Since 2020, Netflix’s drama seriesOuter Bankshas captivated audiences with its beautiful beachy setting and strange mysteries, but those seeking a strong follow-up should look no further, as the following ten shows are the best alternatives. For four seasons now,Outer Bankshas centered on the socially divided teenagers of Outer Banks, North Carolina, and in particular, John B., who is searching for his missing father. Thus far, the series has garnered fairly positive reviews, with audiences quickly becoming invested in the show’s mystery and melodrama. Yet,onceOuter Banksends, viewers may not know what to watch next.
Outer Banksis a somewhat unique show. Though it definitely can be labeled as a teen drama, the show is not completely defined by its interpersonal problems. At the heart ofOuter Banksis a mystery which pushes the plot forward and keeps audiences invested. On top of that,Outer Banksboasts a very distinct settingthat almost acts as a separate character. It’s not a coincidence that the series is named after its setting. All in all,these details can make it difficult to find a good show likeOuter Banks,but it is far from impossible.
The Society
Cast
One day in West Ham, Connecticut, the students of the local high school return from a field trip to find the rest of the town’s population gone. With a dense forest surrounding the town and no way to contact the outside world via phone or internet, the teenagers must formulate their own rules to maintain their own society and survival.
One Netflix show that easily compares toOuter BanksisThe Society.In thisLord of the Fliesretelling, teenagers from a small Connecticut town are on their way to a school camping trip. However, when a storm intercepts their travels, they head back home.Things only get stranger when the teens realize that all the adults in their town are gone, leaving them completely alone and without many answers.
Outer Banks Season 5: Cast, Story & Everything We Know About The Final Season
Netflix’s popular teen drama Outer Banks has already thrilled with 4 seasons thus far, and the Pogues will return for season 5.
AlthoughThe Societylacks the warm beachy tones ofOuter Banks,other elements of the show are very similar. For one thing, bothThe SocietyandOuter Banksfocus on teenagers and the ways in which they take their lives into their own hands.Outer Banksis not completely devoid of adults, but they aren’t nearly as important as the teens. Plus, the biggest commonality of all is thatThe Societyalso hinges on a major mystery that the teens need to work together to solve.
Looking for Alaska
Looking for Alaska is a coming-of-age drama series based on John Green’s novel. It follows Miles “Pudge” Halter, a teenager who enrolls in a boarding school to seek a deeper understanding of life. There, he forms a bond with enigmatic student Alaska Young, whose impact on his world is both profound and transformative. The series explores themes of friendship, love, and loss.
Another show with a big central mystery is Hulu’sLooking for Alaska.Based onthe John Green novelof the same name, this series follows Miles, a young man who enrolls in boarding school to try and shake up his boring life. There, he befriends his fellow students and falls in love with a girl named Alaska Young. Yet,when tragedy strikes, Miles and his friends must come to terms with what has happenedand the fact that they may never understand the truth.
Looking for Alaskaforces audiences to live with unanswered questions while also appreciating life and the wonderful things around us.
Once again, a major part ofLooking for Alaskais the central mystery. However, unlikeOuter Banks,audiences should not expect any clear answers. In fact, that is the entire point of the show.Looking for Alaskaforces audiences to live with unanswered questionswhile also appreciating life and the wonderful things around us. But likeOuter Banks,the show emphasizes the relationships between teenagers and how they make big choices in their lives.
8Blood And Water
A Young Girl Tracks Down Her Missing Sister
A series that is underrated but is a perfectOuter Banksfollow-up isBlood and Water.Released in 2020, this show is aboutPuleng, a teen girl from Cape Town, South Africa who is determined to find her sister, who was abductedat birth. Puleng’s search suddenly gets too close to home when she meets a girl at a party and becomes convinced that she is her lost sister. In the midst of seeking the truth, Puleng discovers even more secrets that she never knew about before.
As a South African drama,Blood and Wateris not as well-known as the other series on this list, but it absolutely should be. The first season earned a solid 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, and over the course of its four seasons, the show has won various accolades. It presents a story that is riveting and fast-paced. Plus, likeOuter Banks,Blood and Waterisan edgy teen dramathat takes on important topics and a compelling central mystery.
