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The heyday of teen romance TV shows from the late 1990s to the early 2010s created some of the best and most influential adolescent series of all time. This was the period when teenagers and the pangs of adolescence were starting to be taken seriously by film and television, as young adults were proving themselves to be a vast and marketable audience base. While there are many other great shows about teenagers that feature love stories, not all of them share the specific tone and atmosphere that makes a teen romance TV show so unique.
There are plenty of toxic couples in teen dramas, as most of the relationships presented in these shows are far from perfect and often problematic. However, these are easy to spot looking back on these shows, and it's important to remember to take most storylines and romantic interests in teen dramas with a grain of salt. Using outlandish storylines and leaning into melodrama over realism are common features of the teen soap operas that are still so popular today. This makes them stand out from the other shows on TV and provides fun escapist fantasies for all viewers to enjoy.
10 The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022–Present)
Jenny Han's book trilogy has become an iconic part of 2020s teen TV
The Summer I Turned Pretty, based on Jenny Han's novel, is a coming-of-age romantic drama series centered on Isabel "Belly" Conklin, played by Lola Tung. The story unfolds as Belly spends her summers at a beach house with her family and longtime friends, exploring themes of love, friendship, and discovery amid the transformative period of adolescence. The series premiered in 2022 and captures the essence of youth and summer.
Cast Lola Tung , Christopher Briney , Gavin Casalegno , Jackie Chung
Release Date June 17, 2022
Seasons 3
Amazon Prime's teen drama based on the hit book series by Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty, is a great example of how shows about adolescence have evolved over the past several years. Following the central love triangle between Belly (Lola Tung) and the brothers Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno), The Summer I Turned Pretty isn't afraid to put its characters in awkward situations. Though she's not always likable, Belly has captured the audience's hearts with her journey of self-discovery.
Though season 1 was stronger than 2, based on the books, the next story arc will see more drama and unbelievable heartache between Belly and the Fisher boys.
The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 delay will be worth the wait, as the next installment of Belly's story will have more episodes than the previous two seasons. Though season 1 was stronger than 2, based on the books, the next story arc will see more drama and unbelievable heartache between Belly and the Fisher boys. The series is a pure romance with an undercurrent of coming-of-age drama, making it feel just as intense and unforgettable as the first pangs of love do during the teenage years.
Series | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022–Present) | 75% | 68% |
9 Teen Wolf (2011–2017)
The intense feelings of teenage years are enhanced by the supernatural elements of Teen Wolf
Teen Wolf is an animated American television series that aired from 1986 to 1987. Produced by Southern Star Productions with Clubhouse Pictures, it is based on the 1985 live-action film. The show explores the adventures of a teenage werewolf navigating life's challenges.
Cast James Hampton , Townsend Coleman , Jeannie Elias , Stacy Keach, Sr. , June Foray , Don Most , Will Ryan , Ellen Gerstell
Release Date September 13, 1986
Seasons 6
Franchise(s) Teen Wolf
Writers Jeff Davis
Directors Jeff Davis
Showrunner Jeff Davis
Tyler Posey and Dylan O'Brien are the best friends and heartthrobs of Teen Wolf Scott and Stiles. They get involved in a supernatural realm they didn't know existed when Scott is transformed into a werewolf and must deal with the pitfalls of high school while his life is upended. Though Scott is the protagonist of the series, the love story that's the easiest to root for is that between Stiles and Lydia (Holland Roden), who goes from seeing Stiles as a nobody to a friend to a caring and supportive romantic interest.
It's common for teen dramas to weave in supernatural elements, and Teen Wolf strikes a good balance between the otherworldly aspects of the plot and the everyday difficulties of being a teenager. While vampires were all the rage during the late 2000s and early 2010s, the fact that Teen Wolf focused on werewolves set it apart from the many similar offerings on television. As Scott comes into his own as a werewolf, he struggles with balancing his loyalties to his friends and family with his duties as a protector.
Series | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Teen Wolf (2011–2017) | 81% | 85% |
8 Pretty Little Liars (2010–2017)
This mystery series kept audiences guessing until the very end
Pretty Little Liars is a Teen Drama and Mystery series based on the novel by Sara Shepard. The show was created by Marlene King and stars Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, and Holly Marie Combs. The series revolves around four friends who meet back up with one another and begin to receive strange threats from an unknown source simply labeled "A."
