Before the age of streaming, plenty of beloved shows barely made it past one season. The usual culprit? “Low ratings.”

But often, networks were to blame. Maybe they stuck a great show in a terrible time slot or scheduled it against a ratings juggernaut on another network.

Sometimes, the show was too edgy or dark for network bigwigs or too complex for mainstream audiences to embrace right away.

In rare cases, fan campaigns brought a canceled show back for another season, but more often, it was game over.

If streaming had been as big back then as it is now, these shows — and their loyal fans — might have gotten the long run they deserved.

So, what failed TV shows of yesterday would have been streaming hits today? Let’s dive in!

Millennium (FOX)

Even though Millennium technically lasted three seasons, only the first two really count. Season three? Let’s just say it lost its way.

Let’s rewind: the actual millennium was looming, and no one really knew what to expect.

Enter Millennium, the Chris Carter-created series that premiered on Fox in 1996, three years before the Y2K panic hit.

The show was centered around a secretive group called the Millennium Group, whose members were either trying to save the world or, well, end it.

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Either way, Frank Black (played by the ever-intense Lance Henriksen) was the man in the middle, wrestling with his inner demons while chasing down some pretty dark, apocalyptic threats.

The first two seasons balanced psychological depth with chilling, end-of-the-world dread. But then came season three, where everything took a nosedive into standard police procedural territory.

Still, we did get more of Lucy Butler, the villain, to end all villains. Sarah-Jane Redmond’s Lucy is one of TV’s greatest antagonists — dark, seductive, and absolutely terrifying. Her presence cranked up the fear factor every time she appeared!

So, why was Millennium canceled? Well, for starters, when the actual millennium came and went without a world-shattering event, viewers, and maybe even the network, lost interest. But that wasn’t all.

The ratings had been slipping, mostly because the show’s dark, slow-burn storytelling didn’t resonate with as broad an audience as The X-Files.

By season three, the tonal shift toward a crime procedural alienated the fans who loved the deeper, existential vibe of earlier seasons. Inconsistent scheduling, poor network support, and the fact that Millennium aired during a time when people weren’t ready for such grim, complex narratives sealed its fate.

Now, here’s the kicker: Millennium didn’t need to end just because Y2K was a flop. It was dark, thought-provoking, and with Lucy Butler lurking around, scary as hell.

This was a show that tackled those big, looming questions about the end of the world and humanity’s place in it — way ahead of its time.

Had Millennium dropped today, it would’ve been a streaming goldmine. We’re still obsessed with apocalyptic scenarios, moral dilemmas, and existential crises, and Millennium dealt with that head-on — before it was cool.

Project Blue Book (History)

Project Blue Book was a captivating historical drama based on the real-life Project Blue Book, the U.S. Air Force’s investigation into UFO sightings and extraterrestrial encounters during the 1950s and 60s.

It aired on History in 2019 and was one of those shows that had the perfect mix of mystery, conspiracy, and fact-meets-fiction intrigue.

Starring Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones) as Dr. J. Allen Hynek and Michael Malarkey (The Vampire Diaries) as Captain Michael Quinn, the show followed their journey from skeptical investigators to men deeply entangled in the eerie and unexplainable.

As each bizarre case unfolded, their disbelief began to waver.

What if UFOs and aliens were real? The deeper they dug, the more they questioned, but sadly, we never got the full payoff to those questions.

The series was canceled before it could take us all the way down the rabbit hole of cosmic conspiracies.

Despite its fascinating blend of real-life events and fictional drama, Project Blue Book was axed in 2020 after just two seasons.

The show had already laid the groundwork for a third season, but thanks to a mix of COVID-19 disruptions and History’s decision to step away from scripted series, the plug was pulled.

To add salt to the wound, it wasn’t low ratings that did it in — the show actually pulled solid numbers.

It was criticized by some for historical inaccuracies (though, let’s be honest, “based on true events” never means a direct translation of reality).

But its smart writing and strong performances (Neil McDonough starred as the hard-nosed General Harding) kept viewers hooked.

The real tragedy here? History’s decision to shift away from scripted TV shows — a baffling move that left Project Blue Book fans with unanswered questions and untapped potential.

Imagine what the series could’ve done on a streaming platform! With its deep well of unexplored stories and its clever approach to mixing fact and fiction, it had the makings of a streaming hit.

It’s one of those shows that would’ve been perfect for binge-watching, drawing in UFO enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists alike.

Another smart, well-crafted show cut short for all the wrong reasons.

Moonlight (CBS)

A vampire detective? Fantastic. On CBS? Not so much.

Moonlight was a supernatural crime drama that aired on CBS in 2007. It followed the life of Mick St. John (Alex O’Loughlin), a private investigator by day but a vampire all the time.

But Mick isn’t your typical vampire.

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On his wedding night 60 years ago, his bride sank her teeth into him, turning him into a creature he never wanted to be.

Feeling betrayed, he struggles with the fact that he’s stuck with immortality unless vampire hunters catch up with him. And he’s not exactly thrilled with the whole blood-sucking gig, either.

Instead, Mick tries to hold onto his humanity by investigating crimes, from vampire-related murders to kidnappings and cold cases.

Every day is a dilemma, but life gets even more complicated for Mick when he meets Beth Turner (Sophia Myles), a reporter he falls madly in love with.

It was the perfect series: romance, intrigue, crime-solving, and the supernatural.

But despite a loyal fanbase and critical praise, Moonlight never quite clicked with the mainstream CBS audience, and the network drove a stake into Mick’s heart.

The show’s cancellation wasn’t just due to low ratings — it was also due to the 2007 writer’s strike, which, combined with its underperformance, was the final nail in the coffin.

Moonlight’s concept was strong, but it wasn’t made for network TV, and definitely not CBS. On streaming? It would have tapped right into the perfect audience vein.

Firefly (FOX)

Firefly was ahead of its time when it premiered in 2002. Created by Joss Whedon, the sci-fi western follows the adventures of the renegade crew of the spaceship Serenity in the year 2517.

Its ensemble cast included future Castle star Nathan Fillion, Morena Baccarin (Gotham), Gina Torres (Suits), Adam Baldwin (The Last Ship), and Ron Glass (Barney Miller).

Had Fox given it the same chance it gave The X-Files, which also started as a low-rated cult show, we wouldn’t be discussing its premature end.

Instead, the network mishandled the series by airing episodes out of order, thinking the most action-packed ones would attract more viewers.

It also placed the show in the dreaded Friday night “death slot” and promoted it as a sci-fi comedy rather than the space adventure it was.

Combined with its costly production and low ratings, Fox decided to pull the plug after just 11 of the planned 14 episodes aired.

Fans were outraged and launched a postcard campaign to save the show. They even took out an ad in Variety, but it was all to no avail.

However, when the DVD sold out within 24 hours of its 2003 pre-order announcement, Whedon received the go-ahead to create Serenity, a film that continued the story after the series finale.

Despite its cancellation, Firefly became a cult classic and would be a streaming hit with its rich world-building, compelling character dynamics, and sharp dialogue.

Agent Carter (ABC)

Agent Carter is an action-adventure spy drama series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that aired on ABC in 2015.

It follows Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), a tough-as-nails secret agent juggling espionage, sexism, and saving the world in post-WWII America.

Set in 1946, the show picks up after the events of Captain America: The First Avenger, where Peggy has lost Steve Rogers but continues her fight for justice.

