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10 Shows Like Heartbreak High To Watch If You Enjoy Teenage Romance

September 23, 2022
Shows like Heartbreak High

Lately, it seems like there’s a new teenage drama show or a movie released every other month. Amidst this overwhelming clutter, we have curated a list of qualitative and genuinely inclusive Teenage Drama shows like Heartbreak High. 

This newly released Teen drama Heartbreak High has quickly gained attention from young viewers for its high school drama. I know many shows fit the bill, so you might ask what is so special about this show. The answer is simple; Gen Zs love to watch shows representing their identity, relationships, and social status. 

The main protagonist Amerie Wadia is a South Asian teen (Ayesha Madon). Being typical outcastes, Amerie and her friend Harper start an incest wall where they chalk down the relationships that run in their high school. By no surprise, the wall is quickly found out by their peers and Amerie takes the whole blame not even her best friend talks to her, leaving her all by herself. 

Heartbreak High is a reboot of the 1994 Australian show of the same name and tries to look at relevant issues at hand like racism, and discrimination by peers, teachers even cops. The reality of acceptance of a person’s individuality (neurodivergence) is explored in this show as well. 

List of Shows Like Heartbreak High

  1. Sex Education
  2. Euphoria
  3. Heartbreak High
  4. Never have I Ever
  5. Skam 
  6. Skins
  7. Heartstopper
  8. Love, Victor
  9. Elite
  10. Young Royals

1. Sex Education (2019)

The Netflix British drama series Sex Education is highly praised by viewers and critics. The show centres on a secondary student called Otis. His mother is a sex therapist, and he begins an underground sex therapy clinic after his school hours using her handbooks. The show is funny and heartfelt but also responsible, mature, and genuine.

The show beautifully adapts an asynchronous style of the 80s clothes, and the 90s cars with modern-day smartphones. Sex Education is a highly engaging and well-made show. As you might have seen in Heartbreak high, Sex Education also revolves heavily around teenagers exploring their sexuality through varied relationships, which in turn helps them understand who they are. If you are looking for shows like Heartbreak High, check out Sex Education. 

2. Euphoria (2019)

Euphoria is currently one of the most popular shows, so there’s a good chance you might know about it, but if for some reason you haven’t seen/heard of it yet, I will tell you all about it. The American show Euphoria follows the story of a high school girl called Rue (Zendeya). She is a drug user and recently out of rehab, trying to adjust back to her school.

Many of Rue’s fellow students face their own challenges with substance abuse and relationships. Euphoria is a darker version of Heartbreak High. The acting performances and the writing of the show are exceptional. Euphoria should undoubtedly be on your list if you want to see shows like Heartbreak High. 

3. Heartbreak High (1994)

Since you’re here to see more shows like Heartbreak High, it only makes sense that we would have the original version on our list, Heartbreak High (1994). The original followed an ensemble cast of students in the same school, Hartley High in the 1990s. 

The new version has a lot in common in terms of the setting but the original show is a product of its time and lacks diversity and inclusivity in its storyline. Regardless, the show holds on the lighthearted humour and frivolous nature of the teenagers. I highly recommend you check out Heartbreak High (1994).

4. Never Have I Ever (2020)

Never Have I Ever is another show that tackles the lack of diversity in the main cast of teenage drama shows. Like Heartbreak High, this show also has an Indian-origin protagonist. But it does more than just place a South Asian American character like Devi at the front; the show looks at her life with what is true to her. 

Daughter of Indian immigrants, Devi lives a life understanding two different cultures, one she is born into and one her parents teach her. After losing her father, Devi’s mother becomes overprotective of her. Devi ignores her grief and is fixated on her high school life. Never Have I Ever is a heartwarming journey of a 16-year-old. You can also watch it on Netflix if you want to see shows like Heartbreak High. 

Also Read: Shows like Twin Peaks

5. Skam (Norway) (2015)

The Norwegian teen Drama streaming series Skam became widely popular on social media for the way it dealt with heavy topics such as infidelity, religion, mental health, sexuality, and sexual assault. However, one of its unique characteristics is the format. Each season of Skam follows a different protagonist; this format was also seen in the British show Skins. 

Skam received high critical acclaim and significant recognition, especially for its portrayal of sexual abuse in the second season and homosexuality in the third. The series’ success spawned various remakes, including Skam America, Skam Netherlands, and Skam France. If you liked Heartbreak High then I highly recommend you try to watch Skam. 

6. Skins (2007)

Perfect segway from Skam, this 2000s British teenage drama show Skins is an extremely popular tense (even hilarious at times) show about a bunch of teenagers who live in Bristol, England. The show was ahead of its time, it explored controversial topics on television like substance abuse, sexuality, teenage pregnancy and various mental disorders and illnesses. 

