Looking for your post-Heartstopper fix of teen drama?
Then check out these shows that bring the drama and (mostly) leave the cringe behind:
1. Freaks and Geeks
Created in 1999 but set in the early 80s, the title of this show pretty much tells you what you’re getting. Brother and sister, Sam and Lyndsey Weir attend the same Detroit high school. Sam, the younger of the two, is a geek while Lyndsay is trying to shake off her goodie-two-shoes image by being a rebel. Through the two intertwining stories, it explores the pressures and unfairness of teenage life.
2. Friday Night Lights
A sports drama that follows the fortunes of a high school football team, Friday Night Lights has broader appeal than just sports fans. Set in a small town in Texas, it shines light on lots of issues facing American teenagers such as family life, lack of funding for education, substance abuse and relationships.
3. Skins
Set in a Bristol sixth form, Skins is a gritty portrayal of life in a British city with a dose of humour thrown in to lighten it up a bit. It tackles serious issues like mental health from a teen perspective and is unashamedly rooted in the realities of life as adulthood fast approaches.
4. Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars is a high school student and part-time private investigator. While that might sound a bit cringy, in reality, it’s a show that tackles the tougher aspects of teen life against the backdrop of murder investigations. Veronica must cope with love, loss and problems at home as she tries to find out who killed her best friend.
5. Grange Hill
Set in the fictional London school of Grange Hill, this show started out in the 70s and ran until 2008. Throughout its time, Grange Hill dealt with the issues of the day, from racism and bullying to poverty, domestic violence and drug addiction. It’s timeless, fits with the retro trend of today and includes believable, likeable but flawed characters.
6. Beverly Hills, 90201
This show never shied away from tough topics. During its decade on air, Beverly Hills, 90210 explored hard-hitting issues such as date rape, homophobia, teen suicide and antisemitism through the lens of a family who have recently moved from Minneapolis to LA.
7. Smallville
Ostensibly the prequel to Superman, Smallville is a coming-of-age story with a difference. A young Clark Kent must deal with the typical pressures of high school life such as complicated romances and adversaries while coming to terms with his superpowers. It’s a unique perspective on the teen drama genre, but one that works.