The Fall of the Modern Day Teen Drama

today i talk about the fall of the modern day teen drama and how teen dramas have changed over time by looking at teen dramas of the 200s and 2010s. i also explore the downsides of the newer teen drama format due to streaming
0:00: Introduction
0:34: The Fall of the Modern Day Teen Drama
3:09: The Structure of 200s and 2010s Teen Dramas
5:06: A Very Generalized Modern Day Teen Drama Format
6:41: The Necessity of Character Development in the Teen Drama
8:53: A Major Pitfall of Current Streaming Standards
9:59: Untapped Potential of First Kill
10:46: Commonalities of Recently Canceled Teen Dramas
11:58: There's Still Hope
12:34: Hopes for Teen Dramas Going Forward

[@neivilde.1242]

i get so mad at cancelling something because it doesn't reach what you anticipated, like how many iconic shows today started out slow? the office, shitt's creek, game of thrones, if they all came out today, they would've died. some things need time, that's all. and what hurts me even more than not giving shows a shot, is giving something a season 2, but absolutely not marketing it and just killing any momentum it could've had, letting it die off somewhere.

[@basicgorl]

this!!!

[@rosaunolalintino]

Or making sequels to things that got popular only because of how horrendously bad they were and how trendy it was to make fun of them.

[@evamg1708]

​@@rosaunolalintino *cough* *cough* emily in paris

[@thecavalieryouth]

Yes! I think the powers that be need to give at least a 2 season grace period. Especially if you can see that the story is going somewhere and the writers/creators see all the different ways their story could go. And basicgorl's suggestion of slightly longer seasons makes for an even stronger argument that some stories (most imo) also need to be given room to breathe. We don't need everything to be high octane drama all the time; give us a break so we can avoid cardiac arrest watching your show, abeg. I like being given the time to slowly but surely fall in love with a character and plotline.

[@dizzydee6362]

@@evamg1708 I watched Friendly Space Ninja's video where he explained that the only reason Emily in Paris kept getting renewed was because Netflix got sponsorships and deals from all the companies namedropped in the show and it suddenly made so much sense for me 🥲

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I might sound extremely naïve but this whole gritty aesthetic has taken over everything. Shows like ‘Heartstopper’, ‘Sex Education’, and ‘Heartbreak High’ (among others) are defying that stereotype but why can’t we just have fun and brighter lighting on screen?

[@universedonut159]

omg yeah I agree, a lighter more colorful feel, with fun moments is so much better

[@chrystianaw8256]

Yes! I miss light and fun series

[@emiliaburgos5404]

That's true, never thought about it. But also shows that are about heavy themes also get cancelled like the Society. I think they think more about numbers, but what you say is very true, people nowadays want to see more shows that defy stereotypes and I think that's good. But there should be balance ofc

[@mchjsosde]

A lot of those brighter shows you mentioned actually remind me of Skins (more than the gritty ones!), because the tone of skins BALANCED the fun-loving side of youth with the more gritty and troubling parts. Skins actually had a lot of optimism and heart despite all the pain the kids were experiencing. I don't think many of these gritty shows recognize that being an important part to why Skins was so successful.

[@emiliaburgos5404]

@@mchjsosde Skins was sooo good!!

[@dinalarsplass8346]

I will never forgive Netflix for canceling the society

[@DylonsBBGorl]

Same. I was so invested in the show and was excited asf for season 2. It ended on a cliffhanger and everything...

[@empressfreya9872]

and they did it THE DAY BEFORE FILMING S2 T.T

[@caitlynsette6068]

YES I was devastated

[@chipotleburrito]

we were so close asw

[@sofiandolga]

same

[@k3llio]

The fact that no one talks about I Am Not Okay With This the Netflix series is honestly disrespectful. the pandemic took so much potential.

[@cee5611]

YES, It was my comfort show. I heard Netflix cancelled it for another kissing booth movie. They choose quantity over quality, it genuinely hurt to see it go.

[@carolinanunez8330]

YESSS, this show was everything this vid needed to prove as in what we need in supernatural teen shows today, it was so good and I hope someday it will make a comeback 😭

[@sarar4270]

YES THANK YOU!! I loved that show

[@reedsylvier5250]

I didn't realise it was meant to have any more cuz it completed all source material?

[@coolboss999]

THANK YOU!!! THIS NEEDED TO BE SAID

[@HexleysCauldron]

It’s really sad how teen shows are not allowed to be mediocre like back in the day. They’re not allowed to grow and become iconic they’re just expected to automatically be. Like you said it takes time but in the age of wanting companies just wanting something short lived and viral. I do hope that in the future these shows get some HxH style treatment when they get a reboot that finishes the story.

[@amorgan005]

i feel like this is also because we now have adults. (mainly millennials) judging the teen shows geared towards gen z and comparing them to the shows they used to watch as teens, and if they don’t like it, the show will get the boot, even though their opinions on shows about gen z and made for gen z shouldn’t really matter as much as the opinions of the generation that the shows are actually about

[@purplegrapes7]

whats HxH TwT

[@frances6903]

@@purplegrapes7 it's an anime called hunter x hunter

[@purplegrapes7]

@@frances6903 ohh i see ty

[@actualnotanewbie]

Ginny & Georgia?

[@camarynr11]

Julie and the Phantoms was so popular and the songs got a lot of streams. They had to have made a lot of money from the series so I just don't understand why it got cancelled. It's one of the only good tween/preteen shows I've seen in a long time. I'm a grown adult, but I thought that show was amazing and a hugeee lost opportunity.

[@basicgorl]

same!! miss that show sm

[@alicemurray4078]

I miss my girl Julie😭😭😭

[@haileystvd]

Julie and the phantoms was so good bro- I WAS SO SAD

[@moonwalker.v]

YESSS Jatp was so amazing i rewatch it all the time and I miss it sm😭💕

[@2000seoulsonyosound]

It's also been hard for us slow burn romance girlies, because they have limited time and uncertainty of being renewed they don't take the time to make a slow and well developed romance throughout the seasons anymore 😔

[@dawnmayflower4422]

Yes. I love a good slow burn, and the characters taking the time to get to know each other and get together. Now in all these shows they meet and hook up in like 3 episodes.