In Agent Carter, Peggy works for the Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR).

While the guys at the office dismiss her as just “the secretary,” she’s secretly taking on high-stakes missions, clearing Howard Stark’s name, and fighting off bad guys with the help of her trusty sidekick, Edwin Jarvis.

Despite Peggy’s smarts, charm, and serious butt-kicking skills, Agent Carter was canceled after just two seasons.

Why? Well, it didn’t hit the ratings sweet spot, but on streaming, more people would’ve tuned in to watch her break spyglass ceilings!

Pitch (FOX)

When Pitch premiered on Fox in 2016, the idea of a woman breaking into Major League Baseball was groundbreaking.

Since then, women have made real strides in the sport. Alyssa Nakken became the first female on-field coach in MLB history with the San Francisco Giants in 2020.

Kelsie Whitmore made headlines when she became the first woman to play on-field as a pitcher and outfielder for the Staten Island FerryHawks, a partner league of Major League Baseball, in 2022.

But Ginny Baker of the San Diego Padres beat them all, even if she was just a fictional character.

Played by Kylie Bunbury (Big Sky), Ginny’s call-up to the majors saw her immediately fighting to prove herself to her teammates, most of whom resented the idea of a woman in their ranks.

The only exception was team captain and catcher Mike Lawson, played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Found, Mixed-ish), who not only helped her navigate the challenges of the major leagues but also became a love interest.

It added even more tension to Ginny’s situation, but they were HOT together.

Nonetheless, as thrilling as the story was and despite its immense potential, Fox canceled Pitch after just one season.

The series was created by Dan Fogelman who also had another new show debuting that same television season over on NBC: This is Us, which, of course, became a mega-hit.

Although Pitch received critical acclaim and was hailed as one of the best new shows of the season, like many great shows, low viewership struck it out.

If Pitch debuted today, it’s hard to imagine it wouldn’t be a streaming sensation.

In today’s climate, a story about a Black woman breaking barriers in a male-dominated profession would have catapulted Pitch to the top of the heap.

Eerie, Indiana (NBC)

Before Stranger Things, there was Eerie, Indiana, a quirky horror mystery series that aired on NBC from 1991 to 1992.

And it was doomed from the start.

The show follows Marshall Teller (Omri Katz), a teen who moves with his family from New Jersey to the small town of Eerie, Indiana.

It doesn’t take him long to realize that Eerie is more than a little “eerie.”

Along with his new friends, he uncovers bizarre, hair-raising supernatural happenings — like the neighbor who sells a seriously strange version of Tupperware.

Eerie, Indiana was wonderfully weird but totally out of place.

NBC slotted it on Sundays at 7:30 p.m. — prime kid-friendly TV time — except it wasn’t really for kids. Besides, no sane parent was going to let their child watch something potentially nightmare-inducing the night before school.

And that’s where the real problem kicked in. The show wasn’t even written for kids.

Writers Jose Rivera and Karl Schaefer designed it with adults in mind, leaving NBC clueless on how to market it.

Are You Afraid of the Dark, which debuted on Nickelodeon in 1992, was a phenomenal success with several seasons and even a couple of revival seasons.

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Though it was an anthology series, it still had the same vibe as Eerie, Indiana, except that it was geared to the right audience, at the right time, and on the right channel.

After its cancellation, Eerie, Indiana was syndicated on The Disney Channel for three years. But when Fox Kids picked it up for Saturday morning reruns in 1997, it became a cult hit.

Need I say more?

The Exorcist (FOX)

Fridays might be great for a horror flick, but on Fox, the real horror was Fox itself.

The Exorcist was a supernatural horror series that aired on Fox in 2016.

It followed two priests, Father Tomas Ortega (Alfonso Herrera) and Father Marcus Keane (Ben Daniels), as they battled not only demonic forces but also their own personal demons.

Together, they unraveled chilling cases of possession, including one involving Angela Rance (Geena Davis) and her haunted family.

Much like Evil on Paramount+, The Exorcist delivered dark, atmospheric storytelling, genuinely spine-tingling scares, and top-tier performances from its cast.

This wasn’t your typical horror fare. It was an intelligent, layered series with depth beneath the fright.

But Fox, in all its wisdom, decided to air The Exorcist in the infamous Friday night “death slot,” thinking it would attract moviegoers opting to stay home.

The problem? It’s not a one-and-done horror flick; it’s a serialized story that requires commitment. People weren’t exactly lining up to watch intense, drawn-out horror every single Friday night.

Unsurprisingly, the ratings took a dive. Despite its scares and smarts, The Exorcist couldn’t survive the curse of bad scheduling, and the series was canceled after two seasons.

With freedom from the death slot, the binge-watching culture, and a built-in audience (think FROM, The Haunting of Hill House, and Midnight Mass), The Exorcist would undoubtedly be one of the best streaming series on TV today.

Space: Above and Beyond (FOX)

Space: Above and Beyond was a sci-fi series that blasted onto Fox in 1995 — and just as quickly burned out in the ratings.

Set in the year 2063, the show plunged viewers into a fierce intergalactic war between humanity and an alien race called the Chigs.

The story followed an elite group of U.S. Marine Corps pilots, known as the Wildcards, as they battled both in space and within themselves, facing the emotional toll of war alongside the endless cosmic combat.

Created by Glen Morgan and James Wong (known for writing episodes of The X-Files as well as the ill-fated Millennium), Space: Above and Beyond was planned as a sweeping five-season saga.

But after struggling with ratings, Fox pulled the plug after just one season.

While it may not have soared on network TV, Space: Above and Beyond was packed with gritty, character-driven drama, all the right ingredients to make it a streaming hit. Plus, it’s a space saga!

American Gothic (CBS)

Ah, CBS. Taking a swing at something new and, once again, missing the mark. And who pays the price? The fans, of course.

American Gothic, a supernatural thriller, graced (or haunted) CBS in 1995.

The show was created by Shaun Cassidy, better known for his singing career (Da Doo Ron Ron, anyone?) and his poster-boy status, but clearly more than just a pretty face. He’s got some serious creative chops — New Amsterdam, for example.

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The story centered on Caleb Temple (Lucas Black), a young boy in the small Southern town of Trinity, who finds himself entangled in a twisted battle with Sheriff Lucas Buck (Gary Cole), the town’s charming yet sinister lawman with supernatural powers.

Oh, and did we mention Lucas claims to be Caleb’s father? Creepy.

To make things more chilling, Caleb is visited by the ghost of his dead sister, Merlyn (Sarah Paulson, in her TV debut), who warns him of the sheriff’s dark intentions.

This show had all the makings of a cult classic — a perfect blend of supernatural horror, psychological thriller, and Southern Gothic drama — but CBS had no idea how to market it.

They tried to lure in X-Files fans, completely forgetting that their core audience preferred their TV a bit more traditional and family-friendly.

American Gothic was a bit too twisted and atmospheric for their taste.

And then there was this kicker: CBS aired episodes out of order, turning an already intricate plot into a tangled mess. Key character arcs were disrupted, and viewers were left scratching their heads, trying to make sense of it all.

Despite critical praise, the show tanked in the ratings, thanks to its complex storyline and CBS’s scheduling blunder.

And just like that — poof! — American Gothic was canceled after one season, leaving fans hanging on a cliffhanger. Typical.

