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Growing up and the teenage years are difficult enough, but struggling with addiction and mental illness only complicates things more. While some shows offer an idealized version of teenagers' life, HBO's hit show Euphoria calls things the way they are. Zendaya's heroine Rue, as well as multiple other characters on the show, have issues they have to deal with, and sometimes it's something they just can't pull off.
With its second season recently premiering, Euphoria is bound to draw even more attention to itself thanks to its high quality and emotional impact. However, those viewers that finish watching it and are looking for other great drama TV series about young heroes luckily have multiple options to choose from.
7 Freaks And Geeks
While the show Freaks and Geeks is much less dark than Euphoria, it's still worth watching for fans of the latter. It was one of the first major shows centered on teenagers that wasn't afraid to show that their lives aren't always perfect, and that young people do struggle. Even though the show worked with the concept of two different groups, it proved that people could still find their way to each other regardless of their hobbies or lifestyle.
It's quite possible that if Freaks and Geeks hadn't set the path, there would be no Euphoria today, or other shows about young heroes. Since it pushed the envelope in its time, it's a classic that was canceled prematurely (after just one season) but is relevant to this day.
6 Skins
The British show Skins is proof that it's not always a good idea to make an American remake of well-established British series — the British version is the one to check out here. Considering Euphoria's overall tone and the fact it doesn't hide the uglier aspects of young people's lives, these two shows have a lot in common. However, Skins was one of the trendsetters. It started airing long before Euphoria, in 2007.
Both shows work with a larger group of heroes who change over time, allowing the audience to find their favorites. Additionally, Skins has an extremely talented cast and many of its actors went on to become famous, such as Nicholas Hoult (the X-Men series) and Kaya Scodelario (Maze Runner series). Those interested in watching the show can currently stream it on Netflix.
5 My Mad Fat Diary
Another successful British drama show centered on teenagers, My Mad Fat Diary primarily focuses on Rae, a teenage girl who's been struggling with an eating disorder and is now trying to build a new life. She finds new friends, goes back home, and maybe even falls in love.
Even though Rae is the main character, the people closest to her also get a lot of space to shine, and as the show reveals, Rae isn't the only person who struggles with something. My Mad Fat Diary has only three relatively short seasons. This makes it easy to watch the show fast, possibly over the course of a single weekend.
4 The End Of The F***ing World
One of the best things about Euphoria (other than Zendaya's performance) is the complex and developing relationship between Zendaya's Rue and Hunter Schafer's Jules. In the British show The End of the F***ing World, the two main characters also have a complicated bond... to put it mildly.
Suspecting he's a psychopath, James initially plans to kill Alyssa — but unsurprisingly, things don't end up as planned and the two go on a journey instead. The series' unique characters and dark sense of humor make it unforgettable, and a high-quality, unique take on the theme of teenage relationships.
3 I Am Not Okay With This
Rue from Euphoria doesn't develop special powers, but if she or any of the other characters did, they would have the chance, they would most likely struggle with them — just like Sydney, the main heroine of I Am Not Okay With This. Not only does Sydney have to deal with a crush on her best friend (who has a boyfriend) but she also doesn't get along with her mom well, and to top it all off, she's just discovered her own telekinetic abilities.
If Sydney and Rue met, they would have a lot to talk about and could share their problems with each other. No crossover will happen, though, especially since I Am Not Okay With This was canceled after just one season. However, many believe it should have gotten another, considering its popularity and solid ratings.
2 Sex Education
Sex Education is a popular Netflix show, and for a good reason. It captures the awkward, not-so-great parts of being a teenager, yet does so with subtle and intelligent humor. Asa Butterfield shines as the shy Otis who starts helping his classmates and advises them on sex, even though he has no personal experience.
Just like in Euphoria, the supporting characters also get their own backstory and develop as people, especially Otis's best friends Eric and Maeve. Both series are complex, captivating, and subvert stereotypes.
1 Grand Army
The Netflix show Grand Army is very close in tone to Euphoria. Neither show shies away from depicting the less-than-stellar lives of American teenagers. Grand Army deals with multiple serious and relevant topics, such as sexuality, bullying, racism, and many more.
The cast is excellent, and the show feels like something taken out of the real world as it addresses issues that many young people face. As a result, it's much more realistic than many other shows with teenage heroes that are currently airing.