Cast Troian Bellisario , Ashley Benson , Holly Marie Combs , Lucy Hale , Bianca Lawson , Laura Leighton , Chad Lowe , Shay Mitchell , Nia Peeples , Ian Harding
Release Date June 8, 2010
Seasons 7
Franchise(s) Pretty Little Liars
Writers Ina Marlene King
Showrunner Ina Marlene King
Full of mystery and crime drama elements, Pretty Little Liars is one of the most outlandish teen romance TV shows of the 21st century, but this is part of the fun of watching the series. Though the young women on the show were all preoccupied with discovering who A was and the constant blackmail they faced, their day-to-day lives frequently revolved around their love interests. One of the highlights of PLL is how it centered on LGBTQ+ love stories through Emily's (Shay Mitchell) arcs, which was a big deal in the early 2010s.
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Despite being a show for teens, Pretty Little Liars puts its characters in intense and terrifying situations throughout the seasons and sees them forced to give up some of their biggest love interests. While many of the plot lines are so unreasonable, they border on impossible; there was never a dull moment throughout the run of Pretty Little Liars, and rooting for a favorite ship was one of the most compelling parts of the series. Even when they're playing an evil twin or being kidnapped, the main actors bring heart and maturity to the show.
Series | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Pretty Little Liars (2010–2017) | 81% | 81% |
7 One Tree Hill (2003-2012)
Even after high school, One Tree Hill provides the same level of drama
Set in the fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina, One Tree Hill chronicles the complicated and intertwined lives of its residents. Following half-brothers and rivals Lucas and Nathan Scott as they compete both for positions on their school basketball team and for the affection of their fellow students, Tree Hill's community is built around community spirit and the complex workings of the ever-growing Scott family.
Cast Chad Michael Murray , James Lafferty , Hilarie Burton , Paul Johansson , Sophia Bush , Barry Corbin , Craig Sheffer , Bethany Joy Lenz , Moira Kelly
Release Date September 23, 2003
Seasons 9
Streaming Service(s) Max
Showrunner Mark Schwahn
The early seasons of One Tree Hill are the best of the show, but that doesn't mean that the series stopped being compelling when the characters left high school. Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan Scott (Jame Lafferty) are the half-brothers at odds in One Tree Hill, with their personal lives and rivalries playing out on the basketball court. It doesn't take long for them to be at odds romantically as well when Nathan starts dating Haley (Bethany Joy Lenz), Lucas' best friend. Many of these complicated pairings arise on One Tree Hill.
Brooke soon turned out to be the most enduring character in the series, and watching her learn to love herself was one of the greatest arcs on the show.
Who Lucas should have ended up with was a hot debate during the heyday of One Tree Hill, as his relationships with Peyton (Hilarie Burton) and Brooke (Sophia Bush) made for a stellar love triangle. However, Brooke soon turned out to be the most enduring character in the series, and watching her learn to love herself was one of the greatest arcs on the show. Brooke's story, along with Haley and Nathan's strong relationship, helped keep One Tree Hill relevant in the later years.
Series | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
One Tree Hill (2003–2012) | N/A | 68% |
6 Veronica Mars (2004–2019)
Veronica solves many mysteries but struggles to open her heart throughout the show
Veronica Mars is a drama mystery series that stars Kristen Bell as the titular teen detective who learns the ropes from her father, a California police sheriff. Following a "crime-of-the-week" episode format, each episode sees Veronica tackling new cases while carrying on her High School life, with a more significant, overarching plot carrying between episodes. Veronica's side career begins following the death of her best friend, which sets off a chain of events leading to several smaller cases.
Release Date September 22, 2004
Seasons 4
Writers Rob Thomas , Phil Klemmer
Directors John T. Kretchmer , Nick Mark , Michael Fields
Showrunner Rob Thomas
Kristen Bell leads Veronica Mars as the titular teen sleuth who puts Nancy Drew to shame with her expert investigative skills. A large thrust of the series is the central relationship between Veronica and Logan (Jason Dohring), who begin at odds, making for a fantastic enemies-to-lovers arc. The show takes their love story seriously, realistically chronicling the ups and downs of their lives as Veronica struggles to open up to Logan and he attempts to change and be a better person.