But oh, what Lucas Buck could do on a streaming platform today. If he’s still alive, of course!

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (FOX)

You’ve heard about that new Terminator animated series on Netflix, right? Terminator Zero, or whatever it’s called?

But come on, why settle for a cartoon when you could have had the real deal?

Isn’t going the animated (excuse me, anime) route kind of missing the point of Terminator? Machines taking over, humans fighting back — and now it’s all CGI? Give us the flesh-and-blood drama!

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles was the real sci-fi action fix, and it aired on Fox back in 2008.

Set four years after Terminator 2: Judgment Day, the show follows Sarah Connor (Lena Headey) and her son, John (Thomas Dekker), as they try to stay off the government’s radar and plot to take down Skynet, the rogue AI that’s bent on triggering the apocalypse.

Now, let’s talk about the real mess — Fox. Even though they didn’t technically own the show (it was a Warner Bros. property because, you know, Terminator spin-off), they did everything possible to sabotage it.

When Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles hit the airwaves in January 2008, it came out swinging.

The premiere episode, aired right after an NFL playoff game, pulled in massive numbers and became one of the most-watched scripted TV debuts of the season.

But after that knockout start, things took a turn. Ratings started to slide, thanks to some stiff competition from heavy hitters like American Idol — and let’s face it, going up against Idol at its peak is like trying to outrun a T-1000 on foot!

Then Fox shifted it to Monday nights to go head-to-head with Chuck on NBC, and by the time it was dropped into the Friday night “death slot,” the show was pretty much toast.

After just two seasons, it was officially canceled, and fans were left hanging with a massive cliffhanger, adding insult to injury.

Fans rallied to save the show, but neither Fox nor Warner Bros. were interested. They were over it.

But here’s the kicker: with AI dominating headlines today, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles would be more relevant than ever!

And let’s face it, we’d much rather watch John Connor, a real hero, fight the machines than see the story play out in some computer-generated, animated Terminator expansion series.

The Dresden Files (SyFy)

The Dresden Files is a supernatural detective series based on Jim Butcher’s hit book series of the same name, blending urban fantasy with classic noir.

Airing on the Sci-Fi Channel (now Syfy) in 2007, the series follows Harry Dresden (played by the ever-charismatic Paul Blackthorne), a private investigator who also happens to be a wizard living in modern-day Chicago.

Now, Harry isn’t your run-of-the-mill detective.

Sure, he tackles your typical PI cases, but he’s also up to his neck in dark magic, supernatural creatures, and otherworldly threats that most people are blissfully unaware of.

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Think Grimm meets The Umbrella Academy with a dash of magic-fueled noir.

Here’s where it gets tricky. Fans of Jim Butcher’s books had…let’s just say, mixed feelings. Many book readers dropped the show early because it veered from the source material.

Meanwhile, viewers unfamiliar with the books loved it, likely because they had no expectations that it would follow the novels.

For book purists, the series broke the golden rule: it strayed too far from the carefully crafted world of Butcher’s novels.

Why did it get the axe? Well, Dresden didn’t fare too well in the ratings department. Low viewership led to Syfy pulling the plug after one season. But that’s not the whole story.

There were also creative differences between the network and producers.

The show broke Harry’s story into disconnected, stand-alone episodes, which frustrated die-hard fans of the books, who craved the sprawling, interconnected plotlines they knew and loved.

Plus, the show wasn’t marketed to the right audience and faced stiff competition from other networks.

Jim Butcher himself chimed in, explaining to fans that the show wasn’t supposed to mirror the books but existed in an alternate universe.

Still, that didn’t stop the grumbling from fans who felt like they weren’t getting the Dresden they knew.

Paul Blackthorne’s portrayal of Harry was spot-on, and despite some missteps, the show had tons of potential.

Unfortunately, just as it was starting to find its groove, it was canceled. Fans of the books and new viewers alike were left disappointed, feeling like the series had more to give.

On a streaming service, The Dresden Files would’ve had the chance to soar. It would’ve been the perfect place for Dresden to work his magic!

Freaks and Geeks (NBC)

Freaks and Geeks was the ultimate coming-of-age dramedy, set in the early 1980s, and aired on NBC in 1999.

The show followed two groups of high school misfits: the “freaks,” led by the rebellious, soul-searching Lindsay Weir (Linda Cardellini), and the “geeks,” which included her younger brother Sam (John Francis Daley) and his wonderfully awkward friends.

Through humor, heart, and painfully relatable moments, Freaks and Geeks captured the essence of teenage life — friendships, romance, family struggles, and identity crises, all wrapped up in the awkwardness of adolescence.

Despite being a critical darling and launching the careers of future stars like Seth Rogen, James Franco, and Jason Segel, Freaks and Geeks didn’t last long.

Canceled after just one season, it left fans heartbroken and wondering how such a brilliant show could be cut short.

Over time, it gained cult status as one of the best shows ever to be prematurely canceled because, let’s be real, it was ahead of its time.

So, why was it canceled?

The show’s realistic and subtle portrayal of high school didn’t fit the glossy teen drama mold popularized by shows like Dawson’s Creek.

On top of that, NBC threw the show into scheduling purgatory, airing it on Saturday nights.

And when sports didn’t preempt episodes, the show was shuffled around the schedule like an afterthought, making it impossible for viewers to keep up.

NBC also wanted more upbeat storylines, while the show preferred to dig into the messy, sometimes uncomfortable, realities of growing up.

And let’s face it, Freaks and Geeks wasn’t about happy endings — it was about real life, and life is awkward.

Had it been released today, Freaks and Geeks would’ve been a streaming hit. It had all the makings of a binge-worthy cult classic — character-driven stories, nostalgic charm, and humor that struck a nerve.

Quarry (Cinemax)

Quarry was a gritty, neo-noir crime drama created by Michael D. Fuller and Graham Gordy, based on the novels of Max Allan Collins.

Set against the backdrop of post-Vietnam War America, it aired on Cinemax in 2016 and took viewers back to the seedy underbelly of 1970s Memphis.

The show starred Logan Marshall-Green as Mac Conway, a Marine sniper who returns home from the war only to be shunned by his loved ones and demonized by the public.

His wife, Joni (Jodi Balfour), tries to hold things together, but Mac’s disillusionment drives him straight into the arms of a mysterious crime figure known as “The Broker” (played by Peter Mullan).

The next thing you know, our man Mac becomes a hitman — his moral compass shattered, haunted by PTSD, and sucked into a violent criminal underworld.

This wasn’t your typical crime drama. Quarry was packed with intense storytelling, sharp psychological depth, and a beautifully grimy 70s aesthetic.

It wasn’t just about the action, though there was plenty of that — it was about a man fighting his inner demons in a world that no longer had a place for him.

So, why did Cinemax cancel Quarry after just one season? It wasn’t just because of the numbers.

Quarry was a victim of Cinemax’s decision to pivot away from producing complex, character-driven dramas to focus on more “high-octane” action shows.

It had only just begun to explore its rich characters and themes before it was gone in a flash — another brilliant show lost to network shortsightedness.

On streaming, it would’ve been a hit. Imagine Quarry alongside gritty, thoughtful dramas like Narcos or Mindhunter.

It could’ve built a larger, more devoted audience, gained the recognition it deserved, and maybe even found the longevity that Cinemax cruelly cut short.

