When you think of shows that absolutely defined your teens and early 20s, what do you think of??? Gossip Girl is probably on your list! This show was ev-ery-thing in the mid-2000s. It had romance, mystery, and sooo much teen drama. If you want to feel nostalgic, you can hear some serious super-fans discuss their obsession with Gossip Girl in this episode of Ride. (It’s a must-listen if you ask us.)
It was so big, it was actually rebooted on HBO Max in 2021! Unfortunately, that series is over now too, and we don’t get any more Upper East Side shenanigans. If you want more drama and mystery that Serena Van Der Woodsen (Blake Lively), Penn Badgley (Dan Humphrey), and the rest of the cast deliver, we’ve got some new (and old) shows for you to binge while you’re mourning the official end of the Gossip Girl era.
Here are our favorite shows that give the same energy as Gossip Girl:
10 Shows Like Gossip Girl
One Tree Hill
If you liked the sisterly vibe of the Constance Billard School for girls in Gossip Girl, this is the perfect contrast to that! One Tree Hill is instead about a pair of brothers (Lucas and Nathan) that must navigate girls, school, and basketball. (Not quite as high stakes as a stalker blogger, but it’s pretty exciting.) We STAN for a good sibling rivalry and redemption story, so this one is at the top of our must-watch list!
Where to watch: Hulu, Max, Prime Video, and Apple TV.
Gilmore Girls
“Girl Power” is the name of the game when it comes to Gossip Girl and this 2000s favorite, Gilmore Girls! In this show, a single mother and her daughter with a super strong bond do life together. Though they have humble beginnings, they’ve got big dreams and motivation for self-improvement.
This show just seriously makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and it’s the perfect series for cross-generational viewers. Watch this one with your mom, your big sister, or even your own daughters! We love to see women supporting women in media, and Gilmore Girls is aaaalll about that.
Where to watch: Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple TV
Vampire Diaries
Wait??? There are no vampires or ghouls in Gossip Girl? We know, but aside from the supernatural element, Vampire Diaries has a lot of similar traits to your favorite 2000s drama. (Also, didn’t we all think that Gossip Girl might be a ghost at one point? Just us???)
Anyway, Vampire Diaries follows Elena Gilbert, a teenager with a tragic past living in a town with a supernatural history. She has an unexpected encounter with a boy named Damon, and she falls in love. Only problem??? He’s a vampire. Oh, yeah, and Damon’s brother ALSO is in love with Elena. Sooo . . . it’s basically a vampire love triangle with teen angst, mystery, and school probs. See! We knew you’d be interested.
Where to watch: Max and Prime Video
Outer Banks
Maybe you’re over the throwbacks. We get it! Sometimes you want something fresh and modern. If that’s your vibe, Outer Banks is a good next watch. It’s about North Carolina teens hunting for buried treasure in their coastal town. There are two groups of teens divided by class, working against each other to find gold. Only problem??? A rich girl and a working-class teen fall in love.
So, yeah. A little bit of Romeo and Juliet. A little bit of Goonies. And, a lot of classic teenage drama we can’t get enough of. If you like adventure mixed with your teen soap operas, definitely check this one out.
Where to watch: Netflix
Pretty Little Liars
It’s right there in the name: liars! We love the caddy friend group toxicity of Gossip Girl, and Pretty Little Liars definitely has that same vibe. Basically, there was a clique of girls who were frenemies and besties, but when their leader mysteriously disappeared, they broke up and didn’t speak for a year. Turns out, there was more shady sh*t happening even beyond the disappearance of their BFF in this friend group.
They reunite and then start receiving messages from someone who identifies themselves as
“A.” This elusive figure knows allll about their secrets and is ready to break these teens and ready to reveal the skeletons in their closets. (It’s also a book series if you’re a reader!)
Where to watch: Prime Video
Bridgerton
Here’s another series based on books! This is a period piece that takes place in the Regency era of England. (Think, like Pride and Prejudice or Downtown Abbey) It centers on 8 noble siblings looking for love—but they’re interrupted by the usual drama of life as a royal.
And, guys, Julie Andrews plays Lady Whistledown, who writes scandalous high society newsletters that often prey upon the Bridgertons. Sooo . . . is Julie Andrews like a Regency Gossip Girl??? Yes. The answer is yes.
Where to watch: Netflix
The OC
Josh Schwartz, who was the producer of Gossip Girl made another teen drama called The OC. We bet you’ll love it just as much!!! In this series, a troubled teen from the wrong side of the tracks is taken in by a public defense lawyer and rich real estate developer in Newport Beach, California. Suddenly, this working-class boy is thrust into a culture of extravagance and arrogance he is not used to!
He enrolls in a new school and there he finds love, friendship, purpose . . . and a whole lot more problems. It’s one of those series that definitely pays off in the end with an incredible season finale. (We all know how some of you feel about the conclusion of Gossip Girl. Don’t worry. You won’t be hurt again.)
Where to watch: Hulu, Max, Prime Video, and Apple TV
BONUS: Here are more shows like The OC.
Beverly Hills, 90210
If you love the upper-class vs. lower-class plotlines of a lot of the shows listed so far, you’ll be obsessed with Beverly Hills, 90210! The West Beverly Hills High School featured in the series is full of privileged, conceited teens with clashing personalities and A LOT of drama. You get it. Lots of love, hate, and 90s fashion. It’s totally binge-worthy.
Where to watch: Pluto TV, Roku, Paramount Plus, Hulu, Prime Video, or Apple TV
Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County
Fictional drama is great, but so is the real sh*t, right? Laguna Beach, like many of these other shows, centers on a high school, but this one is a real school in Orange County, California. MTV captures the drama of their relationships, the chaos of their family life, and the intensity of growing up. This series shows all that comes with teenagehood—the good, the bad, and the really bad.
Wanna know the best part of Laguna Beach??? When you’re done with it, you can watch the spinoff called The Hills (we and Amanda Hirsh of Not Skinny, But Not Fat LOVE The Hills) AND you can listen to Dear Media’s reunion podcast called Back to the Beach. The podcast is just as binge-worthy as the show and brings a cathartic grown-up perspective to the whole series. (BTW when you finish you HAVE to commemorate it with a Back to the Beach commemorative tee or crop top.)
Where to watch: Paramount Plus
For more reality show recommendations, check out this post on our top Bravo podcasts.
Euphoria
Euphoria is another modern show that’s all the rage right now. It has classic teen angst that you know and love, but it goes WAAAYY deeper than that. The teens of East Highland, California deal with love, yes, but they also battle with loss, addiction, abuse, and sexuality. It’s high stakes, totally heartbreaking, and completely bingeable.
Where to watch: Max
There are plenty of amazing teen dramas to watch after Gossip Girl!
Alright, do you have your list ready? It’s time to grab some popcorn, fill up your Adult Sippy Cup, put on your F*cking Bitch PJs, light an Antisocial Candle, and turn your fuzzy boundaries blanket to DON’T TOUCH ME mode—it’s time to settle in for some serious self-care time Dear Media style. Enjoy the show. 😀
For more on pop culture, podcasts, and life, check out the Dear Media blog and our large catalog of shows. OH – and besties, DO NOT forget to check out the Dear Media Shop for all your fav podcast merch and so much more. You won’t be without stuff to read, watch, and listen to with us!