Have a Max subscription, but your queue is empty – or just doesn’t have the shows that speak to your teen nature? From classics like The Vampire Diaries and The OC to more recent releases like The Teenage Psychic and Euphoria, Max doesn’t lack coming-of-age stories and teen dramas of all kinds!
Whether you like a good detective mystery or want to put something on in the background while browsing EssayService reviews, we has you covered. We made a list of 5 fan-favorite shows to watch on Max, available on the streaming platform as of writing. Find them all below in alphabetical order!
Gossip Girl (2007-2012)
Created by: Stephanie Savage, Josh Schwartz
Starring: Blake Lively, Leighton Meister, Penn Badgley, Ed Westwick, Chace Crawford
Let’s kick off our list with an all-time classic in the teen drama genre: the original Gossip Girl (2007-2012). This CW original follows a group of upper-class NYC teens from Constance Billard School for Girls and St. Jude’s School for Boys. Their private lives get exposed under the all-seeing eye of the Gossip Girl (voiced by Kristen Bell), a mysterious blogger who shares everyone’s secrets no matter how hard they try to keep them private.
Over the six seasons, you’ll be following the heartache and scandals in the lives of Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively), an it-girl who often finds herself in the media spotlight, and her best friend and Queen Bee, Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester). They’re joined by outcast/aspiring writer Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley), golden boy Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford), and “bad boy” with a heart of gold Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick).
Although based on the Gossip Girl novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, the TV show loosely follows the source material. But that’s hardly a downside: Gossip Girl is a solid teen romance drama in its own right. It’s also a perfect show for escaping the world for a bit, all thanks to its addicting drama-fueled plot points and talented acting. What’s more, you can also stream the show’s revival, Gossip Girl (2021-2023), on Max!
Nancy Drew (2019-2023)
Created by: Noga Landau, Josh Schwartz, and Stephanie Savage
Starring: Kennedy McMann, Tunji Kasim, Alex Saxon, Leah Lewis, Maddison Jaizani
Another novel adaptation, Nancy Drew, revolves around the titular teen sleuth (Kennedy McMann), who finds herself entrenched in a murder investigation involving the town socialite. Another CW original, Nancy Drew is a good-old whodunit with a supernatural twist, driven by the brilliant performance of Kennedy McMann as the sharp and talented protagonist.
The first season’s plot follows eighteen-year-old Nancy as she gets involved in the murder of Tiffany Hudson (Sinead Curry). Together with a ragtag cast of her colleagues at the restaurant where she works, she’ll unravel the mystery of the murder – and discover her own family’s secrets. The supernatural take on a character as famous as Nancy Drew can make or break the watching experience for you. However, it has all the potential to draw you in with a fresh twist on the literary origin of the character, considering that a ghost is a primary suspect in a murder investigation.
Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (2022,-)
Created by: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Lindsay Calhoon Bring
Starring: Bailee Madison, Chandler Kinney, Zaria, Malia Pyles, Maia Reficco
The successor to the original Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017), Original Sin, is the fourth installation in the franchise. Titled Pretty Little Liars: Summer School for its second season, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin is based in the same universe as the previous entries.
The series follows a whole ensemble of characters as they receive horrifying messages from a mysterious “A” seeking to expose their mothers’ involvement in a classmate’s death. Imogen (Bailee Madison), Tabby (Chandler Kinney), Faran (Zaria), Minnie (Malia Pyles), and Noa (Maia Reficco) have to team up to uncover the truth behind the Y2K suicide that happened 22 years prior.
Based on the novels of the same name, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin would be best described as a slasher, drama, and mystery all wrapped in one package. As a Max original, this entry to the franchise doesn’t shy away from the horror elements, making it perfect for fans of slashers and gore.
The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)
Created by: Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec
Starring: Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Steven R. McQueen, Sara Canning, Kat Graham
Another classic teen drama, The Vampire Diaries follows a teenage girl, Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev), who meets and falls for Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley), a centuries-old vampire, in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia. As Stefan’s brother, Damon (Ian Somerhalder), returns to Mystic Falls, he finds himself attracted to Elena as well, creating a love triangle that’s more complicated than it would seem.
While Elena’s relationship with the Salvatore brothers is at the heart of The Vampire Diaries, prepare to follow the journeys of the supporting cast as well. For example, you’ll also watch Elena’s friend, Bonnie (Kat Graham), come to terms with her witch powers. And you’ll be privy to Caroline’s (Candice King) journey from cheerleader and party planner to functional vampire with some drama of her own.
This eight-season show has everything you may want from a supernatural drama: vampires, doppelgängers, witches, werewolves, ghosts, and more. You might not enjoy the ending as much as the rest of the show, but that’s what the remaining series in The Vampire Diaries shared universe – The Originals (2013-2018), and Legacies (2018-2022) – are for.
We Are Who We Are (2020)
Created by: Luca Guadagnino
Starring: Chloë Sevigny, Jack Dylan Grazer, Alice Braga, Jordan Kristine Seamón, Spence Moore II
We Are Who We Are is a coming-of-age story in the form of an HBO miniseries. Although this drama consists of only eight episodes, it’s bound to leave you speechless as the final credits roll in the season finale.
The miniseries focuses on the lives of two American teens living in a military base in Italy as they deal with the ups and downs of being a teenager. The plot kicks off with Fraser Wilson (Jack Dylan Grazer) arriving at the base with his mother and quickly finding himself hanging out with his new classmates.
From love and identity to friendship, this series manages to reflect painstakingly accurately what it’s like to be a teenager, with all of the frustration, confusion, and exhilaration that comes with it. That makes it a worthwhile watch if you’re looking for a gripping drama that speaks to your soul.
The list of 5 teen shows above contains something for everyone, from beloved classics to hits with a supernatural element to them, to lesser known gems to discover for the first time. Happy watching!