Terriers (FX)

Terriers was a crime dramedy that aired on FX in 2010.

It followed two unlicensed private investigators in Ocean Beach, California: Hank Dolworth (Donal Logue), a former cop grappling with alcoholism, and his best friend, Britt Pollack (Michael Raymond-James), a former thief.

Together, they tackled small-time cases that often spiraled into larger conspiracies.

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At the time, FX was also airing Sons of Anarchy, a show with a much darker, more intense tone than the lighthearted vibe of Terriers.

Lacking the “sexy, edgy, or suspenseful” appeal of other FX hits, Terriers struggled to find an audience. In fact, many viewers didn’t even know what the show was about — leading to its cancellation after just one season.

It sure as hell it wasn’t about terriers, or any dog for that matter. There wasn’t even a dog in the show.

Following the cancellation, FX President John Landgraf held a press conference to explain the decision. The network actually took the time to poll FX viewers to see why Terriers wasn’t working.

Landgraf admitted the network had failed to market Terriers effectively, noting that the title was meant to capture the “scrappy quality of the characters,” not to reference dogs.

He added that even if they changed the title to Terriers P.I., it still wouldn’t have worked because it didn’t align with FX’s lineup at the time. In other words, wrong place, wrong time.

Its viewers were more interested in high-octane dramas like Sons of Anarchy and Justified than the “subtle charm” of a quirky buddy-cop dramedy.

Well, duh — biker gangs or scrappy private investigators?

Despite not even cracking one million viewers during its short lifespan, Terriers had a loyal fan base that still raves about the show today.

It’s one of those quirky little shows that would fare extremely well on streaming channels. It would be a perfect binge-watch, no doubt.

There are many other shows we could’ve listed here — Brimstone, Wonderfalls, Outcast, and Constantine, to name but a few. But if we did that, we’d be here all day!

So, you tell us: Which of your favorite TV shows of the past do you think would be streaming hits today? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Failed TV Shows That Would Be Streaming Hits appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The ’90s were the perfect time to be a kid. It was before social media and brain-melting technology. Kids were on top of the world, with the freedom and survival skills to entertain ourselves all day, every day.

Back then, kids didn’t spend their days inside. We had to stay outside and do kid things and really live. The adults spent some quality time with the TV set (most of us only had one decent TV to share).

Anyone who had a sick day at home back then remembers the daytime TV lineup that targeted adults, from game shows to soap operas. There wasn’t much for kids to watch.

Value-oriented ’90s series that appealed to the whole family made it easier and more fun for the whole family to hang together for a bit.

But as much as we were on our own during the daytime — how many people remember the 10 o’clock commercials asking parents if they knew where their kids were — we really lived wild on Friday nights.

The weekends were usually the only time most kids got TV time. Friday nights, we had value-oriented TV shows that the whole family could enjoy. TGIF! And no, we’re not talking about the GloRilla song. Ours is PG-rated — Thank God It’s Friday!

Early Saturday mornings were for sitting in front of the family room TV with a bowl of cereal and a few hours of cartoons, teen dramas, and kids’ game shows.

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Many of us don’t feel like the world is as kid-friendly, from the lack of family value-oriented TV series to the removal of cheerful colors from brands and trademarks.

Given writers’ propensity to revamp old shows rather than invent a new premise, we’ve compiled a list of value-oriented ’90s series that deserve another look decades later.

Bringing these shows back can help us bridge the gap between our tech-obsessed younger generation and the more hardcore generations who have survived several end-of-the-world disasters by now.

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With the massive range of streaming services, viewers have more options to watch than ever before. Some long-standing series are still going strong, like NCIS, but other shows are getting the axe, like Blue Bloods.

While we mourn the losses of our favorites, it leaves room for new shows to occupy their time slots. But it seems like half of the series these days are reboots of old shows and movie or book adaptations.

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Many of us love the idea of reliving the nostalgia with new actors and storylines. It’s worked with some of our favorite series from decades gone by.

Amid all the gore and graphic vulgarity of current shows, it’s been great seeing some family sitcoms make a return. Some of these shows have been rebooted, picking up with the same characters years down the road.

We’ve loved catching up with old friends, like those from Boy Meets World (Girl Meets World remake), Saved by the Bell, Beverly Hills 90210 (90210 remake), Full House (Fuller House remake), Roseanne (The Conners remake), That ’70s Show (That ’90s Show remake) and Gilmore Girls.

While other remakes use the same characters but make changes to the nuance, locations, ethnicities, and locations.

So far, we’ve seen several adaptations of old shows, like Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Night Court, The Wonder Years, Magnum P.I., MacGyver, Hawaii Five-O, Charmed, Dynasty, and Lethal Weapon.

Related: TV’s Most Complicated Father-Son Relationships

So, with these works of a bygone era in mind, we’ve put together this list of 13 value-oriented ’90s series that deserve a second look.

Be sure you chime in with your pick in the comments. Bonus points if you give us a show we didn’t mention!

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

Before When Calls the Heart or Yellowstone dominated television, western romance fans had Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.

A charming blend of medical procedural, Little House on the Prairie, and early Kevin Costner Dances with Wolves, DQMW follows the life of Dr. Michaela “Mike” Quinn.

Mike is a fancy big-city doctor from Boston who moves to a primitive western town in unsettled Colorado in the 1860s to start a business practice.

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The sexy, gloriously long-haired mountain man Byron Sully was swoon-worthy, becoming the first crush for many viewers.

And his role as an advocate for the Native American tribes in the area gave him a hero quality we’re sorely lacking in modern series.

For many viewers, DQMW was the first introduction to a blended family and adoption. Dr. Quinn went from being a single, unattached female to the unprepared guardian of three young children after their mother died unexpectedly from a rattlesnake bite.

And it inspired a generation of powerful females not afraid to fight for what’s right. Mike was always battling the wrong, like polluters, sexism, feminism, and gun control, among other topics still relevant today.

You can still watch Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, on Hallmark. But we’d love to see a revamp of the show. We could settle for a remake of the existing series, like Magnum, P.I., Hawaii Five-O, or Criminal Minds.

Or it might be an interesting twist to see the show pick up with a new generation down the road.

Related: Hallmark+ Launches This Fall: Everything We Know So Far

Since When Calls The Heart was doing so well in the early nineteen hundred era, we could imagine a new Dr. Quinn a few decades later, perhaps at the turn of the century.

Family Matters

Every ’90s kid remembers the character Urkel, even if they never watched the Friday Night series starring everyone’s favorite nerd.

After the successes of writing scripts geared towards younger audiences in the ’80s, like The Brat Pack, TV writers tried to find similar success with short-form films.

TV execs also focused on racial demographics, creating series geared toward black audiences, like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (remade into Bel-Air), Martin, In Living Color, and Living Single.

Family Matters hit the TGIF block, giving fans a new family comedy to love. Steve Urkel is the nerdy klutz neighbor next door to the middle-working-class Winslow family.

Related: The Equalizer Season 5: Cast & Character Guide

Steve has a massive crush on the middle daughter, Laura, who completely ignores her geek admirer. Urkel has a catastrophic accident in every episode, usually caused by his clumsiness.

“Did I do that?” became a notable phrase fans used whenever they screwed up.

Equal parts comedy and coming-of-age love story, viewers loved watching the brilliant geek get the girl. First, through his miraculous Nutty Professor transformations, he brought out the suave and sexy Steve.

