Teen dramas are an enduring part of the television landscape and have the opportunity to blend genres into their plots for exciting results. When supernatural elements are incorporated in teen dramas, this makes for compelling TV that has elevated stakes and tension combined with the pangs of adolescence. Some of the best fantasy TV shows for beginners are combinations of magical storylines and high school mishaps, bringing something to the table for viewers of all ages, as coming-of-age stories never grow old, and neither do mystical creatures.

There's lots of overlap between mystical adolescent narratives and the best romance TV shows based on books since romance is a central part of any teen drama worth its salt. The world-building within novels translates well to television, especially when fantastical narratives and love stories take center stage. However, there's more to supernatural series than the magic systems or exciting worlds that audiences can escape into. These shows are ed not just for the fantasy elements but also for the depth of the characters.

10 Shadowhunters (2016–2019)

This is the definitive adaptation of the beloved YA book series

Based on the book series by Cassandra Clare, Shadowhunters is considered the best iteration of the story for the screen, as the 2013 movie was a major flop. However, the story found a new home on television, which turned out to be the perfect place for the narrative since there was more time to develop the world and character relationships. The show primarily follows Clary (Katherine McNamara), a young woman who discovers the world of the Shadowhunters and learns of her own abilities to hunt demons.

Even audiences unfamiliar with the books will be enthralled by the magical series. ​​​​​​​

book series tackles different elements of the universe, but Shadowhunters primarily focuses on The Mortal Instruments stories. Much of this revolves around the romance between Clary and her fellow Shadowhunter, Jace (Dominic Sherwood), to whom Clary feels an instant connection. Though the series brings many of the best moments from the books to life, it also distinguishes itself and presents new and exciting aspects of the world. Even audiences unfamiliar with the books will be enthralled by the magical series.

9 Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina (2018–2020)

Kiernan Shipka leads this dark iteration of the teen sitcom

Most audiences are familiar with the fantasy sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch from 1996, which took a much lighter and relaxed tone than Netflix's supernatural follow-up. Kiernan Shipka, best known for her role as Sally Draper in Mad Men, plays the new Sabrina, who's much more in tune with the darkest parts of her magic than the '90s iteration. Overall, Chilling Adventure of Sabrina takes on a much more horror-esque and gothic tone than its predecessor.

Chilling Adventure of Sabrina sees Sabrina struggle to balance the human and witch sides of herself but usually finds herself fighting for the side of good. Though Sabrina is often most concerned with the forces of heaven and hell, her friends and allies help ground her and provide strong side plots about the ups and downs of the typical high school experience, even when they Sabrina on a dangerous quest after school. Sabrina's love life is also a major part of the series and helps ground the more high fantasy elements.

8 Marvel’s Runaways (2017–2019)

Though Marvel is known for their superhero adventures, this series takes them to another level

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, the minds behind iconic teen dramas like The O.C. and Gossip Girl, came together to create Runaways, one of the most human and grounded of Marvel's projects. Following a group of unlikely teen heroes, Runaways sees them band together when they realize the one thing they have in common: their supervillain parents. While the dynamics between parents and teens in TV shows are always fraught, this is elevated to the extreme in Runaways.

As each of the teens unlocks their special abilities and powers, they start to come into themselves and face the insecurities and doubts that are plaguing them.

As each of the teens unlocks their special abilities and powers, they start to come into themselves and face the insecurities and doubts that are plaguing them. Like all superhero shows, Runaways uses the characters' powers as a metaphor for difference and othering but demonstrates how, as a group, the teens find solace and acceptance. However, Runaways drives home the point that the most important person to accept them is themselves.

7 School Spirits (2023–Present)

Being a ghost is not the peaceful afterlife the characters were hoping for in School Spirits

In the wake of her grisly murder, or so she's told, Maddie (Peyton List) finds herself trapped in her high school as a ghost alongside the other students and teacher who tragically died there. Certain there must be an answer to her memory loss, as Maddie can't recall her death, she embarks on a quest to solve her murder and discovers she still has a link to the land of the living. Though she's single-minded in her pursuit of the truth, Maddie also learns how messy her life and relationships truly are.

Both in the afterlife and the living world, the people who know Maddie attempt to put together the pieces, and the audiences can't be sure who to trust. Even in death, Maddie still manages to find plenty of teenage drama as she learns about her living boyfriend's betrayal and starts to connect with the ghosts she meets. Through its supernatural conceit, School Spirits grapples with some of the most painful and true parts of adolescence.

6 First Kill (2022)

Though short-lived, First Kill made a mark

Canceled after just one season, First Kill is an underrated addition to the supernatural teen drama genre, with a compelling forbidden romance at the story's center. The term star-crossed lovers takes on a whole new meaning in the series as a vampire descended from supernatural royalty, Juliette (Sarah Catherine Hook), falls in love with a monster hunter, Cal (Imani Lewis). Both have orders to kill each other and take their place in their respective families, but neither has the stomach to end their doomed romance.

