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For the past few years, it’s felt like TV shows about teenagers — comedic, dramatic, and a bit of both — have swelled in popularity. Nowadays, you really can’t avoid being confronted with the unique experiences and sometimes universal truths that come out of fictitious depictions of those pivotal years. It got us thinking about some of our favorite shows that targeted one specific audience: teen girls. While this sub-genre of a sub-genre might be a bit niche to some, there really have been several series that artfully tackled teen girlhood in a way that’s matured over the years.
When we look back at some of the most dominant shows that put the focus on teen girls, we really must start with My So-Called Life. The angsty series, starring Claire Danes in her first Emmy Award-nominated role, followed Angela Chase through high school as she confronted boys, parents, schoolwork, and more. Looking back now, My So-Called Life feels like it took a cautious approach compared to current fare like Yellowjackets — a show that tackles teen soccer players surviving a plane crash for 19 months out in the woods and has a decidedly darker take on teen girls.
But if the jump in mature content gives us any indication, these shows really speak to how pivotal those teen years can be for girls. There are varying pressures girls experience from the time they turn 13 until they enter their 20s. But through it all, we’re just glad there are generations of teen girls who will get to benefit from these shows and more to come soon.
See some of our favorite shows about teen girls that defined a generation — or are doing so right now — like Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and more, plus how to watch right now.
‘My So-Called Life’
My So-Called Life may have only lasted for one season, but it left a real impression on its ’90s audience. Following Angela Chase (Claire Danes) through high school meant maneuvering schoolwork, boys, and parents in a whole new way. The series balanced teen angst with heartfelt commentary and totally spoke to a generation of teens who watched the show.
‘Yellowjackets’
In a much darker teen story, Yellowjackets shows just how brave and fearless teen girls can be when they’re in a desperate situation. The show follows a group of girls as they survive the wild after escaping a plane crash alive.
‘Dawson’s Creek’
From 1998 to 2003, fans of Dawson’s Creek loved following the rocky and unexpected lives of the teens in the hit show. The main characters were Dawson himself (James Van Der Beek), Joey (Katie Holmes) and their will-they-won’t-they chemistry. Also starring in the show were Joshua Jackson, Michelle Williams, Kerr Smith and many other soon-to-be A-listers.
‘Glee’
When it comes to 2000s hit shows, no show can really compare to Glee. The show followed the so-called “losers” of William McKinley High School as they join the school’s only glee club, no matter how ridiculed they are in the process.
‘Beverly Hills, 90210’
If you were a teen in the 90s, then we’re sure you followed the lives of Kelly, Brenda, Brandon, Dylan, Donna and more in Beverly Hills, 90210. The show followed the friend group’s ups and downs with love, family, school, and more, over the years.
‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’
High school is hard enough, but add slaying vampires and other demons into the mix and it’s nearly impossible. For Buffy Summers, though, it’s no big deal as long as she has the help of her pals along the way. Buffy The Vampire Slayer was a badass entry into shows about teen girls, balancing its supernatural elements and keeping it grounded in the real world.
‘Daria’
Daria also took on a unique perspective of being a teen girl. The title character, full of cynicism, tries to maneuver her high school full of hormonal and, at times, idiotic peers, along with the adults who misjudge their students and children constantly. Seeing a character like Daria, who was so observant and unapologetic, left a real impact.
‘Freaks & Geeks’
While Freaks & Geeks was definitely an ensemble show — skyrocketing stars like Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, and Busy Philipps to stardom — it unquestionably had a real focus on Linda Cardellini’s Lindsay Weir. High school crushes, the need to fit in, dealing with bullies and peer pressure? Yeah, this show had it all.
‘Gilmore Girls’
Gilmore Girls holds a very special place in a lot of hearts. This particular series focused on teen Rory’s relationship with her thirtysomething single mother, as both try to navigate their lives in a small town in Connecticut.
‘Lizzie McGuire’
Lizzie McGuire was a major turning point for a lot of teen girls in the early aughts. The focus is on Lizzie trying to find her place in school all while figuring out new trends, boys, and so much more — Disney had a real winner on their hands with this one.
