Where You Can Watch the Teen Dramas Today

Gone are the days of SOAPnet, where three of the teen dramas — “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “The O.C.,” and “One Tree Hill” — aired five days a week.

In are the days of streaming, where all of the teen dramas are available on various platforms.

Keep reading to find out where you can watch each of the teen dramas today.

Beverly Hills, 90210

“Beverly Hills, 90210” originally ran on FOX from October 4, 1990, to May 17, 2000. While still in its original run, repeats aired on FX and WGN. Later, syndication rights were sold to SOAPnet. For the last number of years, the show has run on Pop TV, though inconsistently and with music replaced and scenes shortened or missing.

Available for purchase are DVD sets of the individual seasons (although they have their flaws, as I examined on TeenDramaWhore.com) as well as a complete series set.

Hulu and CBS All Access share streaming rights, though both are missing not an insignificant amount of episodes and scenes due to music rights. In July, Pluto TV, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS, announced it would be adding the show to its streaming platform as well and a channel dedicated to the series officially launched in October (though currently only seasons 1-5 are available). Some episodes are also available on YouTube and Amazon Prime through partnerships with CBS, as well as iTunes and Google Play.

Dawson’s Creek

“Dawson’s Creek” originally ran on The WB from January 20, 1998, to May 14, 2003. TBS was the first network to air the series in syndication, but then “Dawson’s Creek” didn’t air on television at all until a relatively brief run on ABC Family (known as Freeform today). Pop TV has sporadically aired “Dawson’s Creek” over the years, but not in quite some time.

Individual seasons of “Dawson’s Creek” are available for purchase, along with the complete series set, which I reviewed for TeenDramaWhore upon its release back in 2009. It has some flaws, just as the “Beverly Hills, 90210” sets do.

Just last week it was announced “Dawson’s Creek” will begin streaming on Netflix on November 1. It’s unclear if this means it is being pulled from Hulu, but I’d venture that’s the case. The show is also currently available on Amazon Prime, along with iTunes, Google Play, and YouTube.

Those who are new to watching the series on DVD or via streaming are in a for a surprise: The show’s iconic theme song, “I Don’t Wanna Wait” by Paula Cole, is often replaced by Jann Arden’s “Run Like Mad.” To be honest, I actually prefer the latter!

The O.C.

“The O.C.” originally ran on FOX from August 5, 2003, to February 22, 2007. The first seven episodes also aired on FX to lure in more fans. The series later aired in syndication on SOAPnet.

There are individual season sets on DVD, as well as a complete series set available for purchase. Interestingly, season 4 came out on DVD in May 2007 and then the complete series followed just a few months later in November. Despite the offerings coming out so close together, I have no doubt many fans bought both and screamed, “TAKE MY MONEY!!!”

“The O.C.” previously streamed on CW Seed, and until relatively recently, was streaming on Hulu. Now it’s available through HBO Max, as well as through Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, and YouTube.

One Tree Hill

“One Tree Hill” originally aired on The WB beginning on September 23, 2003, and finished its run on The CW on April 4, 2012.

The series was broadcast in syndication on SOAPnet, although only episodes from seasons 1 to 5 were shown.

All seasons were released on individual DVD sets, with the complete series debuting in June 2012, just a couple of months after the season 9 DVD came out.

“One Tree Hill” previously streamed on Netflix and there was a fan outcry when it was removed in 2017. In 2018, however, it began streaming on Hulu, where it is still available today. You can also watch via Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, and YouTube.

Gossip Girl

“Gossip Girl” originally aired on The CW from September 19, 2007, to December 17, 2012.

For a short time, it was broadcast in syndication on the Style Network.

There are individual season sets of “Gossip Girl” available to purchase on DVD, along with the complete series set. And if you thought “The O.C.” and “One Tree Hill” were quick to release their complete series box sets after their final-season DVDs came out, the “Gossip Girl” season 6 DVD and the complete series came out on the same day in 2012. It would not surprise me one bit if fans immediately bought both.

“Gossip Girl” is currently streaming on Netflix, but it will likely move to HBO Max at some point as that platform will be home to the “Gossip Girl” reboot, which is expected to premiere next year. The original “Gossip Girl” is also currently available for streaming through Amazon Prime, iTunes, and YouTube.

90210

“90210” originally aired on The CW from September 2, 2008, to May 13, 2013.

Though the show amassed more than 100 episodes, typically considered the minimum amount required for a syndication deal, “90210” has never aired in syndication.

All seasons of “90210” are available for purchase as individual DVD sets. It is the only one of the core six dramas to not have an official complete-series DVD set released. (There is, however, a weird “complete series” offering on Amazon, with a note that the DVDs “will not play on most DVD players sold in the U.S., U.S. Territories, Canada, and Bermuda.”)

“90210” is currently streaming on CW Seed, with the first two seasons also available on Pluto TV.