8 Shows Like 13 Reasons Why You Love to Watch
If you have finished bingeing 13 Reasons Why and are in the mood for more teen dramas, try one of these shows that also cover topics such as mystery and emotion.
These shows cover a range of genres, from dark school mysteries to intense crime dramas and post-apocalyptic adventures. Each show is guaranteed to keep you entertained episode after episode.
8 Shows like 13 Reasons Why:
1. The Riverdale
When Riverdale premiered in 2017, it was based on characters from the Archie comics, but quickly became its own teen drama. The series takes the classic Archie characters and sets them in a world of murder, crime, and mystery.
One of theshow’s main draws is the town of Riverdale. What seems like a classic small-town American setting hides dark secrets that the series weaves into its mystery and crime.
Of course, the series is also drawn in by the characters. The main characters, Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, and Cheryl Blossom, each have unique personalities and relationships that help move the story forward, along with the town’s dark secrets.
If you are looking for more mystery and darker teen dramas after finishing 13 Reasons Why, Riverdale is a great option.
2. The 100
The 100 is a post-apocalyptic science-fiction television series created by Jason Rothenberg and inspired by the book series of the same name by Kass Morgan. It premiered in 2014.
97 years have passed since a nuclear war forced survivors to leave Earth behind and take shelter on several space stations called the Ark. With the Ark’s resources nearing depletion, its leaders send 100 of its youngest and most violent prisoners to Earth to see if it is once again inhabitable.
Upon reaching Earth, the prisoners must acclimate to new, dangerous conditions and new threats. They eventually make contact with the Grounders, the descendants of the people who also survived the nuclear disaster, and the Mountain Men who live in an underground facility.
The 100 goes beyond simple survival, touching on morality, loyalty, and the characters’ relationships, as well as the fallout and difficult choices they must make. Survival is a constant theme, as the characters must also face threats from outside their group.
The series maintains a high level of suspense as it fully develops its characters and the world they inhabit over its seven seasons. It does this by introducing new challenges, characters, and locations.
3. Euphoria
Euphoria is Sam Levinson’s raw, emotionally stirring series about the modern teenager and the troubles they face. It navigates difficult subjects and creates complex characters. This show focuses on a variety of themes, including addiction, identity, and mental health, as it follows a group of high school students. Each episode introduces a new theme and is focused on a different character.
Zendaya plays Rue Bennett, the show’s main focus, as the character most deeply affected by the events. Rue is a victim of drug addiction. Other characters include Nate, a manipulative athlete, and Jules, a trans girl who is searching for acceptance and love.
Although the show tackles difficult topics, it also includes moments of self-discovery and growth. Fans of 13 Reasons Why who appreciate a show that focuses on serious topics and reflects the teen experience would probably enjoy this show.
4. Elite
Elite is a Spanish teen drama focused on a group of students at an exclusive school, released on Netflix in 2018. Constant friction exists between students because of their different levels of wealth and social class.
The story begins when the three working-class students’ school gets destroyed, and they are awarded scholarships to the elite school. Immediate friction arises when they meet the wealthy students, and conflicts, relationships, and a murder shock the school community.
There are many changing relationships and a wide cast of characters that are complicated and intriguing due to each personality and background being diverse and unique. This show is known for its twists and cliffhangers. Viewers think they have a handle on the plot, and then the story takes another turn with a new secret or revelation.
Elite is a good option for fans of 13 Reasons Why, as it checks many of the same boxes with its mix of teen drama, mystery, romance, and crime.
5. Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl, set in Upper Manhattan, began in 2007 and is based on the Cecily von Ziegesar book series. The show centers on the anonymous blog, ‘Gossip Girl,’ which reveals the secrets, scandalous relationships, and betrayals of Manhattan’s upper crust.
The main cast consists of: Blake Lively’s Serena van der Woodsen, Leighton Meester’s Blair Waldorf, Chace Crawford’s Nate Archibald, and Ed Westwick’s Chuck Bass.
