Here are some of the best coming-of-age TV shows that capture the emotions, struggles, and triumphs of growing up.

1. The O.C. (2003-2007)

The Overview & Context

The O.C. feels like a modern Cinderella story of sorts, with Ryan as a wish-fulfillment character who finds himself deep in California luxury. This isn’t all sun-soaked vistas and hip music clubs, though those certainly are in abundant supply; it’s also punctuated with plenty of over-the-top drama.

From disastrous road trips to Tijuana to Ryan's more volatile past coming back to haunt him, there is no shortage of coming-of-age crises for the characters to get into.

2. Heartland (2007-2026)

The 2007 Canadian series centers on Lou Fleming (Michelle Morgan) returning home from New York City to help her sister Amy (Amber Marshall) run the family's ranch in Alberta. This is complicated On the air for nearly 20 years and counting, “Heartland’ really lets audiences get to see its characters grow together.

Never Have Overview & Context

3. Never Have I Ever (2020-2022)

The story’s protagonist is Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), who progresses through high school while recovering from the trauma of her father's sudden death. Along the way, Devi grows close to her rival and classmate Ben Gross (Jaren Lewison), with the two frenemies gradually falling in love with each other.

4. Ginny & Georgia (2021-)

The show follows 30-something mother Georgia Miller (Brianne Howey), who relocates with her kids to a small town in Massachusetts at the start of the series. The oldest of Georgia’s two children is teenage Ginny (Antonia Gentry), whose deep-seated anxieties and insecurities result in self-destructive behavior.

While definitely a family-based dramedy, the show isn’t afraid to take its main characters into dramatically serious territory, particularly as its story progresses.

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5. Heartstopper (2022-)

The 2022 Netflix series centers on Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) and Charlie Spring (Joe Locke), two teenagers whose friendship blossoms into a full-blown romance as they navigate their first loves, identities, and the uncertainties of growing up.

6. The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022-)

The show follows 17-year-old Belly Conklin (Lola Tung), who finds herself in a love triangle with brothers Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno) as they prepare to embark on the next stage of their lives. The series delves into the more painful elements of growing up, like the loss of parents.

7. Surviving Summer (2022-)

The 2022 Netflix original series has teenager Summer Torres (Sky Katz) move from Brooklyn to coastal Australia after getting expelled from her New York high school. Summer finds herself drawn into both her new community’s surfing scene and a romance with her friend Ari Gibson (Kai Lewins).

8. XO, Kitty (2023-)

The show is a continuation of the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ movie series, based on the novels “This sequel series shifts the focus to high schooler Kitty Song-Covey (Anna Cathcart), who tries to reconnect with her late mother’s heritage

9. Every Year After (2026-)

The 2026 Prime Video series is not so much a coming-of-age story as one about second chances and reconnecting with one's roots. Percy Fraser (Sadie Soverall) returns to her lakeside town in Ontario where she used to vacation as a teenager, reuniting with her summer love Sam Florek (Matt Cornett).