Paste Magazine has released an unranked list of the 35 best teen TV series currently available on streaming platforms, spanning supernatural epics to grounded dramas. The selection highlights the evolution of young-adult television over the past decade, driven by serialized adaptations, Peak TV excesses, and the streaming boom. Availability may vary due to licensing deals, but the lineup offers ample options for fans.
Teen television has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, with streaming services expanding access to both classic and contemporary series. Paste Magazine's latest compilation, published online, curates 35 standout teen TV shows available across major platforms as of the article's release. The list emphasizes quality over quantity, acknowledging the challenges of content licensing while encouraging viewers to explore its recommendations.
The selections cover a wide spectrum, from mystery-driven narratives like Netflix's 'A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder,' where protagonist Pip Fitz-Amobi investigates a past disappearance, to supernatural comedies such as 'Wednesday,' featuring Jenna Ortega as the iconic Addams family teen solving murders at a boarding school for outcasts. Other highlights include 'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' on Netflix, a darker take on the teenage witch archetype, and 'Shadow and Bone,' adapting Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse with themes of destiny and power in a fantasy world inspired by Russia.
Classic revivals and soaps also feature prominently, like Fox's 'The O.C.,' which revitalized the genre in the mid-2000s with its mix of drama and music promotion for bands including Death Cab for Cutie and The Killers. The CW's 'The Vampire Diaries' evolved from guilty-pleasure angst to a complex supernatural saga over eight seasons. More recent entries, such as Paramount+'s 'School Spirits,' blend comedy and mystery as a murdered teen navigates high school purgatory, and Freeform's 'grown-ish,' a bold spin-off from 'black-ish' focusing on college life with a diverse cast.
Paste's writers praise the depth in shows like OWN's 'David Makes Man,' which transcends genres through poetic storytelling and Akili McDowell's nuanced performance as a teen balancing survival and expectations. Netflix's 'Sex Education' delivers raunchy yet character-rich coming-of-age tales, while Max's 'Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin' revives the franchise with fresh intrigue set 20 years after a pivotal tragedy. The list extends to animated series like Disney Channel's 'The Owl House,' subverting tropes in a witchy alternate universe, and survival thrillers such as Showtime's 'Yellowjackets,' merging 1990s horror with modern mystery.
Overall, the compilation celebrates teen TV's ability to tackle growing pains, identity, and societal issues with emotional resonance and entertainment value. As one reviewer notes of 'Wednesday,' it captures 'the growing pains of being 16 without taking itself too seriously.' Fans are advised to check back for updates, given the fluid nature of streaming catalogs.
