Another year of television is quickly coming to an end, and this year has brought us more shows depicting students and college life than ever before. From “Euphoria” to “Abbott Elementary”, 2022 delivered content on all different types of schools and students. Here are some of the best and worst television shows about students that aired this year:
Best: Abbott Elementary
In a television landscape dominated by streaming, “Abbott Elementary” proves that a cable sitcom can still captivate audiences. Created by comedian Quinta Brunson and based on her mother’s experiences as a school teacher, “Abbott Elementary” highlights the struggles of an underfunded public school in Philadelphia while also delivering on the comedy too. Filmed mockumentary style, “Abbott Elementary” is reminiscent of other sitcoms like “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation,” with the characters often looking deadpan at the camera when something goes disastrously wrong at the school. While the show touches on many real-life issues in the education system, the humor is also authentic and keeps you laughing non-stop the entire time you’re watching the show.
Worst: Elite
This Spanish show and Netflix original is wildly popular on the platform, but its depiction of teenagers is almost too unrealistic to take seriously. Following students in an elite private school, the characters often find themselves the center of scandals like murder mysteries, affairs and drug abuse. While not all shows are meant to be realistic, “Elite” just doesn’t represent what the majority of high school students experience, and is also unnecessarily graphic to the point where it doesn’t contribute anything to the story. Rather than showing more realistic, healthy and safe portrayals of teen romance, the show has depicted multiple instances of adults pursuing relationships with the underage students. To make matters worse, the series fails to show that these relationships are inappropriate and predatory. Lastly, the show has also received backlash for their portrayal of Muslim characters.
Best: The Sex Lives of College Girls
Unlike “Elite,” “The Sex Lives of College Girls” gives a more accurate depiction of what being a student is like in 2022. While the characters drink, party and have sex, as college students do, we also get to see storylines featured around classes, clubs and on-campus jobs, as well. Showing all facets of the college experience is part of what makes this show so relatable and authentic, and is something that is often lacking in teen shows today. Additionally, the show features a variety of characters that differ in race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation and even interests - guaranteeing that there is a character nearly every college student can relate to. Lastly, the show navigates the four protagonists exploring their sexuality in an authentic way, with conversations about sex and sexuality that are open, honest and more real than what viewers are typically used to seeing. Plus, the show remains light-hearted and comedic while tackling topics like these.
Worst: Gossip Girl Reboot
When HBO Max announced the “Gossip Girl” reboot, fans across the world were ecstatic that the teen drama was getting revived with a new set of characters. Unfortunately, the new series is lacking the charm of its predecessor. Unlike the original show, the characters are not as blissfully unaware of their privilege and wealth as the likes of Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf. The show attempts to have its characters aware of their privilege and identities but with a lack of subtlety on these real world-issues, the writing often comes across as self-righteous and patronizing. While I applaud HBO Max for making a more diverse “Gossip Girl”, the show’s coverage of social issues isn’t nearly as nuanced or realistic as it could be, and the diverse characters aren’t nearly as developed or multi-faceted as their white counterparts. That being said, the majority of the show’s characters are simply just unlikeable and the series also revealed the identity of Gossip Girl after the first episode, spoiling the show’s most central mystery.
Best: Heartstopper
Based on the graphic novel series of the same name, the show follows high school student Charlie who’s outed as gay at his all boys school. As Charlie navigates Truham Grammar as the only openly gay student, he meets popular rugby player Nick and quickly develops feelings for him. Throughout the course of the series, Nick begins to have feelings for Charlie and struggles with his sexuality. “Heartstopper” is a coming of age story featuring a male bisexual main character at the forefront which we often don’t see on screen. “Heartstopper” also features other openly LGBTQ+ characters including Charlie’s best friend Elle who is a transgender girl and Nick’s friend Tara, who is a lesbian dating her classmate Darcy. Unlike teen shows like “Euphoria” and “Elite,” the characters in “Heartstopper” don’t drink, do drugs, have sex and rarely curse. It’s refreshing to see teen storylines on screen that don’t center around partying and sex, especially since the characters in “Heartstopper” are only 14 to 16 years old. While most teen shows feature lots of adult themes, “Heartstopper’' strays from the norm and embraces those who choose not to grow up just yet. Lastly, “Heartstopper” is an authentic portrayal of self-exploration and the ups and downs of discovering an LGBTQ+ identity in high school.
Worst: Euphoria
This is a hot take given that the show is wildly popular amongst teens and young adults right now, but there is much to be desired when it comes to Euphoria’s portrayal of school and student life. While the drama is addictive and the storylines are enthralling, I often find myself thinking that “Euphoria” would be much better as a college show, or even a show about twenty-somethings. Like many of the other series on this list, “Euphoria” features high school characters in very adult storylines that aren’t always reminiscent of one’s high school experiences. Additionally, the majority of the cast is well beyond their teen years, and their clear maturity can make it hard to relate and sympathize with the characters. And while the actors are of age, the nude scenes with characters who are supposed to be minors is something the show has drawn criticism for. This, coupled with the over-the-top makeup and extravagant outfits, make it hard to believe it’s even a high school show. In fact, it’s a running joke how the “Euphoria” characters are never seen in class and that the name of the school they attend is actually unknown. With all this being said, “Euphoria” is still a masterful show and one that I love, I’m just not completely sure high school is the best setting for it.
Best: Never Have I Ever
Written and produced by actress Mindy Kaling, who also produces “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” “Never Have I Ever” follows Indian American teen Devi as she is determined to become popular and fall in love with her dream boyfriend while dealing with the grief of losing her father. Throughout the course of the series, Devi finds herself torn between multiple love interests and making a handful of questionable choices. “Never Have I Ever” has been praised for their South Asian representation with Devi and her family. The show also features other South Asian characters and love interests outside of Devi and her family who all have different experiences with their culture. These characters are individually fleshed out and their experiences as South Asian Americans in the show are not monolithic. Additionally, the show features other characters who are POC and LGBTQ+ with equally as fleshed out storylines as the main characters. “Never Have I Ever” is not afraid to show the wildly chaotic side of being a teen girl experiencing love and loss and is equally as emotional and tender as it is satirical and outrageous.