Serena is a popular and enigmatic girl whose return to New York changes the lives of those around her. Blair is Serena’s best friend and one of the most influential girls in their social circle. Nate is from a prominent family but struggles with personal issues, and Chuck is a playboy with a troubled past.
The show’s scandalous plot, coupled with the focus on relationships and fashion, garnered a large audience. In 2021, a new Gossip Girl series emerged, featuring a new anonymous Gossip Girl and a new class of Upper East Side students.
6. How to Get Away with Murder
How to Get Away with Murder started in 2014 and finished in 2020. Created by Peter Nowalk, the show focuses on Annalize Keating, a brilliant criminal defense lawyer and law professor played by Viola Davis.
Annalize teaches a class that contains students with extreme ambition. Some of those students get involved in a murder plot. From there, their legal practices and lives become entangled in a web of secrets and crimes.
Each season focuses on a new case, but also focuses on the personal stories of Annalize and her students. This often leads the students to try to protect one another, all while keeping secret what they have protected.
The series focuses on telling the full story of the crimes and uses a complex structure of flashbacks and flash-forwards to tell it. This often leaves the viewers to solve the larger mystery of the show. For her role as Annalize Keating, Viola Davis won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She became the first African-American woman to win the award.
This show features murder mysteries and other shocking revelations, along with complex relationships and emotional storylines. If you like shows such as 13 Reasons Why, this show is for you.
7. The End of the Fu**ing World
The End of the F***ing World is a dark comedy-drama from the UK, released in 2017. This series is based on the graphic novel of the same name by Charles Forsman. It follows two teenagers, James and Alyssa, on a dangerous and unusual road trip.
James believes that he is a psychopath and wants to kill Alyssa, his classmate, whom he believes is rebellious and impulsive. However, their plans to kill become even more complicated as they get involved in bizarre and unpredictable situations.
The series focuses on the two characters’ friendship as it explores themes of love and vulnerability. It focuses on the various odd and unusual behaviors of human beings. What makes the series special is its rapid shifts between emotionally disturbing and violent situations, and vice versa.
James and Alyssa are complex characters, and their relationship is unusual. Through their adventures, the series challenges notions of good and evil and reveals the true nature of both characters.
For viewers who like stories that are different from the ordinary, with a mix of dark humor and emotional character development, The End of the F***ing World is a must-watch series.
8. Pretty Little Liars
Pretty Little Liars, more popularly known as PLL, is a mystery thriller that aired from 2010 to 2017. It is based on the book series of the same name by Sara Shepard. The series follows four high school girls whose lives change after their friend Alison DiLaurentis mysteriously disappears.
Aria Montgomery, Spencer Hastings, Hanna Marin, and Emily Fields are the main protagonists of the story. After the disappearance of Alison, the girls start getting messages from someone named ‘A’.
A seems to know the girls’ secrets and begins blackmailing them. The girls face challenges such as blackmail, personal conflicts, and the mystery of Alison’s disappearance.
One of the most appealing aspects of Pretty Little Liars is the suspense built throughout the series. The girls are determined to uncover A’s identity and, in the process, encounter new enigmas.
The series successfully integrates the issues and relationships of young adults with a continuous enigma to capture the interest of the audience. Pretty Little Liars and 13 Reasons Why share similar themes of teenage drama and emotional conflict, along with a strong central mystery.
Conclusion
If you found 13 Reasons Why to be an enjoyable series, these eight shows are also worth your time. Riverdale, The 100, Euphoria, Elite, Gossip Girl, How to Get Away with Murder, The End of the F*ingWorld*, and Pretty Little Liars all share drama, suspense, and complicated characters.
If you’re looking for a new show in the same vein as 13 Reasons Why, or something that extends the genre into crime, science fiction, or dark comedy, you’ll find a lot of options here that you’ll want to binge.
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