10 Shows Like The OC

Oh, we LOVE the drama, don’t we? No, not our real-life drama. We want fictional drama, and the more melo that drama the better. No, we’re not talking about shows like “Pretty Little Liars” or shows like “Vampire Diaries”, we’re throwing it back a bit. For a lot of us, one of our first introductions to the sensational and salacious world of teen dramas was “The OC.“

Wasn’t that show the best??? We held on for FOUR seasons to see if Summer Roberts (Rachel Bilson) and Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) would finally get together, and if Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie) would ever make anything of himself. We engaged every week to see how these teen characters would overcome what we thought were super serious conflicts involving relationships, academics, and the cultural reality of living in Orange County, CA. (Okay, maybe not the reality.)

Though The OC is inarguably cheesy and over-the-top, there’s something about it that’s so fun and nostalgic. It takes us all back to a simpler time and the heavy drama makes us feel on a whole other level. So . . . if you’ve been craving a new show to dig into, we’ve got the top 10 shows you need to watch after “The OC.”

10 Shows Like The OC

Nostalgic TV Shows Like The OC

Friday Night Lights

Where to watch: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

There’s something so nostalgic about remembering your old high school football days. Sitting in the bleachers, eating sh*tty concession food, screaming for your team like your life depended on it. If you wanna revisit those days, just watch “Friday Night Lights.”

Think small-town football team, teen drama, pressure, passion, and tons of heart—SUPER similar to “The O.C.” Even though “The O.C.” is all about the beach and FNL is all about football, both series are all about finding yourself, falling in love, and trying to get through the hell that is teen years. It’s all we could want in an early 2000s show, right?

Gossip Girl

Where to watch: Max, Apple TV, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video

“The OC” was created by Josh Schwartz, and so was “Gossip Girl!” It is such a fun watch because there’s a mystery surrounding these teen girls. There’s an elusive blogger observing every move, but they have no idea which of their friends is the backstabber. It’s sooo fun to make your guesses throughout the show because you seriously can’t figure it out with all the twists and turns. Plus, all the girls are prissy, upper-class divas, so there is TONS of caddy drama—which we aaalll love.

If you want to hear some true super-fans discuss what they love about this award-winning teen mystery/drama series, listen to this episode of Ride. Both Benito and Mary Beth STAN for this series. If you end up loving this series as much as we do, check out our post on Shows Like “Gossip Girl!”

One Tree Hill

Where to watch: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Max, Disney+, Apple TV

If you love the brotherhood vibe of “The OC”, “One Tree Hill” should def be on your must-watch list. The series follows brothers Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan (James Lafferty) as they navigate life with girls and basketball. Oh, yeah, this show is SO high school. These brothers compete in every aspect of life and start as classic sibling rivals, but slowly grow to appreciate one another. 

t’s definitely worth binging, especially with your girlfriends. Wear your skirt over your jeans, pin up your hair with butterfly clips, pour everyone glasses of Malibu, and get your 2000s nostalgia party pumping. And don’t worry, we’ve already compiled a list of Shows like “One Tree Hill” for you to check out when you’re done.

Dawson’s Creek

Where to watch: Hulu, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+

There are so many great themes played out in “Dawson’s Creek!” The principle is really simple, the show follows a group of misfits in a small town in New England. However, the show is able to juggle all these big conflicts like class diversity, mental health, divorce, death, coming out, young love, and more all in one coming-of-age story. It’s such an addictive show!

The series centers around Dawson Leery, who is an aspiring filmmaker with a tomboy best friend named Joey. They get into lots of trouble with their friends and a budding romance, and both struggles will have you playing episode after episode.

Gilmore Girls

Where to watch: Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu

“Gilmore Girls” is about a single mother and her smart teenage daughter who have a strong relationship that is #goals. They both have big goals they’re working to achieve and they support each other every step of the way. The show is funny and feel-good with lots of dramatic elements too. 

If you want a show you can watch with your mom or older sisters, “Gilmore Girls” is where it’s at. There’s nothing that says “girl power” like cross-generational women kicking ass and accomplishing their goals with no help from a man! (Okay, there are a few great guys along the way too!) Yep, we made a post on Shows like “Gilmore Girls” already, don’t worry.

90210

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

As much as we love the OG “90210”, it doesn’t hit the same as the 2008 reboot—especially if you wanna channel all of “The O.C.” vibes. The show follows the Wilson Family on their move allll the way from Kansas to Beverly Hills (talk about a cultural shift!).