[@Stormy_Cloud]

It's really the chase that we want. Like in the vampire diaries it took at least 3 seasons for Damon to end up with Elena, and it was teased the entire time!

[@liyahsun8843]

if you like slow burn and don't mind a slower pacing + the one inch barrier of subtitles, you might really like romance k-dramas

[@leedaloo]

Julie and the phantoms getting cancelled genuinely hurt me. It had an amazing storyline, good diversity and representation, the songs are sooo good and I was so invested in Julie and Luke’s relationship. It had so, so much potential and I will forever be hateful towards Netflix for cancelling it.

[@reedsylvier5250]

I don't think I've ever consistently loved songs in a musical type show or movie as much as this, and it balanced the cute fluff, the funny, the emotional and hard-hitting, so well and we were all invested, especially for a relatively light-hearted teen program (and up there as one of the best villain songs of all time)

[@lauradoria1833]

It was so good. It's really one of the only reboots that is better than the original. The storyline and songs were soooo good. I got really upset when they decided to cancel it

[@moonwalker.v]

Every single song is amazing and i love that there was so much lore😭 i miss jatp sm

[@BeautifulSmart100]

They were trash for this. I still rewatch and know all the lyrics to every song 🥹😭

[@moonwalker.v]

@@BeautifulSmart100 same!!! My favorite song is "Bright"!!!!

[@naomi-v4e]

I feel like todays teen dramas are so dark and gloomy and it’s like life is depressing enough do I really need to see it constantly on my screen why can’t I have camp and comedy like 😭😭😭something like gossip girl obviously I’m at the same age demographic as what those shows are geared too but why can’t the format of modern day teen dramas have a change , some escapism would be nice

[@carolinanunez8330]

And even nice, happy and feel good shows like Anne With an E get cancelled with a big audience like what do streaming platforms really want from us? The show was a huge success and continues to have a big and active fanbase but apparently it needs to have Stranger Things or Wednesday success or it's over

[@saniyahikard5366]

I COMPLETELY agree. Todays teen dramas they continue to try and make them so serious and boring. There are barely any comedies, and the one that exist are horribly executed. I don't have a problem with tackling real issues, or some good drama here and there, but making the entire show some dusty dark soap opera is trash and I cant even take any of this stuff serious

[@melmarrs6545]

I always felt it was refreshing that we finally got to see some real life depression and anxiety ect being depicted in more teen dramas. The only teen drama I remember watching while growing up that brought that was degrassi and south of nowhere with the occasional darker abc family or lifetime show. So for me I always thought that it was refreshing for these teen dramas to get dark and more (mentally) realistic. It’s definitely been lacking in the teen drama genre in my opinion.

[@chrystianaw8256]

​@@melmarrs6545 they're overdoing it now

[@lilyparker78]

@@carolinanunez8330 Ugh I miss Anne with an E so much😭😭

[@Justiceficton]

I honestly feel like a lot of these teen dramas are getting cancelled due to them not being marketed towards actual pre-teens/teens/young adults anymore. A lot of these shows are more targeted to an older crowd like nudity, heavy and explicit topics, it’s just nothing left for these kids these days…

[@nicoleackerman205]

I agree my they are so unrealistic now none of that crap happened in high school that more like college or even early twenties stuff.

[@karmicobsession1636]

shows in the 2000's were just as heavy maybe even more so just less to no nudity

[@amorgan005]

@@nicoleackerman205 while that may be true for when u where in highschool things are a lot like how teen shows display at least now

[@user9391]

True, like throughout my high school career which is coming to a close I haven’t watched any high school centered teen dramas because of the graphic and heavy topics. I think that’s why in middle school I switched to watching story driven cartoons again haha like Gravity Falls and would later follow The Owl House and Amphibia.

[@dollveins]

@@nicoleackerman205 teen shows have always been “gritty” or dealt with heavy topics. skins, degrassi, the og gossip girl, pretty little liars, etc. are examples of older teen dramas that dealt with “mature” issues. there are even more recent examples like sex education and 13 reasons why. teenagers have always dealt with things like abuse, mental illness, sex, and drugs. not everyone’s life experiences are the same.

[@jamesrawlings46]

I don't know anything about why this is, but I am going to assume one the the largest factors are the huge amount of competition teen shows have now. In the past teen shows only competed with other shows and maybe some KZbin, but now a show isn't just a show, but a online subscription service competing with videos games, podcasts, KZbin, social media... etc. It is entertainment and I think teen shows fail to capture new viewers-ships due to not being enough in general to convert people on whatever media they are currently on. Teen shows can't survive on nostalgia alone, they need to capture more views. I think a great example of this is Euphoria, it doesn't matter how you feel about the show, but it creates enough interest to have people stop what they are used to doing for entertainment and watch the show.

[@basicgorl]

this is such a good point that i didn’t think about!

[@jenlindley7780]

In other words; stuff has to actually be good nowadays, otherwise the cancelation ghost will pay a visit 😂

[@AJ-fl3pz]

Grand Army was the best and most realistic portrayal of (older) Gen Z and high school in T.V history. It had such great writing and I love how characters (especially black ones) weren’t limited to just stereotypes and actually given well written stories. It also had a great plot twist, it’s really such a shame it wasn’t given another chance.

[@courtland6227]

It was such a great show and so interesting too! I liked how it delve into different characters lives kind of similar to Skins. I wish more shows were like it!