The O.C.
When troubled teen Ryan (Benjamin McKenzie) is taken in by his public defender (Peter Gallagher), he suddenly finds himself on the right side of the tracks. The O.C. follows as Ryan tries his best to fit into the affluent California community while navigating the relentless drama of teen life, but his new home of Newport Beach is a town filled to the brim with secrets and scandal.
For those who don’t mind watching older shows, a great series from 2003 that has solid ties toOuter BanksisThe O.C.In this series, teenager Ryan is taken in by a wealthy family after living on the wrong side of the tracks. However,Ryan’s new life is more complicated than he expected, as he quickly becomes entangled in family dramaand the catty realities of a wealthy high school.
InOuter Banks,the Kooks are wealthy summer visitors while the Pogues are Outer Banks locals.
The O.C.defined teen dramaswhen it came out, and has remained in the public consciousness for decades now, and for good reason. The show is soapy, dramatic, and entertaining. Thebest connection betweenThe O.C.andOuter Banksis the focus on class. Like the Kooks and the Pogues,The O.C.is divided by those who are wealthy and those who are not. Ultimately, this makes for a very compelling and relatable story.
Elite
Created for Netflix, Elite is a teen drama series set in a fictional privileged high school. The story follows three working-class teenagers — Samuel, Nadia, and Christian — who transfer there after their school is burned down. Culture and economic clashes ensue, but things get much more terrifying and dramatic after a murder of a fellow schoolmate thrusts the status quo into disarray.
Speaking of class in teen dramas, another show that centers on wealth among young people isElite.This Spanish drama followsthree working-class teenagers who begin attending school at the prestigious Las Encinas. Though this is the opportunity of a lifetime for these characters, they struggle with their rich classmates. Eventually, these clashes between rich and poor lead to a violent murder, and even more crime and mystery.
15 Best Shows Like Netflix’s Elite
Those who have enjoyed the Netflix series Elite will be glad to know that there are a number of other, similar series to watch next.
Of all the series on this list,Elitemay be one of the longest-running. With eight seasons under its belt, the show has proved time and again that it can balance teenage drama with real-life issues. In many ways,Elitecould be considered a forebearer toOuter Banks.Two years beforeOuter Bankspremiere,Elitetook on the same storylines and premises. Those who enjoy the social issues inOuter Bankswill definitely get invested inEliteas well.
One Of Us Is Lying
Based on the mystery novel by Karen M. McManus, One of Us Is Lying follows a group of high schoolers who are all given detention when suddenly one of them dies due to an allergic reaction. The show unfolds the mystery around the death of this student, who was a major gossip and negatively impacted the lives of the other four, casting suspicion on the lot.
Yet another teenagemurder mystery showisOne of Us is Lying.Based on a novel of the same name by Karen M. McManus, the series centers on five teenagers who are given detention one afternoon. However,the typical after-school program suddenly goes awry when one of the teens, a gossip columnist, diesof an allergic reaction. All the other teenagers had a reason to kill their classmate, so the only question that remains is who did it.
Despite being canceled after two seasons,One of Us is Lyingis a great short alternative toOuter Banks.There is crime, mystery, and a group of teenagers who must overcome their differences to get to the bottom of the story. In general, this will be a fast watch, especially for those who find themselves getting obsessed with whodunnit-type tales.
On My Block
On Block is a coming-of-age comedy about a group of friends living in South Central Los Angeles. The series first premiered in 2018 before wrapping up its four-season arc on Netflix in 2021. Throughout the series, the friends must traverse the struggles of high school, face gang life in their gritty city, and experience blossoming romances as teenagers.
A truly wonderful show that deserves more hype isOn My Block.Released in 2018,this series follows a group of four neighborhood friends who are navigating the highs and lows of high school. However, their lives become even more complicated by outside factors, including gang violence and racism. There is also a treasure buried somewhere in town that gives the teens a glimpse at a new, better life.
