A teen drama is a type of dramatic television series in which the focus is on teenage characters. The genre was relatively non-existent for the first 45 years of television; it came into prominence in the early 1990s. Previously, most series with a focus on teens had been sitcoms while teens in drama series were usually part of a larger ensemble that included adults and children.

Teen dramas, more often than not, have soap opera elements, allowing the young adult characters to grow and develop over time while facing an array of realistic teen issues. However, there have been many successful teen-based dramas with major themes of science fiction, fantasy, and action/adventure. Also, most shows have a substantial amount of comic relief.

Types of teen dramas

The most popular teen dramas are set in affluent locales (e.g. Beverly Hills 90210, The O.C., Gossip Girl), or in fictional town settings (e.g. Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill). Most teen dramas have a cast of attractive actors, living a privileged and wealthy life. Shows that depict teen life in a more realistic manner tend not to do nearly as well, although there are exceptions, notable ones being the critically acclaimed My So-Called Life and Freaks and Geeks, as well as the British teen drama The Inbetweeners. Another being the Canadian-produced Degrassi series. All three Degrassi series; (Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High and Degrassi: The Next Generation), have been very successful in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.