[@publiccoffee3652]

grand army was very realistic

[@lizzyedusi]

literally I feel like there's little to no good supernatural teen shows after the Teen Wolf TVD era cause they all get cancelled after one season

[@allthingsfandoms6833]

Right now there's wolf pack by the showeunner of teen wolf on paramount plus and so far I really like it and also the spin off of supernatural called the winchesters which I found boring compared to the og Idk if there's anything else tho

[@lizzyedusi]

​@@allthingsfandoms6833 yhh wolf pack seems good so far I just hope it gets renewed for season 2

[@allthingsfandoms6833]

@@lizzyedusi me too

[@GLBizzie]

Teen Wolf.. loved it but they dragged the life out of their characters later on :(

[@allthingsfandoms6833]

update: there is another paramount plus show called school spirits and it is about ghosts and it is so good s1 is fully out and i hope it will get picked up for more seasons cause the s1 finale was so good

[@alondrarosello8938]

I feel like the fall of CW had a lot to do with this (which I think is due to their reluctance in letting shows go). I can't think of a specific channel/streaming service catered to the teen/young adult audience anymore

[@jenlindley7780]

Bingo!!!

[@GLBizzie]

I Miss the old The CW and ABC Family/Freefall kinda Teen Shows

[@johnindigo5477]

Dont forgot the wb

[@mae.mae.]

I think it’s because all of the plot lines/ premises they choose are either handled poorly or they’ve been overdone/done better

[@Angel-ts8rc]

The oc was one of the best teen dramas ever! Insane it’s nearly 20 years old! Wasn’t perfect but still holds up

[@TheJrockfreak]

Agreed its a classic

[@Shay416]

Yup and the music playlist was iconic

[@phoebesekine4783]

CALIFORNIA HERE WE COME

[@GLBizzie]

@@Shay416 i swear to god. When I was a kid I had no idea what the alternative and indie rock genre is. The OC got me into it. The characters were amazing and the storys. The 2nd show that was close to perfection One Tree Hill.

[@tomatosoup1304]

This just reminds me of how pained I was when Anne with an E was cancelled. It was a perfect coming-of-age show that managed to fit diversity properly in the time period and show the growth of feminism and retaining childhood joy and creativity when entering adulthood. Every character was lovely and I'm a sucker for period pieces. Also you are correct about the diversity aspect after all, how is Riverdale and Emily in Paris getting so many seasons when most people hate it? (Even the cast in Riverdale), I'll admit I didn't care for Gossip Girl Reboot since it seemed like a nostalgia grab but First Kill getting cancelled felt very 'oh it got a little *too* diverse, we need to shut this down' The episode amounts are ridiculous as well eg Euphoria, I miss Halloween episodes and Christmas episodes, fun things to connect with the audience

[@yoannam.2243]

Anne with an E is my comfort show😭 now I'm reading the books and the story have a special place in my heart.

[@TheBoyNextWorld1996]

I’m sad no other company offered to take the show and revive it 😢😢😢

[@jenlindley7780]

And your wonder why it was cancelled lol

[@nativenewyorker3144]

Something I’ve noticed is this random spark of making all teen shows oddly depressing. Especially when it comes to adaptations. Fate being the biggest example. As someone who grew up watching and being obsessed with Winx you can imagine my disappointment when I saw the teasers, trailers, posters, etc for the show. I was genuinely looking forward to something different from Netflix. My mistake. I had been excited to see bright colors, exciting cute outfits. And what did I get? Riverdale 2.0 if you can even call it that. I got an angsty drama with a white washed cast, boring wardrobe, and worst of all, a boring bland ass color palette. Netflix took the opportunity of keeping all of the bright, upbeat magical elements and threw it out the window. I get it, people like drama. The show had drama. The original elements of the show could have been kept just with a more mature feeling. This is the same case with Riverdale. I grew up reading the comics but when the show came out I didn’t hate it. Exact opposite actually. I loved the show. It felt campy and it seemed like it knew what it was. Then it kept going and all of that campiness quickly disappeared. Judging by things I’ve seen from the actors recently the show has taken an oddly weird turn and it is now taking place in the 50s like the original comic… k. Would’ve been kinda a cool concept to do in the beginning but hey what do I know. One thing I still like about the show is the wardrobe. The writing may be dog water but there’s something about the wardrobe I love. Another show that suffered the same fate as riverdale is Sabrina. Now, my connection to Sabrina is a bit different. I didn’t grow up on the comics, I grew up on the tv show Sabrina the teenage witch. I freaking loved that show. The vibe, the characters, the costumes 😍 When watching the Netflix adaptation I didn’t hate it. Same as Riverdale I loved it in the beginning. The show, while yes taking a darker turn like Riverdale, managed the capture the perfect vibe to it. It felt witchy but just cheesy enough where you know it was still about a teen girl with magical powers. It also had this vintage type feel to it which I had loved. Also… the freaking wardrobe. Sabrina’s wardrobe was type of costuming I had been looking forward to. It reminded me of 90s Sabrina.

[@katgreer6113]

yes, teenagers are moody but we don't need to see and feel depression and utter despair all the time. I wish show runners would realise that. I am also a huge winx fan and was heavily disappointed. Don't they have enough sense to bring in a group of teenagers and maybe get TEEN approval first?? I mean...

[@nativenewyorker3144]

@@katgreer6113 exactly! If I’m feeling stressed out or depressed I don’t want to turn on the tv and watch stuff about people my age being stressed out and depressed. Tv is supposed to be some type of escape and the fact that platforms like Netflix and HBO are so focused on the “realism of teenagers” makes it difficult. They’re trying so hard to be relatable to the point where they’re producing the lamest stuff. Especially in the fantasy genre. Winx was such a let down it’s crazy. They assumed that’s what we would wanna see but some people want a bright show about teenage fairies.

[@lenapenrhyn2173]

@@katgreer6113 i also think an issue with making it overwhelmingly depressing is you get kind of used to how sad and dark everything is... and become desensitised to it? it just has less impact because if it's always dark there's just no contrast. i feel like you can easily explore darker and sadder topics in a more upbeat drama too, and sometimes it can hit even harder to have something devastating happen in a series that is usually more happy and positive and fun. for example in buffy the vampire slayer there's a lot of fun jokes and cool costuming and running gags and things... but then one episode, "the body" hits you like a wrecking ball. juxtaposition is a powerful tool

[@JENuaryGirl04]

S*x Education is the only teen drama that are not depressed and make me feel much more positive

[@AmandaVieiraMamaesouCult]

Thanks for remembering that Riverdale season 1 was actually amazing.