Unfortunately, when Veronica Mars returned for a reboot in 2019, it didn't capture the same magic as the original series since a large part of the draw was the missteps of young adulthood. As Veronica Mars progressed, it struggled to maintain the momentum and originality of season 1, but this doesn't mean it should be forgotten. Veronica Mars is as fresh, relevant, and poignant today as it was when it first premiered.
Series | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Veronica Mars (2004–2019) | 80% | 78% |
5 Dawson’s Creek (1998–2003)
Dawson and his friends navigate their coming-of-age in this seminal series
In the small town of Capeside, Massachusetts, fifteen-year-old Dawson Leery and his friends — tomboy Joey, class clown Pacey, and many more — experience the highs and lows of teenage life and coming of age.
Cast James Van Der Beek , Katie Holmes , Michelle Williams , Joshua Jackson , Mary-Margaret Humes , John Wesley Shipp , Mary Beth Peil , Kerr Smith , Busy Philipps
Release Date 1998-00-00
Seasons 6
Writers Kevin Williamson , Greg Berlanti , tom kapinos
Directors Greg Berlanti
Dawson's Creek was a hallmark of teen TV during the transition from the '90s to the 2000s because of its controversial and subversive storylines. Critics and audiences alike were taken aback by how willing Dawson's Creek was to touch upon traditionally taboo subjects in a teen series. Even when Dawson's Creek introduced unrealistic storylines, it always treated the teen characters with respect and framed their lives and romances closer to those of adults.
Watching Pacey fall head-over-heels for Joey and witnessing them continually come back to each other is one of the best parts of the show.
Throughout the show, Dawson (James Van Der Beek) is desperate to be treated like a grownup, but he and his friends are just beginning to understand how they fit into the wider world. When the series starts, Dawson and Joey (Katie Holmes) seem like they'll be the series' central romance, but Joey's connection with Pacey (Joshua Jackson) proves to be much more compelling. Watching Pacey fall head-over-heels for Joey and witnessing them continually come back to each other is one of the best parts of the show.
Series | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Dawson's Creek (1998–2003) | N/A | 77% |
4 My So-Called Life (1994–1995)
A short-lived teen drama series that changed the genre forever
My So-Called Life is a TV drama series that aired in 1994-1995, centered on teenager Angela Chase, played by Claire Danes, as she navigates the complexities of high school life, friendships, and family relationships. The show explores themes of identity, peer pressure, and adolescence, featuring a strong ensemble cast including Jared Leto as Jordan Catalano and Bess Armstrong as Angela's mother, Patty Chase.
Release Date August 25, 1994
Seasons 1
Creator(s) Winnie Holzman
My So-Called Life is one of the worst TV show cancelations after just one season, as the series had the potential to do so much more. Starring a young Claire Danes as Angela, the protagonist who's more self-aware and nuanced than most teens on television, the series follows her navigating the parts of adolescence that would normally be swept under the rug. In the mid-90s, most serious topics would be covered in a single episode of the season, but this wasn't the case with My So-Called Life. Every episode of the show saw Angela and her friends struggle to fit in and understand themselves.
The only reason M y So-Called Life doesn't rank higher is because it never got the chance to fully develop over multiple seasons. Additionally, the show might revolve around Angela's obsession with Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto), but it's much more than a romance. Despite receiving enormous critical acclaim, My So-Called Life never got to come into its own and continue pushing boundaries. However, it paved the way for even more subversive teen dramas in the years to come.
Series | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
My So-Called Life (1994–1995) | 94% | 91% |
3 Gossip Girl (2007–2012)
Backstabbing and betrayal are the beginnings of great romances in Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl is a teen drama series that aired from 2007 to 2012, created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. Set in New York City's Upper East Side, the show follows privileged high school students navigating relationships and betrayals. At the heart of their tumultuous lives is the anonymous blogger 'Gossip Girl,' who reveals their secrets. The ensemble cast includes Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, and Penn Badgley.
