To be completely truthful, EuphoriaIt is easily one of the best TV shows that you can stream. The show’s raw display of youth and the beautiful makeup make it difficult to not binge watch. But with the painstaking wait for a new episode of season two to drop every Sunday, it can feel like there’s nothing else to fill the EuphoriaOur hearts are shaped like a hole.
And with the coming-of-age narrative mixed with commentary on drug use, mental health, and just how hard high school can be sometimes, I’ll admit there are few shows that can satisfy quite like Euphoria can. However, with a skim through a few streaming services (and maybe checking for a good Rotten Tomatoes score here and there), it’s clear that there is a myriad of scandalous, teenagers-grapple-with-extreme-situations type shows and movies sure to be your new guilty pleasure.
Although there will never be a show that can replace it, EuphoriaTo help you get through the long wait (or outdo the iconic costume), here are some I recommend. Here are 13 shows and movies to watch while you’re waiting for the next Euphoria episode.
1. Gossip Girl
Where to find the Stream: HBO Max
Number of Seasons 1
If scandal is what your looking for, then look no further that the Gossip Girl reboot. Similar to the original series, it’s about a group of way-too-wealthy teens trying to deal with real-world issues while also being able to afford a yacht. Although it’s not as relatable as the original series, it is still very entertaining to watch. Following along with so many privileged teens as they get into possibly life-ruining situations—while, ironically, said teens claim that they’re doing just the opposite—means that all sense of morals flies out the window. Whether you’re here for a good time or just to see the new Blair and Serena, there will be a ton of chaos that you can sit back and watch from the comfort of your couch. Finally, problems that I don’t have to handle.
2. Thirteen
Where to find the Stream:Hulu and CINEMAX
Take it a step further. ThirteenThe story of a 13 year old girl and her relationship with crime, drugs, and her mother is told. Tracy, a normal, quiet girl, begins her seventh-grade year. Evie is the most popular girl in school. After they bond over shoplifting and stealing rich people’s money, the two become inseparable. They are a cross between The Bling Ring Eighth Grade, this is a movie centered on the consequences of middle schoolers who have no idea what they’re doing. The film touches on self-harm and drug use. But what the film excels at is its unwavering portrayal of how out of control life can become for anyone, regardless their age. If you’re looking for a hard-hitting drama, ThirteenYou will see how being a teenager can be exciting but also dangerous.
3. On My Block
Where to find the Stream: Netflix
Number of Seasons 4
Sometimes, a dramatic idea needs to be countered with humor. On My Block, you’ve got the perfect mixture of both. The series follows a group savvy street teens as they navigate high schools in South Central Los Angeles. The series explores the characters’ relationships and shows them how they cope with heartbreak, pain, triumphs, and everything in between. Expect to see unlikely friendships develop and to love characters you hate. This film is a fascinating look at adolescence and features excellent acting from actors. On My BlockIt’s too good not to miss.
4. Girl Interrupted
Where to find the Stream: Netflix
This 1960s psychological drama is about mental illness. It has a compelling plot that can only be described a roller coaster ride. Susanna is a newly-admitted patient at a mental institution as she recovers after a recent breakup. However, when another patient, Lisa, entices her with the promise of drugs and an escape to the outside world, Susanna believes that rebelling against the institution meant to “fix” her is her only option. Star-studded cast includes Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie as well as Whoopi Goldberg. This movie shows how difficult it can be outside and how vital willpower and strength are to survive in a cold environment.
5. College Girls and their Sexual Lives
Where to Stream: HBO Max
Number of Seasons 1
If you’re looking for something just a little bit lighter and more carefree than the hard-hitting EuphoriaYou just finished the episode. College Girls: The Sex of College GirlsThis is what you will need. A depiction of what the modern college girl looks like (or at least what the writers think today’s college girls look like), this movie is about a group of four young women who decide that college is going to be the best four years of their lives. It might be possible, in a non-COVID world. Our four children face the greatest challenge of all: balancing their hormones, being away for the first time and dealing with the consequences. It’s funny but also touches on serious topics like consent and maintaining healthy relationships. And I mean, with Mindy Kaling as a co-writer, actress Pauline Chalamet—that’s right, Timothée’s sister—and an impressive 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, why wouldn’t you watch?
6. Beautiful Boy
Where to find the Stream: Amazon Prime
This movie is a powerful and impactful story that showcases love, authenticity, and endurance. Based on a true tale Beautiful Boy follows a father, played by Steve Carell, as he helps his son, portrayed by Timothée Chalamet, recover from his addiction to crystal meth. Similar to all movies based on a true story, there’s something about watching a relationship as it’s tested that draws you in. Yes, the father-son dynamic is picked apart piece by piece, but it’s shown in a way that almost anyone who has been in a family conflict can relate to. It’s honest and meant to serve as a sign of hope. Carell and Chalamet play off each other effortlessly and ultimately show that no matter where you are in life, you’ll make mistakes, but there’s always a promise that things will get better.