[@emmagsfa]

i am SO PUMPED for the pjo reboot!! after the insult that was the movies this feels like the true adaptation we’ve been waiting for

[@universedonut159]

sammee I'm so excited, the teaser met my expectations and if it does well, we can maybe see up until book 5/the finale in the show. I think I'd also like to see up until HoO adapted on screen

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I noticed the cancellation trend when I saw ‘Everything Sucks’ on Netflix. I thought it was an interesting exploration of teens in the ‘90s. I discovered Sydney Sweeney in that show.

[@reedsylvier5250]

Same, Everything Sucks went so under the radar too, I hope this increasing dissatisfaction with season 1 cancellations leads more people to watching it

[@bippityboop]

oh my god, yes.! it was such a good show. the pilot itself had me hooked. i was disappointed knowing it was cancelled.

[@xlunarmiax]

i absolutely love this show, i still rewatch it every month. it still makes me sad that it was cancelled :(

[@WorldWideWonder360]

Love the appreciation and mention for one tree hill. And I do agree shorter episodes doesn't really let us get to know the characters more and longer episode shows are awesome anyways and these big companies can afford it so why don't they just go for it and stop cancelling good shows with great potential.

[@Djamp1567]

The sex lives of college girls are so good but I do wish they had more episodes and run time ,the dynamic in the group would be a lot better

[@nicolesherman8974]

The opening clip is sending me so bad 💀.

[@amylomo9793]

one show that i feel like people don’t talk about is grand army! i truly enjoyed that show so much and it touched on so many important topics i really wish it would have gotten renewed

[@carriesnaps3508]

yes! This is the show that I'm the most upset about its cancellation 😔

[@Tee526]

Yess! I loved grand army!

[@rachele___]

I’ve always been a huge shipper while watching tv shows and now I can’t remember a single ship in recent teen dramas. Why? They don’t care to build up characters or relationships. The seasons are shorter and each episode is invested in a season long plot and we don’t get any down time to get to know our characters. No filler episodes mean no time to develop the characters and we don’t get to grow to care about them. I’m sorry but I’m all for the 20 eps long seasons, I loved my filler episodes and they were always the funniest and gave us so much about each characters.

[@serahne]

So true :/ I miss relationships that developed over 20-30 episodes. The only ships I still care about are the ones from shows that are adapted from books or other medias

[@GLBizzie]

Yeah and when they do they don’t give a damn anymore. Like Riverdale. Most want Betty and Jughead and yet they go with Betty and Archie as endgame and even let Lily Reinhart decide the endgame. I think no actor or actress should have that much power to decide the end of an storyline. That’s the business of the producers and writing team

[@benji0099]

you hit the nail on the head with "characters don't have to be relatable for us to care"......studios have somehow gotten into their heads that we, the audience, need to be able to relate to every single character. (thats why every villain now needs an origin story and has a sympathetic storyline.) very few viewers related with the rich, upper class characters of the OC or Gossip Girl....but we still loved them and the world they lived in. bc they were likeable, regardless of being selfish, complaining about rich kid problems, etc. (the best example of this is mean girl Blair Waldorf, who became the audience favorite). now characters have to virtue signal, have the perfect amount of diversity, give their opinion on current social issues, etc, etc..... just give us interesting characters and good writing!

[@jerneymantel7826]

Because of all this cancelling I'm sometimes scared to start a new released show. Afraid that I will like and and then never getting a season 2 while some plot points are still open.

[@sherbear6625]

I’m glad Winx got cancelled since it wasn’t even Winx…but I’m sad that Julie and the Phantoms got cancelled because that was actually good!!!

[@leedaloo]

Julie and the phantoms was one of the best shows Netflix ever produced

[@sherbear6625]

@@leedaloo It truly was! It was perfect for tweens, teens and young adults! I loved the music, the characters were all likeable and I was hoping for 2nd season but nah ._.

[@mismiserables]

Hellcats and Dare Me were two teen dramas I really loved that got cancelled. Dare Me was so good too, it was kind of a mystery. I feel like they didn't promote it well enough as a lot of people didn't even know about it by the time it was streaming on netflix

[@raawrsome]

I was soo hooked on Hellcats. Was so upset that it got cancelled after a good cliffhanger!

[@zoc.6922]

i read dare me yearsss ago. i was excited about the show. it got cancelled though smh.

[@flawedsanity]

I absolutely loved Dare Me. There were a lot of reasons it sadly got canceled I think, but I still rewatch it once in a while.

[@GLBizzie]

I will never understand why they cancelled Hellcats. The show was hyped back then and the ratings were solid

[@hyperyami396]

I discovered teen dramas pretty late in the game with shows like The Vampire Diaries being the first major one I got into, to watching Gossip Girl, The O.C, Dawson's Creek, and Teen Wolf recently even though those shows were in their prime way before I even knew about them and I damn sure wasn't part of the awesome fandoms that grew up watching these shows. When I was a teenager I jumped into The Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars and Degrassi: The Next Generation. I loved these shows and began to become fascinated with the teen drama with the last one I was really invested in being Legacies, which was cancelled and I can't say I don't know why they ended the show, yes it was that bad. Now that I'm older it seems like all the teen dramas are gone and have been replaced with either shows that were prematurely cancelled or very poorly written. I miss the days of the supernatural teen drama with interesting characters and twenty episode seasons. The whole point of Television vs. Movies is that you get more time with the characters. As for diversity, I'm glad they're doing more to represent different races as long as they don't go overboard and make make a characters look a certain type of way for more viewership, greed and money. I wish they'd make a show the way they used to make them back in the 2000s, it seems like there was more life to those characters, not everybody was glued to their phones or social media. Let's hope for a return of those shows that captivated our hearts for years.

[@flawedsanity]

I think one show that was able to make the 8-10 episode format work was Skins. I'm definitely biased because it's one of my favorite teen dramas, but the first generation especially did well at intertwining the character's stories, while simultaneously introducing them. I think another reason it worked so well was because part of what was great about Skins (IMO) is that not everything was wrapped up, and that was intentional. I think S1 of Euphoria also absolutely nailed this concept, but S2 however... heh.