Release Date September 19, 2007
Seasons 6
Creator(s) Stephanie Savage , Josh Schwartz
Gossip Girl begins as a reverse Cinderella story, with the young and unknown Dan (Penn Badgley) falling in love with well-connected it-girl Serena (Blake Lively). This leads to Dan entering a world unlike anything he's ever known, and the audience watches the characters fall in and out of love with each other as they climb the social ladder. While Dan and Serena have plenty of drama, Blair (Leighton Meester) and Chuck (Ed Westwick) provide the best will-they-won't-they dynamic.
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Though Gossip Girl was rebooted in 2021, the contemporary series lacked the drama and, for lack of a better term, the messiness of the original series. The first Gossip Girl is unafraid to be just as scandalous as its characters, which makes for great drama. There's no question that the series sometimes went too far and strayed into problematic territory, but this was because Gossip Girl had fun with its characters and premise. The sexual content and inappropriate relationships made it the subject of heated debate throughout its run, but this has cemented its iconic status.
Series | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Gossip Girls (2007–2012) | 84% | 79% |
2 The O.C. (2003–2007)
Though the setting might be idyllic, the characters in The O.C. face many problems
When troubled teen Ryan (Benjamin McKenzie) is taken in by his public defender (Peter Gallagher), he suddenly finds himself on the right side of the tracks. The O.C. follows as Ryan tries his best to fit into the affluent California community while navigating the relentless drama of teen life, but his new home of Newport Beach is a town filled to the brim with secrets and scandal.
Release Date August 5, 2003
Seasons 4
Network FOX
Writers Josh Schwartz
Directors Josh Schwartz
Showrunner Josh Schwartz
It's impossible to forget the moment when Ryan (Ben McKenzie) first meets Marissa (Mischa Barton), and the events of The O.C. and their doomed romance are set in motion. Ryan is the perfect protagonist, as he's the audience's window into the lives of the elite and impossibly privileged residents of Newport Beach in the series. However, just because they're wealthy, that doesn't mean the characters are short on drama, as the tangled love lives and betrayals of the high schoolers and parents alike make for great television.
Though Ryan and Marissa were the most dramatic, Seth and Summer (Rachel Bilson) are the sleeper hit couple of the show.
The O.C. is one of Adam Brody's best TV shows, and his turn as Seth Cohen inspired a renaissance of the "nerd" archetype, cementing Brody as one of the early 2000s most synonymous heartthrobs. Though Ryan and Marissa were the most dramatic, Seth and Summer (Rachel Bilson) are the sleeper hit couple of the show. Their relationship grows into something stable, healthy, and worth rooting for. The same can't be said for many series like The O.C.
Series | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
The O.C. (2003–2007) | 68% | 71% |
1 The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017)
An iconic supernatural romance for the ages
Based on the novels by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is a story about the developing love triangle between Elena Gilbert and two vampiric brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Set in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the show follows the trio from high school through college as they battle for one another's affection.
Seasons 8
Writers Julie Plec , Kevin Williamson , L.J. Smith
Directors John Dahl
Showrunner Julie Plec
Franchise The Vampire Diaries
As one of the best vampire TV shows of all time, in addition to being an enduring romance series, The Vampire Diaries has something for everyone. Though the series begins with the love triangle of Elena (Nina Dobrev), Stefan (Paul Wesley), and Damon (Ian Somerhalder), it soon expands to include great romances for all the characters. From fan-favorite couples like Caroline (Candice King) and Klaus (Joesph Morgan) to later relationships like Bonnie (Kat Graham) and Enzo (Michael Malarkey), almost every romantic pairing was explored.
Like any good supernatural romance series, The Vampire Diaries makes the stakes as high as possible, putting the lives of the characters on the line many times to test how they feel about each other. The two spinoffs, The Originals and Legacies, expanded upon the lore and intrigue of the first show, but none could live up to the bar set by The Vampire Diaries. The lines between good and evil are blurred throughout the show, with characters constantly changing allegiances and romantic partners, making for enthralling drama.
Series | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017) | 86% | 72% |
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