7. The Edge of Seventeen
Where to find the Stream: Netflix
One of the best things about this movie is that even when I didn’t know where the story was going, I still could relate to the characters—and also how much of a tremendous struggle high school was for some of us. Part comedy, part drama, the story centers on Nadine (17 years old) whose high school experience just got worse. Nadine is faced with the dilemma of trying to keep healthy relationships with her brother and find a way to express her emotions. I mean, if my best friend started dating my sibling, I don’t know who I’d confide in either. Hailee Steinfeld portrays Nadine as imperfect, awkward, but somehow completely relatable. The story plays with loneliness narratives but manages to retain all the great parts that make it a good film.
8. Skins
Where to find the Stream: Hulu
Number of Seasons 7
Of course, I can’t recommend any list of TV shows without bringing at least one British series into the mix. This pick centers on the experiences of a group of students in sixth form—the equivalent of our junior and senior high school years—as they experiment with drugs, partying, and the concept of identity. There’s a little humor in the dialogue so you might find yourself laughing in one scene and tense in the next. With commentary on serious issues like teen pregnancy and substance abuse, this isn’t your average young adult-framed series. Seriously, more people need to talk about this show’s incredible acting and impeccable storylines. The show’s directors also cast amateur actors, and change the cast every two season (there are seven total). This is another aspect of. SkinsThis deserves more attention.
9. The Society
Where to find the Stream: Netflix
Number of Seasons 1
With the good old sci-fi mystery hybrid, it’s hard not to watch the first season of this show and feel like you need more. The story centers on a group of high school students who return from a fieldtrip to discover that everyone has disappeared from their town. The group decides to create their own government, as they have no other options and are unable to contact the outside world. Each character is still a teenager and trying to figure out their identity and motivations in life. They test their morals, friendships, and offer commentary about the human condition in a situation they could only imagine, but it is still very real. Lord of the Flies-esque drama manages to have both heartfelt moments you’d expect in a YA novel intertwined with the primal struggle to survive. If you’re looking for a story about teenagers coming to terms with the human condition, this might be the show for you.
10. Jennifer’s Body
Where to find the Stream:Amazon Prime and Apple TV
A demon trapped inside a teenager, a nerd out to save the day, and a nearly useless boyfriend might not sound like your conventional horror movie, but there’s nothing I would change about Jennifer’s Body. Anita AKA Needy and her best friend and popular girl Jennifer decide to head to a concert at their small town’s local bar—and nothing is ever the same again. Needy embarks on a mission of stopping Jennifer, no matter how difficult it may be, after realizing that she has been possessed and is causing the deaths of boys in their small town. This movie is a commentary on consent and homophobia, and it’s finally made for women. Jennifer’s Body has the perfect combination of humor and drama and has to be one of my favorite movies of all time—I think that’s enough of a reason to go watch it.
11. Looking for Alaska
Where to find the Stream: Hulu
Number of Seasons 1
Based on John Green’s coming-of-age novel, Looking for AlaskaIt shows the good, the bad and the ugly of being a teenager. The miniseries follows Miles AKA “Pudge” as he enrolls in Culver Creek Academy, a boarding school that he’s convinced will help him see life from a new perspective. He falls in love with Alaska, his classmate and mutual friend, almost immediately upon arriving. After drunken pranks and deep conversations, Miles forms an unbreakable friend group, and we’re reminded that no matter how different our backgrounds may be, we’re all human. Through the series, the friends learn to cope with tragedy and become closer. It is clear that, while everyone has their own challenges, we can still help each other.
12. Riverdale
Where to find the Stream: Netflix
Number of Seasons 6
OK, so Riverdale’s writers may have lost us somewhere, but season one of this show—AKA the only season that makes sense—is amazing. If you’ve been living under a rock, the series follows a group of misfit teenagers based on the ArchieComics are created by the trio as they uncover dark secrets within their communities. Learning that they can’t trust their families or classmates, Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead band together to try and solve the mystery behind fellow classmate Cheryl Blossom’s role in the death of her twin brother. Each episode takes you deeper into the mystery and encourages your participation in the sleuthing team to solve the murder. This show is perfect for Nancy Drew lovers. It features a cast of outrageous characters, suspenseful romance, and a great storyline.
13. Degrassi: The Next Generation
Where to find the Stream:Pluto TV and Amazon Prime
Number of Seasons 14
As we gear up for HBO Max’s upcoming DegrassiReboot, it makes sense to return to the original series that shaped many high school and middle school experiences. This Canadian drama series follows a group students as they deal their sexuality, their addiction to drugs and their chaotic home lives. This movie is also well known for being the show in which Drake and Nina Dobrev got their start, and each character’s motivations and approach to adult situations are explored in every episode, making for an entertaining and sometimes relatable watch. The show was also made as it was becoming clear that the internet and technology would be instrumental in our everyday lives, so you’re likely to be hit with a wave of nostalgia as you watch. One of the most original and diverse shows in 2000s. DegrassiIt has become a permanent fixture of pop culture, and with good reason.
Source: The Every Girl
