While John Hughes made teen stories in the '80s and there have been some recent shows exploring high school life, including the popular Pretty Little Liars, there was nothing like the '90s. From Dawson's Creek to Beverly Hills 90210, there are many teen shows from this time period that have large fanbases. These shows proved that growing up involved some pain and suffering, along with some good times, and that having a solid social circle was a good way to get through it all.
Whether watching underrated teen shows or more mainstream ones, fans of '90s pop culture tend to agree about the characters and stories on these series. There are some fans who have taken to Reddit to share their hot takes on these '90s teen dramas.
Joey, Pacey, And Dawson Are Boring On Dawson's Creek
According to one post on Reddit, someone thinks that the three main characters on Dawson's Creek are dull. They wrote, "Joey, Dawson, and Pacey literality make up one personality, they're a very bland group for me and if the show was just about the three of them I don't think I could watch it."
Many fans of this '90s teen drama are caught up in the Dawson-Joey-Pacey love triangle and think that these young adults are intelligent, witty, and relatable. It's definitely rare to hear that they don't have many personality traits or bring much to the table.
Joey's Motivations Aren't Explained
This Reddit user isn't sure why Joey wanted to go to any Ivy League school and wishes that the show had spent more time dealing with her thoughts about the future.
This is definitely an unpopular opinion as many people love how smart Joey is and think that her desire to leave Capeside behind for school is one of the best things about her. It's true that Joey could have gone to any college and still had a good career and job afterward, so perhaps her obsession was a bit much.
Xander Is A Funny Character On Buffy The Vampire Slayer
It would be easy to focus on the main character of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as of course, Buffy Summers did an incredible job fighting vampires while attending high school and college. But her friend group deserves some attention, too, and people have some unpopular thoughts about them.
According to this Reddit user, Xander is a funny character. This tends to be an unpopular opinion because some fans have a problem with him, as there are examples of how he became less likable over time.
Brenda Should Have Stayed On Beverly Hills 90210
This Reddit user thinks that Brenda was "dramatic" but treated poorly by the people in her life. The fan wishes Brenda hadn't left after the fourth season.
There are many things wrong with Brenda's character, including the way that she acts when finding out that her best friend Kelly also loves her boyfriend Dylan. Most fans tend to think that it was okay for Brenda to leave the show because there were enough other characters to fill the space left behind, and they didn't like Brenda's personality. But this post serves as a reminder that she did have some fans who loved her spunk and courage.
Steve And Andrea Could Have Dated
According to this Reddit user, it would have been great if Steve and Andrea were a couple on Beverly Hills 90210. The fan wrote, "I always liked their scenes together. I wish Andrea would have forgotten about Brandon and taken Steve's amazing advice (offered in the U4EA episode) when he tells Andrea to 'get in the game.'"
This is an interesting idea since it's fair to say that neither character got the epic love stories that the others did. The focus was always on the other couples, such as Brenda and Dylan (or Kelly and Dylan), Brandon and Kelly, and Donna and David.
Ryan Murphy's Show Popular Is Underrated
Only on the air for two seasons, Ryan Murphy's teen drama Popular told the stories of two different groups of high schoolers. They were united by the unpopular Sam and the Queen Bee Brooke, whose parents were falling in love.
Not many people talk about this show and it doesn't get a ton of attention, especially not when compared to other shows from the era. One fan shared on Reddit that this show is much better than most think. They wrote, "Popular was waayyy ahead of its time. The world was not ready for that type of show. Season 1 of Popular was golden. Priceless comedy imo. Mary Cherry is still in my top ten characters of all time on tv."
My So-Called Life Doesn't Hold Up
Many people look back on My So-Called Life fondly. They love the main character Angela Chase and her love interest Jordan Catalano, and they think that the show sums up exactly what it's like to be a nervous and insecure teenager who is going through many different changes.
One unpopular opinion is that My So-Called Life is dated by today's standards. The fan explained, "I still like it because I liked it when it originally aired, and back then it was really fresh and original." They added that they don't think the show has aged this well. Not many people say this, as the show is considered a classic and beloved entry in the '90s teen show genre.
Dylan Is The Problem With The Famous Love Triangle
It's fun to think about which 90210 character was Dylan's perfect match. While his romance with Brenda was relatable and interesting, he did have chemistry with Kelly, and he really seemed to love both of them.
One fan thinks that Dylan should be held responsible for the 90210 love triangle. This is a compelling take since most people would probably say that Brenda and Kelly acted too immaturely and that they shouldn't have let a guy get in the way of their friendship, which was much more important and meaningful.
Kelly Has More Layers Than Anyone Else
The general feeling about Kelly Taylor on Beverly Hills 90210 is that she isn't a very likable person. Some fans have posted on Reddit that they disagree with this and they think that she's got a lot going for her.
One fan posted that Kelly has more layers than other characters on the show. The fan made a good point when they posted, "The damsel in distress plot lines they kept springing on her were a bit much but I don’t see that as a character flaw as everyone else does." They called Kelly "the most compelling and nuanced character on the show."
Dawson Is A Great Character And Doesn't Deserve The Hate
Dawson Leery might be the protagonist on Dawson's Creek but it's safe to say that people think he complains and gets too emotional.
That's why it's so interesting that a fan posted on Reddit that they like him. They wrote, "I don't hate Dawson. He's annoying at times but he's never done anything to hurt anyone" and said that in the case of Dawson and Joey's relationship, he was kind to her and she played with his heart.