Welcome to episode 54, in which we discuss CW’s newest teen drama: Riverdale. As an adaptation of the Archie comics, it may be a little… strange. But it has everything we’ve learned to expect from and love in a CW teen drama. We’ll also discuss our experiences and memories of the essential viewing entries in the TV teen drama canon. Let us know yours in the comments.
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Gossip Girl is, of course, the quintessential example of the Teen Drama genre. It stands on the shoulders of Beverly Hills 90210 and Dawson’s Creek. Canada offers the Degrassi franchise while in the UK there was Grange Hill and Skins. Reign is a historical (well, “historical”) twist on the formula, while Misfits, The 100, and Vampire Diaries add a speculative fiction layer.
A time-stamp guide to the episode: the first 40 minutes are on Riverdale, the next 40 are on the other teen dramas, and the last 20 are an “epilogue” to last month’s, discussing our reactions to the big Oscars kerfuffle and strongly praising Logan.
As promised, the scene from Being Human.