High schools in teen dramas are nothing like ours. Take Euphoria, for instance. Nobody would ever dress up like that in a real high school. But, if one is honest, it does not take much to dream. As we live our lives through these characters, we are transported to a different world, leaving us falling and wishing for more.
Teens go on adventures, and their lives are full of high-stakes, never-ending life-threatening days. Plus, the swoon-worthy love triangles that have a whole fandom divided and rooting for the other ship.
But teen series do get real—representations and diversity matter. Today’s teen shows share authenticity in their characters, lives, relationships, struggles, and connections with each other.
Without further ado, here is a list of 19 binge-worthy tv shows.
Tv shows for teenage girl
1. Beverly Hills, 90210
Tv shows for teenage girl: 13+
Beverly Hills, 90210, is the first series in the franchise and ran for a decade, from 1990 to 2000. People are introduced to a host of characters, especially Brenda and Brendon Walsh, who have moved to the posh Beverly Hills from Minneapolis.
Beverly Hills, 90210, follows the lives of high school friends transitioning into the adult world. It handled date rape, eating disorders, racism, family drama, suicide, violence, and such matters.
Beverly Hills is one of the best tv shows that made teen soaps famous.
2. My So-Called Life
Tv shows for teenage girl: 13+
My So-Called Life is a teen drama that ran for about a year from 1994 till 1995. The show is a realistic portrayal of teenage years- it is about a confusing stage as adolescence is not always fun and easy. It is about mundaneness in everyday lives and how we sometimes trudge through the days, soulless and uninspired.
The tv series shows the lives of the students in Liberty High School, Pittsburgh, and follows Angela Chase, the main protagonist. The writers never continued the show after it ended in a cliffhanger.
My So-Called Life displayed their story as a very special episode that dealt with a specific issue. It could be homophobia, substance abuse, alcoholism, and such.
3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Tv shows for teenage girl: 13+
This critically acclaimed American supernatural tv series follows the life of Buffy Summers, a teenage girl and a vampire slayer. Together with her high school friends, Willow and Xander, they form the Scooby Gang.
Buffy is a Chosen One and comes from a long history of vampire slayers. Under the guidance of Watchers, these slayers aim to eliminate the threat of demons, vampires, and other supernatural entities.
Chosen by fate and destiny, Buffy initially was against the idea of becoming a vampire slayer. But she soon came around and embraced her life that was and is to come.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is also one of the first teen tv shows to accurately portray the lives of a lesbian couple and their relationship.
The tv show ran for seven seasons from 1997 till 2003.
4. Dawson’s Creek
Tv shows for teenage girl: 13+
Dawson’s Creek, starring James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams in titular roles, is a tv show from the early 2000s and still prevailing with today’s high school students. This teen drama is set in Capeside, a town in Massachusetts.
Dawson (James Van Der Beek) has been dreaming of being a filmmaker all his life, and Joey (Katie Holmes), his best friend/girlfriend, is caught between him and Pacey in a love triangle. As the tv series follows the lives of a friend group struggling through high school and teen dramas, it will make one nostalgic for those days.
The writers and creators made the show follow the trends of the 90s and early 2000s. In doing so, it gained a solid footing in the list of best teen tv shows of that period. Dawson’s Creek is arguably one of the best classic teen dramas out there with lovable and relatable characters.
5. Gossip Girl
Tv shows for teenage girl: 15+
Gossip Girl is a teen drama series that premiered from 2007 to 2012 and is based on a book with the same name. Since the show’s first episode, it instantly gained a massive fan following.
Gossip Girl follows the affluent and lavish lives of Blaire Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen in the Upper East Side of New York City. This teen drama introduces us to Serena, the it-girl, and Blair, the Queen B.
Blair and Serena are the ultimate OG teen girls who started it all. Their social circle includes the students of an exclusive private school.
Narrated in the words of the mysterious Gossip Girl, the tv show progresses with lots of betrayals, love interests, high school cliques, and twists and turns. It soon became a trendsetter in the 2010s as it influenced new fashion trends and cliques. The teens of today are sure to love this tv series.
A reboot starring next-generation Upper East Siders, with Kristen Bell reprising her role as Gossip Girl, was released in 2021. There was also a spin-off Chasing Dorota based on Dorota, Blair’s Polish maid and confidante. It had only one season.
6. The Vampire Diaries
Tv shows for teenage girl: 15+
The Vampire Diaries is an American supernatural teen drama based on a book series of the same name by L.J. Smith. This tv series takes us to Mystic Falls, where vampires, werewolves, and witches dwell between ordinary humans.
The Vampire Diaries follows the stories of Elena Gilbert; a human turned vampire; Caroline Forbes, again, a human turned vampire; and Bonnie Bennett, a teenage witch. 17-year old Elena is an orphan who lost her parents in a car accident. Soon Stefan Salvatore, a vampire, arrives in her town and the same high school, and they fall in love.
