Calling All Drama Queens! These Are the Best Teen Shows on Netflix
Teen dramas will never go away, and we wouldn't want them to. Often funny, romantic, smart, and filled with drama, we get to watch as those "probably too old to actually be" teens find their way. Sure, very few teenagers actually look like that in real life, but that's not the point. Watching their stories unfold as the navigate high school (or in the case of some shows vampires and monsters) is part of the fun. Since Netflix wants to make sure that we stay inside on these hot summer days, here are the 25 best teen shows you can find on Netflix right now.
Everything Sucks!
Everything Sucks may not be perfect, but what it gets right is fantastic. The teen comedy-drama set in the '90s features talented young actors who actually look and sound like Freshmen, has a heartwarming LGBTQ-story line, and actually gives the parents a story arc.
On My Block
On My Block is equal parts teen drama, comedy, romance, and mystery. Centering on a group of friends growing up in a rough Los Angeles neighborhood, they try to help save a friend from gang life all while struggling to figure out who they really are. Featuring a diverse cast, this is a great show to binge.
Degrassi: Next Class
Any universe that is good enough to produce Drake has to be good. Set in the Degrassi world, this series has all the drama, romance, humor, and heart that we've all come to expect from Canada's number 1 export.
Gossip Girl
A modern classic, Gossip Girl reignited the teen-drama series for our digital, social-media world. Silly and sexy, this show will have so many twists and turns that you'll think you're actually Gossip Girl in the end.
Riverdale
The show that has launched the glory that launched the adorable Bughead is totally worth the watch. The Archie comics (or Betty and Veronica depending on who you ask) inspired series is exactly what to binge on a hot summer day.
Pretty Little Liars
4-teens grieving the death of their friend are stalked and harassed by a mysterious person who goes simply by "A," but figuring out who A is isn't so easy. They have to work together, even when they're not sure if they can truly trust each other.
Skins
Controversial and critically acclaimed, Skins is a multifaceted series that explores some of the darker aspects of being a teenager. It's heartbreaking, tender, sexual, and true.
The End of The F***ing World
While this is technically a teen drama, it's like nothing else on this list. Would-be serial killer James embarks on a road-trip with wild Alyssa, whom he hopes will be his first kill. This show is dark, funny, smart, and not for everyone.
Gilmore Girls
This sweet family drama largely focuses on the life of Rory, who at the beginning of the show is 15 and just entering a new elite private school. Her world at Chilton, as well as her relationships with Dean and Jess, are some next level teen drama.
Freaks and Geeks
I am still bitter that this beautiful and genius show got canceled after it's first, and sadly only, season. Too bad the show has such a spectacular cast (Busy Philipps, James Franco, and Seth Rogen just to start) because the chances of it coming back for a reboot are slim-to-none.
Stranger Things
In the seemingly normal town of Hawkins, Indiana things start to mysteriously go wrong after young Jonathan Byers goes missing. This sci-fi show follows Jonathan's friends as they traverse strange new worlds looking for him.
Between
When a mysterious disease kills everyone over the age of 21 in a small town, the young survivors have to fend for themselves as the government has placed the whole town under quarantine. The fast-paced show is easy to digest, making it a very quick watch.
Shameless
Not a teen-show per say, but don't discount the struggling-to-survive Gallagher family. The teen children use their intelligence, street-smarts, and love for each other to make it.
The Fosters
If you want a teen drama that's going to hit you right in the feelings, The Fosters is it. Interracial and lesbian couple Stef and Lena have a large, blended family. Over the 5-seasons, the teens and their many dramas are at the center.
Switched at Birth
Even though I'm sure many of us have had the random thought that our parents might not actually be our parents, for the characters in Switched at Birth, that feelings becomes true when it is revealed that they have, in fact, been swapped. Coming to grips with who they really are, meeting their new family, and dealing with hormones makes this show one to watch.
Parenthood
Mae Whitman's portrayal of teen Amber Holt is one of the reasons why Parenthood deserves a spot on the list. Her fights with her mom, connecting with her family, and her high school troubles make her one of the most nuanced teen characters.
Glee
Music, dancing, drama, and comedy are plentiful in this long-running teen-show about a group of misfits hoping to win the show-choir championships. In addition to winning numerous awards, their versions of covered songs topped the charts, like Journey's Don't Stop Believin'. You won't be able to not sing along.
Party of Five
When the parents of the Salinger family are killed, the 5 children must come together to raise each other. Lost alum Mathew Fox plays the eldest son who must take on the new role as the leader of the family, all while trying to figure out who he really is in the process.
Hormones
Set in Bangkok, Hormones has gained popularity in the US recently, thanks in now small part to it's emotional script. Even though the students are on the other side of the world, they are dealing with the same problems that teens in the States face every day.
Dance Academy
Fans of the show Bunheads will appreciate Dance Academy. Even though Tara has been training all her life to become a ballerina, once she gets into a prestigious dance school, she realizes that training hard is only part of what she needs to learn.
Greenhouse Academy
After gaining admittance to an elite boarding school, brother and sister Alex and Hayley find themselves in rival houses. Instead of just focusing on some basic pranks, the siblings have to work together to uncover a secret and evil plot.
Atypical
Being on the Autism spectrum doesn't stop Sam from trying to live his best life. When he decides he wants to get a girlfriend and start expressing more independence from his family, everyone has to learn what that new life is like.
The Vampire Diaries
Trapped forever in the bodies of teenagers, vampire brothers fight for the love and attention of a beautiful teenager. Drama and romance help make this show absolutely captivating.
That 70's Show
It doesn't matter what decade you're watching, The 70's Show proves that everything is still the same. Eric and his friends (Orange is the New Black's Laura Prepon, Ashton Kutcher, and Mila Kunis) do the same thing that many teens are doing right now, hanging out in their parent's basement trying to find something to do.
Reign
There's prom queens and then there is actual queens. Reign is about the later, following the rise and reign of teen Mary, Queen of the Scots. Part political drama and part romance, this steamy show keeps things very interesting.