Copyright Screen Rant
While Stranger Things is a great coming-of-age story, these other shows are better. The Netflix series brilliantly combines the sci-fi and horror genres and allows us to get to know Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and her friends over several excellent seasons. First love, new friendships, and questions about belonging are all present in many of the episodes. But although Stranger Things is fantastic, a lot of teen dramas and comedies lean more heavily into the ups and downs of being a teenager. From a British series that inspired storytelling focused on important issues to an animated series that captures how unique we all are, these shows are powerful. Skins (2007-2013) Although the beloved characters on Stranger Things experience a lot of big changes throughout the show, it's hard to beat the brilliantly crafted British teen drama Skins when it comes to coming-of-age themes. The series follows a group of high schoolers who are struggling in different ways, from Chris Miles (Joe Dempsie) being abandoned by his family to Cassie Ainsworth (Hannah Murray) suffering from anorexia. Skins handles a variety of significant topics like mental health, sexuality, class differences, and alcohol abuse, and each storyline feels raw and real rather than cheesy. Although Will Byers' sexuality is explored in the later seasons of Stranger Things, this subject is treated more subtly than on Skins, which makes it less impactful. Friday Night Lights (2006-2011) Through the lens of a small Texas town that is all about football, Friday Night Lights features well-crafted storylines about the all-encompassing nature of young love and becoming your own person. It's also about balancing impossible vs. realistic dreams and wondering how to mature and grow up while staying true to yourself. Since Eleven and the other young characters are focused on the mystery of the Upside Down and her dark backstory, they don't spend much time planning for the future. That makes sense since the stakes are so high and they're so focused on life and death. But it means that other shows, like Friday Night Lights, have stronger coming-of-age plotlines. Daria (1997-2002) Daria Morgendorffer (Tracy Grandstaff) is one of the most excellent teen TV characters, and through her dry, unique, and often cynical perspective, the popular MTV show Daria lets viewers know that they should always be completely themselves. Whether the animated character is falling in love with her friend Tom Sloane (Russell Hankin), thinking once again that she doesn't fit in with the students at Lawndale High School, or dealing with her family, Daria examines coming-of-age themes like first love and finding independence. Daria is a better exploration of love, friendship, and making decisions about the future than Stranger Things. When Eleven and Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) are sweet and charming, their romance is often overshadowed by the creatures of the Upside Down and the other dangers the characters face. Switched At Birth (2011-2017) Despite the wild premise that might not be completely believable, Switched at Birth is a funny, emotional, and grounded story about teenagers Daphne Vasquez (Katie Leclerc) and Bay Kennish (Vanessa Marano) becoming a meaningful part of each other's lives. Throughout all five seasons, the series examines dating trouble, family drama, and financial issues, along with Daphne's advocacy for the deaf community and Bay's love of art. Unlike Stranger Things, which isn't often realistic, Switched at Birth shows the daily ups and downs of high school life, from after-school jobs to the transition to college. Pen15 (2019-2021) Co-created by Anna Konkle and Maya Erskine, who are adults starring as 13-year-olds Anna Kone and Maya Ishii-Peters, Pen15 is a raw story about fitting in and the joys and pains of close friendship with some 2000s nostalgia, too. From chatting on AIM to the struggles of having a crush, Pen15 leans into the awkward nature of the high school years, along with the delicate balance between being yourself and wanting to impress your friends and classmates. Pen15 handles these topics in a more realistic manner than Stranger Things. While Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) and Barb Holland's (Shannon Purser) friendship examines the complex topic of popularity in season 1, those brief moments are quickly overshadowed by Barb's surprising death. Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-2000) The early groundbreaking teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210 explores more topics than most, including moving to a new place, family abandonment, substance abuse, intimacy, love, friendship, death, pregnancy, and health issues. While Stranger Things touches on how growing up can be a struggle, and the young characters have a hard time fitting in, the show isn't known for examining deep subjects. Its strengths lie in its brilliant sci-fi elements and captivating battles. 90210, on the other hand, will always be considered an influential young adult series, and it inspired many others. All American (2018-Present) Coming-of-age topics like future planning, pursuing an exciting career, and tough emotions like grief are explored through the All American main character Spencer James (Daniel Ezra), who is inspired by football player Spencer Payslinger. The CW series features a blend of dramatic episodes about romantic and platonic relationships and family along with thrilling moments in the characters' athletic careers. While the young Stranger Things characters experience just as many hard times, the supernatural nature of those problems makes them unique rather than completely relatable. All American's storylines, on the other hand, feel more realistic. Never Have I Ever (2020-2023) Stranger Things season 4 is a moving exploration of the first time a teenager experiences grief, and we see Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) having a terrible time after the death of her brother Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery). There's no doubt this is great storytelling. However, since this sense of loss is viewed through a sci-fi lens and Vecna uses her pain to trap Max in the Upside Down, it's not very realistic. The Netflix teen comedy Never Have I Ever does a better job showing Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) trying to cope with her dad's tragic death. The show also handles common coming-of-age topics like big emotions, first love, and trying to seem cool. The Fosters (2013-2017) The emotional and heartwarming storytelling on the Freeform drama The Fosters never lets up, and all five seasons are equally good. The show centers around Lena (Sherri Saum) and Stef (Teri Polo) raising their twin son and daughter along with Jude (Hayden Byerly) and Callie (Maia Mitchell), who become part of the family at the beginning. Storylines about important topics like adoption, sexuality, immigration, and racism are mixed with lighter dating and family-focused storylines, which keep the series from being too heavy all the time. Stranger Things does a great job sharing Eleven's struggles to fit in, but unlike The Fosters, the show doesn't delve into that many serious teen topics. My So-Called Life (1994-1995) The hilarious and smart '90s drama My So-Called Life was sadly only on the air for one 19-episode season, but that's enough time for Angela Chase (Claire Danes) to make a huge impression on you. Whether she's inspired by a substitute English teacher or learning that her love interest Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto) won't commit to her, Angela is a kind-hearted, relatable classic teen character. We get to know her well, along with the conflict she feels about spending time with her family, but also wanting to rebel with her new friends
