Teen dramas are often a genre looked down upon by adults. Most teen dramas deserve our disdain. But there have been a few over the years that I think have been filled with such quality writing and acting that they transcend the genre. My picks... Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The title sounds pretty silly. The premise sounds like the title. But what you're missing is the brilliant metaphor at the core of the series: High school is Hell. Joss Whedon has crafted a show that perfectly captured the adventures of a group of teenage outsiders who save the world from demons on a weekly basis. (And unlike his more recent TV creations, people actually watched this show!) It's also filled with great witty dialogue. BONUS: The spin-off, Angel, is the greatest TV series of all-time. Roswell. I just started re-watching this show. I hadn't seen it since it originally aired 10 years ago. I suspected that it wouldn't hold up, especially not after gorging myself on Buffy DVDs. Pleasantly, shockingly, I was wrong. Roswell posesses an earnestness rarely seen on teen shows. The characters aren't trying to be ultra-clever or set fashion trends. They're just good people trying to do the right thing. It just happens that some of them are a bit... different. More than anything, this show has one of the strongest casts I've ever seen. I especially love Liz & Maria. And on re-watching this show, I'm actually starting to understand what Max & Liz see in each other. Veronica Mars. Part teen drama, part detective show. Most of Veronica's cases were pretty trivial. Occasionally a murder would slip in there. But no matter the stakes, the real fun was seeing Veronica constantly outsmart everyone else, including Sheriff Lamb. And yet Veronica wasn't infallible. Often, just when it seemed she could do no wrong, we'd find out that her father was still a few steps ahead of her. This is one of the few TV shows to deal with class conflict. Neptune was the ultimate clash of ultra-rich "Haves" and working-class "Have-nots." Veronica & her father belonged to the latter category and their outsider status made their victories all the jucier. So what are some of your favorite teen dramas? Why?
Eh, I'll throw another one out: The OC. Not exactly high-brow, but was entertaining. Liked most of the characters, plenty of redeeming moments, and especially with Seth, just plain old funny bits. Plenty of overboard parts, but always stayed at least a little grounded. Unlike shows like (insert random CW show here), you actually LIKED and cared about the characters, for the most part. Usually good music, too
Glee Silly, off the wall, messy, funny, heartfelt and tickles my camp gene in just the right spot. HUGO - In fact I like minorities so much, I'm thinking of moving to California to become one.
I expected to like Glee more than I have. I enjoy the music but I don't like any of the characters. (Except I do like that guidance counselor, but I've been in love with Jayma Mays ever since Red Eye.)
Loved Buffy and really liked Veronica Mars, the only other show I can really think to add is... Skins E4's stereotypical teen show, it may all seem to be swearing, drink, drugs and sex on the outside but it has some really well put together drama, especially in the second series.
Degrassi Jr. High/High. Realistic and well written Canadian drama the kind of which would never get played on network television here.
I liked Buffy and Roswell alot. Liked the first season of Veronica Mars...but after that it wasn't as good. I consider Smallville to be a teen drama, and I like that most of the time (except for a couple of characters who annoy me) And I did like The O.C. while it was on - a guilty pleasure.....although I admit I was much more interested in the parents sometimes than the kids.
I think I'm going to try and sell my parents on Buffy by telling them it's part-Joan of Arcadia and part-Doctor Who. We used to watch JoA as a family and my Mom especially liked it.
I enjoyed Party of Five (Fox network, 1994-2000). It was a well-written family drama with a talented young cast. I'd watch reruns of the show if it was on the TV schedule anywhere.
Friday Night Lights trumps everything. I am worried about this new season (4) seeing as how most everyone was supposed to go to college... teen shows always fail when college rolls around because the people in charge want to keep the same cast, and it always feels forced. FNL did a good job when they got rid of past seniors, hopefully they keep it up.
Freaks and Geeks. It's really the only "teens and high school" show that didn't make me roll me eyes. I loved the characters and could actually relate to them--because I KNEW those kids. I'd gone to school with people just like them.
^Agreed. I love Freaks and Geeks. It's one of the most honest shows about being a teen. Perfect casting all around where the cast actually look the right age for high school. This show totally takes me back to my childhood.
I think the best teen dramas are ones that aren't just about the typical teen stuff. I find shows like 90210 or Dawson's Creek awful, shallow and poorly-written. I much prefer shows that depict teens in a more realistic, interesting way and also have other story elements involved. Buffy the Vampire Slayer - obvious teen angst mixed in with the sci-fi/fantasy elements Everwood - a family drama with emphasis on teens like Ephram and Amy Friday Night Lights - the backdrop of a high school football team obviously provides plenty of teen drama, but the adults get plenty of action, too Veronica Mars - obvious teen angst mixed in with P.I. mysteries
Yep - Freaks And Geeks wins hands down. One of the finest shows on television you have ever seen (or not seen, if you have suffered through lesser shows, thinking they were favorites. If the latter is the case, you have been wrong, and with any luck, you will become enlightened in the near future).
BtVS, Smallville, Veronica Mars, The O.C., One Tree Hill and I don't know if Joan of Arcadia counts & Kyle XY.