The 2000s were an extremely extraordinary period for the development of various audiovisual trends and productions for pop culture, with highlights for the world of music, fashion and TV series. Television productions at the time relied heavily on stories that would captivate teenage audiences, and this investment resulted in a list of memorable works, which still cause a lot of nostalgia today. Therefore, we have separated a list of six 2000s teen series for you to remember your teenage years.
Smallville (2001)
The series was a hit with audiences in the early years, both because it tells the story of the young Clark Kent to become Superman and because the events that transpired weren’t exactly canon. That is, the producers had a lot of freedom to create and develop Clark’s adventures without necessarily paying attention to all the details brought by the comics.
Even so, the production explored the story of the Kryptonian very well, growing up in the sleepy town of Pequenópolis (“Smallville” in English) after arriving on Earth together with a meteor shower. The series traces Clark’s adolescence, as he tries to blend in among human teenagers as if he were one of them, goes through the first signs of love, the difficulty adapting to society, and the desire to discover more about his own history while trying to hide who she is from people (although she pledges to use her powers to save everyone).
The OC (2003)
The pilot episode of The OC achieved the highest viewership in Warner Bros. history at the time of its release, but also gained much prominence on newspaper and magazine covers in the 2000s. substances and alcohol, pregnancy, abandonment and parental neglect, and how the prison system treats teenagers.
In the plot we follow the life of Ryan: a young man who was caught by the police while trying to steal a car with his brother. Ryan was not convicted because he was a minor and was eventually released thanks to his public defense attorney, Sandy Cohen. After returning home, Ryan seems to realize for the first time that he doesn’t have to put up with a lifetime of abuse in his family home and decides to ask Sandy for help. So the Cohen family takes him in and teaches him the true meaning of being part of a family where everyone loves and supports him. From then on, the young man will experience a huge culture shock as he encounters people, places and situations that only the wealthy of Orange County have the pleasure of experiencing.
The Hill of a Tree (2003)
Perhaps one of the best memories people have from this series is the opening song, called “I don’t want to be” and performed by Gavin DeGraw. The One Tree Hill production features young Lucas as the protagonist, who dreams of becoming a professional basketball player and, therefore, always goes to a public field to play with his friends.
One day, his performance in the game gets a lot of attention and he gets a chance to join the basketball team of One Tree High school, which becomes a problem because Lucas will have to face a nebulous part of his past: his brother and his father. He was raised only by his mother throughout his life, as he was rejected by his father ever since he was born. However, his half-brother Nathan attends One Tree High and is the captain of the basketball team. Lucas will then have to deal with Nathan’s arrogant temper, his father’s appearances and all the pressure of high school. The series tackles several pertinent topics, such as teenage pregnancy, alcohol abuse, parental abandonment, teenage rebellion, and family building.
Veronica Mars (2004)
Veronica Mars is a high school teenager who learned early on how people can keep secrets and create mysteries. This is because her father is a police chief and taught her many skills, which she uses to become a “detective” while dealing with personal drama and school work.
At the beginning of the series, Veronica has a more reserved attitude than her classmates, as her best friend was murdered and with her, her relationship with her ex-boyfriend. Her father had helped solve the case that led to her death, but believing her family was involved in the crime, he was fired from his job and started working as a private investigator. Thus, while Veronica helps her father solve some cases or solves mysteries brought by her schoolmates, she collects clues to unravel the link between her best friend’s murder and her family.
Kyle XY (2006)
Kyle XY is a science fiction series for teenagers about the life of Kyle: a teenager who wakes up disoriented, with no memories and completely naked in the middle of the forest. He doesn’t know who he is, where he comes from, he is completely unaware of his abilities and, although he is 16 years old, he has the same human and social knowledge of a child.
When he finds a city and walks naked through the streets, the police are called to take him into custody. However, no one finds information about him in the database and they decide to send him to an orphanage, where a therapist becomes interested in his eccentric behavior and decides to take him home with her. Temporarily adopted by a family, Kyle faces several challenges in his quest to find out more about himself and where he comes from.
Skins (2007)
The Skins series was developed to represent the dark side of adolescence, i.e. all the difficult phases and negative influences that many young people have to face as they grow up. Among the main themes are the abuse of alcohol and hallucinogenic substances, physical and sexual violence, psychological disorders, the pressure to lose one’s virginity and even family dysfunctions.
Shot in the UK, the Skins production follows the lives of several young people, each with their own personal and family problems. Each character’s narrative was built to create a series that all types of teenagers could relate to as the story progressed, creating highlights that permeate each of the stages of life. The show has seven seasons and each one focuses on different characters who are part of the same group.
The 2000s teen post 6 series to remember adolescence first appeared on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
