For decades, young adult TV has focused on adult stories – characters figure out who they are through romance, friendship and personal growth.
We have the struggle of hopeful Felicity Porter (Felicity) and the ideal drama of gossip girls, where ambitions are wrapped in designer clothes and witty plays. But things have changed.
The young people on TV today are not only dreaming – they are fighting, busy, and sometimes they also seize their own path. Shows like Industry, Euphoria, and Bold genres show not only ambitions—they make it a survival game.
A new type of young protagonist
Let’s be a reality – Today’s young adult characters are not only looking for meaning;
HBO’s financial drama industry has brought us into a world of high finance, with college graduates expected to sink or swim. Harper Stern (Myha’la Herrold) is not only an entertainer—she is a strategist, and his bold moves blur morals to stay ahead.
Euphoria, on the other hand, shows us a different kind of cruelty, from despair, trauma and pure survival. Rue Bennett (Zendaya) didn’t climb the company ladder, but her efforts to control her life were just as strong.
Then there is Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie), who has mastered the art of social power and knows exactly how to manipulate situations to her advantage.
Even the bold genre, which started out as a great story about three best friends working in fashion magazines, turned into something deeper.
Jane (Katie Stevens), Kat (Aisha Dee) and Sutton (Meghann Fahy) quickly learn that ambition is more than just talent – it’s about sacrifice, compromise and playing the game.
Why this transformation?
So, why are young adult characters on TV becoming more and more cruel? OK, let’s look at the real world.
Millennials have grown up with a degree of optimism, but Gen Z has matured in economic instability, social unrest and unpredictable job markets.
Dreamer prototypes no longer cut it. These characters reflect a generation that has to run, adapt and even play a dirty role at times.
Honestly, the audience is eager to break the moldy character.
The Gossip Girls Times offer us a privileged plan like Blair Waldorf, but today’s characters take it a step further – they are raw, unapologetic, and often cross moral boundaries in ways that make us uncomfortable.
The ethics of ambition
That’s what makes these characters so interesting. Not only are they ambitious, they also make us question the ambitions in a world where success often comes at a cost.
Harper bent financial rules in the industry to succeed. The rue in euphoria walks a small line between control and self-destruction. Even the bold genre solves the moral dilemma of working in the media – how far are you going to name yourself?
These shows are not only telling stories—they are asking big questions. Are the reflections of these characters on broken systems forced to play the game in order to survive? More importantly, will our shoes do the same?
Who did it first?
This transformation is not everywhere. If you look back, we can see the roots in the early shows.
Sally Draper of Crazy Man, skin and even OC hints at young characters struggling with adult power structures.
What’s the difference now? These characters are not exceptions – they are the new norm.
Are they ideal or cautious?
The best young adult performances make us think, and these cruel protagonists make us question whether they are role models or warnings.
Are they teaching us how to survive in a world of rewarding ambitions, no matter how much it costs? Or are they cautionary tales showing us the dark side of power?
Either way, one thing is for sure–the young people on TV today are not only age. They come to the throne.
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