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Cruel Summer
Freeform has done it again. Their new mystery teen drama, Cruel Summer, is already on its way to becoming a staple for the network. It follows the events that led to the disappearance of a high school girl, oscillating back and forth between three fateful 90’s summers. Cruel Summer has all the makings of a hit teen drama: angst, a charismatic cast, and a protagonist with a major glow-up.
It may not be the most original show out there, but it does an already great thing really well. Freeform is well aware that the people want another Pretty Little Liars, and it’s finally here! In other good news, if you’ve already binged all the available episodes of Cruel Summer, there is a lot more where that came from. The binge-worthy content from Freeform alone could keep you entertained for months. Let’s get into the perfect followup to curb your Cruel Summer comedown, whether you’re a suspense addict or a teen drama devotee.
'The Sinner'
The Sinner recently returned to Netflix for a third season, so now is the perfect time to hop on this critically acclaimed mystery series. In the latest installment, Bill Pullman returns as Detective Harry Ambrose with an entirely new cast. The season begins with Detective Ambrose’s investigation of a tragic car accident in upstate New York that turns out to be less than accidental. Like Cruel Summer, it has mastered the art of The Twist. It is a slightly more mature counterpart to Cruel Summer‘s teen angst, so if you’re looking to upgrade your mystery game, The Sinner is the perfect place to start. Plus: The Sinner‘s Jessica Biel also produces Cruel Summer!
'The Haunting of Hill House'
The Haunting of Hill House will satisfy all your mystery drama needs while you wait for more episodes of Cruel Summer. The structure of the plot is similar, alternating between two timelines until the final sequence, making it ideal for viewers who like to predict a plot twist or two. In a series of flashbacks, The Haunting of Hill House follows fives siblings and the events leading up to a fateful night when they fled the (haunted, obviously) house years prior.
'Pretty Little Liars'
Pretty Little Liars is so reminiscent of Cruel Summer that it must have been a tonal influence. As you probably know, Pretty Little Liars was a smash hit for Freeform back when it was known as ABC Family (RIP). The two shows have identical themes, notably the price of popularity and pretty girls with ugly secrets. Pretty Little Liars ran for seven seasons and follows a former clique as they grapple with the murder of their queen bee, as well as spine tingling texts from a mystery blackmailer.
'Scream Queens'
If you’re looking for something a little more satirical, but equally dark and indulgent, Scream Queens should be on your to-watch list. The slasher comedy is campy and star-studded, featuring actors like Emma Roberts and Ariana Grande. It follows a fictional sorority, known as Kappa Kappa Tau, and a mysterious serial killer who masquerades as the university mascot, terrorizing the KKT members. It’s unconventionally addictive and somehow synthesizes the mystique of American Horror Story and the absurdity of Pitch Perfect. It is exactly that weird, so if that sounds appealing, Scream Queens might be made for you.
'Switched at Birth'
If you’re a Freeform devotee, you are probably already familiar with Switched at Birth. It has one of the most compelling premises of any pilot to grace the network: two teenagers born on the same day to wildly different families were unknowingly switched at birth and raised by non-biological parents. In true teen/family drama form, that’s not all; one of the two girls also lost her hearing at an early age, shifting the course of her life forever. The two daughters, who come from disparate social and economic worlds, must learn to live together and redefine their conceptions of family.
'13 Reasons Why'
Like Cruel Summer, 13 Reasons Why has an intricately woven timeline and oscillates between different points of view until the entire sequence of events is finally made clear. The smash hit yet controversial series is also notorious for heavy content, such as the teen suicide at the heart of its subject matter. It may be classified as a teen drama, but it certainly has an air of mystery and foreboding that characterizes Cruel Summer. It similarly pieces together the events that led to a high schooler taking her own life, spurred on by factors that are often misrepresented in television, such as social pressure and mental health issues.
'The Secret Life of the American Teenager'
The Secret Life of the American Teenager is one of the shows that put streaming on the map. It was wildly popular while it was airing, but cemented its place in the teen drama hall of fame by becoming a staple binge in the early Netflix days. It’s significantly lighter in tone than Cruel Summer, but mastered the almost-soap-but-not-quite drama better that makes Freeform content so addicting. It follows a groups of high school students through teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and personal tragedies. While it delves into heavy topics, Secret Life is beloved to this day for the levity and relatability it maintains throughout its 5 seasons.