[@courtland6227]

Skins did such a great job with that! It was easy to get to know each character and what they were going through. Im rewatching it now and it’s still so good.

[@cassidyfowler8115]

This got me thinking because I wonder if the lack of filler episode content is the reason why I don't enjoy new shows and rewatch old favorites. I get weird television anxiety and feel so bad for characters in negative plot points, so I almost need some fluff in there to make it bearable. Great video!!

[@AmandaVieiraMamaesouCult]

Yes, we also need light feel-good shows with our favorite characters. Like, episodes that exist to add depth to the characters

[@turnipcrazy]

This is what I've been saying, the shows are too short now. I need to bond with the characters, but since they're so short, it's hard to get invested in the show enough. It's why basically all sitcoms especially on Netflix are being cancelled or not watched enough. It's because there's not enough meat in a 8-10 episode season to like the characters or get invested. I say the new standard should be at least 16 episodes. We wouldn't need as many filler episodes, and we get with shows that have 22 episode seasons. I want better teen dramas, because I still really enjoy them. I want a show that I can watch a few episodes, take a break for a day, then start back up. The teen drama shouldn't be a bingable show, it should be savored and experienced on a week to week basis. Those are just my thoughts.

[@crystalcastillo7575]

This is why I’m hesitant on starting new shoes especially on Netflix. I just can’t deal with the heartbreak of a good show getting cancelled on a CLIFFHANGER.

[@ashabeogunrinde3008]

The clip at the beginning is sending me 💀 who is that?!😂

[@basicgorl]

lol it’s madonna 😭

[@selenaocampo7206]

Korean dramas have an average of 16 chapters per season (usually is just one season). Perfect amount 👌

[@TheBoyNextWorld1996]

Yeah and some are like an hour long 😂

[@abbie7099]

Lol they’re either 12, 14 or 16. No inbetween!!

[@saroyahprice]

i commend all american for being (probably) the only current teen drama that follows the 16-20 episode concept. even with its flaws, the writers and showrunners said: “we’re working hard!” 😭

[@nicollettes4665]

I think that is because it was created for a TV network than a streaming service. I have noticed shows from traditional TV still follow the 20 ep. format. Streaming services need to take note.

[@chrystianaw8256]

It's quite a a shitty show though

[@ev_rahim1890]

i was rewatching the wilds earlier, ive never been more disappointed about a show being cancelled

[@patrickagokei]

Can I just say I love your intro each time. Happy black history month!

[@blonde2k16]

WHERES THE LIE??? so many amazing shows got cancelled for SHIT SHOWS/MOVIES

[@dorotaisqueen3650]

So happy to see Grand Army here! It was such a good show and I was so invested in all the characters, which is just so rare now in shows!

[@amyya9377]

I missed you so much gurl!!! And some black creators I love are: Courtresy (commentary, comedy, variety) Calebcity (sketch comedy) NicoleTv (hauls, comedy) AJayll (album reviews) La Guardia Cross (family channel but I promise they aren't cringe or exploiting their kids or flaunting their wealth I swear)

[@orteney.]

some more black creators i recommend if u haven’t watched them already is onyeebaby and debsmikle- they’re both funny asf

[@universedonut159]

yeah and there's Shanspeare, Tee Noir, Khadija Mbowe Naomi c, Jaymeetsworld, netflixwatchparty, imurgency etc

[@justjoannak]

I 100% agree with you and it’s heartbreaking to see the demise of teen drama shows 💔 As for sitcoms, I’m *SO* grateful to Abbott for bringing back the standard sitcom format in the 2020s. Quinta and the Abbott team are *KILLING IT* imo!

[@annettemarie9716]

great video and I'm glad someone finally brought the season format bc I think that is what makes the greatest diff between 2000s shows to now

[@pinklove798]

Agree

[@hezelia]

I think one of the main reasons the current dramas nowadays tend to have fewer episodes per season is mainly because of short-attention span consumerism. Back in the days, people only had KZbin and TV (longer runtime, longer episodes, etc). Now, we’ve progressed into so many streaming platforms that supply keeps on pumping. Not to mention, the existence of TikTok also definitely changed the way the world consumes media. We’re now watching on our phones, scrolling as much as we can per day. That affects the majority of consumers where the industry sees that, the shorter runtime, the better, due to the evolving trends. We went from hours on KZbin to seconds on TikTok. And, shorter episodes also would allow for show makers to see whether the views they get actually reach their goal for the show they’re producing, and if it blows up, they will be green lit for a sequel. All in all, it’s an interesting study to look at.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

WELCOME BACK, BasicGorl! I really missed your videos! P.S. The Intro Sequence was just (chef’s kiss)

[@user-vv1qf1jk4z]

That performance of Smooth Criminal is so addicting, from someone who has never watched Glee. Iconic.

[@ellieb9053]

The point you made about the more diverse shows being cancelled is interesting because the same thing is happening to books. The books being censored or banned the most in the US are often ones centering minortiy voices, racism and LGBTQ+ identities.

[@upsetstudios1819]

The rumored "A Court of Thorns And Roses" adaptation could possibly be the campy fantasy drama we've been waiting for. But probably not

[@KurosakiRuka]

Shows that got canceled and i liked were dare me and deadly class. Especially the last was so good at how they filmed creative scenes and had an edgy but relatable protagonist and all those teenagers going throug teen drama while at the same time being killers. The cast was amazing.

[@TheJrockfreak]

Deadly class was so good, I hate we never got another season of it.