‘That’s So Raven’
Another major moment for Disney was That’s So Raven. Being a teenager is hard enough, add the ability to see the future and what do you get? Yup, that’s her: Raven Baxter was and remains a beloved Disney character for a generation of young viewers.
‘As Told By Ginger’
Venturing back into the animated realm, As Told By Ginger was really pivotal for a lot of teens. Ginger Foutley and her pals try to do everything to balance their social lives, school, and avoid embarrassment as much as possible. Sound familiar? It’s a touching show that hits on a lot of growing pains, and we still love it to this day.
‘The O.C.’
Anyone for opulence? The O.C. might not have been the most accurate depiction of what most teen girls go through, but it definitely set the tone for what teens were watching and craving in the mid-aughts. A group of affluent teens and their families intertwining in this Orange County community was all we needed to tune in.
‘Gossip Girl’
Speaking of decadence, Gossip Girl (yes, the original) was also a major trend-setting show for teen girls in the 2000s. The fashion alone had us hooked, and it made major stars out of cast members like Blake Lively, Penn Badgley and Leighton Meester.
‘The Proud Family’
Another beloved animated series, The Proud Family tackled one teen’s balance between family, friends, and school in this tender Disney show. Penny Proud is a girl all her own, struggling with the same issues so many teen girls face even today.
‘Skins’
We’re going international now. Skins set itself apart when it came to showing the lives of teens. This series centered on a group of friends featuring drugs, drinking, sex, misadventures, and more. It also made major stars out of cast members like Dev Patel, Nicholas Hault, and Hannah Murray — but you probably already knew that.
‘Pretty Little Liars’
Like a few of its melodramatic predecessors, Pretty Little Liars was the show so many teen girls were discussing when it debuted on ABC Family. Drama, intrigue, murder? What more could you want?
‘Derry Girls’
Hold on, we’re flying to Ireland for this one. Derry Girlsmay have been a sleeper hit, but it has a strong fan base across the globe. The series about a group of Irish girls living through the Troubles in the ’90s is laugh-out-loud funny. But it also has a lot of heart and tackles friendship, sexuality, and more with such tenderness.
‘High School Musical: The Musical — The Series’
The impact of High School Musical was major. How do we know that? Well, because now a whole new generation of teens have discovered High School Musical: The Musical — The Series. Of the stars who’ve broken out of the show, Olivia Rodrigo is now everywhere. Teen girls are really having a moment, and we’re so glad that Olivia Rodrigo is part of it.
‘PEN15’
Anna Konkle and Maya Erskine’s PEN15 is a touching ode to the awkwardness of those early teen years. These two BFFs (who are actually in their 30s playing 13-year-olds while surrounded by other 13-year-olds) deal with hormones and try to fit in while maintaining their friendship. It’s middle school as it really happened, people! For anyone whose awkward stage is still ongoing, this one’s for you.
‘The Wilds’
Ever thought about an iteration of Lord of the Flies but with girls? No, of course not. But that’s exactly what you may think while watching The Wilds. Teen girls are stranded on an island following a horrifying accident. The only twist? It’s no accident they ended up here.
‘Never Have I Ever’
From the mind of Mindy Kaling comes Never Have I Ever, a series about a first-generation Indian-American teenager and her pals as they deal with — you guessed it — sexuality, dating, fitting in, school work, and so much more. With surprisingly delightful narration by John McEnroe, Never Have I Ever is touching and hilarious.
‘Euphoria’
There’s never been a show quite like Euphoria. It’s abrasive and poignant with a visual language that pops off the screen. At the center of it all is Zendaya’s incredible turn as Rue — a teen trying to recover from drug addiction. Her ruminations on her fellow classmates (including breakout star Sydney Sweeney) are what really drive home how everyone’s experience of their teen years are so different, but share a lot of common feelings at the core.
‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’
Now that we’re (sort of) leaving teenhood behind, we felt that this next pick really fit the bill. The Sex Lives of College Girls follows four college freshmen as they adjust to their life at an elite university. It’s endearing and emotional, while somehow managing to be hilarious at the same time — kind of like college, right?
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