It is likely that most of us have had at least temporary contact with TV series where the main characters were a group of teenagers, and we were able to relate to their problems at the time. Besides the fact that such teen shows heroes demonstrated to us that they had similar problems to ours, teen productions gave us a glimpse into a slightly different world and this worked on the viewers’ imagination.
In our list of best teen shows to watch in 2023, you can find some series worth watching which are often not afraid to deal with extremely heavy topics. Should you be currently in search of a series in which teenage problems, both trivial and serious, are the ones that play the first fiddle, the following list will certainly help you.
10- Skins
Having premiered in 2007, the series Skins is the oldest title in the entire list of best teen shows to watch in 2023. At the time, this production was a real revolution in the world of series for teenagers. After all, the British showrunners were brave enough to show the less colorful side of adolescence – with a group of friends struggling with mental illness, addictions, and their own identity.
In contrast to other TV series, here we are not faced with the same characters over and over again. They are replaced with a “new generation” every few seasons. With this approach, they were able to present the changes in the characters in a condensed way with no unnecessary stretching of the story. All the more so because some of the teenagers cannot cope with their own problems, which results in outside interventions.
Skins is a production still fondly remembered today by people who grew up with the series. The image often felt all too real, for which the actors and creators must be praised. Simply put, teenage life is not colorful for everyone. Skins is definitely one of the different entries in our list of best teen shows to watch in 2023.
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Number of seasons: 7
- Number of episodes: 61
9- Never Have I Ever
Never Have I Ever has a well-defined main character. Devi Vishwakumar is about to start her second year in high school and diligently wants to improve her position in the school hierarchy. During the subsequent adventures Devi succeeds in fulfilling her dreams, however, she has to face various problems at the same time.
The said problems, however, are the consequences of her actions. Our heroine is far from perfect and frequently behaves in a selfish way, either forgetting her friends or breaking more rules. But this makes it all the more possible to identify with Devi, who is just trying to find her place in the world and figure out what growing up is. And yet, things are not easy.
Never Have I Ever is a series that will certainly appeal to those looking for something that resembles classic series for teenage girls. Simultaneously, the production has an edge to it that makes it stand out and keeps viewers glued to the screen. Definitely it is one of the best teen shows to watch in 2023.
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Number of seasons: 3
- Number of episodes: 30
8- SKAM
Probably the biggest disadvantage of the SKAM series is that it is not available on most countries on Netflix. In addition, we must admit that it is a unique production, and not only because it was made for Norwegian television. It was originally presented with excerpts from the episodes on YouTube, and social media profiles of the characters were created for people to follow.
The storyline of the series itself was uniquely presented. There is a different heroine or hero each season, and it’s from their perspective that we experience the uneasy world of teenagers. They range from the desire for love and the choice between old and new friends, to the battles with illnesses. There was plenty of room for reflections on identity and trying to choose between a conservative family environment and more liberal friends.
SKAM approached the story of teenagers in a different way, and it worked. While the production has not received new seasons for some years, it is still being discussed and it deserves a place in this list of best teen shows.
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Number of seasons: 4
- Number of episodes: 43
7- Pretty Little Liars
Pretty Little Liars is not your typical teen show. Instead, the series is a loose adaptation of Sarah Shepard’s book entitled Pretty Little Liars. In fact, this production has been described by some as “Ready for anything for teenage girls,” since here we are also faced with a group of close female friends, but rather than one of them committing suicide, there is a mysterious disappearance.
One year after the aforementioned disappearance, the friends receive mysterious messages sent by a person signing himself as A. In the beginning they are suspicious that it might be their former friend, since her name was Alison. It soon turns out that this is not the case, and thus for seven seasons the group attempt to find out who the sender is. Meanwhile, they find themselves controlled by a criminal who is threatening to give away their secrets.
The main plot is not clarified until the final season, so the series may get long for less patient viewers, since it focuses more on the four friends and their transformation than on the story. However, it deserves a place in our list of best teen shows to watch in 2023.
- Where to watch: HBO Max
- Number of seasons: 7
- Number of episodes: 160
6- Elite
Elite is by far one of the most interesting non-English-language productions on Netflix. It is about students attending the elite school Las Encinas. The storyline begins when three young people enter the institution and are trying to find their way in the new conditions. Things are not easy, because their financial status is not as high as that of the other students.
Later seasons not only focus on the development of the characters and on showing their often very complicated relationships – at times the series is quite dark, and in every season we deal with the death of one of the characters. Mysteries, blackmail and forbidden relationships all appear to be a daily reality for those attending Las Encinas.
