Are you feeling nostalgic? Are you missing your prom, pep rallies, and friends from your teenage years? It’s time to lift your spirits with some high school shows, and we made a list of 5 series that you can watch on Prime! Our student years often have highs and lows, but we also look back at them with fondness, as they are a carefree time where so much happens and great friendships are made. Whether you need a break from reading a speedypaper review or want to spend a lazy Sunday watching characters get themselves out of trouble, read our list of 5 high school shows to watch on Prime, listed in alphabetical order!
Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–2000)
If you’re looking for some 90s nostalgia, why not start with the show that defined that generation? Beverly Hills, 90210 initially follows twins Brandon (Jason Priestley) and Brenda Walsh (Shannen Doherty) as they move to the titular city and start attending West Beverly High School. There, they meet the rest of the show’s main cast: the popular Kelly (Jennie Garth), the reserved Donna (Tori Spelling), the friendly David (Brian Austin Green), the brainy Andrea (Gabrielle Carteris), the larger than life Steve (Ian Ziering), and charming, brooding surfer Dylan McKay (Luke Perry). The series follows them and even more characters during their high school years, as they grow into adults.
While Beverly Hills, 90210 is certainly a product of its time, it’s also one of those series that will put a smile on your face. There are plenty of 90s clothes, drama, outings to the beach, and characters to follow throughout 10 seasons. And if you’re looking for another show to watch after you’re done, there’s also a reeboot, 90210 (2008-2013).
The Boarding School: Las Cumbres (2021-2023)
If you are a fan of mysteries that involve secrets and sinister boarding schools, The Boarding School: Las Cumbres – or El Internado, its original title – is what you need. Las Cumbres takes place in the titular boarding school, an isolated institution for troubled students, located on top of a cliff and surrounded by dense woods and mountains. Since the teachers are very strict, Paul (Albert Salazar), his sitster Adéle (Daniela Rubio), and fellow students Manu (Carlos Alcaide), Amaia (Asia Ortega) are planning an escape. Though their escape doesn’t go exactly to plan, as some are caught and one vanishes in mysterious circumstances, what they discover is that the forest around the school isn’t safe either. Determined to find out which supernatural threat haunts the school grounds, our heroes set out on an even more treacherous journey.
If the name sounds familiar, it’s because it’s a reboot of the Ana de Armas-starring 2007-2010 Spanish series El Internado: Laguna Negra, which was very successful. The reboot isn’t without flaws – the main one being an uneaven tone, but if you’re into unsettling, spooking series with secret societies, dark truths and entertaining twists and turns, you’ll definitely enjoy it.
The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022,-)
Originally a young adult book series from writer Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty took everyone by surprise when it hit Prime Video in 2022, as it’s the definition of a fun, binge-worthy series. Its protagonist is Belly (Lola Tung) a teenager who has been spending her summers with her brother Steven (Sean Kaufman), her mother Laurel (Jakie Chung), her mum’s best friend Susannah (Rachel Blanchard) and her sons Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) since she was little. Though she’s always had a crush on Conrad, it never lead to anything since she was always too young for him to see anything romantic in her.
But this particular summer, something changes: Belly grows into a young woman – or, to quote the series’ title, she “turns pretty” – and boys start to notice. But things are not as easy, as Conrad might be Belly’s romantic interest, but there are other boys who are interested in her. And as all of this happens, the adults in their lives are going through some drama too.
The Summer I Turned Pretty follows a pretty straightforward structure, but it’s made such an heartwarming watch by well-rounded, likeable characters and an extremely sympathetic lead. There are two seasons, and while the first is definitely better than the second, the show is still ongoing to it’s not done surprising us yet.
Teen Wolf (2011-2017)
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of Teen Wolf. But have you watched all 100 episodes of it, and also the 2023 movie inspired by it? If you haven’t, you’re in for a treat. The show follows a high school student named Scott McCall (Tyler Posey), who’s not very popular at school. One day, Scott and his best friend Stiles (Dylan O’Brien) run into some trouble, and our protagonist ends up being bitten by an alpha werewolf. And so, just as he’s about to start his second year of high school, the most ordinary teenager in the world suddenly becomes the opposite of that: a werewolf who has no idea how to handle his abilities – mainly, heightened senses, super strength, and animalistic instincts.
As Scott tries to juggle school and his new supernatural life, he discovers that his hometown, Beacon Hills, is a hub of supernatural creatures. Soon, a banshee, a werecoyote, a kitsune, and more werewolves enter his life, making it even more surreal. But he also has some very normal teenage problems to deal with, such as the crush he has on his new classmate Allison (Crystal Reed) – who just-so-happens to be the daughter of werewolf hunters, but that’s another story.
If you’re into high school dramas with a supernatural twist, Teen Wolf is one of the best series around. It seamlessly combines humor, adventure, and teen drama with plenty of interesting characters and an incredibly charismatic lead.
The Wilds (2020-2022)
A group of high school students are on their way to a young women’s empowerment retreat in Hawaii when their plain crashes into the Ocean. Sounds familiar? The Wilds‘ premise has been used before, from popular shows like Lost and Yellowjackets to recent releases like Society of the Snow. But in this Prime Video series, there’s a twist. What if the plane didn’t crash by accident? And what if there was a reason for Fatin (Sophia Eli), Dot (Shannon Berry), Martha (Jenna Clause), Rachel (Reign Edwards), Shelby (Mia Healey), Nora (Helena Howard), Toni (Erana James), and Leah (Sarah Pidgeon) to be on that plane?
There’s a social experiment at the center of The Wilds, and that’s what makes the series so intriguing. As our group tries to find ways to survive and we learn more about their lives, we soon understand that there’s also something else going on that might be even more worrying and disquieting than the crash itself. If you’re a fan of Lost and are looking for a similar mystery with a younger cast, don’t miss it.
The 5 high school shows listed above are all great series to watch, whether you’re looking to revisit something from the past or to discover your next binge. Enjoy!