And then, eventually, for the real him, suspenders, glasses, nerdy laugh, cheese obsession, klutziness, and all.

It would be interesting to see Family Matters return and pick up two decades later. It would be awesome to see Urkiel as a dad with his own genius nerdy bunch to parent. Maybe they could flip the script with a girl version this time.

Related: TV’s Most Regrettable Farewells: Characters We Never Wanted to Lose

Step by Step

Step by Step was another family series airing on the prime TGIF airtime slot as the modern-day Brady Bunch.

Composed of two families that move in together after their parents get married, SBS follows the inevitable hiccups of two second-try adults and six kids as they settle into a new life.

Shows like this are prime for revamping because you can do a lot with them to fit the current television layout. Given the pattern of redoing old shows to be more inclusive and cutting edge, a series like Step by Step is a ripe apple ready to become an apple pie.

We could see it taking a more blended role, like a short-order Yours, Mine, and Ours remake, where some kids are adopted, making the show more appealing to a broader demographic of races.

Related: The Age of Nostalgia: Why Young Audiences Are Seeking Out Old TV

Or it could focus on a same-sex couple with a gay nanny, best friend, or cousin.

While some series remakes bring back the old cast and take up their stories years down the road, others bring the original artists back as cameos.

Sadly, Step by Step could not follow in those footsteps with head star and mother of the bunch Suzanne Somers, who passed away in October 2023.

Dawson’s Creek

During the ’90s, most series targeted a single race rather than blending their audiences. While Friends targeted the average white audience, Living Single and A Different World targeted black audiences.

In Living Color was one of the first series with a mixed cast. Without it, we might never have seen Jim Carrey’s brilliance.

Dawson’s Creek is a teenage version of Friends, starring an all-white cast of up-and-coming young actors. This coming-of-age show was part of a string of series for teenage audiences.

Related: 17 Shows That Achieved Unprecedented Success

However, it met with some controversy at the time for its more obscene storylines that covered mature topics from the viewpoint of adolescents.

Given the success of the rather raunchy Riverdale, coincidentally starring 90s heartthrob Luke Perry, the TV world might be ready for a coming-of-age remake of a cult classic.

Although Dawson’s Creek frequently featured teens during their most intimate personal trials, we also saw them in their family environments.

The show balanced everyday life well, and it could make a great series for the current generation.

Moesha

Moesha was another quintessential ’90s coming-of-age sitcom that showed teens in real-world situations, such as teen pregnancy, romance, friendship fallout, and high school.

The multi-talented Brandi starred as Moesha, a teenage girl trying to adjust to the demands of teen life while embracing a new stepmother.

Moesha kept a more tame script compared to other teen dramas despite covering sensitive topics. And they did it without falling into the racial cliques of other black sitcoms, following in the footsteps of shows like The Cosby Show and Sister, Sister.

Fans have been hearing of a reboot for several years now, even from Brandi herself. But we have yet to receive confirmation that it’s a go.

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The Nanny

The Nanny made waves thanks to the unique talents and voice of Fran Drescher, a brass New York gal who landed a job as a nanny to a rich British guy with three children.

When the series ended six years later, Fran and her boss, Maxwell, married and had their own children. So, The Nanny became the Wife, and the show’s prose no longer worked.

It’s been nearly 20 years since The Nanny filled our TV screens with her nasal voice, big hair, and Queens, NY, crass.

But if you’ve seen the Adam Sandler animation Hotel Transylvania, you’ll know her voice is still as loud and nasal as always. And she makes a fantastic Mrs. Frankenstein, married to the talented Kevin James.

Related: Essential Viewing: 13 Adam Sandler Movies and TV Shows You Must See

It might be awkward to try bringing back The Nanny with its original premise. But that doesn’t rule out an adaptation. Fran is a go for a remake.

Maybe with the storyline that one — or more — of the children have their own families and hire a nanny.

Perhaps a man this time (The Manny seemed to work on This is Us)? Fran could be the overbearing grandmother, questioning the nanny’s every decision.

Or Fran could decide to return to the job of a nanny for a new family now that all her children are adults and gone. Then again, she could be the nanny for one of her children instead.

Since Charles Shaughnessy, better known as Maxwell, doesn’t seem interested in a return, she could play as a widow.

Freaks and Geeks

Freaks and Geeks was the perfect coming-of-age teen drama series for those not in the It crowd. While Heathers showed the lives of popular kids, F&G focused on the less socially fortunate.

Related: The Best Shows to Revisit Your High School Years

Those of us that weren’t jocks or part of a clique finally felt seen with a TV series just for us. These days, the boundary lines are less set in stone on social dynamics.

The freaks and the geeks blend with the preps and the jocks in a socially balanced ecosystem.

But in the ’80s, lines were more set in stone. And if you weren’t part of the In crowd, you didn’t exist except for the amusement and torment of those more popular.

Today’s social environment makes the perfect experiment for a Freaks and Geeks remake. Life is different for teens today in many ways compared to four decades ago.

Related: The Typecasting of the Brat Pack

So, the premise could be any number of ways, whether they choose to focus on the present or set it in the past, similar to That ’90s Show.

The original series featured up-and-coming stars who went on to have impressive careers and name recognition.

Stars include James Franco, Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley (Bones), Jason Segel, Seth Rogan, and Samm Levine, among others.

Blossom

Middle-aged fans of The Big Bang Theory likely recognized the brilliant brain that not only appreciated Sheldon’s quirks but loved them enough to commit her lifelong allegiance.

And if you thought you’d seen her with Sheldon’s best friend and roommate before, you’d be right! The couple had a close encounter in the ’90s when Johnny Galecki guest-starred.

Related: Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 1: Cast & Character Guide

But did you know Mayim Bialik isn’t just a genius in the show but also in real life? She has a degree in neuroscience, making her as smart as a brain scientist.

Blossom hit the airways in the 90s, prime with everything we loved about the decade, from tubular language to funky flower hats.

And Blossom’s sexy older brother, Joey Lawrence, made famous the simple phrase, “Whoa!”

Tell me you didn’t just hear that in his voice.

Related: TV Characters Defined By Their Sense of Humor

The storyline of a teen girl growing up in a male-dominated house with her father and two brothers is a classic storyline that could work in today’s social environment.

The possibilities are endless on how TV execs could reboot the show.

This fan would love a reunion of the original cast, maybe with Joey Lawrence at the helm as the father or a twist with Mayim as the mother raising a boy in an all-female household.

3rd Rock from the Sun

Alien obsession is something that transcends age, social class, and career. People from across the globe share a love of things, not of this planet.

Before Resident Alien became a series regular on our DVRs, older generations had alien shows like Alf and 3rd Rock from the Sun.

Related: Resident Alien Renewed for Season 4 – But There’s a Catch!

The ’90s were our time of all things outer space, from Men in Black to Armageddon and Space Jam. The trend even made it to country music from the late legend Joe Diffie, whose namesake song creatively told the story of human chaos.

3rd Rock from the Sun followed a group of aliens who came to Earth, the third planet from the sun, to do reconnaissance on human customs.

They take on human form and lives, with the oldest alien becoming the teenage son. Hilarious antics occur as the aliens try to blend in as normal humans without the inhibitions and mannerisms associated with human life.

It would be great to see a remake as aliens have to try assimilating into a world that is quickly becoming more confusing by the day.