The appearance of another vampire and Stefan’s older brother, Damon, upset their lives. What ensues in the tv series is lots of drama, revenge, fights, reconciliations, and undeniably attractive antagonists. And not to forget the great Stelena Vs. Delena ship debate. The show also depicted the rapid decline of mental health in its characters.
It has been over a decade since The Vampire Diaries premiered in 2009, but it still stands strong as one of the best teen dramas in teen drama history. Also, Paul Wesley can steal any girl’s heart.
7. Gilmore Girls
Tv shows for teenage girl: 13+
Gilmore Girls is an all-time favorite teen drama and ran consecutively for seven seasons from 2000 to 2007. When the series was halfway, it drew the status of being a cult classic and was mentioned as one of the best teen dramas of that time.
This critically acclaimed teen drama focused on family and the community, and Lorelai and Rory, a mother-daughter duo, are the main characters. Rory was born through a teen pregnancy, and when Lorelai found it, she ran away from her home and settled in Stars Hollow.
The tv series highlights familial relationships, conflicts, and dramas due to unresolved feelings from the past.
8. One Tree Hill
Tv shows for teenage girl: 13+
One Tree Hill is a tv series that ran for nine seasons from 2003 till 2012. The show follows the lives of Lucas Scott and Nathan Scott. They are estranged half-brothers who compete with themselves in sports.
The show focused on the brothers’ lives as they went to high school and then became college students. It showed their growth as they went through adolescence and the relationships that they built. It was known for its family drama, complicated love triangles, unnecessary heartbreaks, and teen drama, with half-brothers Lucas and Nathan Scott helming the ships.
In recent years, One Tree Hill has been in the news due to controversies and allegations against the show’s creators. Nevertheless, this tv series formed a significant part in the lives of 2010s teens.
The opening theme song by Gavin DeGraw was such a fan favorite that when the creators removed it, upon popular demand, they had to bring it back again.
9. Friday Night Lights
Tv shows for teenage girl: 14+
Friday Night Lights is a critically acclaimed sports drama series about a high school football team named the Dillon Panthers of West Texas.
The Dillon Panthers are one of the best among all high school football teams in the nation. Friday Night Lights follows the life of the head coach, Eric Taylor, as he tries to bring his high school team to achieve recognition and stardom.
The central narrative of Friday Night Lights revolves around high school teen boys, football, and teen drama. Also, it raises prominent issues such as drug abuse, scholarships, team funding, teen pregnancy, racism, and such. The show is also one of the few tv series to talk about abortion.
10. Glee
Tv shows for teenage girl: 14+
Glee is a musical teen drama series focusing on the glee club at William McKinley High School. It ran from 2009 till the show’s end in 2015 after Cory Monteith’s death.
As the students try to cope with their inner struggles with race, sexuality, the teen drama surrounding their relationships, family pressure, and other issues, they band together to form a choir club. A Spanish teacher is the head of the glee club.
The show is a coming-of-age comedy that features a lesbian couple, Brittany and Santana, who comes to terms with her bisexuality in an amazing episode. It also delves into the lives of other people struggling with their sexuality.
The tv series has numerous musical performances by the glee members.
11. Teen Wolf
Tv shows for teenage girl: 13+
Teen Wolf is about Scott McCall, an ordinary high school teen boy whose life is overturned after being bitten by a werewolf. Scott soon falls for Allison Argent, whose father and ancestors all belong to a family of werewolf hunters. Now, Scott must survive to protect himself, his friends, and his newfound werewolf clan.
Along with his best friend, Stiles Stilinski, and the werewolf Derek Hale, Scott protects Beacon Hills from supernatural threats. Scott has to adapt to changes and deal with his new identity and popularity, drawing jealousy from his equally popular classmate.
After premiering in 2011, the tv series concluded in 2017. It is one of the most entertaining and funny supernatural teen shows, with Scott’s and Stiles’ friendship being its backbone.
12. I Am Not Okay With This
Tv shows for teenage girl: 15+
I Am Not Okay With This is an underrated gem. The teen drama journeys around angsty teen girl Sydney Novak struggling to control her superpowers and, plus, her feelings for her best friend, Dina.
It has been a year since her father’s death, and Sidney still cannot fully comprehend it. Also, she is often at odds with her mother, who won’t talk about her father’s suicide. She is seen struggling with her mental health.
13. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Tv shows for teenage girl: 10+
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is a mockumentary TV series providing a streaming service. The show is inspired by the original film trilogy and is set in its mock version.
Like the films, the show tells the story of a bunch of high school students who have an appreciation for the theatre. They partake in the school’s High School Musical: The Musical drama production. Olivia Rodrigo is cast in the role of Gabriella Montez, and Joshua Bassett as Troy Bolton in the 1st season.
The theatre group chooses Beauty and the Beast as a spring musical production in the second season. As they prepare for the stage, the students navigate their lives and relationships in the whirlwind of adolescence.
