If you weren’t satisfied with the two Euphoria holiday specials, Malcolm & Marie or Zendaya’s history-making Emmy win (the show has 9 overall) and are still begging for more shows like Euphoria, don’t worry: We’ve gathered 15 shows like Euphoria, from sexy comedies to the darkest of dramas, for you to watch while you wait patiently for season 3.
Skins
When Euphoria first premiered, it was consistently compared to this UK teen drama that launched the careers of Dev Patel and Nicholas Hoult. From the cinematography to the unapologetic portrayal of unlikable and borderline sociopathic teenagers to the attractive young cast, it’s hard to believe Sam Levinson didn’t have Skins in his head during production. Skins is available for streaming on Hulu.
The End of the F***king World
This British series, which is such a dark comedy it makes Succession look like Blue’s Clues, follows teenagers James, who believes himself to be a bored psychopath, and Alyssa, a loudmouth with a rebellious side, as they embark on a road trip across England. The only thing? Alyssa doesn’t know James’s intention is to murder her on their fun little road trip. The End of the F***king World is available for streaming on Netflix.
Freaks and Geeks
The cult-favorite show only lasted for one season, but its legacy is as impactful now as that of Euphoria’s initial release. Twenty years ago, Freaks and Geeks was acclaimed for being a truthful and accurate portrayal of the grossness of high school, while also being the victim of a culture that wasn’t ready for those conversations, hence the early cancellation. It boasted a cast of then-unknowns who were destined to be future Hollywood superstars, much like we feel about the Euphoria cast. Set in a Michigan high school in the early ’80s, Freaks and Geeks’ Lindsay Weir and Cindy Sanders could have been inspirations for Euphoria’s Rue and Cassie Howard. Freaks and Geeks is available for streaming on Hulu.
Awkward.
Awkward. follows teenager Jenna Hamilton after a humiliating experience gets misinterpreted as a suicide attempt, and brings her the wanted/unwanted attention of her classmates. This one appeals to those who love the color design on Euphoria as well as the Ferris Bueller-style voiceovers.
My Mad Fat Diary
Fans of Rue from Euphoria will love her Scottish counterpart, Rae from My Mad Fat Diary. After four months in a psychiatric hospital, Rae emerges back into the world, struggling with her weight, mental health, and how the two intersect while trying to keep her problems and insecurities hidden from her friends and loved ones. Huh. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? My Mad Fat Diary is available for streaming on Hulu.
Élite
Euphoria touches on issues of class (cough, Nate, cough), and if you wanted more of that, Élite is right up your alley. Élite is a class battle taking place at a high school where three working-class students get an opportunity to attend the most exclusive private school in Spain. They’re immediately ostracized by their wealthy classmates, but a murder mystery keeps them all entwined. Élite is available for streaming on Netflix.
Sex Education
For those who wished Euphoria’s characters were a little more physically awkward, like we all were in our teenage years, Sex Education will give you all the cringe that you could ever want. Otis Milburn’s in the prime of his teenage awkwardness and doesn’t know how he feels about sex, primarily because his mother is a sex therapist who is so blunt and frank about sex, her kid takes on the same trait. After unintentionally giving his bully some sex advice, Otis teams up with his classmate, Maeve, to give the youths something to talk about (sex). Sex Education is available streaming on Netflix.
Undone
One of the most visually stunning shows on television, Undone follows a young woman who develops the ability to manipulate and move time after a nearly fatal car crash. It comes from the mind of Raphael Bob-Waksberg, who proved with Bojack Horseman that he understands conversations about mental health and trauma rooted in loss—Undone feels like a natural counterpart to Euphoria, from tone to aesthetic.
Now Apocalypse
Our collective attention usually can only focus on one thing at a time, and unfortunately for Now Apocalypse, Euphoria was the recipient of 2019’s attention. Both shows are deeply stylized, with electric cinematography, tight, voice-y writing, and a deep commitment to an aesthetic. Creator Gregg Araki’s prior work, like Kaboom, feels like it deeply inspired Euphoria, too. Now Apocalypse is streaming on Starz or Hulu with a Starz add-on membership.
Daria
The group of gorgeous popular girls from Euphoria? Yeah, that’s The Fashion Club from Daria. Both shows reflect on the best but mostly worst parts of high school. Daria and Jane are definitely an early-stage version of who Rue and Jules turned into. Daria is now streaming on Paramount Plus.
My So-Called Life
If you can get past the fact this show ends on a cliffhanger because it was canceled after its first season, yes, jump into My So-Called Life. MSCL walked so Degrassi could run and Euphoria could be Usain Bolt. It was one of the first teen series to not only depict common issues surrounding mental health, homophobia, sexuality and addiction in a “Very Special Episode.” Instead, it allowed the characters to feel their feelings and experience the rollercoaster that is adolescence naturally throughout the season, and showed that the teenage years aren’t as light and fluffy as other shows would have you believe. Plus, this is the show that launched Claire Danes and Jared Leto into stardom, and for that, we say thank you. My So-Called Life is available for streaming on Hulu.
Genera+ion
Ensemble cast? Check. Set in California? Check. Teenagers exploring their sexuality in an increasingly dangerous world? Check! Genera+ion isn’t Euphoria, but they’re certainly grown from similar seeds. The overarching message of both shows: It’s not getting any easier to be a teenager. Unlike Euphoria, Genera+ion was created by a teenager (19-year-old Zelda Barnz, alongside her father, Daniel Barnz) so it feels more representative of Gen Z than other shows. Genera+ion is available for streaming on HBO Max.
Dare Me
Based on the book by Megan Abbott,Dare Me dives deep into the world of competitive cheerleading—but don’t expect this to be Netflix’s Cheer or Bring It On. This show takes a saccharine topic and covers it in the bitterness of film noir, posing the question: how competitive is too competitive? Dare Me is available for streaming on Netflix.
We Are Who We Are
From Luca Guadagnino, director of Call Me By Your Name, We Are Who We Are is a coming-of-age story about, you guessed it, exploring your sexuality, that takes place in, you guessed it again, Italy. The series follows two American teenagers living on a U.S. military base in Italy. It’s not just a remake of Call Me By Your Name for the television screen. It’s a series about the military brat mentality and modern sexuality, and of course, makes you feel as though you’re peeking behind a curtain at something you’re not supposed to see, as with all of Guadagnino’s works. We Are Who We Are is available to stream on HBO Max.
I Am Not Okay With This
Of course, the metaphor of being a teenager and gaining superpowers is one that’s been told time and time again—and we’re not even going to get started on Buffy The Vampire Slayer’s “high school is hell” thesis. But I Am Not Okay With This is a teenage dramedy from the same graphic designer that created the book that inspired The End of the F***king World, so if you like that one, you’ll definitely dig this. I Am Not Okay With This follows a traumatized teenage girl dealing with her father’s suicide when she suddenly realizes she has kinetic powers. Stylistic and immensely complicated, this is another one canceled too early. Apologies in advance for the cliffhanger ending. I Am Not Okay With This is available streaming on Netflix. If you love HBO shows, try these shows like Game of Thrones.
