When it comes to television dramas, teen dramas are the greatest. High schools don’t resemble anything like actual life. The attire is well-known. Not to mention the lads, who are frequently portrayed by incredibly attractive men in their 20s or 30s, but who’s checking?
In the fourth installment of the franchise, 90210, high school students continue to live it up in Beverly Hills. These TV programs and movies are an excellent place to start if you’re looking for suggestions on what to watch after 90210. Teen conflict and teenage love are prevalent in the finest movies and television series, such as 90210. Everything from New Girl to Gossip Girl to 13 Reasons Why may be found on this list.
Which programs would you choose to rank highest on this list? Perhaps you enjoy the movie Gossip Girl, which is about a blogger telling the secrets of everyone at school.
The O.C. is a fantastic TV series to start watching if you’re seeking more episodes about high school because of all of its love triangles. One Tree Hill, Riverdale, and Teen Wolf are a few additional well-known 90210-like films and television shows to check out.
Whether you’re looking for romance, mystery, suspense, or comedy, these shows are sure to keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat.
Also read: Shannen Doherty Then And Now: Beverly Hills, 90210 Actress’ Dramatic Transformation
Riverdale(2016 – Present)
The television program Riverdale is well known for its confusing storylines and absurd character interactions. Five years after it debuted as a fairly ordinary teen drama with a sense of mystery, the show has spiraled out of control and is now in its sixth season, blending practically every genre imaginable.
Mobsters, killer nuns, cult leaders, serial murderers, possessed dolls, and that’s only scratching the surface of what the Riverdale youngsters have faced thus far.
“Riverdale” explores the surrealism of small-town life and the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome exterior. Archie (KJ Apa), Betty (Lili Reinhart), Veronica (Camila Mendes), Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse), and their friends are featured in this unexpected and subversive take on them.
‘Riverdale’ is a spinoff of characters from the ‘Archie’ comics with a dash of dramatic allegory, created by American playwright and screenwriter Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. The program centers on the sinister exploits of a gang of pals in the titular Riverdale town. The program is entertaining and has received favorable reviews.
However, the show’s bad portrayal of minority individuals and groups is one issue that detracts from it. Fans of teen drama will enjoy it, as it gives the endearing and seductive Archie characters a fresh edge.
13 Reasons Why(2017- 2020)
Based on the 2007 Jay Asher novel Thirteen Reasons Why, Brian Yorkey created the American Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. On the show, Diana Son and Brian Yorkey work as co-showrunners.
Selena Gomez was cast as the lead in the adaptation’s original plan for a Universal Pictures film, which Netflix then took up to become a television series. Executive producer Gomez worked on the project.
The show’s second season was published on May 18, 2018, despite the fact that, unlike the first season, it is unrelated to the original novel. The series debuted on March 31, 2017, drawing 6.08 million U.S. viewers in the first three days.
Both fans and critics unanimously praised the first season’s subject matter and casting. However, the popularity of the second, third, and fourth seasons started to wane.
The teen drama “13 Reasons Why,” adapted from the 2007 young adult novel “13 Reasons Why” by American author Jay Asher, centres on Clay Jensen, a seventeen-year-old high school student, played by Dylan Minnette, and Hannah Baker, a friend who died by suicide after being sexually assaulted and subjected to humiliation at her high school, played by Katherine Langford.
Jensen finds a package of cassette tapes that Hannah had recorded in the days leading up to her suicide, detailing the 13 reasons why she took her own life. The portrayal of suicide and self-harm in the program has caused much controversy.
Nevertheless, the show is worth watching because it has strong acting, directing, and visual production.
New Girl (2011 – 2018)
Zooey Deschanel plays Jessica “Jess” Christopher Day in the show. She is a vivacious, oddball teacher in her 20s who is trying to move on from her breakup with her boyfriend after he cheats on her. She eventually finds a new place to live when she moves in with three young men:
Winston, a former basketball player who has just returned from a two-year stint playing professional ball in Latvia; Schmidt, a white-collar worker who believes he is God’s gift to women; and Nick, a law school dropout turned barman. Cece, a streetwise model friend of Jess, completes this odd group.
In the romantic comedy “New Girl,” played by American actress Zooey Deschanel, Jessica Day moves into an apartment with three single men following a rough breakup.
The 30-somethings in “New Girl” manage their lives, careers, and relationships while they further develop the plot with humorous events. The single-camera comedy program that was produced was well-received by both critics and viewers.
‘New Girl’ has developed into one of the most adored sitcoms due to the characters’ level of dependability, which is exemplified by stars Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, Lamorne Morris, and Hannah Simone.