14. Derry Girls
Tv shows for teenage girl: 15+
Now streaming on Netflix, Derry Girls is a British dark comedy and sitcom revolving around the lives of five teenagers in the 90s during the Northern Ireland Conflict.
The writer’s experiences inspired the premise of Derry. In doing so, it gained a footing among teenage viewers for its genuineness and how they could connect to it.
The tv series follows the lives of Erin Quinn, Orla, Clare, Michelle, and James, Michelle’s English cousin. The four teenage girls and James navigate wild situations amidst unrest and divides. They often find themselves in trouble, and all while they grow up, they realize deeper truths about themselves.
The writer of Derry Girls has carefully weaved the political situation of Derry with dark humor into the show. It makes the show lighthearted and perfect for casual viewing.
15. Sex Education
Tv shows for teenage girl: 16+
Sex Education is one of the most amazing teens shows that anyone could watch. The show tells the story of Otis, his mother, Jean Milburn, the students and staff of Moordale Secondary School, and the parents. Jean is a sex therapist, and Otis is one too, but uncertified and working in the shady bathroom stalls of Moordale.
Sex Education, while being a comedy-packed series, also seriously deals with the school sex education system and the reforms that it so badly needs. As the students feel the need to know more about their gender identity, sexuality, and sexual intimacy, Otis comes to the rescue.
Issues arise, some relationships break apart, and new romantic relationships bloom, but Otis survives and learns from his mistakes. By his side remains Eric Effiong, who keeps being supportive, sarcastic, sassy, and a fan-favorite character with great choices in colors.
As the series progresses, we get to know more about each character, including “The Untouchables,” Anwar, Olivia, and Ruby, who truly shined in the third season.
16. American Vandal
Tv shows for teenage girl: 15+
![American Vandal | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix](https://icytales.com/wp-content/cache/flying-press/m3tkFOtM6go-hqdefault.jpg)
American Vandal is a tv series parodying popular true crime shows and docu-series. It premiered in 2017 and is a mockumentary of a kind.
The creators have brilliantly executed the plot and should be included in the list of must-watch tv shows for those who want something lighthearted, funny, and thrilling. The tv series follows Peter Maldonado and his friend, Sam Ecklund, as they try to solve mysteries surrounding their high school.
American Vandal will get people hooked with their exciting and well-written plots and realistic storylines. The twists and turns make it a must-watch.
17. Teenage Bounty Hunters
Tv shows for teenage girl: 15+
Teenage Bounty Hunters is one of the teens shows that accurately depicts teenage life in the lives of Blair and Sterling Wesley.
Blair and Sterling are fraternal twins who, upon a chance encounter (or an accident), meet Bowser Simmons, a bounty hunter.
The teenage girls decide to pick up the bounty hunting profession to pay off the dent repair expenses. They soon work under Bowser and go on missions together.
The show ends on a major revelation and a cliffhanger. But since Netflix canceled it after a season, fans are left hanging away.
18. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Tv shows for teenage girl: 16+
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a supernatural tv series based on the famous comic and is a next-generation version of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. The show is set in Greendale, neighboring Riverdale, where Archie and the gang reside.
Sabrina Spellman is half-witch, half-human, trying to balance the darkness with her humane spirit. She is a protector of the human world and must regularly fight the forces threatening her, her friends, and family members.
Critics and viewers praised the show and gave positive reviews.
19. Outer Banks
Tv shows for teenage girl: 15+
Outer Banks or OBX is a teen drama that became an overnight sensation after being released. The show follows John B. Routledge and his Pogue crew- Kiara, JJ, Pope, and Sarah. As they try to solve the mystery surrounding John B’s missing father, they are suddenly pulled into a world that they never knew of before.
Along with his friends, John B tries to find a long-lost treasure that his father worked towards for several years. However, others have their sights on it and who would stop at nothing to achieve their means, even if it meant killing.
As they work towards their goal, the Pogues have to suffer through several obstacles: substance abuse, family drama, mental and emotional abuse, love, quarrels, break-ups, and missed chances.
There is an existing social divide and conflict between the Kooks and the Pogues in OBX. The Kooks are wealthy, while the Pogues belong to the working class. Teenagers from both of these communities regularly get into fights.
The tv landscape is such that it has a yellowish tint that gives the show an air of mystery and a treasure-hunting adventure vibe.
20. The Society
Tv shows for teenage girl: 14+
When teenagers bid their parents goodbye as they went on a school camping trip, did they know that they would never see them again? As a storm forces the buses to turn back around, the teens find themselves in a deserted town where no adult was to be seen.
The teenagers soon learn about forming alliances, power struggles, and establishing order to attain some normalcy. They dig deeper to know more about the truth behind the parents’ disappearance.
The kids can go to any lengths to survive, but till what point can they carry on? To what lengths will they go to protect themselves and the ones they care about in their lives?
Last Updated on by Sathi