Delivery robots, drones, self-driving cars, electronic virtual assistance, and animals wearing clothes and getting catered to by humans might make it difficult to know who — or what — is in control.

Related: 21 Hilarious Fictional Duos Who Deserve Their Own Sitcoms

Dinosaurs

If you were around in the ’90s, you likely remember the live-action animated family sitcom about a family of working-class blue-collar dinosaurs that aired on TGIF every week.

Writers did an incredible job giving dinosaur characters human lives, down to the vanity of a teen girl, the quirks of a baby, and the Cowabunga vibes of the teen boy. Everything was so perfectly ’90s set in a prehistoric era.

Add in a loopy grandma, a stereotype ’90s mom, and a flannel-wearing blue-collar dad, and writers had gold. It was a show that was on the forefront of controversial topics not often seen at the time, like homophobia and steroids.

Anything could happen because the show had the line of the decade: “I’m the baby; you gotta love me.”

It was The Flintstones meets The Muppets with an environmental message, and fans loved it up until the final episode. Society wasn’t as soft then, so no one thought anything of the emotional trauma left behind by the show’s final episode.

Related: 11 Series Finales That Hit Us Right In the Feels

Instead of a happily ever after, the writers went metaphorical with their message on the dangers posed to the ecosystem by increased industrialization and insecticidal effects on the environment. In the end, greed took over, leading to an ecological disaster that led to the dinosaurs freezing to death.

Given the advances in technology and filming today, it would be neat to see a remake of the show made to today’s technology-obsessed world. The landscape is ripe for an entertaining family sitcom appealing to all ages.

7th Heaven

For over a decade, viewers were part of the loving, supportive, and massive and constantly expanding Camden family.

Related: What Losers in Love Could Learn from These Successful TV Couples

The show got its name honestly, as a minister (Stephen Collins) and his wife juggle raising their seven-kid family while handling the various demands of their church congregation.

7H showed the struggles of a growing family with children of various ages. The oldest kids were adults with their own spouses and children.

While the youngest of the seven children were rambunctious twin toddlers with aging parents.

Like many of the series of the time, the show covered controversial topics about younger audiences.

While other shows were starting to push the boundaries of what younger characters were doing, 7th Heaven went at it with a Christian undertone.

You can’t get more value-oriented than a series devoted to a Christian family and their journeys of trying to live up to the expectations of their religion.

Related: Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 Premiere Date Announced!! Five More Months…

In a world where everyone is out for themselves, and siblings are more often seen at war than as a family union (I’m looking at you, Yellowstone), the thesis of 7th Heaven is ripe for a reboot.

Given the controversy that recently shrouded the series after the shocking news of the show’s lead, Collins. While he was an honorable, God-fearing man on the show, in real life, he’s a pedophile.

After allegations came out amid his confessions of molesting three underage girls, he disappeared from the public eye.

It would be great to see a 7th Heaven reboot to repair the perception of the public audience after the series’ damaged reputation.

Teen Angel

Teen Angel had a short-lived spot on the air with a single-season run. While the show struck out, the plot of someone coming back from the dead is a commonly done trope.

Related: The Art of the Opening: What Makes TV Title Sequences Captivating?

The series tackled the storyline from the comedic viewpoint of a teenager who died from eating a cheeseburger. He returned to Earth as his friend’s guardian angel.

We’ve seen forgotten flicks using the return from the dead theme, like Ghost Dad, Disney’s Susie Q, Ghost with Demi Moore, and The Sixth Man, starring one of the Wayan Brothers.

All generations love supernatural-themed shows, from Supernatural to iZombie, Dead Like Me to Ghosts and Stranger Things.

With recent cancellations of shows like Not Dead Yet and The Winchesters, viewers are desperate for a supernatural series targeting teens and young adults.

California Dreams

Related: Stranger Things Season 5 Behind-the-Scenes Featurette Makes BIG Promises to Fans

California Dreams was a less successful series than its inspiration, Saved by the Bell, and is all but forgotten by most audiences.

But it has the makings of a perfect reboot for today’s culture. Long before there was High School Musical or Glee, California Dreams combined several key factors to get an ethnically diverse cast of California teenagers to form a band while navigating the perils of teenage years.

It was one of the first teen series to show a mixed group of friends, with everything we loved about the ’90s, from funky colors to bitchin’ wardrobes.

It could be the perfect playground to update for today’s market. We lack a wholesome, coming-of-age, music-focused series suitable to watch with our younger children.

Related: 33 TV Shows That Take Us Back in Time

Touched by an Angel

Y2K brought about many changes in television, with the industry moving away from wholesome, clean scripts to cater to audiences with fewer moral restrictions and emotional sensitivities.

But before we had South Park and Sex in the City, fans adored works of more value-oriented fiction like Touched by an Angel.

Touched by an Angel was a series with a talented cast of stars portraying angels sent to Earth to assist humans with their problems.

Each episode tore at the heart, leaving us in emotional upheaval as Monica bumbled her way through helping save souls from condemnation so they could earn a spot in Heaven.

Related: 11 Series Finales That Hit Us Right in the Feels

The series’s storytelling approach meant we got many guest stars early in their careers, as well as regulars like the great Della Reese, Roma Downey, John Dye, and Valerie Bertinelli.

With all the vulgar shows and sad news we’re exposed to daily, it would be refreshing to see a reminder of the good side of humanity with a modern approach.

Alf

Alf became a popular series in the ’80s, making its final run in 1990. As a five-year-old, I became obsessed, collecting all the memorabilia.

Now that I’m grown, the classic is still as good as I remember. Except I understand it on a different level now.

Related: Unforgettable Narcissists of the Small Screen

The best family shows have something for everyone. And a cat-eating alien with a heavy dose of sarcasm and a brutal honesty about the stupidity of humans has elements that appeal to adults.

Most days, I feel like Alf, reincarnated, minus the consumption of cats. I’m all for a good dog though — hot dog that is.

And of course kids love a talking puppet that makes the most adorable stuffy to snuggle. Even if he is a bit weird looking with all those wrinkles. Does he remind anyone else of a Shar Pei dog?

Which Value-Oriented ’90s Series Do You Want Rebooted?

We’ve discussed our favorite value-oriented ’90s series and what we’d like to see done with them. Now it’s our turn to listen to your favorite former series and why you’d like it remade to fit today’s narrative. Who would you cast in your series remake?

Leave your thoughts in the comments! And be sure you’re following TV Fanatic, in case our childhood dreams come true, and we get a ’90s series redo.

The post 15 Value-Oriented ‘90s Series That Deserve Another Look appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Most of us agree that watching others’ high school experiences on the small screen provides a unique form of nostalgia and often even catharsis.

That’s why we at TV Fanatic want to share our favorite shows that help us revisit our high school years.

Beverly Hills, 90210 (Paramount+)

If “Donna Martin Graduates!” and chowing down on pies and burgers at the Peach Pit mean anything to you, you already know there was something incredibly special about Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-2000).

The show about twin teens relocating from Minnesota to Beverly Hills and dealing with culture shock was so popular that it launched multiple spinoffs and reboots, including BH 90210 (2019), and inspired all the teen dramas that have come since.

Early on, it was obvious that this FOX show was setting out to give us a real look at teenage life and thus let us relive high school in a new and more in-depth way than any shows that came before it.

