What are some shows to watch like Pretty Little Liars?

We’re not holding onto any secrets around here! The Pretty Little Liars franchise has become a massive success over the past decade, with four television series, including the short-lived Ravenswood and Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists under its belt. There’s no doubt that it has developed a major following.

With the finale of its current iteration, the slasher-horror series Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin approaching, you might be trying to find something else to watch. Teen dramas are always a popular genre so there is a multitude of shows that fit the bill in terms of storylines and character arcs. If you’re tired of scouring through the internet, looking for your next fix, don’t worry! We got you covered. Here’s a list of some shows that you might find interesting if you’ve finished Pretty Little Liars and want to find a new show that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.

Shows to watch like Pretty Little Liars

Cruel Summer (2019-present)

If you’re looking for a show similar in theme, this teen-drama thriller anthology series is jam-packed with drama and a stellar cast to match. The first season follows the two teenage girls in the small fictional town of Skylin, Texas. The audience is given entry into both of their lives as the two navigate strange occurrences as one girl disappears and the other steps in to “take her place”. To make it even more interesting, each episode focuses on the same day over the course of three years: 1993, 1994, and 1995. Currently, the show is on hiatus but there have been talks of a second season dropping fairly soon. Cruel Summer airs on Freeform and can be streamed on the network’s own app as well as Hulu. Start watching now so that you’re caught up for the eventual second season.

The Vampire Diaries  (2009-2017)

Similar to Pretty Little Liars, this show is set in its own universe, The Vampire Diaries Universe to be exact. The series is set in the fictional and supernatural charge town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, Elena Gilbert has just lost her parents in a car accident, as she falls in love with a vampire named Stefan Salvatore. Stefan’s brother, Damon returns to the town to try and bring back Katherine Pierce, a vampire who looks exactly like Elena. Other shows include The Vampire Diaries: A Darker Truth and The Originals: The Awakening. A spin-off series called Legacies recently went off air. It follows Hope Mikaelson, the daughter of Klaus Mikaelson and Hayley Marshall, who is descended from some of the most powerful vampire, werewolf, and witch bloodlines. Two years after the events of The Originals, another show in the franchise. Get started on your journey with the vampires by streaming the first show in the series on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.

Gossip Girl (2021-present)

The remake of the classic New York City-set teen drama is set for its third season. While the HBO Max-original is relatively darker than its predecessor and introduces a new slew of characters, the prep school aesthetic and teen-angst storylines are ever present. The series was recently renewed for a second season which helps paves the way for possible cameos from the original series’ cast. You can stream Gossip Girl on the HBOMax app.

Riverdale (2016-present)

If you haven’t heard of Riverdale yet, let us be the first to let you in on what it’s about. You’ll find that the Archie Comic-based show has a darker tone than fans of the original comics might’ve anticipated. That being said, it’s definitely similar programming to Pretty Little Liars which brings more realism to the already familiar characters and their relationships with each other. The CW show has been one of the most talked about series since its premiere. You can watch Riverdale when it airs its upcoming seventh season on TheCW network, TheCW app and on Netflix.

Revenge (2011-2015)

This ABC network drama relished in its ability to keep viewers on their toes for each episode.  The show’s plot is inspired by the 1844 novel, The Count of Monte Cristo but gives a modern twist of this age-old tale for the small screen. Set in the Hamptons, the lead character, Emily Thorne, an alias for the woman’s real identity, Amanda Clarke, whose father was framed by the Graysons, a wealthy family for treason when she was young. She’s now back at the Hamptons as an adult to get revenge on those who wronged her father. Sounds like a great show to start and also highly binge-able show! A spin-off series featuring a Latinx lead was previously in the works but was ultimately not picked up by its original network. If you want to jump right into the madness, You can stream the entire series of Revenge on Hulu and on The Roku Channel.

Which shows like Pretty Little Liars do you recommend? What are you watching right now? Share your thoughts in the comments below.