For sure, a big advantage of the series is the attention to ensuring that each element of the story is being constantly developed. This is why we get new questions regarding the main plot and ever-changing characters whose personalities evolve under the influence of events. Elite could be regarded as one of the best teen shows to watch in 2023.
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Number of seasons: 5
- Number of episodes: 40
5- Atypical
Atypical’s showrunner intended the series to show the problems of an autistic teenager struggling for his independence. The first season’s production faced criticism over the way autism was portrayed, however, by hiring consultants and new actors, it strongly helped the subsequent series.
The protagonist is Sam, who is passionately fascinated by Antarctica and penguins and seeks to enter independent adult life. Doing so is not easy for him, and also for the whole family, which has been subordinated to the boy’s autism. At this point it is worth noting that the series in no way demonizes the disease.
Atypical incorporates humorous interludes into the serious subject matter, which prove that life can always be fun and interesting. Meanwhile, the series is not at all afraid to show that people with disabilities may also be mean and unpleasant to others, just like anyone else. Atypical is a teen show that approaches autism in a more realistic way and is definitely an item worth giving a chance. So if you are looking for some best teen show, you can give Atypical a go.
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Number of seasons: 4
- Number of episodes: 38
4- Euphoria
The next entry in our list of best teen shows is Euphoria, which sparked a buzz online – viewers wanted to express their dislike of the images portrayed in the series. Teenagers with drug problems and violence were not liked by everyone, in particular those who hadn’t watched Buddies or the 2012 original in the past.
Euphoria is a series title in which teenagers are not only trying to live, but also simply survive. The various emotions here mix together to create new twists and turns, and thanks to them the viewer’s perception of some of the characters changes. While, of course, not all story threads are equally good.
Euphoria is certainly an intense journey to get ready for. The series is not afraid to demonstrate that we can fall to the bottom before we have even finished growing up.
- Where to watch: HBO Max
- Number of seasons: 2
- Number of episodes: 16
3- Sex Education
Otis Milburn is having a troubled relationship with his mother Jean. She is a sexologist by profession and cannot see why she should not discuss sex freely with her son Sam, while inviting more men for a “one-night stand” in the evening. On his own, Sam Otis is not very popular at school, but he has an idea to change that.
The boy determines to set up an unofficial school clinic on sexual advice. He himself has no practical experience, but he knows a lot about theory thanks to his parent, and for the right payment he is prepared to support the rest of his classmates with his knowledge. While this sounds like a straightforward comedy about sex, Sex Education is more than that.
The show also deals with a wide variety of important topics, including abortion and sexual harassment. There is also no shortage of great supporting actors in the show, which makes the world of the series alive and engaging, earning a third place in our list of best teen shows in 2023.
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Number of seasons: 3
- Number of episodes: 23
2- The End of the F***ing World
The series End of the F***ing World is actually based on the comic book of the same name, with the whole first season recounting the events that occurred in the paper version. The teenager James considers himself a psychopath and ultimately decides to kill a man. As his victim he chooses Alyssa, with whom, however, he forms a certain bond. The girl offers to run away from home to the boy, as she wants to free herself from her family.
The End of the F***ing World is a rather dark and unusual production. The protagonists experience a strong clash with reality, reshuffling their view of the world and themselves. Its second season started a completely new story, one that did not appear on the pages of the comic book, and you can sense this, because the story, while still good, is weaker than the first season.
This series is incredibly special. While watching it, we will not witness love dramas or spectacular action. This is why it is all the more worth seeing and why it deserves a place in this list of best teen shows to watch in 2023.
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Number of seasons: 2
- Number of episodes: 16
1- Stranger Things
What Stranger Things proves is that it’s possible to still feel nostalgic for the 1980s, despite not living in that era. And it also proves that stories with heroic teenagers in the lead roles are still popular. We are not dealing with a colorful tale, however, but rather something striking a darker tone.
In fact, one of the biggest strengths of Stranger Things is its ability to interweave ordinary, day-to-day teenage life with supernatural events straight out of a horror movie. We go from riding bikes and playing Dungeon & Dragons to having portals leading to another dimension and witnessing supernatural events.
Having four seasons to its credit, the story of the characters is gradually approaching its finale. With the lessons learned so far, we can only expect it to be spectacular. That is why you should catch up with what is currently available, as there is enough material to admire for long, satisfying hours. Stranger Things deservedly has a place in our list of best teen shows to watch in 2023.
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Number of seasons: 4
- Number of episodes: 34