It was a bold move for a show to represent such raw topics as nudity on screen but Skins manages to deliver everything including flawed characters brilliantly. The non-superficial way of story-telling continues to be liked by viewers. A show like Skins paved the way for all the shows that exist in recent times and which is why I think if you watch Heartbreak High then Skins is a perfect choice for you. 

7. Heartstopper (2022)

Both the shows have ‘Heart’ in their title and centralise young love. Heartstopper is a young adult LGBTQ+ show based on the graphic novel series by Alice Oseman. The show follows high school sweetheart Charlie and jock classmate Nick as they discover their unlikely friendship might be something more.

 

Coming-of-age Heartstopper was released this April and received very positive reviews. It’s just as sweet and likeable as Heartbreak High. I adore Connor and Nick; they are my new favourite fictional pairing. If you can’t get enough of shows like Heartbreak High this will easily make it to the top of your list. 

8. Love, Victor (2020)

Love, Victor is an American teenage drama spin-off series from the movie Love, Simon and is set in the same world. The story follows a boy called Victor Salazar, he moves to Creekwood and tries to adjust to his new life and his newfound sexual desires living in a strict religious family. 

The show brings Love, Simon’s feel-good tone and introduces Victor to a brave new world. Heartbreak High addresses many concepts amongst which homosexual love story Darren’s, and Victor’s challenging journey of self-identity, self-acceptance and social approval.  If you want to watch shows similar to Heartbreak High, you can check out Love, Victor on Netflix.

Also Read: Shows like Trailer Park Boys

9. Elite (2018)

Elite is a Spanish thriller teen drama television series set in a fictional Elite high school. The story opens up with 3 teenagers from working-class homes who enrol in the school with a scholarship. Their contrast with ultra-rich kids and unlikely relationships all connect to a shocking mystery of a student’s murder. 

The series features an attractive ensemble cast who deliver exceptional performance. The show’s dark-toned high school drama is highly addictive to watch. Spanish shows like Elite and Money Heist saw huge success in the last couple of years. Elite is one of the best shows similar to Heartbreak High. 

10. Young Royals (2021)

This story about a young prince and a boy he falls in love with, sounds like a fairy tale, right? If only. The Swedish teen drama show Young Royals follows a fictional Prince Wilhelm of Sweden and his budding romance with a fellow student called Simon. 

Needless to say, a homosexual romance involving a prince does not come without its drama. High school proves to be more challenging for Wilhelm than he ever imagined. This romantic story between the two is really touching. I appreciated that they should also focus on learning disabilities like ADHD. Watch Young Royals want to see more shows like Heartbreak High. 

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few shows like Heartbreak High that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Pretty Little Liars
  2. Degrassi: The next generation
  3. The Vampire Diaries
  4. Awkward
  5. Glee
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When Lost aired over a decade ago, its successful narrative created a pop culture impact and changed the landscape of television. If you are a fan and want to watch shows like Lost then you can have a look at this list we made just for you.

Lost

The hugely successful television series Lost aired in 2004. The premise, as we know, deals with a group of people surviving a commercial passenger plane crash on a remote island. The show masterfully explores supernatural and sci-fi elements on this mysterious south Pacific island. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTu8iDynwNc

The use of cliffhangers at the end of each episode of Lost kept the viewers on the edge of their seats, desperately craving for the next episode to come. Even though it's a large ensemble cast, most of the characters receive a justifiable personal arch. Lost was inspired by the movie Castaway and became one of the most expensive pilots to be shot at the time! Lost continues to be appreciated for its originality in storytelling and dynamic character arcs. 

List of TV Shows Like Lost

  1. The Leftovers
  2. Manifest
  3. Lost Room
  4. Twin Peaks
  5. The Prisoners
  6. Battlestar Galactica
  7. The New People
  8. Flight 29 Down
  9. Fringe
  10. Alcatraz
  11. Under the Dome
  12. Dark

1. The Leftovers (2014)

IMDB ratings: 8.3/10

Cast: Carrie Coon, Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman and Margaret Qualley

Creator: Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta

The director of Lost, Damon Lindel also created a supernatural drama series called The Leftovers. The show begins 3 years after an unexplainable global event called ‘Sudden Departure’  where almost 2 per cent of the population, nearly 140 million people, disappear. The Leftovers isn't about WHY people are gone, it's about how the ones who remain dealt with their loss, people often try to comfort themselves with dreams, angels, gods, or even death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLT3YUALJno&t=8s

The Leftovers will leave you with so many questions but beyond words, you have to feel it and savour its unanswered questions to find peace. The Leftovers is an incredible television series that starts incredibly well but loses its way by the series's end. I have to say though, Carrie Coon has brilliant moments in the end. The Leftovers is so weird, fragmented and nonsensical at times that it reminds me of Lost. If you are looking for shows like Lost, I recommend that you give The Leftovers a try.

