After the last installment on teen-appropriate, knee-slapping sitcoms, let’s switch over to the land of the supernatural. Everyone wonders what these non-human creatures would behave like if they existed and what certain technological advances could do to our perception of the world. These TV shows offer the perfect lens into the world of the unknown.
Supernatural
Following in the footsteps of their father, two brothers hunt demons, monsters, and other supernatural creatures to stop them from harming people. Their mother died at the hands of a demon when the brothers, Dean and Sam, were very young, leading their father to pursue the demon and disappear. After making a deal with the demon, their father died and left Dean and Sam to finish his crusade.
In the later seasons, there are not only demons, but angels as well; they appear as a factor in the Apocalypse, possessing people and wreaking havoc on earth, which sends Dean, Sam and their companions into “Hell” and “Purgatory” more often than they’d like.
An action-packed supernatural thriller with a side of angst and drama, Supernatural presents the perfect combination of everything that teenagers need from a show (save for romance). Beware, this series is considered “horror” for a reason!
Game of Thrones
Adapted from George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, Game of Thrones is currently the top-rated show of 2013. This high series depicts the struggle for control in the mythical land of Westeros between seven noble families.
Game of Thrones has underlying themes of politics, social hierarchy, crime and punishment, presented through the conflicts between the noble houses. Mythical creatures are presented as threats in one of the plotlines. Intrigue-filled and dark-toned, this series is plot-heavy and full of stunning special effects that leaves viewers aching for more, leading it to become an international favorite.
Fans who have read the book largely consider the show to be a faithful adaptation. However, be warned; both the books and the TV show contain swearing, mature themes, and sometimes liberal nudity.
The Vampire Diaries
Vampires, vampires: the stereotypical creature of the supernatural that appears in teen romance stories. This show, adapted from the book series of the same name, focuses on the love triangle between two vampire brothers: eternally adolescent Stefan and Damon Salvatore and a high school girl, Elena Gilbert.
Damon seeks revenge against his younger brother Stefan for turning him into a vampire against his will. Featuring vampires and high school students, The Vampire Diaries series is immensely popular with younger teens fascinated by the supernatural and high school romance.
This show didn’t start out that great, but don’t give it up just after the first few episodes; later episodes and seasons really kick the story into action and steer away from the initial stereotypical cheesiness. Give it a chance.
The Walking Dead
There’s never a dearth of zombie apocalypse shows and movies. Rick Grimes, the sheriff’s deputy, awakes from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world ridden with flesh-eating zombies. He sets out to find his family, meeting many other survivors on the way – though not all of them are friendly.
In a world of very limited resources, survival is the top priority. Eventually, Rick leads a group of survivors in fending of zombies and competing against other groups of humans who are willing to do whatever it takes to survive. This show is not only for the zombie lovers out there; the plot and characters are excellent, and the amount of drama is just right. However, the faint of heart need not apply; there’s plenty of zombie gore.
Teen Wolf
What other popular supernatural creature are we missing? Werewolves. When high school freshman Scott McCall gets bitten by a werewolf in the woods, he didn’t expect all the danger and complications that came with heightened senses and increased athletic abilities.
Controlling “the wolf inside,” fending off the kanima (lizard-like revenge monster), and defending their “pack” against a deadly Alpha pack, Scott and his friends (some are werewolves, some are not) face both physical threats and emotional ordeals. Though some parts lean towards the cliché, this show is very popular and suitable for teens looking for something exciting and to some extent, relatable.
After we’ve explored the world of mythological and supernatural creatures in the television life of teens, the next installment will cover suspenseful crime dramas, either looking into the minds of those who commit crimes, or following those who capture criminals in their deduction wonders.
Click here for part 1 (sitcoms and comedies).
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, Alexandreholz of deviantART, CrymsonGT of deviantART, KCV80 of deviantART, and TheEpitomyofAwesome of deviantART
Freda Zhao is a beijingkids intern (of the month) currently studying at the Western Academy of Beijing. She is one year from graduating high school. Outside of school work, she enjoys reading, painting, and mimicking cat sounds in her backyard (to draw strays to her house and feed them).
