paramount Plus)
When I think back on the teen shows of the 2010s, one that always comes to mind is Teen Wolf. This supernatural thriller was based on a film of the same name but took an entirely different direction, one that took the world by storm and gave us stars like Tyler Posey, Dylan O’Brien, and more.
For six seasons, Teen Wolf follows Scott McCall (Posey), who is bitten by a werewolf and begins experiencing changes that turn him into a werewolf at night and a teenager by day, eventually using his powers to save his hometown.
The series isn’t really scary, if we’re being honest, but the story is genuinely interesting, with plenty of twists and turns that many teen dramas nowadays don’t have. And don’t even get me started on the shipping wars with this—it was endless and iconic in the best way.
Gilmore Girls (Hulu)
I can’t make a list of the best teen shows without mentioning Gilmore Girls. While one half of the said titular girls is an adult, I always consider this more of a teen show than anything else. Gilmore Girls follows Rory and Lorelai Gilmore (Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham), a teenager and her younger mother, as they live day by day in their small Connecticut town of Stars Hollow, navigating their personal and professional lives.
Gilmore Girls is widely considered one of the most iconic shows of all time, mainly because so many people love it to death. When the leaves begin to turn, it’s time to put this show on, because it’s just utterly cozy and warm and everything that people love. There’s also something to be said about the mother-daughter relationship and how well it’s portrayed, as well as the ever-rotating list of romantic partners that come and go, adding to the drama.
Gossip Girl (HBO Max)
Oh, you want a drama. Then you have to check out Gossip Girl. Based on the novels of the same name by Cecily von Ziegesar, the series follows the lives of teenagers who live on the Upper East Side of New York and how their lives and personal misdeeds are exposed by an anonymous blog writer known as “Gossip Girl.”
If you want a teen drama that absolutely will make you yell at your TV, scratch your head, and wonder what the heck is going on, then Gossip Girl is the one for you, because it will always leave you questioning everything in sight. In fact, I would argue that out of everything on this list, this is the most dramatic because you don’t ever understand why these characters do what they do half the time, but that’s what makes it so good. Plus, with a cast like Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, and more, this is the series to watch.
All of these shows are great picks for a teen series if you’re craving one, and I can’t wait to do a little binge session and enjoy them all again!
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