These shows are your ticket to an entertaining binge.
Some of these shows might have flown under your radar but are sure to give you all those angsty, feelsy vibes you've been missing.
10. "Everwood" (2002-2006) "Everwood" plants us in the quaint town of Everwood, Colorado, following the life of Dr. Andy Brown, a world-renowned neurosurgeon. After his wife's tragic death, Andy moves his family to this remote, picturesque location to start anew. He opens a free clinic, but the town's existing MD isn't throwing any welcome parties. Andy's children, Ephram and Delia, face their own hurdles; Ephram's brooding piano-prodigy shtick doesn't exactly jive well with the locals.
Love triangles, family drama, and healing – this show's got it in spades.
9. "The O.C." (2003-2007) The show throws us into the waves with Ryan Atwood, a kid from the wrong side of the tracks taken in by the wealthy Cohen family in Newport Beach, California. Ryan's arrival stirs up drama. He quickly forms a bond with his awkward adoptive brother, Seth, and the two tackle high school's social minefield. There's romance with the girl-next-door Marissa Cooper and her best friend, Summer, but don't be fooled; the road to love is anything but smooth.
With a backdrop of wealth and privilege, "The O.C." deals out family conflicts, love triangles, and tragedies with a side of indie rock.
8. "Gilmore Girls" (2000-2007) A coffee-addicted, fast-talking mom and her bookish daughter, navigating life in a town that's straight out of a snow globe.
Welcome to "Gilmore Girls," set in Stars Hollow, Connecticut, where Lorelai and Rory Gilmore are more like besties than mother and daughter. Lorelai's rich parents, Emily and Richard, might as well be from another planet with their high-society expectations. Rory's got her own drama, juggling prep school, boys, and dreams of Ivy League glory.
7. "One Tree Hill" (2003-2012) In the small town of Tree Hill, North Carolina, half-brothers Lucas and Nathan Scott are pitted against each other, both on and off the court, thanks to their shared absentee dad, Dan Scott – father of the year, he ain't. Lucas, the brooding outsider, and Nathan, the golden boy, compete for hoops supremacy, and, because it's not high school without a little romance, they also both fall for Peyton Sawyer, the quintessential troubled cheerleader.
There's heartbreak, there's scandal, and there's plenty of ball games.
6. "Freaks and Geeks" (1999-2000) A high school in all its awkward glory, seen through the eyes of two siblings: Lindsay and Sam Weir. Lindsay's existential crisis leads her to befriend the "freaks," a gang of misfits with a penchant for rule-breaking, while Sam and his "geeks" are navigating the dungeons (and dragons) of adolescence.
The Weirs' journey through the trials and tribulations of high school is packed with heart, humor, and enough vintage flair to make you wanna dig out your old yearbooks.
5. "Roswell" (1999-2002) When Liz Parker gets shot in her family's diner, she's miraculously healed by her secretive classmate, Max Evans. Spoiler alert: he's not from around here – as in, he's an alien. This revelation launches Liz, Max, and their friends into a whirlwind of government cover-ups and interstellar secrets, all while trying to maintain the façade of normal high school students.
The desert backdrop of Roswell, New Mexico, serves as the perfect alien landscape.
4. "Veronica Mars" (2004-2007, 2019) Veronica Mars is a high school detective extraordinaire. She's smart, she's sassy, and she's not afraid to chase down the truth in the seaside town of Neptune, California. After her best friend's murder and her father's disgrace as the county sheriff, Veronica uses her wit and sleuthing skills to solve the town's darkest mysteries.
It's not all break-ins and stakeouts; there's plenty of hallway drama and a love life that's as messy as a stakeout with a box of donuts.
3. "Friday Night Lights" (2006-2011) Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose – that's the mantra of "Friday Night Lights," a show that goes beyond the gridiron to deliver a raw, heartfelt portrayal of life in Dillon, Texas. Coach Eric Taylor is the new head coach of the high school football team, and the town's obsession with the sport is as thick as their southern accents.
But it's not just about football; the series tackles real issues like family dynamics, economic struggles, and personal triumphs.
2. "My So-Called Life" (1994-1995) The coming-of-age series that gave us Angela Chase, played by a young Claire Danes. Angela's navigating the rough seas of teenhood while sporting some killer plaid and crimson hair. Her introspective gaze and internal monologues give us a front-row seat to the teenage psyche, dealing with themes of identity, relationships, and social issues with a level of sincerity that's as refreshing as it is poignant.
1. "Skins" (UK) (2007-2013) The British series that's as edgy as it gets. This show doesn't just push the envelope – it rips it to shreds. We follow a group of teens in Bristol as they grapple with a barrage of issues, from substance abuse to mental illness, without the sugar-coating. The characters rotate every two seasons, giving us a fresh batch of chaos with each iteration.
