Early 2000’s Teen Dramas and Their Importance

By KELLY BRENNAN

TV shows such as “Dawson’s Creek,” “Gilmore Girls,” and “One Tree Hill” were at their prime in the early 2000s airing mostly on the WB (which later transitioned to the CW). Teens have been obsessed with these characters’ stories on these shows for decades and it doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. Iconic love triangles, dealing with death and loss, overcoming everyday obstacles, and repairing friendships are just some of the things that these shows dealt with. 

But why are they still so popular over twenty years later? Because they tell stories that teens can relate to no matter what the decade is. 

Go Deeper:

Why It Matters:

• These shows deal with normal teenage problems like relationship issues, friend drama, loss, with meaningful conversations and showing the true moments of your awkward teenage years. These shows are so important because they highlight growing pains in a realistic way that viewers are able to relate to no matter what generation it is.
• Ariella Taylor from England explains in her own words why these shows still matter twenty years later by saying, “Personally, I think early 2000s shows […] are still so relevant today because they bring about a certain hint of nostalgia and poignancy. […] Today’s generation are so enrapt with social media, using phones, and in a way these shows are a way to escape from all of that, where storylines include characters who actually have proper dialogue, and meaningful conversations.”
• Sam from California explains why these shows still matter due to their realistic points of view of growing up. She says, “I think the early 2000s shows [like “One Tree Hill,” “Dawson’s Creek,” etc.] plus others are still so relevant today just because of the comfort of the show itself and the characters and they aren’t so complicated. It’s typically just the kids or the friend group trying to just go through their childhood and I think a lot of people relate to that.”

What To Watch:

• “Dawson’s Creek” on Netflix
  • Fun Fact: Joey (Katie Holmes) was the only character to appear in all 128 episodes.
• “Gilmore Girls” on Netflix
  • Fun Fact: Rory Gilmore was Alexis Bledel’s first role.
• “One Tree Hill” on Hulu
  • • Fun Fact: Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty were almost cast as each other’s roles.

  Rewatching #OneTreeHill and damn #Leyton still have a hold over me. pic.twitter.com/qh0QYXnruP

  — James Fernández (@james_ferndez) March 5, 2022

Flashback Moments:

• This iconic moment from Joey, Pacey, and Dawson’s love triangle at the anti-prom. 
• Best friend relationships portrayed by Brooke and Peyton on “One Tree Hill.”
• Real life agonizing high school moments from Rory Gilmore. 

What’s Next:

• Teen dramas are adapting to the new generation with subjects like sex, drugs, and crime which they assume makes better television. Really, these shows with meaningful conversations and normal circumstances will always be the best television for teens. But with shows like “Euphoria” on the rise it seems that the television scene is changing for teen dramas.