Shows Like Euphoria – 9 Gritty Teen Dramas To Stream Now

Hit HBO series, Euphoria, is a famous teen drama based on an Israeli miniseries of the same name. It quickly won several followers and became famous for addressing the more sensitive issues facing teenagers.

Through Rue Bennett (Zendaya), the series follows a group of teenagers who face challenges involving drugs, friendships, sex, love, relationships, family conflicts, social networks, and violence.

Approached in a very realistic way, we were not surprised when Zendaya won her first Emmy for her portrayal of Rue.

Although the second season is already out, we know that this type of series always makes us want more and more, with so much emotion and excitement.

Who doesn't like a good teenage drama? We are always on the lookout and have created a list of 9 options that hopefully you will enjoy, full of drama, fantastic plots and controversy.

Don't miss our list of shows like Euphoria, and prepare to be hooked to your screen from the first to the last episode.

If you know of any series that Euphoria fans may enjoy, don't hesitate to post in the comments.

Gossip Girl

When it comes to teen dramas, none captured the imagination quite like Gossip Girl.

Based on the novel series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar, the show is narrated by the unknown, blogger “Gossip Girl” (voiced by Kristen Bell).

The series revolves around the lives of privileged upper-class adolescents living in Manhattan's Upper East Side and begins with the return of teenage “it girl” Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) from a mysterious absence.

From there we follow Serena and the rest of the high school students as their secrets are revealed causing no end of problems for all of them.

A sequel series, also titled Gossip Girl premiered in 2021 on HBO Max focusing on a new cast of characters from a different perspective in the same setting.

Skins

British teen drama Skins was one of the first of its kind. A production about teenagers without cliches that entered the history of television.

It is perhaps the most similar to Euphoria in presenting problems with the dark side of adolescence.

With the presentation of new and exciting characters every two seasons, the series made its mark by dealing with teenage problems in a raw and real way.

It dealt with themes such as addiction, neglect, eating disorders, self-harm, and abusive relationships

Skins ran for seven seasons and was also the stepping stone for some of today's biggest actors including Nicholas Hoult, Dev Patel, Daniel Kaluuya and Jack O'Connell.

On My Block

On My Block takes a different path in dealing with the lives of young people. The series shows a group of teenagers living in a central area of Los Angeles who face neighbourhood problems.

In the show, we have gang activity, teenage romances, crime and the main characters in some dangerous situations.

In addition, the series shares the same music supervisor, Jen Malone as Euphoria.

Outer Banks

Outer Banks is a murder mystery teen drama series that premiered on Netflix in 2020.

The show is set in a community in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and follows the conflict between two groups of teenagers in the community.

There is a stark social divide between wealthy seasonal residents and working-class locals (known as “Kooks” and “Pogues”) with the show following a group of Pogue teenagers who are determined to find out what happened to the missing father of the group's ringleader, John B.

Chased by the law and a wealthy group of Kooks, the Pogues must overcome obstacles such as love, fighting, friendship and money.

Freaks And Geeks

Freaks and Geeks is a teen comedy-drama from Paul Feig and Judd Apatow that aired over twenty years ago.

Set in a suburban high school in Detroit during 1980–1981, the show reflects the sad, hilarious unfairness of teen life.

Despite being considered one of the greatest tv shows of all time, Freaks and Geeks found little success when it first aired and the series was cancelled after airing 12 out of the 18 episodes.

Now a cult classic, the ensemble cast may have made just one season but a huge amount of them went on to become mega-famous including James Franco (The Afterparty), Linda Cardellini (Dead To Me), Seth Rogan and Jason Segel.

Why Is Euphoria Such A Controversial Drama?

The series Euphoria has aroused controversy with its depiction of teenage drama, violence and addiction.

The series makes previous teenage dramas seem soft and mild with a very realistic interpretation.

Creator Sam Levinson has recreated what some consider a rather depressing but profound world of decline.

With several discussions of abuse, substance abuse, violence, self-mutilation and suicide, while alerting us to a reality that is hard to admit among teenagers.

The teen drama draws the line between glossiness and a good representation of the issues surrounding mental health, especially in the case of Rue.

Although it was criticised for showing how drugs can be used as an escape or to have fun with friends, Euphoria also showed how addiction impacts mental illness and negatively affects mental health, relationships, and life.

What Age Rating Is Euphoria?

Euphoria has a TV-MA rating for various reasons, including drugs, nudity, language, and explicit content. Therefore, it is intended for mature and adult audiences and has an 18+ rating.

These age ratings guide consumers, particularly parents, to help them decide whether or not a particular series is a good fit for their children.

While Euphoria is about high school students, many parents may believe it is inappropriate.

If you are a parent, you might personally watch each episode before deciding whether or not it is appropriate for your children.

What Is Euphoria Based On?

Although Euphoria is based on an Israeli miniseries of the same name the HBO version changed the characters significantly.

Even some of Euphoria's biggest fans are unaware of the origin of the series. The original lasted only one season, almost a decade before the popular remake was released on HBO Max.

The writers and producers, including Sam Levinson, Drake, and Zendaya, have not yet revealed how they came across the Israeli series.

However, with the multiple changes to the plot and its characters, it's easy to see why the US version of Euphoria was far more successful than its original counterpart.

Why Is Euphoria So Popular?

The HBO drama Euphoria is currently one of the most-watched and talked about television series.

As reported by Forbes, the second season captured the attention of 13.1 million viewers on both the HBO channel and its streaming service HBO Max.

Although Rue is the protagonist, the series features many main characters with their own unique stories.

Rue's best friend and lover, Jules Vaughn (Hunter Schafer), is a transgender woman exploring her sexuality and gender expression.

Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie)and Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney) struggle with romantic relationships and against internal demons.

Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi, The Kissing Booth) has serious toxic masculinity issues and insecurity with his father, which results in him being one of the biggest villains of the series.

The popularity of Euphoria comes down to how relatable it feels to this generation of teens and young adults.

Besides showing how a generation lives and learns through an unfiltered and constantly accessible Internet, this series brings a new perspective when looking at these issues.

It can accurately capture how teenagers deal with their problems now that the Internet and social media play such a big part in their daily lives.

Furthermore, the explicit and detailed content of this generation's most significant problems attracts an almost unconscious curiosity about this raw reality.

With the recent announcement of the third season, we are confident that the audience will continue to connect with the developing stories of the characters.

Its deep portrayal of today's youth's issues is the first of its kind.

Conclusion

So there you have our amazing list of shows like Euphoria. Of course, the list is not exhausted but there is only so much we can write!

So if you have some suggestions for great shows like Euphoria, let us know in the comments and we can include them in our article.