One of Netflix's more polished 2020 releases, and one that flew under the radar, is the first season of its teen drama Grand Army. The series follows five students of the prestigious Grand Army High School after a bomb goes off near campus. As a result, issues surrounding racism and xenophobia are brought to the forefront.
The series does a great job of showing how such a diverse population of students can all attend the same New York school, and how their lives at home are so different from the ones they lead at school. The teens deal with very real issues, from sexual assault to fighting for gender equality, to financial hardship, to displacement and disassociation. Their struggles are portrayed authentically, poetically, and impactfully.
The Society (2019)
Set in the fictional town of New Ham, New England, The Society follows the students of the local high school returning from a botched field trip to find their town deserted. They spend the first season trying to solve this mystery and rebuild their society from the ground up.
Unfortunately, Netflix canceled The Society just before it was scheduled to film season 2, leaving fans wondering what would have happened next. Still, the first season brings up many valid issues that reflect adult society by depicting children trying to manage adult responsibilities. The extensive cast of characters is easy to love.
We Are Who We Are (2020-)
Another gritty, intimate insight into the life of young adults, We Are Who We Are is an HBO original from acclaimed director Luca Guadagnino. Just like Call Me By Your Name, his other well-known project, the series combines elements of Italy and America.
Jack Dylan Grazer stars as Fraser, the son of an army commander and her wife. The series starts when they arrive at an American military base in Italy, where Fraser meets other teens like him. He forms a particularly close relationship with Caitlin, who is questioning her gender identity.
The End Of The F***ing World (2017-2019)
This British dark comedy follows two teens, James and Alyssa, as they run away from home and journey across the UK. Awkward James believes he's a psychopath and plans to use Alyssa as his first human murder victim, while outspoken Alyssa believes she could fall in love with him.
On their journey, they encounter many evils of their society, including a sex offender and possible serial killer. Even when the show is at its darkest, it manages to retain its sense of humor.
Sex Education (2019-)
Like Grand Army, Sex Education has a very distinct color palette and visual aesthetic. The series is set in a quaint British town, where Otis Milburn lives with his sex therapist mother.
Otis is shy and awkward, which makes for hilarious circumstances when local genius Maeve Wiley convinces him to set up an underground sex therapy clinic at school. As Otis helps various teens accept themselves, viewers realize the show is far more heartwarming and empowering than it is raunchy.
13 Reasons Why (2017-2020)
Based on the novel by Jay Asher, 13 Reasons Why is one of Netflix's most popualr original series. A teenage girl named Hannah Baker commits suicide and leaves a pack of tapes explaining the thirteen reasons she had for ending her life.
Her classmate Clay Jensen is one of these reasons, and listening to the tapes enrages him. He is compelled to take action, and with the help of others who were on the tapes, they fight for justice and begin to understand how their actions affect others.
Dare Me (2019)
Beautifully dark, Dare Me shares a similar aesthetic to Grand Army in its visuals and its soundtrack. It's also set in an American high school, and the teens all lead very different lives from one another, even if they are united by cheerleading. A new coach comes to take over Sutton Grove's cheer squad, much to Top Girl Beth's dismay.
But Beth soon finds she has far bigger worries. As she loses her power over the squad, she also loses her best friend Addy, who decides she wants more than to be her second-best. The girls form a bizarre relationship with their new coach while female friendships are tested, and Beth's mental health spirals.
Elite (2018-)
Like Grand Army, Elite takes place at a prestigious high school - only this one is in Spain. The crime-driven story begins when three students join the school with scholarships after their old school was destroyed.
This makes for an interesting dynamic between the power-hungry rich kids, and working-class, financially disadvantaged students. Other topics like religion, health, sexuality, and power plays are also explored.
Trinkets (2019-2020)
Grand Army does a great job of depicting a variety of female friendships in an understated way. Another Netflix series known specifically for exploring these dynamics is Trinkets.
Elodie, Tabitha, and Moe are three girls from vastly different backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common: shoplifting. None of them need to shoplift, but they can't seem to stop. Gradually, grudgingly, the three of them become friends and support each other.
Euphoria (2019-)
HBO's acclaimed teen drama, Euphoria has just made its comeback with two special episodes to get fans through the wait for season 2. Zendaya stars as the main character, seventeen-year-old Rue, who is a drug addict.
She comes out of rehab but doesn't plan on staying clean. The series follows her and the teens around her as they attend parties, take substances, and attempt to make it through each day while battling their inner demons.
Skins UK (2007-2013)
This British comedy doesn't shy away from any topic and certainly doesn't sugarcoat anything. The show is split into three generations of teens, with two seasons dedicated to each. Within the seasons, each character gets their own episode, which allows viewers a closer insight into their lives.
The characters and their families are diverse in their cultures, sexualities, personal goals and ambitions, and the various mental health issues they struggle with. Skins may not be as visually pleasing or poetic as Grand Army, but it explores similar themes.