Other Types of Teen Dramas
I’ve always operated from the perspective that there are six core teen dramas: “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “The O.C.,” “One Tree Hill,” “Gossip Girl,” and “90210.” In my mind, they are simply shows about groups of teens coming of age in high school.
They’re not about a teen coming of age in high school AND killing vampires. They’re not about a group of teens coming of age in high school AND being tormented by a killer stalker. They’re not about a teen coming of age in high school AND bonding with her single mother.
But I know there are many out there who WOULD classify “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Pretty Little Liars,” and “Gilmore Girls” as teen dramas. For me, though, I’ve always put them in sub-categories. Think: sci-fi / fantasy teen drama, thriller teen drama, family teen drama, etc.
Below are more than two dozen shows many consider “teen dramas,” but not ones I personally see as the genre’s main shows. This list, organized by what I view as the genre’s sub-sections, is by no means exhaustive or complete, and you can disagree with my categorizations. There is no right or wrong. This is just how I’ve categorized them in my head — and arguably, some of these shows fit multiple categories, even the ones I consider to be the core six.
Where applicable, I’ve also noted a selection of stars (but not all of them) from “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “The O.C.,” “One Tree Hill,” “Gossip Girl,” and “90210” who also appeared on these shows.
Family Teen Dramas
“Everwood”
With David Downs (Mr. Kasdan, Dawson’s Creek), Paul Wesley (Donnie, The O.C.), and Chris Pratt (Che, The O.C.)
“Gilmore Girls”
With Madchen Amick (Nicole, Dawson’s Creek / Catherine, Gossip Girl), Adam Brody (Seth, The O.C.), Chad Michael Murray (Lucas, One Tree Hill), Krysten Ritter (Young Carol, Gossip Girl), and Arielle Kebbel (Vanessa, 90210)
“Life Unexpected”
With Shiri Appleby (Renee, Beverly Hills, 90210), Emma Caulfield (Susan, Beverly Hills, 90210), Kerr Smith (Jack, Dawson’s Creek), Dylan Neal (Doug, Dawson’s Creek), and Arielle Kebbel (Vanessa, 90210)
“Party of Five”
With Nicholas Pryor (Chancellor Arnold, Beverly Hills, 90210) and JoAnna Garcia (Bree, Gossip Girl)
“The Secret Life of the American Teenager”
With Shailene Woodley (Kaitlin, The O.C.)
“Switched at Birth”
With Tania Raymonde (Sonia, 90210)
Sci-Fi / Fantasy Teen Dramas
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”
With Emma Caulfield (Susan, Beverly Hills 90210), Paige Moss (Tara, Beverly Hills, 90210), Caroline Lagerfelt (Sheila, Beverly Hills, 90210), Adam Kaufman (Ethan, Dawson’s Creek), Bianca Lawson (Nikki, Dawson’s Creek), and Michelle Trachtenberg (Georgina, Gossip Girl)
“Roswell”
With Shiri Appleby (Renee, Beverly Hills, 90210), Jason Behr (Chris, Dawson’s Creek), and Colin Hanks (Grady, The O.C.)
“Smallville”
With Brian Austin Green (David, Beverly Hills, 90210), Jensen Ackles (CJ, Dawson’s Creek), Michael Cassidy (Zach, The O.C.), Emmanuelle Vaugier (Nicki, One Tree Hill), and John Schneider (Jeffrey, 90210)
“Teen Wolf”
With John Wesley Shipp (Mitch, Dawson’s Creek), Bianca Lawson (Nikki, Dawson’s Creek), and Kelsey Asbille (Gigi, One Tree Hill)
“The Vampire Diaries”
With Bianca Lawson (Nikki, Dawson’s Creek), Melinda Clarke (Julie, The O.C.), Kayla Ewell (Casey, The O.C.), Paul Wesley (Donnie, The O.C.), Allison Scagliotti (Abby, One Tree Hill), Torrey DeVitto (Carrie, One Tree Hill), and Arielle Kebbel (Vanessa, 90210)
Mystery / Thriller Teen Dramas
“Pretty Little Liars”
