Teen Drama

Josh Abrams looks to help teenagers find positivity in a world bogged down by negative forces with his drama series, Josh's Journal. Creating a teen drama with puppets is a unique idea, and I'm not convinced it comes off. Some episodes seem a bit preachy, but the ideas behind it are really strong.

eScape is a unique science fiction series which focuses on the oft-neglected teen viewing audience. Having said that, the edge of your seat sci-fi web program is great fun for older geeks too. It's disappointing that in the shift from Vimeo to YouTube, the creators of eScape haven't taken their first season with them. It'd be a great way for anyone late to the series to get up to speed.

Young teens are often neglected in the world of online entertainment, so it's refreshing to see a new series like Ruby Skye P.I. released. The Spam Scam is the first in a series of 12-episode seasons, which see Ruby cracking a mystery in her neighborhood. The creators have got the right mix of comedy and intrigue here to get children hooked.

Teen drama series are a dime a dozen, but few are informed by real teens themselves. Miss Behave sets itself apart by employing teenagers in creative roles, from the acting to the production. This gives the webseries an honesty and gritty realism often lacking in other programs of this ilk.

Branded series are excellent promotional vehicles for the companies they represent, but they rarely gain enough traction to warrant a second outing. So Haute and Bothered, sponsored by LG Mobile, is a bit of an anomaly. This teen drama series set in a fashion school is fun and frothy, which is just why folks keep on tuning in.

Long-running dramatic documentary series The Suburbs shows teenagers as they really are, without the stereotypical characters or clever scripts of so many teen dramas. Since 2008 the series has profiled teens living in the suburbs of New York. It lets their lives play our without scripts or censors. Careful editing and compelling characters keep the action moving.

There's always been a kind of comedy about earnest teen dramas like Beverly Hills 90210 and Dawson's Creek. Satirical webseries The Monica 90404exploits this humor, while still delivering storylines which get to the heart of the teenage experience. The stereotypical characters may frustrate some, but they're perfect for this kind of comedy.

Orange Juice in Bishop's Garden is standard teen drama fare, with teenagers falling in love, making up, breaking up, and learning about themselves. While there’s nothing new here, the writing is strong. My only criticism is that with so many characters, it can become difficult to follow their adventures. It also sees many become caricatures rather than fully formed personalities.

Trust the British to produce a teen drama that's a cut above the average. LOL marries first-class writing with excellent acting from its talented young cast including its star, Nicola Mahoney. But viewers should be warned; this is pretty edgy stuff with sex and drugs to spare. Teens will love it, but this isn't for inquisitive kids.

With the popularity of the Twilight movies and the drama True Blood, vampires are so hot right now. In that mould comes the teen drama Vampire Dairies. You’ve seen it all before: beautiful but young teen girl, handsome vampire committed to a life of non-violence, and obstacles they must overcome before they find true love. No matter how formulaic though, this is entertaining fodder for vampire fans.