When it comes to rewatching television shows, comedies are usually the way to go. They're lighthearted, funny, and usually, fans can pick any random episode to start with without having to worry about being confused. However, watching teen dramas can also be a lot of fun largely because of their dramatic plots and epic love stories.
While it can be harder to binge teen drama shows if a mystery is involved like say Pretty Little Liars, there are plenty of teen dramas that don't have an overarching mystery and instead focus on the everyday lives of teenagers. In fact, these slice-of-life-type dramas have become the bread and butter of the streaming age, with teens falling in love with dramas from years before they were even born.
Dawson's Creek (1998-2003) - Available On Netflix
Beginning in 1998, Dawson's Creek centered on Dawson (James Van Der Beek), a wannabe filmmaker, and his group of friends as they navigate the highs and lows of teenage life in high school. A huge plot of Dawson's Creek that keeps fans coming back year after year is the will-they, won't-they relationship between Dawson and his best friend Joey (Katie Holmes).
Dawson's Creek ran for six seasons and was very popular with teenagers at the time for its authentic storylines. However, parents weren't too pleased and the show was considered one of the crudest teen shows on TV.
Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001–2015) - Available On Tubi & Amazon Prime Video
When it comes to teen drama shows, Degrassi: The Next Generation is a quintessential classic. The Candian series began in 2001 and lasted well over a decade before it ended in 2015. Unlike other teen shows, Degrassi's core cast regularly changed as the characters rose through the ranks of high school before graduation and going on their way.
Degrassi has something to offer everyone from episodes that deal with deep, real life-issues, to epic romances, and several high school dances gone wrong. It's the perfect show for teens and teens-at-heart to watch over and over again.
Friday Night Lights (2006-2011) - Available On Netflix
Nothing says high school like high school football which is partly why Friday Night Lights has become such an iconic teen drama show to watch. The iconic ensemble show centers on the Dillon Panthers, a high school football team led by Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler), and the complicated lives of the players and their families.
Despite never bringing in huge ratings, Friday Night Lights cultivated a devoted fanbase who continued to rally around the show. Like many sports shows, the actual football was a small part of the show which is why so many people have come to love it.
One Tree Hill (2003-2012) - Available On Hulu
When it comes to teen shows in the early 2000s. One Tree Hill is one of the most iconic shows of all time. The early seasons focused on Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan Scott (James Lafferty), two half-brothers who forge a brotherhood over their love of basketball. Instead of ending the show after the characters graduated, the series time jumped allowing things to run for several more seasons.
While drama is a given in the small town of Tree Hill, the truly lasting power of One Tree Hill stems from the epic romances the show created. Nathan and Haley have become the textbook iconic couple while Brooke (Sophia Bush) is a blueprint for the misguided teen.
Outer Banks (2020-) - Available On Netflix
The intense Outer Banks is one of Netflix's biggest teen shows in recent years and even though it only has two seasons, fans continue to return to rewatch the show several times. Though the show is a mystery, with John B. (Chase Stokes) and his friends trying to track down a long-lost treasure, its rewatchability is high on the list because of the epic friendships and relationships depicted in the show.
Fans just can't get enough of the Pogue lifestyle but they also like to rewatch it to see if they missed any clues along the way.
Riverdale (2017-) - Available On Netflix
Based on the characters of Archie Comics, Riverdale follows Archie Andrews (K.J. Appa) as he navigates life in his small town. Like many teen shows nowadays, the series started with the characters in high school and follows them into adulthood with the help of time jumps.
While Riverdale aires on The CW, it grew in popularity because of its availability on Netflix. The series continues to be a hit with teen and teen-at-heart audiences because of the eery storylines and shippable couples.
Smallville (2001-2011) - Available On Hulu
It's hard to believe that superhero TV shows weren't a big deal at one point in time, but a large part of their popularity with teen audiences can be attributed to the creation of Smallville. The series follows a young Clark Kent (Tom Welling) whose superpowers have just started to manifest themselves.
Smallville is full of supernatural elements, heroic moments, and of course lots of teen drama making it the perfect show to watch over and over again. Though it might seem dated, it's worth checking out to see how far superhero shows have come.
Stranger Things (2016-) - Available On Netflix
While Netflix's smash hit Stranger Things might not be exclusively for teenagers, they do make up a large chunk of the show's fanbase. Set in the 1980s, the series centers on a group of kids who discover that their town is being overrun by supernatural forces.
Stranger Things might appear to be a teen mystery show but it's so much more than that. In fact, the show is a blend of genres depending on which characters are on screen. From coming-of-age adventures to supernatural ones, Stranger Things has something for everyone.
Teen Wolf (2011-2017) - Available On Hulu
Not many successful shows are based on movies, but Teen Wolf is one of the few to be just that. The supernatural drama series centered on Scott McCall (Tyler Posey), a young teenager who gets bitten by a werewolf and transforms into one himself. With his new power, Scott sets out to protect his California town from any and all supernatural forces that threaten it.
Airing on MTV, Teen Wolf became one of the network's highest-rated shows of all time. Fans continue to watch the show because of the phenomenal casting and unique storylines the show created.
The O.C. (2003-2007) - Available On HBO Max
Despite only lasting for four seasons, The O.C. has gone down in history as one of the most iconic and rewatched teen series of all time. At the heart of the show is Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie), a troubled teen who is adopted by a wealthy family in Newport beach. The series follows his life as he struggles to find his place in high school and in his new family.
Like many teen shows, The O.C. rose in popularity because of the romantic relationship depicted on the show. While dramatic, the show is also quite humorous which aids in its rewatchability.