10 Shows To Watch If You Miss Riverdale
After Riverdalehad its series finale in 2023, viewers were left with a teen-drama-sized hole in their heart, but fortunately, there are countless other shows that can offer a similar story and atmosphere. Based on the Archie Comics from the 1940s and 1950s, Riverdale follows Archie Andrews, a high school student who facing classic teenage troubles, from lifelong friendships to new romances. However, under the surface of the seemingly normal town of Riverdale is a murderous mystery that will eventually make Archie's high school problems seem irrelevant.
First premiering in 2017, Riverdale ran for an impressive seven seasons. It stood out for its colorful visuals and teenage drama, but also for its chaotic mysteries that seemingly wilder with every new season. Over the years, the series included shocking (and sometimes ridiculous) plotlines, flashbacks harkening back to the original comics, and even a musical episode. All in all, Riverdale is a unique mix of nostalgia, teen drama, murder mystery, and soapy fun. Because of this, it isn't always easy to find a solid replacement for the show, but I believe the following ten series are strong follow-ups.
11 Buffy The Vampire Slayer
A Teenage Girl Is Tasked With Slaying Monsters
A classic teen drama from the 1990s that could be a solid companion to Riverdale is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Based on the 1992 movie of the same name, this series follows Buffy Summers, a seemingly regular teenage girl who is secretly the Slayer, a supernatural hero who is tasked with protecting the world from vampires. Alongside her friends Xander and Willow, Buffy must take down her enemies and save her small town of Sunnydale. Yet, at times, Buffy cannot resist the allure of the living dead.
A Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot is currently in development at Hulu.
Although Buffy the Vampire Slayer is far more paranormal than Riverdale, the two shows seem to have a lot in common. Buffy and Archie are the reigning heroes of their stories, and other interesting characters revolve around them, creating interesting dynamics. Furthermore, Buffy's role as the Slayer means there are plenty of mysteries that need solving, just like Riverdale. Despite being an older series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is definitely worth checking out.
10 Tell Me Lies
A Toxic College Relationship Leads To Shocking Revelations
A series that is slightly more mature than Riverdale but still provides plenty of entertaining drama is Tell Me Lies. Released in 2022, this show centers on Lucy Albright and Stephen DeMarco, two college students who quickly fall into an intense romantic entanglement. Over the course of eight years, their relationship changes for better or for worse, and horrifying secrets come to light. These affect Lucy and Stephen, but also their close friends, in disastrous ways.
Tell Me Lies is a strong follow-up to Riverdale because of its dark mysteries and ensemble cast. The show has slightly older characters than Riverdale,but the atmosphere remains generally the same. Audiences watch as these young people bond, fight, and discover traumatizing truths. So far, Tell Me Lies has two seasons and has been renewed for a third.
9 Ginny & Georgia
A Mother Hides A Horrifying Secret From Her Daughter
If Riverdale's wild twists were the thing that kept you coming back every week, another series with outstanding shocks is Ginny & Georgia. This family drama follows Georgia, a single mother who settles herself, her daughter, and her son into a cozy New England town after years of constant moving. Georgia tries her best to fit into her new town, yet she can't run from her past forever, and eventually, her teenage daughter discovers her mother's deepest and deadliest secrets.
5 Bold Predictions For Ginny & Georgia Season 3
Ginny & Georgia is a show that does not play it safe, which sets the stage for these bold predictions to potentially come true in season 3.
Ginny & Georgia is a particularly fun pick because the show has dual plotlines: one for Georgia and one for Ginny. Because of this, audiences get to become invested in a slightly more mature adult story and a soapy teenage one. Furthermore, Ginny & Georgia is full of juicy drama that will have viewers gasping throughout. With two seasons and a third on the way, Ginny & Georgia is perfect for Riverdale fans.
8 Gossip Girl
Wealthy High Schoolers Become Mired In Drama
Yet another classic teen TV series that will pique the interest of Riverdale lovers is Gossip Girl. In this series, a group of wealthy students from the Upper West Side become entangled in each others' lives, leading to rumors, gossip, and conflict. All the while, their lives are constantly being documented by the unidentified blogger, "gossip girl." The series ran for six seasons, followed by a standalone sequel series.
To be fair, Gossip Girl lacks the violence and crime of Riverdale, but that should not necessarily deter audiences from watching it. Considering that Gossip Girl's entire gag is an anonymous blogger, the show definitely has some elements of mystery to it. Plus, like most of the series on this list, Gossip Girl offers plenty of gasp-worthy drama that will keep audiences invested. Overall, Gossip Girl harks back to a slightly older time of teenage dramas.
7 Elite
Three Working-Class Students Attend An Elite Private School
An international series that definitely deserves more attention from young adult TV viewers is Elite. This Spanish show follows three working-class teenagers who begin attending an elite boarding school. Set apart because of their class, these students find themselves the targets of intense prejudice from their wealthier classmates. Eventually, this disparity leads to violence, and worse, murder. After eight seasons, Elite finally ended in 2024.
