The Umbrella Academy (2019 – )
NetflixSeason 3 of this twist on superhero tales aired in June, and fans are already clamoring for a fourth. The good news: It's coming. The bad? The fourth season will be the last. It follows a series of estranged "siblings" with special abilities who reunite after their adopted father dies, so they can stop a threat to all mankind. (Note: There's violence in this one, so it's better for teens than tweens.)
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Heartstopper (2022 – )
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Never Have I Ever (2022 – )
NetflixThis teen comedy follows a 15-year-old girl named Devi as she handles teenage problems big and small, from mourning the death of her father to deciding that she wants to seduce the most popular boy at school. The show was created by Mindy Kaling, who based it off the spirit of some of her own teenage experiences.
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Shadow and Bone (2021 – )
NetflixIn this fantasy show, an orphaned mapmaker named Alina learns she has the power to summon light, making her a target to many different powerful forces who want to use her abilities for their own gains. It's adapted from the book Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, and a second season, due out in 2023, will cover its sequel, Siege and Storm.
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Stranger Things (2016 – )
NetflixThere probably isn't a tween or teen alive who hasn't already heard of Stranger Things, the show that pits the teens of Hawkins, Indiana against an Upside-Down world full of monsters and the scientists who try to control those creatures. And while Stranger Things 5 promises to be the last season, there's no word yet on when it will premiere, so teens probably have time to re-watch Stranger Things 4 (and come up with their own fan theories) beforehand.
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RELATED: The Best Stranger Things Gifts, Because We're Still Not Over Season 4
Derry Girls (2018 – 2022)
Jack Barnes/NetflixThis laugh-so-hard-it-hurts comedy follows a group of teens in Northern Ireland in the ''90s, when the country was coming close to the end of The Troubles. But it isn't really about that: The political strife is background to the girls' farcical problems at school, drama with boys, conflicts with parents and quest to score Fatboy Slim tickets. (IYKYK.) The final season hit Netflix in October 2022.
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Young Royals (2021 – )
NetflixThis dubbed Swedish show has been described as what would happen if "The Crown and Gossip Girl had a baby." It follows Prince Wilhelm of Sweden as he starts a new boarding school, and is generally filled with privileged teenagers behaving badly. A new season comes to Netflix on November 1, 2022.
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The Letter for the King (2020 – 2020)
NetflixIf Game of Thrones is too much, this series might fill the same sword-swinging role for young viewers. The series is about a knight-in-training who promises to deliver a letter from a dying soldier and give it to the king. It's a six-episode, one-season miniseries, so it's good for a holiday break or short vacation.
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On My Block (2018 – 2021)
NetflixThis show follows the lives of four friends who are starting high school in a fictional neighborhood in Los Angeles. While they deal with a tough neighborhood, which includes gangs, violence and hooking up, the show has been praised for how well-rounded and real the characters are.
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The Healing Powers of Dude (2020 – 2020)
NetflixThis series, which was a one-season-and-done show at Netflix, follows Noah Ferris, an 11-year-old boy who suffers from anxiety. (What tween can't relate?) When he starts middle school, he's allowed the help of an adorable emotional support dog, Dude.
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The Baby-Sitters Club (2020 – 2022)
NetflixCobra Kai (2018 – )
NetflixChildren of the '80s may remember going around the house crane-kicking and doing the "wax on, wax off" move, but you don't have to be a fan of the original Karate Kid series to get a kick out of Cobra Kai. In it, Johnny and Daniel are now adults, training the next generation of karate kids while still smarting from their old rivalry. A new season, the fourth, came to Netflix in September 2022.
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RELATED: Cobra Kai Fans, Read the Latest Updates on Season 5
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Brainchild (2018 – 2018)
NetflixHost Sahana Srinivasan goes deep into social-scientific concepts, delving into what research says about what makes a person creative or what motivates people. And while the scientific ideas are there, the show breaks it down for the layperson, so tweens and younger kids (along with any grown-ups who might be in the room) will find themselves intrigued.
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All of Us Are Dead (2022 – )
NetflixFor teens who like to be scared, this dubbed Korean series takes place at a high school that becomes the epicenter of a zombie outbreak, and kids must fight their way out. Zombie fans will be pleased to know the series has been renewed for a second season. (Note: This one is filled with violence, gore and foul language, so keep it to the teens.)
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Ginny & Georgia (2021 – )
NetflixAhh, the push-pull of the parent/child relationship — always a good premise for a series. (Not that you can relate.) In this one, Ginny is a mature teenager and Georgia is her immature mom, and the family tries to put down roots in a small, New England town.
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Greenhouse Academy Brainchild (2017 – 2020)
NetflixThose who are definitely too young for Umbrella Academy can still find sibling drama, mystery and suspense in this show about the culture of elite boarding schools. The brother-sister duo at the heart of this story are placed into separate boarding-school houses — making them instant rivals — but connect again to unravel the strange circumstances surrounding the death of their mother.
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Outer Banks (2020 – )
NetflixA YA series on Netflix aimed at older teens, Outer Banks follows a tight-knit group of friends in North Carolina who are thrown into a whirlwind series of events when the power is cut for the summer. What ensues involves a search for a missing father, romances, a high-stakes treasure hunt and conflicts with rivals. There are two seasons of the show on the service right now, but fans are going to have to wait until 2023 for a third.
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Fate: The Winx Saga (2021 – )
NetflixThose who watched the animated Winx Club as kids might thrill to the more adult, live-action reboot of the series. In it, a group of teenage fairies and changelings try to learn how to harness their powers at the magical Alfea College. A second season premiered on Netflix in September.
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Ashley Garcia, Genius in Love (2020 – 2020)
NetflixThis Mario Lopez-produced show follows Ashley, a 15-year-old robotics engineer and rocket scientist, as she moves in with her Uncle Victor, a fun-loving, former football player. Though it only lasted one season, the show has its dedicated fans.
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Moesha (1996 – 2001)
NetflixFor Brandy fans, Netflix has acquired her classic '90s sitcom. It follows Moesha as she navigates high school, friends and family. This is another one you might find watching for the nostalgic thrill, whether your kids are home or not.
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Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
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