On My Blockhas many of the same trappings asOuter Banks,but it’s the show’s differences that make it a fantastic watch. AlthoughOuter Bankstackles issues like class,On My Blockgoes deeper, taking on systemic racism and very real violence. The show successfully balances these heartbreaking topics with fast-paced comedy, leading to a very vibrant show that will leave audiences feeling truly touched.
Friday Night Lights
Based on the book of the same name, Friday Night Lights is a sports drama series that centers around the Dillon Panthers, a high school football team in Texas. The show focuses on the small town and the community they share, tackling major social and political issues and the players' challenges as they go through an increasingly difficult season.
A show that is surprisingly similar toOuter Banksthat audiences may not be thinking about isFriday Night Lights.The 2006 drama is based onthe trueFriday Night Lightsstory, and is set in Dillon, Texas, where football reigns supreme. With the help of their talented coach,the Texas high schoolers must struggle to prove themselves on the football field. Meanwhile, their personal lives cause problems that could seriously hurt their futures.
LikeOuter Banks, Friday Night Lightstakes on various different themes, from class and family to obsession and abuse
During its run,Friday Night Lightsgarnered a dedicated fan base in the same way thatOuter Bankshas one now. The show was praised for its poetic storytelling and its surprisingly beautiful visuals. LikeOuter Banks, Friday Night Lightstakes on various different themes, from class and family to obsession and abuse. Today,Friday Night Lightsstill remains on many lists as one of the best series of its time, and that is as good a reason as any forOuter Banksfans to give this show a try.
Surviving Summer
Surviving Summer is an Australian drama series created for Netflix and follows a rebellious teenager named Summer Torres who is forced to relocate to Australia. When Summer is expelled from her Brooklyn high school, her family arranges for her to stay in Australia with a family friend, hoping the experience will do her some good. However, her troublesome nature creates more chaos when Summer falls in with a group of competitive surfers.
The show that is most likeOuter Banksin terms of setting is probablySurviving Summer.This Australian show centers onSummer Torres, a New York teenager who is expelled from school, and thus, is sent to live with a family friend in Australia. However, rather than starting fresh, Summer becomes friends with a group of competitive surfers and finds herself getting into even more trouble.
Where Is Surviving Summer Filmed? Australian Surf Drama’s Filming Locations Explained
The second season of the Australian teen drama series, Surviving Summer, premiered on September 15 on Netflix – where was the television show filmed?
Surviving Summerdefinitely has strong elements ofOuter Banks,especially when it comes to how the show looks and feels. Australia is definitely not North Carolina, but both shows are reliant on their summery beach settings. Furthermore,Surviving Summerhas a dangerous edge to it that also appears inOuter Banks.Viewers are in for adventure and a hint of darkness with this 2022 show.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
The Summer I Turned Pretty, released in 2022, follows a pivotal summer in the life of Belly, who turns sixteen during her family’s annual stay at the Fishers' beach house. This transformative season involves first love, heartbreak, and personal growth, marking a significant journey of self-discovery.
Finally, one of the best shows to watch afterOuter BanksisThe Summer I Turned Pretty.Based on books by Jenny Han, this series revolves aroundBelly, a teenage girl who spends every summer at Cousins Beach alongside her mother, brother, and their family friends. One summer, Belly arrives and discovers that the crush she has been harboring on her family friend may finally be returned, leading to a carousel of emotions and difficult moments.
WhatThe Summer I Turned Prettylacks in adventure, it makes up for in truly heartfelt moments.Rather than being a soapy and cliché series, the 2022 show taps into some very real emotionsand issues that not only plague teens but adults as well.The Summer I Turned Prettycovers it all, from friendship to romance to family dynamics. To top it all off, it takes place at the beach. Overall,Outer Bankshas a number of amazing alternatives.
Outer Banks
Outer Banks follows a group of teenagers in the Outer Banks of North Carolina as they uncover a legendary treasure linked to the mysterious disappearance of the group’s leader’s father, leading to a series of dangerous and thrilling adventures.