As much as Elite's violence an
d plot twists are exciting, it is its roots in real-life social issues that make it an amazing watch.
Though some audiences may be hesitant to watch a non-English language series, Elite is more than worth the try. The series is not only riveting, but it also explores some really important topics, especially class. As much as Elite's violence and plot twists are exciting, it is its roots in real-life social issues that make it an amazing watch. Because of this, it's no wonder the series boasts a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
6 Pretty Little Liars
A Group Of Teen Girls Are Haunted By Their Missing Friend
One of the ultimate teen mysteries to watch after Riverdale would be Pretty Little Liars. Airing for seven seasons starting in 2010, this show follows a group of four teenage girls who have moved on after the disappearance of their friend Alison. However, their lives begin to intertwine once more when all four girls start getting mysterious messages from a sender called "A," threatening to reveal their darkest secrets.
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Riverdale had a significant impact on popular culture while it aired. However, there are some harsh realities upon rewatching Riverdale season 1.
Pretty Little Liars is far from being a perfect show, and some aspects of it may not have aged well, but fans of Riverdale could still find something to love about this series. Just like Riverdale, there is an ensemble of unique and interesting characters and a central mystery that keeps audiences guessing for a very long time. Ultimately, Pretty Little Liars offers the perfect mix of high school theatrics and genuine mystery.
5 Wednesday
Wednesday Addams Attends Boarding School
Another series that delves a bit further into the supernatural than Riverdale is Wednesday. An overnight hit on Netflix, Wednesday follows the iconic character, Wednesday Addams, as she begins unwillingly attending a boarding school for magical teens known as Outcasts. Although Wednesday resents her new situation, she quickly becomes mired in a dangerous mystery that could not only hurt her fellow students, but could cost her own life.
Arguably, Wednesday is the ultimate teen drama of the moment, though its first and only season premiered three whole years ago. The series brings the beloved character to life in new and exciting ways while also building a unique world of young people and monsters. Like Riverdale, Wednesday provides some campier and kookier storytelling elements, but at the end of the day, it is hard not to become embroiled in the plot, which is complex and captivating.
4 Veronica Mars
A Teenage Girl Helps Her Private Investigator Father
One more oldie but goodie to add to your list is Veronica Mars. Featuring Kristen Bell in the lead role, this series follows the titular Veronica, a teenage girl who used to be incredibly popular with countless friends and a jock boyfriend. However, after a series of personal obstacles, Veronica is an outcast who defends herself with sharp wit and sarcasm. Her new passtime is spending time with her private investigator father and helping him solve the cases of California's elite.
Though it only ran for four seasons, Veronica Mars is a beloved cult classic. Veronica is a lovable protagonist who defies all expectations of a regular high school student, and instead, drags viewers into the seedy world of West Coast crime. This is really what connects Veronica Mars so strongly to Riverdale. Both series are unafraid to abandon the innocence of their young characters in favor of darker, more outrageous plotlines.
3 Nancy Drew
A Youth Detective Must Solve A Murder To Clear Her Name'
Archie and his crew had fans long before Riverdale, and another series with the same type of historic character is Nancy Drew. This 2019 series follows the famous teen detective, Nancy, as she is plunged into a dire mystery. Although Nancy was determined to leave crime-solving behind after her mother's death, she is forced to break out her magnifying glass once again in order to solve the murder of a teenage socialite. The only problem is Nancy and a number of her peers are the prime suspects.
Nancy Drew Series Finale Ending Explained: Did Nancy & Ace Break The Curse?
The Drew Crew had a lot on their plate going into the Nancy Drew series finale, but the writers managed to wrap up every storyline before the end.
Undoubtedly, Nancy Drew is the epitome of the teenage mystery story. Although Archie and his friends are unexpectedly pulled into crime-solving, Nancy is basically born to do it. In this way, the mystery is never lacking in this show. Yet, Nancy Drew is also a great pick because the 2019 series adds extra elements of drama with new characters and a modern setting. Arguably, it is a spiritual successor to Riverdale.
2 The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina
A Young Witch Must Balance Her Magic With The Real World
Finally, one of the best shows to watch if you're missing Riverdale is The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. A reimagining of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, the series centers on Sabrina Spellman, a teenage girl who struggles to balance between being half-witch and half-mortal. As a result of her magic, Sabrina must defend herself and her family from the evils hidden within the world, all while trying to carry on a normal teenage existence.
Furthermore, the two shows share a showrunner, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, which means their atmospheres and passion for incredible twists come from the same place.
Riverdale and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina are perfect companions for each other because they share the same origins. Sabrina the Teenage Witch started out as an Archie Comic, alongside Archie and his friends. The two even had crossovers in the comics. Furthermore, the two shows share a showrunner, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, which means their atmospheres and passion for incredible twists come from the same place. Ultimately, this show will easily fill the hole left in audiences' hearts by Riverdale.
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