The Vampire Diaries
When a TV show is call off " trashy , " it can intend a circumstances of thing , but there are many sheath when a series does n’t merit this moniker . A show being referred to as " loud " tell the hearing and critics that it ’s a project that should n’t be taken badly . Theylean into pulpy aspect like sex , violence , and over - the - top dramatic event . While there are some TV series that do just that , others are playing with the concept of being trashy and create something raw and exciting . Many teen dramatic event shows likeThe Vampire Diariesare below the belt hold low-spirited - hilltop without being given a chance .
Many of these works are some of themost underrated television show of all fourth dimension , as TV audience were turned off by the repute they earned . However , fans of these series do it that they have a lot to offer and are typically in on the trick , playing up the campy melodrama to produce an entertaining project . The geological era of prestige TV alter many people ’s perceptions of television , prove that works on the small screenland can be art . However , it ’s important to recollect that there ’s room for nontextual matter and playfulness on TV , and these shows examine that .
10Desperate Housewives (2004-2012)
A dark comedy series that gave its actresses a lot of material to work with
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The early 2000s see an inflow of boob tube shows that cave the concept of the American Dreamand the idyllic nature of the atomic home . Few shows did this as skillfully as the offbeat dramaDesperate Housewives , which follow a radical of womanhood dwell in a seemingly perfect suburban neck of the woods who are plagued by secrets and betrayal . ThoughDesperate Housewivesincorporated outlandish mysteries and murders into the fabric of the plot , it also see its character reference grapple with realistic and relevant consequence .
As the time of year progressed , Desperate Housewiveshad ups and down , but it realise reproducible positive critical and audience reception well into its run .
The central actresses who ledDesperate Housewivesall demonstrated their skills as performers as the seasons progressed and their characters became more complex . As the season come on , Desperate Housewiveshad ups and downs , but it earned consistent positive critical and audience response well into its streak . There ’s a misconception thatDesperate Housewivestakes itself too gravely , but this is n’t lawful . The dark funniness prosper thanks to its self - awareness and humor .
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Desperate Housewives ( 2004–2012 )
72 %
89 %
9The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017)
Vampire TV shows and teen romance dramas were never the same
One of thebest supernatural adolescent idiot box showsof all time , The Vampire Diaries ’s success has been proven by the series ' longevity . democratic enough to guarantee two spinoffs , The OriginalsandLegacies , The Vampire Diariestook the book series it was based on and transform it into an enduring enfranchisement . Premiering just a yr after the firstTwilightmovie , The Vampire Diariesdid a peck for revamp the vampire genre in teen distance and increase interest in supernatural dramas .
star Nina Dobrev , Ian Somerhalder , and Paul Wesley as Elena , Damon , and Stefan , The Vampire Diariesthrived on the honey triangles and wild-eyed entanglements of its character . Though it ’s easy to save off teen romance TV render for not being as complex or case - drive , The Vampire Diariesprovides plenty of concrete character ontogenesis and interesting lore . blend in monster - of - the - week episodes into its season - long history arc , The lamia Diariespushed boundary from the commencement .
The Vampire Diaries ( 2009–2014 )
86 %
8True Blood (2008–2014)
Audiences shouldn’t be fooled by the sex and violence because True Blood has substance too
True Bloodstands asunder in the vampire musical genre , as this campy , sexy series took the vampire metaphor even further than late works . Though the comparison between vampires and their competitiveness for civil rights in the serial is n’t a one - to - one equivalence to the ongoing work to insure LGBTQ+ rights , there are many similarities that ca n’t be disregard . dead on target Bloodleans into the ethnic and social implications of its story even as it boost the central romanticistic secret plan decimal point .
As long as there have been scary narration , there have been story about vampires , and the best TV bear witness about the orphic creatures are iconic .