It's a shame that First Kill was canceled so quickly, as strong LGBTQ+ representation within fantasy teen shows can be hard to come by.

The creator of First Kill, Victoria Schwab, is well known for her many contributions to the YA and adult fantasy book genre, and First Kill has much of her trademark humor and world-building. It's a shame that First Kill was canceled so quickly, as strong LGBTQ+ representation within fantasy teen shows can be hard to come by. However, even the single season of the series packs enough angst, bloodlust, and ion to satisfy any viewer.

5 Wednesday (2022–Present)

Jenna Ortega is at her best in this updated take on Wednesday Addams

Few shows are as instantly popular as Wednesday, the recent Netflix TV show that explores the characters from The Addams Family, particularly Wednesday. Jenna Ortega plays the titular character, who's enrolled in her parent's old boarding school for the supernatural and strange, where she uncovers a conspiracy. Though Wednesday herself is more interested in solving the mystery than making friends and engaging with budding romantic interests, that's still a large part of the show.

As Wednesday season 2 approaches, it's likely that even more drama and intrigue between the reluctant Wednesday and her newfound group of friends will come to light. Though there are some serious moments in the series, for the most part, Wednesday sticks to the whimsy and fantastical elements that allowed so many viewers to connect with the show in the first place. Of all the recent teen dramas, Wednesday does a good job of translating contemporary sensibilities into a fantasy world.

4 Teen Wolf (2011–2017)

Werewolves take center stage in this well-known drama

Though Teen Wolf premiered after similar works like The Vampire Diaries, the show worked hard to distinguish itself from the many fantasy series hitting the small screen in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Tyler Posey and Dylan O'Brien star as Scott and Stiles, two best friends who become entangled in the supernatural underbelly of their town when Scott is turned into a werewolf. Though Teen Wolf does grapple with many different monsters and creatures from folk tales, it wisely omits vampires, setting the story apart.

The writers and creators of Teen Wolf understood the niche it filled and the role it played on television, allowing the series to play with form and audience expectations as the seasons progressed.

For the most part, Teen Wolf follows the familiar pangs of adolescence and doesn't stray from the typical romance plots that define so many shows within its genre. However, the writers and creators of Teen Wolf understood the niche it filled and the role it played on television, allowing the series to play with form and audience expectations as the seasons progressed. The chemistry between Posey and O'Brien as best friends was a consistent mark in the series' favor.

3 Stranger Things (2016–Present)

Netflix's heavy-hitter series is coming to an end

As the final season of Stranger Things draws closer, it's fun to look back at the beginning of the nostalgic and thrilling TV series. Since its premiere in 2016, Stranger Things has been one of the biggest hits for its streaming service, Netflix, and it's not hard to see why. The first season is the most cohesive and well-paced of the series, but every successive installment has grappled with the characters growing up and the fact that they've changed so much while facing similar threats.

Stranger Things season 5 will be its last, and it's certain that the series will go out with a bang, revealing more about the Upside Down and the mysterious forces at work than ever before. Something Stranger Things does better than many supernatural teen dramas is incorporate a strong sense of mystery that it sustains across multiple seasons. The audience patiently awaits the answers to the questions the show poses, as the journey to get there is just as compelling as the destination.

2 The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017)

The early seasons of The Vampire Diaries are revolutionary

Though The Vampire Diaries lost steam as the seasons progressed, there's no denying that the first several seasons of the show perfectly encapsulate the best of the supernatural and teen genres. Unafraid to lean into melodrama and unbelievable plot twists, The Vampire Diaries kept audiences guessing and engaged. Vampires, witches, werewolves, and almost every other conceivable supernatural creature grace the screen in The Vampire Diaries, but the series works hard not to feel overwhelming.

While popularity doesn't necessarily determine quality, the fact that The Vampire Diaries received two spinoff series demonstrates the story's longevity. With plenty of gore and romance to draw viewers in, The Vampire Diaries makes them stay through the moving platonic love that drives so much of the narrative, as well as the incredible character development. While it's easy to laugh at some of the campy aspects of The Vampire Diaries, the series is well aware of its tone, ensuring the viewer is laughing with it.

1 Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)

A groundbreaking series, both inside the teen genre and in of all television

Not only the best vampire TV show of all time, Buffy The Vampire Slayer is the blueprint for all modern supernatural teen dramas. Few audiences and critics would have considered the supernatural teen drama a serious and interrogative genre before Buffy, but the series changed minds and proved that there's room for complex and nuanced discussions about life and love within a show about teens. From the beginning, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is no ordinary teenager, and the story never treats her like one.

Throughout its seven-season run, Buffy evolved a lot, as the series left high school and adolescence behind after season 3. However, this doesn't mean that the characters stopped learning, growing, and coming of age in the show. Many of the major beats and lessons throughout Buffy The Vampire Slayer are universal and connect with viewers of all ages, no matter where the characters are in their lives. It's difficult to imagine that any new TV show will come along that can achieve what Buffy The Vampire Slayer did.