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Gossip Girl(2007–2012)
The Upper East Side, prep school kids first learn that Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) is returning to town through the blog of the all-knowing but incredibly private Gossip Girl. This is how they learn all the essential news in their life.
Everyone in this complex and exclusive vicious circle relies on Gossip Girl’s website and text messages for the most recent information, yet no one knows who she is. Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester, “Entourage”), Serena’s closest friend, is shocked to learn that she has abruptly terminated her self-imposed exile to boarding school and returned to Manhattan.
Although Serena’s reasons for returning are unknown, they may have something to do with her younger brother Eric (Connor Paolo, “Alexander”).
Serena was once the famed party girl of the Upper East Side. Whatever the cause, Serena has changed, and Blair, in particular, can see it because their friendship has always been challenging and competitive.
Blair enjoyed her time in the spotlight when Serena was absent, and she has no plans to return to being in Serena’s shadow. Blair’s boyfriend Nate (Chace Crawford, “The Covenant”), a young man uncomfortable with all the privileges that have been granted to him by his powerful father Howie “The Captain” Archibald (Sam Robards, “The West Wing”), complicates their already tense relationship.
Since Serena is back, Blair will have to work hard to keep Nate’s interest. It is also uncertain whether Katy (newcomer Nan Zhang) and Isabel (newcomer Nicole Fiscella), Blair’s devoted lieutenants, would stick by her side or defect to Serena.
It’s difficult to keep track of the shifting alliances, rivalries, and turbulence in this prosperous and sophisticated environment, but Gossip Girl excels at it.
The teen drama “Gossip Girl,” based on the young adult novel of the same name by American novelist Cecily von Ziegesar, is told by the eponymous “Gossip Girl,” an omniscient blogger who chronicles the lives of wealthy upper-class teenagers living in Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
The comedy began in 2007, and its actors include Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford, Ed Westwick, Kelly Rutherford, and Matthew Settle. ‘Gossip Girl’ is based on strong performances and the clever use of the setting, and it is popular among its target demographic, which is the teen culture.
The success of the show has spawned a number of overseas adaptations, including, to name a few, “Gossip Girl: Thailand,” “Küçük Srlar,” and “Gossip Girl: Acapulco” in Mexico.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer(1997-2003)
In this television adaptation of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” based on the Kristy Swanson-starring movie of the same name, Sarah Michelle Gellar plays Buffy Summers. As one of many young women selected for a specific task—hunting down and slaying vampires, demons, and other forces of evil—Buffy is a Slayer. Unlike her predecessors, Buffy forms a circle of dependable allies, including Willow, Xander, and Cordelia, who help her fight evil.
Since Sunnydale, where Buffy and her friends reside, sits above a portal to the land of the demons, she engages in frequent battles with evil.
The American television series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” which made its debut on “The WB,” and catered exclusively to teenagers and young adults, strikes a mix between teen issues and supernatural themes. The show became popular among critics thanks to Geller’s outstanding portrayal as the titular vampire slayer.
Teen Wolf
Jeff Davis is the creator of the American supernatural drama television program Teen Wolf.
Filming on the show’s pilot episode began on February 01, 2010. On June 5, 2011, 2.167 million people watched the pilot when it debuted on MTV.
A teenage werewolf named Scott McCall is the star of the Tyler Posey television series, which follows him as he deals with both supernatural problems and the more typical problems that come with being an outlier kid.
Teen Wolf is produced by MTV and MGM Television, which holds the rights to the original 1985 Teen Wolf movie. In a Teen Wolf exclusive on the tenth anniversary of filming, Jeff Davis shared his memories of those early days.
“We started with lacrosse. And the first day was a disaster. It was freezing cold. We barely got the shots we needed since we were far behind from the start.
Helping Scott manage his new life is his best friend, Stiles Stilinski, the son of Beacon Hills Sheriff Stilinski, and the natural-born werewolf Derek Hale.
Jackson Whittemore, the captain of the school’s lacrosse team, who resents Scott’s increased attention, and Lydia Martin, a popular and intellectual student who learns that she is a banshee, are also impacted by the strange occurrences at Beacon Hills.
In order to protect his family, friends, and the rest of the community, Scott is assisted by were-coyote Malia Tate, kitsune Kira Yukimura, and Scott’s first beta werewolf Liam Dunbar.
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The Vampire Diaries
Let’s begin with Elena Gilbert and her two vampire suitors, as that is where the movie originally began. Teenage bloodsuckers often fit into one of two types prior to The Vampire Diaries. The first was a dark, brooding, yet very lovable and passionate Edward Cullen type. He presumably wrestled with his actual character, and after the odd binge, he would engage in severe self-flagellation.