Drenched in sex and ferocity , it ’s gentle to compose offTrue Bloodas a series meant to grab the audience ’s attentionfrom the commencement , prioritizing manner over substance . However , this could n’t be further from the truth . honest Bloodis just as interested in the traditional knowledge and conjuration of its world , and the development of Sookie ( Anna Paquin ) as a character . The Southern Gothic influences and many comedic moments that punctuateTrue Blooddemonstrated how complex the serial publication really was .
dead on target line ( 2008–2014 )
68 %
7You (2018–2025)
Penn Badgley anchors this bloody critic of modern society
Starring Penn Badgley as Joe , the sequent killer with a flabby place for romance , Youbecame an unexpected collision for Lifetime before moving to Netflix and get an increase in budget and attention . While Badgley ’s anchor performance as the deranged protagonist is the best part of the series , Youhas done an amazing caper bringing in terrific actor to flesh out the world of the story and be the backdrop of Joe ’s flaming fantasies . Each time of year has engaged with interesting ethnic and class critiqueswhile unravel why work force like Joe get away with execution .
Youseason 5will be the last installment of the show , and it will be interesting to see if Joe ends up dead , in poky , or running off yet again . Whileit ’s thwarting and unbelievable that Joe has been able-bodied to abstract away from the natural law and bear on killingpractically arbitrarily since the get-go of the series , it ’s also what make the series so hard to count away from . Badgley has been outspoken about how he hopes the series run to show viewer how insidious the system are that allow Joe to continue his violent disorder .
You ( 2018–2025 )
6Scream Queens (2015–2016)
A horror-comedy series that leans into its campy roots
Ryan Murphy , one of the Lord ofScream Queens , is known for cause satirical and tongue - in - cheek idiot box shows likeGlee , but one of his most overlooked project is also one of his better . Scream Queens , the comedy - horror show , pokes fun at both the teen drama and slasher genres , pee-pee it a gory and witty good time . Starring Emma Roberts as Chanel , the queen bee of her college campus , Scream Queenswas ab initio misunderstood , as the unique flavour can easily put viewers off .
rooter of the series have it away thatScream Queensis campy and off - putting on purpose , reveling in the wickedness of the mantrap standards and expected value that can drive mass to murder .
However , fans of the serial know thatScream Queensis campy and off - putting on role , make happy in the darkness of the stunner standards and expectations that can tug people to murder . ThoughScream Queenswas invalidate after time of year 2 , it ’s become a cult classic and is regarded as one of Murphy ’s most film editing works to date . Featuring performances from many famous actor like Ariana Grande , Jamie Lee Curtis , and Glen Powell , Scream Queenshas a lot of star power .
Scream Queens ( 2015–2016 )
77 %
76 %
5Pretty Little Liars (2010–2017)
A teen mystery series that shines thanks to its self-aware edge
Pretty Little Liarsmoved at a lightning - truehearted stride , blow out of the water audiences and critics at every turn . More serious and whodunit - drive thanGossip Girland less supernatural thanThe Vampire Diaries , Pretty Little Liarssuccessfully carved out a niche for itself amid the teenaged drama landscape . Though the series was n’t afraid to precede truly judgment - bending plot twists , Pretty Little Liarshas stay a classic because it ’s ego - aware . At its kernel , Pretty Little Liarshas an inherent sensory faculty of humorand makes play of itself .
Any show with as much backstabbing and unexpected reveals asPretty Little Liarshas to be self - mindful , and the central actress of the series , notably Troian Bellisario , were commit to this rest of sense of humour and melodrama . Though it ’s easy to criticizePretty Little Liarsfor its plot hole and over - the - top spectacle , there ’s nothing more fun than diving headfirst into the spin story . While it is n’t perfect , Pretty Little Liarsknows itself and its interview very well and enjoys playing into its tenderness - pounding amour propre .
Pretty Little Liars ( 2010–2017 )
81 %
4Smallville (2001–2011)
Teen Clark Kent has just as much to offer as Superman
Smallvillemight not have been a prestige television set , but the serial was enormously pop and did a lot for the development of superhero television shows today . Origin stories likeSmallvillehave been curve in late years , and even thoughSmallvillewas concerned with the everyday dramas of teen lifetime , this finish up uplifting the key conflict of Clark hiding his identity . Tom Welling ’s performance as Clark is one of the good contribution of the showand help it go on for as long as it did .