Related: The 10 Best Reboots We’ve Ever Seen

We went through it all with the gang from Beverly Hills, 90210, from Dylan (Luke Perry) as an alcoholic with abandonment issues to Steve (Ian Ziering) and his infamous legacy key shenanigans.

The core group of friends changed slightly over the years, but the concept remained unchanged. Their lives were often complicated, dramatic, and frequently unbelievable, but their friendships held them together through it all.

They buried a time capsule in one episode, but they also became a time capsule themselves, and rewatching their decade-long adventures is like stepping through a mirror back into our younger selves for those of us who grew up in the ’90s.

Dawson’s Creek (Hulu)

Dawson’s Creek (1998-2003), at its core, was a tale of two loves. Well, more loves than that, but two central loves.

There was the love between Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) and childhood buddy Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek), and then there was the love between Joey and Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson), which came later.

The high school love triangle made us all hold our breath. For five years, we wondered whether Joey would choose Pacey, Dawson, or neither.

Meanwhile, the show also gave us one of the most monumental moments in TV history when Jack and Ethan, as a gay couple, shared a romantic kiss and many other great moments.

It may have been more than a bit whitewashed, and it has taken flack for this over the years. However, it still did a great job in other areas, such as candidly covering subjects like inappropriate student-teacher relations, religious disagreements, and parental affairs.

The original Paula Cole theme song for the show was right. We didn’t want to wait for our lives to be over. We wanted to relive high school right then and watch Joey, Pacey, and the rest of the gangs’ lives unfold.

Saved By the Bell (Roku)

Strictly speaking, we first got to know Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) on Disney when he appeared on the series Good Morning Miss Bliss in 1988. The show was moved to NBC, rebranded Saved By the Bell the next year, and finished its original run in 1992.

Regardless of what it was called, Zack and his friends were unforgettable from day one, with their totally ’80s/’90s fashions, quirky personalities, and weekly zany antics.

But Zack’s constant attempts to outwit Principal Belding (Dennis Haskins) often made for the most laughs.

Related: 17 TV Characters That Make Us LOL

From subliminal advertising techniques to stealing spaghetti sauce recipes, Zack was always out to avoid school work while preferably making easy money.

The show was just funny, and it gave us a break from our own high school lives.

After the original came The College Years and The New Class, Saved By the Bell movies, and eventually the Peacock reboot (2020-2021), but the first series was really the best.

Boy Meets World (Disney+)

The ’90s brought us many funny sitcoms, and Boy Meets World (1993-2000) was one of them.

The show about a high school kid making his way into adulthood with his friends and family backing him up was downright cheesy at times.

Yet, it perfectly captured the relationship between students and “that one teacher” many of us have in life who is more of a life guide.

Mr. Feeney (William Daniels) was clearly not in it for the paycheck. He almost became an extra dad to the Boy Meets World crew, especially Corey and Shawn (Ben Savage and Rider Strong).

If you had your own Feeney, Boy Meets World is one of those shows about high school that will definitely tug at your heart and bring fond memories flooding back.

That’s why fans of the show were so excited to see Corey back again and taking on a semi-Feeney-like role on Girl Meets World (2014-2017).

Switched at Birth (Hulu)

Few high school shows have weirder twists than Switched at Birth (2011-2017).

What happens when you find out you were switched at birth, move in with your biological family, have to find a way to get along with the girl who took your place for years, and, oh yeah, you’re deaf?

That’s the question it asked, as it fed our appetites for romantic kisses and teen drama while imparting lessons about deaf culture to help us learn what deaf teens have to deal with daily.

Related: 23 Best First Kisses of All Time

We were even treated to two high schools full of drama for the price of one.

Daphne (Katie Leclerc) attended Carlton School for the Deaf, but Bay (Vanessa Marano) went to Buckner Hall, at least until Daphne’s birth parents decided to try enrolling her in classes at Buckner, too.

Later, the tables were turned when both girls wound up at Carlton.

For us hearing fans of the show, we still related because we knew exactly what it was like to be teens and have curveballs thrown at you all the time, just not those exact curveballs.

Riverdale (Netflix)

Almost 30 years after the premiere of Beverly Hills, 90210 came Riverdale (2017-2023), which coincidentally also starred Luke Perry until his untimely death in 2019.

For original 90210 fans, his presence on Riverdale definitely brought back the high school nostalgia, but that’s far from all the show has going for it.

Riverdale is fun to watch for all ages because it has touches of style from different decades, combining past and present.

Pops’ Chock’lit Shoppe, for example, has a ’50s diner vibe and feels like a direct nod to 90210’s Peach Pit diner.

Watching Riverdale makes it feel like viewers are actually walking the high school halls with its teen characters.

If the high school nostalgia factor isn’t enough, Riverdale also brings the spook with its intriguing and often creepy mysteries.

The O.C. (Hulu)

It’s time to listen to some great live tunes at The Crab Shack because we’re moving on to The O.C (2003-2007).

Dawson’s Creek was ending just as this little gem about the teens of Newport Beach was kicking off, but there were some parallels between the two.

The O.C. is yet another show from before smart technology was all the rage, which gives it a nostalgia factor of about 5,000 for many of us who grew up in the good old analog days.

Related: 17 Shows That Aged Like Fine Wine

Occasional out-of-control storylines, like Luke (Chris Carmack) sleeping with Marissa’s (Mischa Barton) mom, aside, the teens on the show could be a little pretentious, but they were always relatable.

They got each other through classism, academic stress, bullying, and a whole lot more.

The O.C. also did a great job of portraying parents on the show, making it enjoyable for both teens and adults to watch at the time and allowing many of us to rewatch it fondly with both perspectives in mind.

School Spirits (Paramount+)

School Spirits (2023-present) is a thrilling supernatural drama that combines high school angst with ghostly mysteries. 

The show follows Maddie, a teenager who becomes a ghost after a tragic accident at school, and now she must unravel the secrets surrounding her death.

As she navigates the afterlife, she discovers that her school is teeming with spirits, each with their own unfinished business.

The series cleverly intertwines typical high school drama with eerie, otherworldly twists, making School Spirits captivating to watch.

The Summer I Turned Pretty (Prime Video)

Prime Video’s The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022-present) is a coming-of-age romance that beautifully encapsulates the bittersweetness of teenage summers.

Based on Jenny Han’s beloved novel, the series follows Belly, a young girl who finds herself caught in a love triangle with two brothers during her annual summer vacation.

Related: 19 Characters Who Had Too Many Love Interests

The show explores themes of first love, friendship, and the emotional complexities of growing up.

With its sun-soaked setting and heartfelt storytelling, it perfectly evokes the fleeting, transformative magic of high school summers.

Derry Girls (Netflix)

Derry Girls (2018-2022) is a hilarious and heartwarming UK series set in the 1990s amidst political unrest in Northern Ireland.

The show centers around a group of teenage girls (and one boy) navigating the trials and tribulations of adolescence in the city of Derry. 

With its sharp wit and nostalgic charm, Derry Girls brilliantly captures the essence of high school life while also shedding light on a unique historical context. 

The characters’ relatable struggles and antics make it a delightful and poignant trip down memory lane.

Heartstopper (Netflix)

Heartstopper (2022-present) on Netflix is a tender and uplifting series that follows the blossoming romance between two British teenagers, Charlie and Nick. 

Adapted from Alice Oseman’s graphic novels, the show deftly portrays the nuances of teenage love and identity. 