The second was Buffy‘s Spike-type, a more dangerous vampire who takes gleeful pleasure in killing his victims but has a certain smoulder that’s impossible to resist.
Both of these character types are quickly ‘woobified’ (adopted and endlessly apologized for) by the fandom, and battle lines will be drawn over who the heroine should ultimately have her happy ever after.
All of this happened in The Vampire Diaries’ first season. The first 22 episodes showed Stefan falling in love with Elena, confessing that he had a slight issue with blood, going dark, being put into “rehab,” and then returning to his hero status. This was like a sped-up version of Buffy’s own cycles with Angel and Spike.
Meanwhile, Damon was redeemed enough by his love for Elena that she started to have feelings for him.
The Vampire Diaries wrapped up for good last year, and the dust has just about settled. At the end, we essentially got what we wanted, although getting there occasionally was a drag.
One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill is a lot more than simply a high school and a coming-of-age tale.
The coming-of-age drama sizzles with a quaint setting which becomes an integral part of the narrative, and of course, the characters, who, with their distinct voices, give us a glimpse of our own life on screen.
Sitting in North Carolina is One tree hill, a fictional sleepy town where these characters lived a similar life to ours. Their existence was similar to ours in that it was full of amazing experiences but also rife with difficulties.
“Happiness is like seasons, not a destination”. These days, teen shows rarely seem to exist without a time jump, but in 2008, One Tree Hill was the only young adult drama to pull one off successfully. Four and a half years after graduating from high school, Tree Hill’s inhabitants were seen in the season 5 opener.
The leap not only gave the established CW program fresh life (it ran for four more seasons), but it also provided an example for similar storytelling in adolescent dramas for years to come.
The audience’s (as well as cast members’) ride through Naley’s romance wasn’t without compensation. “You guys had to give the two characters who had always been above it faults, suffering, and agony.
We think it was so human and refreshing because there were young people who were like, ‘Well, I’m not perfect like them,’ and you guys got to undo a myth and make it better. It was fun to watch,” Bush says. Without raising our Ravens into adults, none of this would have been possible.
In the end, one Tree Hill and one adolescent drama will always be able to pull off a significant time jump before the others.
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Dawson’s Creek
Dawson’s Creek was a time of simpler politics, youth’s beauty, and virginity’s innocence. Teenagers are allowed to touch, hug, love, and travel freely in the summertime Cape Cod village of Dawson’s Creek.
And they certainly do all those things in spades.
James Van Der Beek’s character, Dawson Leery, is an all-American teenager from the 1990s who lives in the picturesque town of Capeside and has a penchant for movies and pop culture. The series explores the complexities of Dawson’s intimate adolescent friendship groups, love triangles, and the angsty issues that plague young life.
From the virginal girl next door, Joey (Katie Holmes) to the sexually mature out-of-towner Jen (Michelle Williams), Dawson’s Creek played with all kinds of sexual tension. Not to mention Pacey Witter, Dawson’s closest buddy (Joshua Jackson), whose encounter with a 36-year-old English instructor appears even creepier in retrospect.
The love triangle between Dawson, Pacey, and Joey is one of the series’ primary sources of tension. Dawson’s Creek presents a micro drama that we know will end even if it elicits all kinds of sobs and rants.
The only improvement over having no issues is knowing that they can be resolved. During this time, there was also a critical relationship between the importance of popular culture and moments of identity formation. The art we grow up with imprints upon our psyche for life.
So perhaps I am not so much cringing at the show but cringing at myself. I have a secure place to reflect on my adolescence because of Dawson’s Creek. By remembering what I watched, I can remember who I was.
The O.C.
The O.C., in the style of its Fox predecessor, Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–2000), the show’s protagonist was a young male with a modest background who was thrust into the fast-paced life of a rich southern California enclave.
Ben McKenzie’s character, Ryan Atwood, was raised in a troubled, low-income home in Chino, California. When his mother kicked him out of the house, Ryan was taken in by Sandy and Kirsten Cohen (Peter Gallagher and Kelly Rowan, respectively), a wealthy couple with impressive careers, and a teenage son, Seth (Adam Brody).
Over the course of the series, Ryan’s background provided him with a unique perspective and the ability to affect the lives of his privileged peers. The majority of the series played out in a soap opera manner, with the lives of the kids frequently being upended in spectacular ways as they navigated high school and puberty.