As the serial publication come along , Clark left behind some of the ups and downs of adolescence , fully embracing his role as a bomber and rassling with what his workplace as a vigilante mean .
Smallvilleis afantasy television set show that ’s deserving the commitment , even though the series is ten seasons long . As the series progressed , Clark left behind some of the ups and John L. H. Down of adolescence , fully embracing his purpose as a hero and wrestling with what his body of work as a vigilante means . Sometimes , superhero idiot box serial publication can have a difficult time being pack badly by audience who are n’t conversant with the traditional knowledge of the heroes . However , Smallvillewas a crossover striking that appealed to everybody .
Smallville ( 2001–2017 )
78 %
70 %
3Dawson’s Creek (1998–2003)
Without Dawson’s Creek, teen dramas wouldn’t be the same
Though screenshots ofDawson ’s Creekhave create many viral memes in the past few yr , there ’s still something pursue about this classic stripling drama TV show . Despite the fact that it ’s gentle to range your eyes at the overly articulated way of life the adolescent assert themselves or the clumsy way the writing handle topical topic , Dawson ’s Creekwasn’t afraid to go there . It was an early example of a teenaged series that openly talk about serious topicsand tried to do them Department of Justice .
Teen television evince lineament angst , melodrama , and a lot of romance no matter what niche of the musical genre they return in , and these are the best of the YA serial .
Of course , Dawson ’s Creekhas its honest ploughshare of over - shape love triangles and betrayals . However , the hold up love news report between Pacey ( Joshua Jackson ) and Joey ( Katie Holmes ) is one of the best - written romancesin an adolescent show . WithoutDawson ’s Creek , many of the most iconic teen serial of the 2000s and 2010s would n’t live . Dawson ’s Creekpaved the elbow room for teen TV to be take more seriously and do more than talk about homework and fitting in .
Dawson ’s Creek ( 1998–2003 )
N / A
2UnREAL (2015–2018)
A sendup of the reality TV genre that has a bite
Lifetime is n’t a connection typically known for its ruminative dramas or high-pitched - character fictional depicted object . However , UnREALbucks this trend by playing into it . Theseries chronicles the lives of a group of realism TV producers working on a show likeThe Bachelor . It does n’t take long for the interview to realise that the multitude working behind the tv camera are even more spectacular than the contestants . Rachel ( Shiri Appleby ) , the protagonist ofUnREAL , is often at the centre of the darkest and most lurid plot maturation in the series .
Though it only ran for four seasons , UnREALmade a mark and was well ahead of its sentence in its interrogation of how television has changed .
Reality TV is a genre of television receiver that gets labeled " trashy " most often , andUnREALplays with the hearing ’s perception of what these series are like for maximal machination . Balancing its satire and cut criticism of the reality goggle box market with grip interpersonal drama , UnREALisn’t a guilty joy ; it ’s plain fun . Though it only ran for four seasons , UnREALmade a mark and was well ahead of its clip in its interrogation of how television has changed .
UnREAL ( 2015–2018 )
80 %
85 %
1Once Upon A Time (2011–2018)
This fairy tale series packs an emotional punch
Once Upon a Timeisn’t exactly " flashy , " but it did earn a reputation for relying on high dramatic event and somewhat improbably plot dot to push the story onward . Since it draws so much brainchild from fairy tales , it ’s unsurprising thatOnce Upon a Timeleans full into the vividness and gamy stake of these undertaking . However , specially in the early seasons , Once Upon a Timedoesn’t get enough credit for being such a well - crafted show .
Not only does the series apply the flashback and multiple timeline elements to the account ’s benefit , but it also grip with relevant and pressing themes . Emma ’s ( Jennifer Morrison ) character growing is a Brobdingnagian part of the show , and her arc tracks real , tangible change and exposure . As the seasons advance , we see genuine evolution in Emma ’s characterizationas she pick up to open herself up to jazz and set to her role as a female parent . Once Upon a Timerises above the contribution of its concept that could be contrived and mesh the audience .
Once Upon a Time ( 2011–2018 )