[@aidanbraz4105]

I would argue that Euphoria wasn’t an instant hit, when it was being released weekly there wasn’t as much coverage than with season 2

[@chickennugget6521]

so pissed about animated shows getting cancelled AFTER BEING RENEWED! its so painful as a viewer im talking about inside job and dead end paranormal park :(

[@thefrug4755]

I said this when gossip girl got cancelled and you know what it goes for a lot of these shows. THEY NEED MORE TIME!!! They cannot push out 8/10 episode for all of these shows it just doesn't work. If they were to say bring back glee there's not enough time to go to sectionals, regionals, and nationals and then give good character development in taht time frame. It's just not possible with a lot of teen dramas and although I hate it that's why riverdale is successful it has enough shit going on that they can throw in to keep people coming back to either enjoy or shit talk it to the ground. I think most of these streamers need to start giving some of these shows longer seasons or need to toss them up to an actual network and not a streaming service. I do however agree that i think 13-15 episodes could be enough an example is 13RW which had 13 episodes and honestly that was enough for us but still some shows need more.

[@amberwyatt5708]

also also i see the lack of filler episodes as to why we don’t have as many iconic sitcoms in the 2020s either i can only think of abbott elementary as an active running sitcom we have today

[@shariannabrown3419]

Your quote from earlier “There were no more supernatural Teen dramas” well I’ve been writing an supernatural tv show for a year now and its almost done. Hopefully you “we all” can get to see it on tv someday.

[@satanstella]

Wow amazing 😍

[@lilautieunicorn6632]

I have such a huge grudge against short seasons because nothing can ever just take a moment to sit and simmer.

[@emilymartinazzi5957]

A big thing causing this is the cancellation/refocus of the CW. That used to be the channel for a lot of 2000s/2010s teen dramas, and with all the cancellations and focus on drawing more adults in, they have killed almost all their teen dramas.

[@GLBizzie]

The Cw became DC-TV with all their superheroes

[@justjoannak]

Agreed!

[@justjoannak]

​@@GLBizzie This too! The Arrowverse *REALLY* hurt the CW in the long run

[@actualnotanewbie]

9:08 the problem is insanely high production values of these shows. The drama shows of the 2000s were probably cheaper to make 24 episodes of than a 2020s drama consisting of 8 episodes. Terra Nova is a cautionary tale of how even a successful show can fail due to high production costs.

[@justjoannak]

The Secret Circle, too

[@radwamohamed_]

Sometimes it got nothing to do with good writing. They just need to do better at promoting it and not give up so easily. Like riverdale terrible writing storyline and writing but it still kept getting renewed due to having strong fan base. But you can’t get dedicated fan base if you just cancel after first season.

[@karmicobsession1636]

it gets renewed because it's on a network thats in a place where it doesn't have much of choice to not renew almost every show on the network.

[@bashlikesbooks]

I feel like the biggest difference as a viewer with newer shows is that i come out of watching a season and cant name a single character. I used to be able to name all characters from multiple seasons (like in gilmore girls or vampire diaries) because we had time to get to know all the characters. Nowadays i watch a show and have to go back every time they mention a name because i haven't gotten to know any characters.

[@sansastark4040]

Omg! I loved Greek, I was way too young to watch it but Casey and cappie were my jam.

[@TheJrockfreak]

For me I think a good teen drama is one that is a drama that just so happens to be about teens instead of just having teens going through drama because focusing on the drama first makes the show more relatable I feel. And agreed more episodes is a must because most shows don't even hit "second gear" until the midway point.

[@lost_in_the_forrest]

I was already leaning towards a follow because of the quality of the video but you really sealed the deal when you mentioned Void Stiles, Smooth Criminal and Percy Jackson. Subscribed. 😍

[@011mph]

I've always preferred fewer episodes than shows being dragged on. I wish shows would still do long seasons but also know how to stop at like seasons 4 or something instead of going on forever and losing the plot

[@hirahi]

I love teen dramas! as a shy person, getting to live vicariously thru characters is fun! but yeah most modern teen dramas are written so trashy I can't watch it without cringing

[@caitlingill]

Idk if this counts as a “teen drama” more a “teen sci-fi & mystery & adventure show with a slight bit of comedy” but Paper Girls was such a good show and it only got one season! It’s about four girls in their early teens who lives in the late 80s (1988 to be exact) and accidentally time travel to the present time and meet future versions of themselves. Plus there’s two lesbian characters (one is Jewish), two black characters, and two Chinese characters. The four main girls are completely different. Mac, a brunette rocker tomboy with blue eyes who’s snarky and sassy but is nice deep down. She acts this way because of her poor, dysfunctional family. Erin, a Chinese girly girl who is sweet but has a serious side and also great leadership skills. Tiff, a black nerdy girl who doesn’t take bs from anyone is is extremely intelligent. And KJ, a sporty Jewish girl with brown hair and eyes who’s artsy/creative and also has creative thinking skills. KJ also comes from a rich family and has loads of expectations placed on her. There’s loads more that would take ages to get into, but yeah.

[@mariama12]

I LOVE Papergirls and I'm so pissed it got canceled!

[@litttlepigboy]

i loved paper girls so much im still so sad it got cancelled :(

[@Fantastic_Beasts2025]

Teen dramas of today: Sex Education Euphoria Riverdale Love Simon/Victor (now completed) Sabrina (now completed Sex Lives of College Girls The Summer I Turned Pretty Wednesday Stranger Things High school musical Percy Jackson Heartstopper Heartbreak High 13 Reasons Why (completed) Canceled: Scream Queens Gossip Girl reboot Generation First Kill Julie and the Phantoms Of 2000’s: One True Hill Pretty Little Liars Teen Wolf Gossip Girl Vampire Diaries Glee Twilight

[@mimigigihere]

never have i ever and atypical for today as well (atypical comppleted, never have i ever has one more season to go)

[@josieedgar3287]

i love and miss filler episodes in teen dramas! new shows really could use more of those.

[@melw9147]

I wonder if this is like how preteen shows on Disney and Nick aren’t as popular and as a result, we started getting gritty teen shows like TVD and Teen Wolf. And then now those teen shows are being phased out so you go from kids programming straight to adult…with the exception of Stranger Things and Euphoria (which in reality are like adult shows)

[@baby_ghoul]

The issue with a lot of teen dramas is they're trying to recapture that audience of younger millenials/older gen z, and I can see why, 2004 to 2014 was the golden age of teen dramas. However, so many shows from that era ended with a flop because they went on for far too long. Eventually you do need to create shows for the next generation instead of hoping that you can keep the previous by making the themes more mature and the tone a lot darker.