Typical storylines concerned the characters’ experiences with relationships, family crises, sex, drugs, and alcohol. The characters’ romantic interests and allegiances often and drastically shifted.
There have been several spin-offs from The O.C., some of which have been successful and others not. The cartoon characters in Seth’s comic book of the same name served as the inspiration for the spin-off Atomic County. It was created by The O.C. writer John Stephens and artist Eric Wight, who was responsible for the comic book drawings featured on the show.
It was widely referred to as a pop cultural phenomenon and received a mostly positive reception from critics. However, as the episode continued, the ratings dropped. Even after an online petition garnered over 700,000 signatures, the low ratings resulted in its demise in early 2007. Over fifty nations around the world have seen The O.C.
Schwartz said that he wrote the celebrated Pilot episode while clad in boxer briefs. “I had no idea what would happen, but there was just that purity to it.”The script attracted the bulk of the regular cast members to the production, including renowned actor Peter Gallagher, who said in the Pilot, “In that freshly post-9/11 America, I read this script and thought it was great.
I thought it was exactly the right story to be telling at that point in time. It was about a family living in a not very embracing community that doesn’t necessarily share all their values. They don’t lose their sense of humor or their inclination to help. They continue to reach out and hug this little stranger.
And I found it to be particularly potent in a time when xenophobia, a tendency to always be on the lookout for trouble, and a climate fuelled by the PATRIOT Act were all too common. This promoted a certain sort of America. It just seemed to fit. And it had a sense of humor.”
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Degrassi: The Next Generation
The Kids of Degrassi Street marked the beginning of The Degrassi Franchise, which has had tremendous success during the course of its whole run. Degrassi High’s final group of students moved out a little less than five years ago, but a new period that will show on HBO Max in 2023 is set to usher in the school’s rebirth.
Multiple series have aired since 1979; Degrassi has had a long lifespan and seen its ups and downs. However, none have had the same impact as Degrassi: The Next Generation. No Degrassi series, no matter how old, can compare to what The Next Generation accomplished. Even if it wasn’t the first, it had an impact nonetheless.
There is no doubt that without its predecessor, The Next Generation would not exist. Especially Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, those two series that influenced the topics used on the show and the characters themselves.
Without those two programs, Emma Nelson (Miriam McDonald) wouldn’t exist; Emma is a result of those two shows. She even sort of made an appearance in Degrassi High when she was born to Christine “Spike” Nelson (Amanda Stepto). Emma might have been the show’s most prominent form of legacy, but she was not the only one.
Archie “Snake” Nelson (Stefan Brogren), who may have diminished in significance in later iterations but remains at the center of Degrassi’s history, is the only character to have received credit in every single franchise series after the first incarnation. The Next Generation might have been the one that put the show on the map, but there is a legacy there that can’t be forgotten.
Although Degrassi has never shied away from tackling those issues, the school shooting was the first time the series had tackled a major plot that had an impact on several individuals.
The franchise’s zenith was Degrassi: The Next Generation. The turning point for other Degrassi series and any other adolescent drama in high school was when two earlier series of concepts combined for an extraordinary run. It walked so others could run.
Although there have been stronger teen shows, few can make the same claim for influence. Every teen program that came after, including New Girl, Riverdale, and Gossip Girl, was modeled after 90210.
Few of these series would exist without 90210, regardless of whether you disagreed with Spelling’s fantastical depiction of teen life, as Joss Whedon did with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Spelling produced a tribute to teen life that wore its heart on its unquestionably very costly sleeve by taking the realism of Degrassi and blowing it up into a candy-colored dream of pretty males and bolshie gals.
There are 11 other shows like 90210 in this list if you still cannot get over this classic. They are sure to keep you captivated by the intriguing plot, engaging characters, and never-ending drama. These shows cover every aspect of teen life, from scandalous secrets and unexpected twists to an emotional look into the lives of teenagers.
So, grab a movie snack, get snug with your favorite stuffed toy, and begin watching any of these amazing series. From the melancholic vibe of 13 Reasons Why to the never-ending laughter New Girl gives you, each show offers its charm in entertainment and will leave you wanting more.
Get involved with the drama, and feel the ups and downs of the different emotions that these characters will invoke in you as they navigate high school, friendships, and life in general. Whether you absolutely love 90210 and everything about its genre, or it is the first show of its kind you’ve seen and got captivated by it immediately, these shows are your one-way ticket to the world of teenagers and drama.
So, go ahead and explore these captivating TV shows, and let yourself get swept away in the compelling worlds they have to offer. Happy binge-watching!
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