Teen dreams worth a stream
been a theme of pop culture consumption lately, so why not revisit this era? – Sonia Rao
Never Have I Ever (2020, Netflix)
Mindy Kaling’s latest comedy series – co-created by Lang Fisher – follows Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), an Indian-American teenager navigating friendships and romances, while dealing with the grief of losing her father. The show is especially notable for its diverse depictions of teendom and authentic portrayal of Devi’s relationship with her immigrant mother, Nalini (Poorna Jagannathan). – Sonia Rao
The O.C. (2003, TVNZ OnDemand)
This series tells the classic story of a troubled outsider struggling to fit in – specifically, high schooler Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie), who moves to Newport Beach after he is taken in by his public defender, Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher). The show, an essential teen drama, continues to pop up in conversations to this day, whether due to the Saturday Night Live parody, the depth of American teens’ crushes on Sandy’s son, Seth (Adam Brody), or the timeless indie rock soundtrack (selected by music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, who also worked on Gossip Girl). – Sonia Rao
Pretty Little Liars (2010, Netflix)
This teen thriller follows a group of friends who find themselves tormented by an elusive enemy known as ‘‘A’’. Adapted from Sara Shepard’s bestselling series, Pretty Little Liars quickly gained a following with its intriguing mystery, angsty pop soundtrack and showstopping, occasionally wildly inappropriate, fashion. In full disclosure, the show goes off the rails in its third season and there’s been a fair amount of debate over whether the series finale even makes sense. But it’s a fun ride (and that’s no lie). – Bethonie Butler
Sex Education (2019, Netflix)
This frank British comedy explores the awkwardness, novelty and, yes, romance of teen sex. The show follows Otis (Asa Butterfield) – the 16-year-old son of a prominent sex therapist played by Gillian Anderson – who grudgingly agrees to set up his own impromptu therapy practice at his high school. The show surely isn’t for the prudish, but it’s not tawdry either. In his review of the show’s first season, Washington Post TV critic
Hank Stuever wrote that ‘‘there’s an artfulness to the material and a genuine care on display here, too – a message that we are not just about the size and shape and inventive uses of our private parts’’. – Bethonie Butler
Skins (2007, Netflix)
This cheeky British teen drama goes a step further than its American counterparts, and earned much acclaim for its exploration of ‘‘controversial’’ topics such as teen pregnancy, substance abuse and mental illness. The first couple of seasons – after which the cast changes – are the strongest in both storytelling and tone, and boosted the careers of several young actors, including Nicholas Hoult, Dev Patel, Daniel Kaluuya, Joe Dempsie and Kaya Scodelario. – Sonia Rao – The Washington Post