2. Manifest  (2018) 

IMDB ratings: 7.1/10

Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas and J.R. Ramirez 

Creator: Jeff Rake


The Manifest is a supernatural drama show about a bunch of people who discover that they lost 5 years of their lives when they landed in New York after their aeroplane faced severe turbulence. All the people on the plane were presumed to be dead. Now, these people have to find a way to adjust themselves to a new life around their loved ones. Mild spoiler! They learn their loved ones and the rest of society is not as they left it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1hNAIzkQWY

I found that the show’s premise was very intriguing and the actors give a very convincing performance. The narrative details of the show, however, in my opinion, are a bit sloppy and inconsistent. The writers surely have room for improvement but their concept is incredibly thrilling. Every episode of Manifest keeps you on your toes. Manifest has completed 3 seasons up until now and continues to be on air. Manifest is a pretty good choice if you want to watch TV shows like Lost.

3. Lost Room (2006)

IMDB ratings: 8.1/10

Cast: Peter Krause, Julianna Margulies and Peter Jacobson

Creator: Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom

This lesser-known show The Lost Room is an American Sci-fi television miniseries which only had 3 episodes of 90 mins each and no follow-up seasons. The show was based on a very unique idea where the room in question (known as the ‘Lost Room’) and the objects in the said room had supernatural powers. This strange room is set in a 1960s motel along the iconic U.S. Route 66. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWrECLnFYU

One day the protagonist (Peter Krause) Joe Miller’s daughter disappears inside the room. Joe, with the help of objects present in the room, tries to find his daughter Anna (Elle Fanning). The story of Lost Room was intensely engaging. I found the direction and the actor’s performances to be absolutely brilliant. It baffles me that the creators did not return to make another short season within the same concept. If you have been searching for TV series like Lost then I can assure you that Lost Room will be worth a watch.

4. Twins Peaks (1990) 

IMDB ratings: 8.8/10

Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Mädchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn and David Lynch

Creator: David Lynch

David Lynch, the well-known director of weird and captivating films such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet created an iconic show called Twin Peaks. It is a hauntingly eccentric show about the investigation of the mysterious murder of a small-town homecoming queen named Laura Palmer. Believe me, as odd as the show may seem at first, you will grow to love it, after all, it is considered to be one of the best mystery shows ever created. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwn9ou_nf-I

With the mysteries, the supernatural elements and the list of bizarre characters, Twin Peaks has it all. In my opinion, the cinematography of the show was truly ahead of its time. Kyle’s Dale Cooper was especially entertaining. Twin Peaks’ experimental formula of the satirical soap opera is extremely unsettling yet rewarding to watch, I must warn you, it’s not for the faint-hearted!  If you are in search of TV shows like Lost then Twin Peaks won’t disappoint you.

The Prisoners (1967)

IMDB ratings: 8.5/10

Cast: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat and Geroge Markstien

Creator: Patrick McGoohan


The Prisoner centres around an unnamed British agent (Patrick McGoohan) who tries to flee his country after abruptly quitting his high-ranking government job. He is abducted and held captive in a strange ‘sea-side’ village that is isolated from the rest of the world. This village is a highly secure and monitored place filled with weird technology. There are only 17 episodes to this late 60s show but it manages to bring up such surreal surprises, it's sure to leave a great impact on the viewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JrNr85fPms

The Prisoner’s unique concept influenced many popular shows including Lost. The creators of Lost even cited the show. I was very impressed by how ahead of its time The Prisoners proves to be. If you want to watch more shows similar to Lost the Prisoners should definitely be on your list.

6. Battlestar Galactica (2004)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos and Tricia Helfer 

Creator: Glen A. Larson

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica is a reboot of the original 1978 miniseries of the same name. Do not be mistaken by the title, the show is not related to Star Trek.  Battlestar Galactica is set in the 7th millennium AD and follows Cylons, the robot enemy of humanity that resurfaces to destroy the 12 colonies of Mankind. Only a few survive and are able to escape on ships led by a powerful warship called Battlestar Galactica. Mankind struggles to fight the Cylons and work their own political agendas and disputes while finding their long-lost 13th colony Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnYsf2Yv8i8

The show is a dark, intense and gritty socio-political commentary with EPIC cinematic value. The script is especially clever and as a huge fan of sci-fi shows, this show ticks the boxes in all the right categories. When the show was released, it blew the viewers and critics away. As far as an obsessive and gripping story goes, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most similar to shows like Lost. 