[@AmandaVieiraMamaesouCult]

I agree, I'm the 30-something lady wishing they had more different coming of age shows

[@sweetnlo13]

It's like the executives who greenlight and cancel these shows forget that some of the biggest or most beloved shows weren't immediate hits. Imagine canceling Parks & Rec or The Office after the first season because the ratings weren't great without creators and writers having the opportunity to workshop and improve them. Before streaming, a series had a season or, two unless they completely bombed to grow their audience while also finding out what works for their audience

[@GLBizzie]

Not quite true. Even back then networks didn’t let shows develop for that long. We had so much Shows end after 1 season. Like that The Cw show beautiful life that got dropped after 2 episodes. We should be thankful that they even release a full season. Could u imagine like Winx getting all the promotion and they would drop it after 2 episodes?

[@Chuuzus]

HBO should have never cancelled Generation. It became very popular months after it ended just for them to cancel it..

[@Josemariorodriguez]

I’m just hearing Ryan and Marissa conversation, “who are you?” “Whoever you want me to be”

[@astridmyst]

I have questioned this as well. Thank you for going over it

[@soniavasiliu]

I feel like the biggest issue with the Gossip Girl reboot, besides that god awful plotline of the teachers being gg, is the fact that they focused way too much on trying to be "woke" and "progressive" and they forgot how to actually write the stories themselves. like, the most compelling storyline, in my opinion, was the one about Julien's dad and him abusing his power as a producer. But besides that everything was just...boring. And don't get me wrong, i'm glad they tried to fix the flaws of the original by having more diversity in the cast of main characters, but ultimately the fact that they tried so hard to make it unproblematic ended up being its biggest mistake. What made the original fun was the fact that the main characters were all problematic and toxic and they owned up to it. So i feel like if they'd managed to fix all the racism, homophobia and so on from the original, while still having the characters be rich and entitled little shits it would have made for a better show. Otherwise it just ended up falling flat and performative

[@AmandaVieiraMamaesouCult]

Yes, everything felt so performative to me

[@pascaleand0r]

Also important thing, the fact that they KEEP cancelling after one or two seasons makes ppl want to watch new things less bc they don’t want to get invested in something new when they know it’ll be cancelled. Also, GGRB felt like they didn’t get their audience and like they wanted their cake and eat it too. And the teenagers didn’t feel like teenagers. Like you can TELL that it’s grown ass ppl that do their dialogue. Like OG GG was cringe but the teenagers ACTED LIKE TEENAGERS. Like ofc teens todays are more socially conscious than it was 10 or 20 years ago. But they wouldn’t act like THAT. Not like in GGRB. It feels like they never interacted with kids and it’s astounding bc Joshua Safran was ALSO a writer in OG GG. And i like the dig at Obie. I know that the official reason GGRB was cancelled is bc they cut the budget. But in my mind, Obie is the reason it was cancelled. No one cares for Obie.

[@carriesnaps3508]

Wait, why do you think Obie was the reason for the show's cancellation? I mean, it's not like he was even a main character (despite being in the main group) in S2. Julien and Zoya are the main focus. But characters like Money and the throuple also had more to do in S2.

[@pascaleand0r]

@@carriesnaps3508 bc his mere presence is a drag to the show.

[@carriesnaps3508]

@@pascaleand0r oh 🤣🤣

[@lizzyedusi]

the way im waiting for PJO !!

[@ludofratta2328]

The problem with most show with a diverse protagonish is that they make the first plot either based on their diversity, that being the stuggle of racism or their sexuality, or their love life. It would be refreshing having a person struggle because of things that everyone struggles with. I'm sure that racism and sexualities are a really big struggle for many people, but basing every single diverse character's personality on that is really diminuting. Sure there can be subplot that maybe later on can in other season explode in a bigger plot about the struggle of idk not actually being straight, but being bi and maybe it comes out in a toxic friendship girl with girl (making a random example), but moving the whole plot only based on the "diversity" is just as insulting as having a plot only as the love interest or as the negated black friend or gay bestie. I can't really speak for other people, but I find refreshing when a ginger isn't either a wild sexy woman or a cute little cottage core girl. As a ginger myself, I'm neither, and it's hard to find someone that isn't Jessica rabbit or Beth from little women. Of course not saying that this is the same of other diversity, because it's actually the opposite since I have only seen one character struggling with having red hair and that is Anne with an E, but it's still is really nice when they know what they are portraying: a person, that is ginger, gay, straight, trans, of which ever ethnicity or culture and that is a PART of them and not their whole world. As a part of them it may be explored in a different season, byt in the first season you should establish her as a person with hobbies, passions, her past life and all. I just don't think that appearance or sexuality should be the main focus, but a part of the character

[@yoannam.2243]

Hm, if you want that kind of character try "Young Royals". It's an lgbtq series, but the sexuality is not the main problem. The main character have actual personality and struggles and it's not just about his sexuality.

[@karmicobsession1636]

@@yoannam.2243 his main problem is his sexuality.

[@yoannam.2243]

@@karmicobsession1636 his main problem is his position and title. The problems comes from the outside world, not his mindset about his sexuality. He doesn't have a problem with loving Simon and they want to be together.

[@ludofratta2328]

@@yoannam.2243 thank you I'll try it!

[@yoannam.2243]

@@ludofratta2328 Yey! Hope you like it, its really beautiful and emotional story. But if you can watch it with the original swedish audio and subtitles.

[@Zikomo7]

Being in my early 30s, I wondered what the teens and early 20s crowd thought of these shows. Did you like these shows? Did they feel important to you?

