Top 10 Best Teen Show Episodes of All Time

“Euphoria” (2019-)

Following the troubled teens of East Highland as they wreak havoc on a carnival, “Euphoria’s” fourth episode is as technically ambitious as it is harrowing to watch. Nate and Maddy’s relationship falls apart and their tension becomes physical, exposing just how dark he really is. Rue loses sight of her younger sister, and Jules recognizes Nate’s dad as a man she met in a motel one night. Jules’ story is particularly affecting, as her past struggles with mental illness inform her present day actions. The camera drifts between the concurrent storylines like a watchful spirit hovering over them all.

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)

For five seasons, Buffy Summers has fought every kind of supernatural entity there is. But there’s one thing she can’t fight, and that’s plain old natural causes. “The Body” sees Buffy come home to find her mother, Joyce, dead on the couch. Her futile attempts to revive her are not based on ritual or magic. This isn’t your typical monster of the week. This is just life, and it’s profoundly upsetting to watch. The rest of the episode finds her and her Scooby Gang trying to come to terms with the unexpected death, turning into a deeply resonant story about grief.

“Gossip Girl” (2007-12)

It may be Thanksgiving, but not even the holidays can stop these Upper East Siders from being complete and total chaos monsters. Serena van der Woodsen’s affair with a young congressman complicates things with her mother and his wife. Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf are up to their usual scheming too. The scandals and secret affairs all spill out over dinner, and there’s not a single crumb left on that table. There’s more tension and vitriol at this holiday party than there is liquor. “The Treasure of Serena Madre” is exactly why we love “Gossip Girl.” It’s stylish and sharp in equal measure.

“Boy Meets World” (1993-2000)

Inspired by the slasher movies of the 1990s, this fun, genre-bending season 5 episode locks its cast of adolescents in after-school detention with a masked killer. Co-starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, star of “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” it’s a genuinely creepy half-hour. The characters’ friendships and relationships are tested in the face of the danger. Accusations fly and the bodies pile up until, ultimately, it’s revealed to be a dream. Usually, “it was all a dream” is such a bummer. However, it’s all so fun and clever that you don’t mind. After all, it would be a pretty depressing way to end a sitcom.

“Degrassi: The Next Generation”

In the second half of a devastating two-parter, the denizens of Degrassi High face a very real threat. After being targeted by a prank and kissing a horrified Emma Nelson, outcast Rick Murray is compelled to bring a gun to school. Thinking his friend Jimmy is behind the prank, Rick shoots him, leaving him with permanent mobility issues. Although the shooting is over quickly enough, the incident sends shockwaves through the school. Emma barely survives, the town is in an uproar, and the bullies behind Rick’s humiliation have to face up to what they did.

“Beverly Hills, 90210” (1990-2000)

“90210” set the standard for high school drama. From its juicy romances to its broaching of social issues, the show made its young audience’s jaws drop week to week. In this season 3 classic, the return of heartthrob Dylan McKay’s father from prison leads to a party where the teenage ensemble’s fates collide. Dylan and Kelly Taylor have to come clean about their summer fling, and the love triangle is finally decided. No matter which one of them you wanted him to end up with, there’s enough scandal and backstabbing to fuel a whole spin-off.

“The Vampire Diaries” (2009-17)

Latching onto the post-”Twilight” sexy vampire craze, this supernatural saga never really gets the respect it deserves for delivering some unforgettable pulp. And the season 1 finale is far and away the show’s finest hour. Secrets are revealed, tensions heighten, and major characters are put in danger during the Founder’s Day parade. Vampires Stefan and Damon Salvatore face an existential threat, and their love triangle with Elena reaches a fever pitch. But the final stroke of genius is the episode’s last plot twist that had fans waiting with bated breath for the next season.

“Dawson’s Creek” (1998-2003)

In the season 3 finale, the major love triangle of the show comes to a heart-racing, hormone-raging conclusion when Joey Potter finally picks the boy she wants to be with. In one corner, her longtime best friend, the good-natured Dawson Leery. In the other corner, the lovable and damaged Pacey Witter. Joey’s decision on the dock serves as a perfect climax to the episode, but everything leading up to it is peak teen drama. Viewers were treated to all this and more, including an historic kiss between two men. “Dawson’s Creek” really pulled out all the stops here.

“One Tree Hill” (2003-2012)

The writers behind this WB drama faced an ethical dilemma. With the new but growing phenomenon of high school gun violence, should they center an episode around a bullied student who brings a gun to Tree Hill High School? This season three episode was a big swing, and it turned out to be a major hit. It’s a shockingly brave and hard-hitting hour of television that acknowledges the seriousness of its subject matter while still advancing the show’s narrative arcs. Even critics who didn’t like the series had to hand it to the cast and crew of “One Tree Hill.”

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Tony Stonem’s Sister Goes on a Journey of Self-Destructive Discovery

A Bully Gets His Comeuppance

Angela Chase & Jordan Catalano Make It Official

Nick & Charlie Take a Big Step

An Episode That Highlights the Complexities of Being Sexually Active

“Glee” (2009-15)

Cory Monteith’s tragic death in 2013 struck a blow to Gleeks all over the world. His buffoonish but sweet football player, Finn Hudson, was the heart and soul of “Glee,” and the show would never be the same without him. “The Quarterback” is as much a sendoff for Finn as it is a tribute to the actor who played him. We get to see how each character deals with the sudden departure of someone who was integral to their lives. This is never more clear than when Lea Michele, who played the love of his life on-and-off-screen, gets to say her musical goodbye. It was the hardest episode of the show to shoot, and given how profoundly sad it is, it shows.



What teen classic did we leave out? Let us know in the comments.