Related: LGBTQ+ Relationships That Still Give Us Butterflies

Through its sincere and authentic storytelling, Heartstopper captures the joys and challenges of coming out and finding acceptance among friends and family.

The series’ endearing characters and heartfelt moments make it a heartwarming celebration of young love.

Gossip Girl (Tubi)

While it depicted the Upper East Side and rich snobs, Gossip Girl (2007-2012) excelled at tackling many teen issues, including eating disorders, drug addiction, LGBTQ+ and coming out, and dysfunctional families.

There were many couples to root for, but at the heart of Gossip Gil was the non-judging Breakfast Club.

It didn’t matter what Blair, Serena, Nate, and Chuck went through.

They always came through for each other in the end.

The fan wars of Dan and Serena vs. Dan and Blair vs. Chuck and Blair also kept social media and YouTube entertaining for years.

Elite (Netflix)

Netflix’s Elite (2018-2024) is a thrilling Spanish series that takes high school drama to a whole new level of intrigue and suspense. 

Set in an exclusive private school, the show follows the lives of students from different social backgrounds whose worlds collide in unexpected and often dangerous ways.

Related: We Didn’t Ship These Couples the Second Time Around

With its mix of mystery, scandal, and teen romance, Elite delves into issues of class, privilege, and the dark secrets that lie beneath the surface of teenage life. 

The series keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with its captivating plot twists and complex characters.

Never Have I Ever (Netflix)

Never Have I Ever (2020-2023) on Netflix is a refreshing and funny coming-of-age series created by Mindy Kaling.

The show centers around Devi, a first-generation Indian-American teenager, as she navigates the ups and downs of high school while dealing with the recent loss of her father. 

Through Devi’s hilarious and often cringe-worthy attempts to improve her social standing, the series explores themes of identity, grief, and the immigrant experience.

With its sharp humor and heartfelt moments, Never Have I Ever offers a relatable and entertaining glimpse into the trials of teenage life.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager (Hulu)

This Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008-2013) was one of the first shows to focus heavily on teen pregnancy, with not one but two couples in very different storylines.

Amy and Ricky became parents very young and originally co-parented before falling in love.

Related: 23 Epic TV Couples Who Define True Love

Ben and Adrian became pregnant from a one-night stand, almost got an abortion, and fell in love during her pregnancy.

When Adrian had a miscarriage, it almost destroyed them.

Still, Pregnancy wasn’t the only important aspect of The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

A lot of it was about wanting to be a normal teenager and the many obstacles that often get in the way.

Pretty Little Liars (Hulu)

Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017) is a gripping mystery thriller that captivated audiences with its twists and turns.

The show revolves around a group of high school friends whose lives are turned upside down when their leader, Alison, goes missing.

Then, they start receiving ominous messages from a mysterious figure called “A.”

As they dig deeper into Alison’s disappearance and the secrets they each harbor, the girls must navigate the complexities of adolescence while trying to unmask their tormentor.

With its blend of suspense, drama, and high-stakes intrigue, Pretty Little Liars became a cultural phenomenon.

Veronica Mars (Hulu)

Veronica Mars (2004-2007) is a smart and snappy series that blends high school drama with noir detective intrigue.

Kristen Bell stars as Veronica Mars, a sharp-witted teen private investigator who balances solving mysteries with the everyday challenges of high school life in the fictional town of Neptune.

Related: Nine Mysteries We Should Have Been Able to Solve

The series tackles issues of class, corruption, and justice, all while maintaining a clever and engaging tone.

With its compelling characters and intricate plotlines, Veronica Mars has earned a devoted fanbase and critical acclaim. It even earned a 2019 reboot on Hulu.

Friday Night Lights (Hulu)

When the Taylors move to Dillon, Texas, Coah Eric Taylor and his wife, Tami, become fixtures in his players’ lives on Friday Night Lights (2006-2011).

Right after head quarterback Jason Street becomes injured in the series premiere, everyone’s lives change forever.

Coach Taylor has to train a new quarterback, a rookie, Matt Saracen, who has a crush on his daughter, Julie.

Jason soon learns his girlfriend, Lyla Garrity, stays with him out of pity and is in love with his best friend, Tim Riggins.

That only scratched the surface of the drama as relationships are tested through teenage angst and family estrangement.

The Fosters (Hulu)

The Fosters (2013-2018) is a heartfelt and socially conscious drama about the diverse Foster family, led by same-sex couple Stef and Lena.

The series explores the complexities of foster care and adoption as Stef and Lena raise their biological, adopted, and foster children in a loving but often tumultuous household.

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Through its nuanced storytelling, The Fosters addresses important themes such as identity, belonging, and the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ families.

The show’s powerful performances and genuine emotional depth make it a poignant and impactful portrayal of modern family life.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Hulu)

Buffy Summers battles vampires by night, but by day, she’s just like us: navigating the hellish halls of high school.

Between slaying demons and dodging pop quizzes, her struggle to fit in and find her tribe captures the ultimate high school experience.

Plus, who hasn’t felt like their principal might secretly be an evil overlord?

Freaks and Geeks (Pluto)

Set in the ’80s, this cult classic dives into the turbulent world of high school cliques.

Whether you’re a freak or a geek, the show’s honest portrayal of teen awkwardness, rebellion, and the quest for identity is painfully, hilariously relatable.

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From dealing with bullies to awkward dances, it’s a nostalgic trip to our own adolescent dramas.

Everything Sucks (Netflix)

This ’90s throwback series hits us right in the feels with its spot-on depiction of teenage life in the age of VHS tapes and grunge music.

Everything Sucks is all about awkward crushes, misfit friends, and the universal struggle of trying to be cool when you’re anything but.

Remember the days when everything felt like the end of the world?

Yeah, it’s like that.

My So-Called Life (Hulu)

Angela Chase’s introspective journey through high school is a raw, unfiltered glimpse into the teenage soul.

The show tackles first loves, identity crises, and the complex dynamics of friendships and family.

Related: 17 Teens from the ’90s Who STILL Rule the School

It’s the perfect reflection of how every emotion felt monumental, and every moment was a defining one during those formative years.

Teen Wolf (Prime Video)

High school is already a jungle, but add werewolf transformations and supernatural threats, and you’ve got Scott McCall’s life.

Balancing lacrosse practice, teenage romance, and full moons, Teen Wolf is a metaphor for the wild, unpredictable ride of adolescence where every day feels like a battle to survive.

While it’s a supernatural show at its core, without the stress of teen life and walking the hallowed halls of high school, the series would have been an entirely different entity.

Euphoria (Max)

A gritty, modern take on high school life, Euphoria delves deep into the dark, unspoken realities of teenage existence.

It’s a whirlwind of intense emotions, risky decisions, and the constant search for identity and belonging.

Related: 13 Romances Ruined By Age

With its raw portrayal of high school struggles, it reminds us how every experience, good or bad, shapes who we are.

We all have our own favorite shows that take us back to our teenage years. Maybe yours is on this list, and maybe it isn’t.

We’d love to know, so be sure to tell us in the comments.

Perhaps we’ve even introduced you to some shows you aren’t familiar with that might bring the teenage nostalgia flooding back for you.

If so, you can watch them and enjoy a brand-new way to take a mental trip back to high school.

The post The Best Shows to Revisit Your High School Years appeared first on TV Fanatic.