[@elafila6883]

regarding the gossip girl reboot cancelation i was actually surprised they even got a second season we watched the first season with my sister and honestly i have no words to describe that show other than forcing and stupid Like I'm not even exaggerating, that series took years off my lifespan

[@AmandaVieiraMamaesouCult]

I really tried to like it, but I couldn't get past episode 7

[@elafila6883]

@@AmandaVieiraMamaesouCult i barely made it to the end of the first episode

[@amberwyatt5708]

also i feel like we need more shows for like college aged people too like sex lives of college girls is fantastic but i want more shows like it

[@dorotaisqueen3650]

Another great example of incredible shows about teens that were actually unique and had good representation was American Vandal and Anne with an E, Anne With an E is already very popular but barely anyone I know knows American Vandal, AND IT IS SO GOOD!! I got cancelled after season 2 but it was the most accurate depiction of Gen Z I've ever seen in such an effortless way and it addressed so much of what we as a generation uniquely experience! PLEASE WATCH IT YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!

[@Strawlighte]

I am still soooo sad The Wilds ended on such a cliffhanger and got canceled. A season three could have given so much closure

[@cholaundry]

I will never forgive Netflix for cancelling Teenage Bounty Hunters

[@reedsylvier5250]

Oh yesss I forgot about this one, this was one of my absolute recent favourites, I'm not surprised it got cancelled because all the ones I enjoyed did but still sad to hear it definitely is

[@bellereinette2938]

Honestly with everything either getting canceled or going to shit these days (I'm looking at you Riverdale) I find myself opting more to rewatch my old favorites teen dramas from the 2000s & 2010s (& I didn't watch it till later but also the 90s cuz I love Buffy!) instead of starting a new show simply out of fear that if I watch a new show it'll get canceled like it took me a good couple of years to finally watch OBX & Sex Education cuz I was scared too with how Netflix (& these other studios) are.

[@dez2673]

the PLL Christmas episode is one of my favorites tbh

[@StickyBunzNGlitter]

In my opinion, i think shows are getting shorter because the human attention span is getting shorter and the writing sucks. The writers just don't know how to develop good, complete storylines. That's why the 1st 2 seasons are usually the best. Writers are only writing 1 season's worth because they don't know if the show will be picked up for another season.

[@MidnightMaraudersSocialClub]

I think "superheroes" took over "supernatural" cause every other show I see out there is about some superhero group of some kind

[@jwagfilms]

Thinking of popular shows that would’ve almost immediately gotten canceled if the media just based it on the 1st sxn was Veronica Mars. This show was such a slow burn (imo, I like drama to happen quickly like TVD), once u got to the sxn finale, the show was great. Honestly, that show will always be one of my favorite teen dramas because the plot was good. However, u had to give it time to work it’s magic. Let’s just hope that the media will realize its fault and make better teen shows in the future

[@justjoannak]

Omg, yes! The high school era of Veronica Mars is unmatched; S3 had *WAY* too many storylines going on and S4 was just hot garbage due to the short length + trash finale

[@tyragarside8368]

Another issue I see with short seasons of teen shows (specifically those with teens at the center) is the fact that obviously actors age and when you have a short season and it takes two years to produce another one there is clear age discrepancies which I see a lot of people take issue with because the teens don't look teen enough to comfortably fit in the role anymore and that criticism can put off new viewers and can make a show more disliked and potentially more likely to be cancelled and if the show is not running on a very high budget which seems to be the case with a lot of teen shows nowadays as networks look less inclined to invest in them then these issues cannot be helped through makeup and wardrobe as easily.

[@lunaoliveira7965]

Not me finding out right now they cancelled First Kill. What a traumatizing beginning for a video 😭

[@Aurischoice]

It’s also production too. Folks used to work crazy hours and for long periods to get those 22 episode seasons. Studios are hoarding wealth and inflating the value of there positions in order to skim off the cost

[@nicollettes4665]

I agree with everything you said, especially the episode numbers and not giving some shows a chance to grow. I will never forgive Netflix for canceling Tiny Pretty Things. It was such a good show and had so much potential to be huge. They didn't even announce its cancelation they just left fans and the actors hanging, even though when it came out it exceeded the number of viewers they said they needed for a second season, and still canceled it.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

2:47 OMG ‘One Tree Hill’ brings back so many memories. Chad Michael Murray is just so charming ❤

[@ohyouarenana2460]

i feel like having better writers is sooo important cuz sometimes the writers try too hard to make teenage characters relatable that they just make them look really cringe and sometimes some shows really don't need more seasons or just need better writers for the next seasons for example riverdales first season was literally so firkin good and i was so excited for the coming seasons but the show just became and absolute piece of shit like i literally can't even stand watching any episodes after the first season

[@ohshanana2397]

I'm still salty about first kill,and Anne with an E

[@i8ursocksha]

I miss the campness of holiday episodes. Pretty Little Liars owned Halloween, and Gossip Girl's Tha ksgiving episides were so juicy and ridiculous. I miss the shows just going fully off kilter. They dont really have fun holiday eps anymore.

[@fleurjoesten]

They shouldn’t have remade Gossip Girl to begin with. I grew up with Gossip Girl (I was 12 in 2007 when it came out), and it was huge all throughout my high school years. I even had a Kiss on the Cheeks party with a friend of mine (PG-13 instead of Kiss on the Lips). I think I rewatched it 6 - 8 times throughout the last 15 years. I am now turning 28. I don’t want it rebooted and set today. Was it problematic and toxic? For sure. But that’s what kind of worked, as part of that time period. Chuck would never be cast as a heart throb ever again, because the world (thank god), doesn’t allow men like that to be glorified. And yet, with that being said, it’s an integral part of my own coming of age. And I believe for a lot of men and women my age. Can’t match that feeling. I watched maybe half an episode of the reboot, and then turned it off. It’s just not it. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@kamoheloiannk617]

On My Block doesn't get the love and praise it deserves🙌

[@rachelannstanley]

My personal new Fav Teen Dramas/Supernatural shows are Willow, Wolf pack which came out with the Teen Wolf movie but its another Universe. The first season's are out. No news of another season at least until 2024 but you should watch it, and they're not cancelled yet. And Interview with a Vampire is great too imo. And they already got the go for Season 2