7. The New People (1969)

IMDB ratings: 7.3/10

Cast: David Moses, Zooey hall and Tiffany Boiling

Creator: Larry Gordon Aaron Spelling

The New People is an American Tv series that aired only for 1 season and is focused on a couple of college students who survive a plane crash. The incident takes place while they were returning from a trip to Southeast Asia, their plane crashes on an island in the south of the Pacific ocean. 

By now this show must already be sounding a lot like Lost to you, and it surely is. The remaining group of people discover an unusual truth about the island: there’s an above-ground unused nuclear test site filled with supplies for the survivors. If you want to see more plane survival stories like Lost then The New People should definitely be on your list.

8. Flight 29 Down (2005)

IMDB ratings: 7.2/10

Cast: Allen Alvarado, Halle Hirsh and Corbin Bleu

Creator:  Stan Rowgow D. J. MacHale

The show Flight 29 Down is a drama series about a group of pre-teens/teens who are stranded on a South Pacific island after their plane crashes in a tropical storm while they were flying from an eco-adventure camping trip in Palau. The show is in many ways a younger version of the Adult-centred show Lost but sans the supernatural elements. I’d say that the show draws inspiration from the show The New People.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeG0w3kL8k

Flight 29 Down uses the technique of a video diary as a plot device for the viewers to keep up with the story of these children. It was very engaging to watch young intelligent characters finding their way on the island. The first two seasons of the show are quite engaging but I seemed to lose interest in its 3rd and final season. Regardless, Flight 29 Down is a really good series to watch if you want to see TV shows like Lost.

9. Fringe (2008)

IMDB ratings: 8.4/10

Cast: Anna Torv, John Noble and Joshua Jackson

Creator: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci

Fringe is a popular Sci-fi crime drama television series. It may seem like a standard procedural drama at first, but the show actually explores the parallel universe, alternate versions of people filled with crazy scientific experiments. I personally had a great time watching this show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bSzbqZ3xE

Fringe is actually inspired by shows like Lost, The X-files and The Twilight Zone. The 3 main characters of the show work with a special division called Fringe. There are so many brilliant twists and turns in Fringe that in my opinion, the show is at the top of its category. If you are searching for TV series like Lost, I strongly recommend you watch Fringe. 

10. Alcatraz (2012)

IMDB ratings: 6.9/10

Cast: Sarah Jones, George Garcia and Jonny Coyne 

Creator: Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt

This American fiction show is based on the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary built on Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay. The prison is now closed but once kept some of the most dangerous criminals of America. The show takes the liberty to make a show around the conspiracies of the place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V514ACIGp_k

In the interesting premise we see that under unknown circumstances, 256 inmates and 46 guards of the prison disappear without a trace. Later the disappeared ones start to appear one by one without ageing a day and resume their criminal activities with no realisation of disappearance. A special government unit is dedicated to finding and putting those criminals back in prison. If you are looking for mystery shows similar to Lost, try watching Alcatraz. 

11. Under the Dome (2013)

IMDB ratings: 6.5/10

Cast: Alexander Koch and Rachelle Lefevre

Creator: Stephen King

Based on a novel written by the sci-fi legend Stephen King, Under the Dome tells the story of the residents of the fictional small town called Chester's Mill, when a huge, transparent and indestructible dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Y5YeYrqUk

Now the trapped residents try to find a way to discover the truth, origin and purpose of these domes. This journey forces them into situations where they learn more about each other than they ever knew. Under the Dome may not be on the top of this list but it’s quite a decent watch if you’re looking for mystery shows similar to Lost. 

12. Dark (2017)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari and Gina Stiebitz

Creator: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese

The German-language Netflix series Dark is an interesting blend of Science fiction and Mystery. Truly a compelling and mind-bending story to watch. At the beginning of Dark, many children suspiciously start disappearing in the German town of Winden. The dark past of generational mysteries of 4 families living in the town namely, Kahnwald, Nielsen, Doppler, and Tiedemann is brought to light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrwycJ08PSA

After the discovery of a wormhole, the lives of the families intertwine more than one can imagine. I believe every element of the show is top-notch, especially Dark’s cinematography, which is a TRUE masterpiece. If you are looking for TV series similar to Lost then the intense and gripping story of Dark is sure to keep you engrossed.

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few TV shows like Lost that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Carnivale
  2. Yellowjackets
  3. Game of Thrones
  4. Black Mirror
  5. Flashforward
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