With Laura Leighton (Sophie, Beverly Hills, 90210), Bianca Lawson (Nikki, Dawson’s Creek), Lucy Hale (Hadley, The O.C.), Ashley Benson (Riley, The O.C.), Janel Parrish (Leah, The O.C.), Torrey DeVitto (Carrie, One Tree Hill), Amanda Schull (Sara / Katie, One Tree Hill), Yani Gellman (Diego, 90210), and Diego Boneta (Javier, 90210)
“Riverdale”
With Luke Perry (Dylan, Beverly Hills, 90210), Kerr Smith (Jack, Dawson’s Creek), Madchen Amick (Nicole, Dawson’s Creek / Catherine, Gossip Girl), and Chad Michael Murray (Lucas, One Tree Hill)
“Veronica Mars”
With Cress Williams (D’Shawn, Beverly Hills, 90210), Max Greenfield (Young Sandy, The O.C.), Lindsey McKeon (Taylor, One Tree Hill), Leighton Meester (Blair, Gossip Girl), Kristen Bell (Gossip Girl, Gossip Girl), and Krysten Ritter (Young Carol, Gossip Girl)
Musical Teen Dramas
“Glee”
With Jane Lynch (Mrs. Witter, Dawson’s Creek)
Comedic Teen Dramas
“Awkward”
With Ashley Rickards (Sam, One Tree Hill)
“Hellcats”
With Ashley Tisdale (Nicole, Beverly Hills, 90210), Jeff Hephner (Matt, The O.C.), Matt Barr (Psycho Derek, One Tree Hill), and Robbie Jones (Q, One Tree Hill)
“Popular”
With Michelle Phillips (Abby, Beverly Hills, 90210), Myles Jeffrey (Zach, Beverly Hills, 90210), and Jane Lynch (Mrs. Witter, Dawson’s Creek)
Sports Teen Dramas
“All American”
With Casper Van Dien (Griffin, Beverly Hills, 90210) and Dina Meyer (Lucinda, Beverly Hills, 90210)
“Friday Night Lights”
With Daniella Alonso (Anna, One Tree Hill), Matt Barr (Psycho Derek, One Tree Hill), Austin Nichols (Julian, One Tree Hill), Jana Kramer (Alex, One Tree Hill / Portia, 90210), and Aimee Teegarden (Rhonda, 90210)
“Make It or Break It”
With Hal Ozsan (Todd, Dawson’s Creek / Mr. Cannon, 90210)
College Teen Dramas
“Clique”
“Felicity”
With Scott Foley (Cliff, Dawson’s Creek), Jane Lynch (Mrs. Witter, Dawson’s Creek), and Hal Ozsan (Todd, Dawson’s Creek / Mr. Cannon, 90210)
“Greek”
With Carol Potter (Cindy, Beverly Hills, 90210), Ken Marino (Professor Wilder, Dawson’s Creek), Michael Copon (Felix, One Tree Hill), Jessica Lowndes (Adrianna, 90210), and Yani Gellman (Diego, 90210)
“The Bedford Diaries”
With Penn Badgley (Dan, Gossip Girl) and Krysten Ritter (Young Carol, Gossip Girl)
One-Season Teen Dramas
“Freaks and Geeks”
With Busy Philipps (Audrey, Dawson’s Creek), Seth Rogen (Bob, Dawson’s Creek), Samaire Armstrong (Anna, The O.C.), Kayla Ewell (Casey, The O.C.), and Riley Smith (Riley, 90210)
“Jack & Bobby”
With James Eckhouse (Jim, Beverly Hills, 90210), Scott Foley (Cliff, Dawson’s Creek), Shailene Woodley (Kaitlin, The O.C.), and Cam Gigandet (Volchok, The O.C.)
“My So-Called Life”
With Bess Armstrong (Lydia, One Tree Hill)
“Young Americans”
“Dawson’s Creek” spinoff with Rodney Scott (Will, Dawson’s Creek)
Mature Teen Dramas
“Euphoria”
“Normal People”
Stay tuned for a full post on this Hulu show next month!
“Sex Education”
“Skins”
Of course, there’s plenty more series to consider. I’m curious to know, for example, where you would place “The Carrie Diaries” or “13 Reasons Why,” or two particularly recent shows, “Love, Victor” and “Outer Banks”? What about the long-lasting “Degrassi” franchise with Shenae Grimes (Annie, 90210)? Or the Spanish-language “Elite”? Even just last month, two new shows entered the teen drama discussion: “The Walking Dead: World Beyond” and “Grand Army.”
I’m also dying to know: How many of the above shows have you watched?! Spill in the comments below.
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Interesting list, though I am curious where you would place The Fosters on the list. On some level it’s a family teen drama, but certainly not a traditional one by any means.