Annie and Dixon, the two kids, have to now adapt and navigate the drama that exists in their new BH high school. You can only imagine how much drama comes from this storyline. The series explores drama, relationships, rivalries, and the struggles of having to adapt to a totally new world. It’s got all the same themes that we know and love from “The O.C.”

Current TV Shows Like The OC

Outer Banks

Where to watch: Netflix

This series is kind of like Goonies if the Goonies were like 100 times more caddy and dramatic. These North Carolina teens are finding buried treasure together in their coastal town. You’ll see sharp contrasts between wealthy and working-class teens striving toward the same mission as they’re chased by the law and their enemies. 

It may sound a little more intense than “The O.C.”, and it is, but it just adds to the drama. Trust us, you’ll still get all your teen angst . . . but with some higher stakes. It’s the best! This is a Netflix exclusive that has one more season up its sleeve, catch up so you don’t miss out!

All American

Where to watch: Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

What embodies the American teenage cliche better than high school football? For whatever reason, we all LOVE the drama that ensues on and off the field in this classic teen movie trope. This series is actually inspired by the real life of professional football player Spencer Paysinger and it showcases the cultural divide between the poor and wealthy sides of Beverly Hills High School.

“All American” is just like “The O.C.” in the terms of that good old “rags-to-riches” storyline. We see a troubled teen shed their skin and jump into a new life that introduces them to tons of unfamiliar territory.

Riverdale

Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV

Did you ever read Archie comics? Well, this is nothing like that, but it was inspired by that! “Riverdale” uses the characters from the classic comics to create an ensemble cast that clash and collide in every episode. 

Not only do the characters struggle with romance, school, and family drama like “The O.C.” teens, but they also have to solve dark mysteries threatening their town. The mixture of teen mayhem and supernatural chaos is SUCH a blast.

Ginny & Georgia

Where to watch: Netflix

Here’s another great series to watch after “The O.C.” if you want a good laugh! We all need a break from the melodrama (but don’t worry, there is plenty of teen angst in this series too.) “Ginny & Georgia” focuses on the life of a mother, her teenage daughter, and her young autistic son. The family gets a new start in an upper-class neighborhood after escaping a shady past, but, like always . . . that past catches up with them. 

Amanda Hirsch of Not Skinny But Not Fat always has the best taste in shows, so you know if she recommends something, it’s DEFINITELY binge-able. You can hear all about why Ginny & Georgia is one of her current favorite shows HERE! 

Reality TV Shows Like The OC

Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County

Where to watch: Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

If you like fictional drama of “The O.C.”, we KNOW you love real-life teen drama too. “Laguna Beach” is a reality TV series from MTV that followed the lives of teenagers at Laguna Beach High School. Ooooh, yes. A real-life group of high schoolers, which means this sh*t wasn’t clean like 7th Heaven and other pure 00s content. No, these high schoolers swear, fight, and, you know, other stuff.

This series is full of controversy and it fully represents the beloved, yet problematic early 2000s MTV culture. Once you finish “Laguna Beach” on Paramount Plus, you can watch the spinoff called “The Hills”—but don’t stop there! (But, we and Amanda Hirsh LOVE The Hills.) Dear Media has a reunion podcast called Back at the Beach that is a MUST LISTEN. It’s seriously sooo good and brings some grown-up perspective to this wild reality series.  

Teen Mom

Where to watch: Apple TV, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video

There’s a lot of teen drama on fictional TV shows, but teen pregnancy takes the cake for curating the most adolescent mayhem. “Teen Mom” highlights not only the struggle and beauty of brave teen moms, but also highlights their journey through relationships, school, establishing future goals, and discovering who they are. You’ll find yourself laughing, crying, and cringing with every episode of “Teen Mom.”

Feed your nostalgia and need for teen drama with one of our favorite shows! 

If you’re looking for new show recommendations, and you loved The OC, we hope this list helped you find your next fav series that you’ll rewatch again and again. And, if you need something to binge at work too (yeah, probably not a good idea to be watching Riverdale on the job), check out our directory of the world’s best podcasts. (Our Bravo podcast episodes are a favorite of TV lovers.)

Check out the Dear Media blog for more series recs, as well as advice on anything from health and wellness to love because let’s be honest, if the Gilmore girls had some of this, they might have saved themselves from a few relationship dramas!. And, don’t forget to check out the DM shop for tons of must-haves! This “Luckiest Girl” mug is perfect for a day full of binge-watching your new fave series.