all my posts / lifestyle

what to watch for teens & tweens (ft. disney+ and netflix)

maya rajesh104 Comments

Are you looking for something to watch on TV that’s fun and entertaining? Well, look no further! Here’s my personal list of favourite TV shows and movie series for fans of YA books, for tweens and teens and for anyone who’s confused as to what to watch!

Between the ages of 12 and 14, there seem to be very few options for us tweenagers on Disney+ and Netflix. Everything seems to be too young and schmaltzy or too inappropriate! Today’s (rather long) post will be covering the main four genres I watch: Sitcoms, (my personal fave!) Mystery, Fantasy and Fiction (with magical realism).

Sitcoms are for anyone who wants a laugh. Really. Though some of them are for adults, there are some really funny ones out there and this is my favourite TV genre, so here are my top 3!

Genre: Fantasy, Sitcom
Age Rating: 11+
Watch on: Disney+

A wonderful addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this list could not be there without Wandavision! An antagonist (revealed to the end with a catchy theme song) has been sabotaging things in a Wanda-created alternate universe village. The first few episodes are confusing, but by Ep:4, you’ll be loving it!

Genre: Contemporary, Sitcom
Age Rating: 12+
Watch On: Disney+

I’m currently watching this (which accounts for the numerous mentions on my blog) and it is hilarious. It chronicles the lives of a joint family where the man marries a woman the same age as his kids who also have children! Their lives always seem to be in quite the pickle and the show never fails to make you laugh.

Genre: Contemporary, Sitcom
Age Rating: 12+
Watch On: Prime Video

Learning a foreign language in a foreign country can be quite a hard experience, but in Mind Your Language the innocent foreigners’ efforts are shown in quite a humorous light! Though this show was aired in the midst of the 20th century, the representation of various countries and the jokes about their little idiosyncrasies are just so funny.

For all the detectives out there! From murders to whodunits, watch as the protagonist (often very clever) solves mysteries. Though it can seem like the sleuth just ‘knows’ everything the directors want them to, it still is really hair-raising to watch.

Genre: Mystery, Historical
Age Rating: 11+
Watch On: Disney+

Based on the popular book series, Hercule Poirot is a private detective with a knack for solving mysteries. He can be very picky when it comes to things, and because of his attention to detail, he tends to solve cases faster than usual. This is definitely not my favourite TV show, because he keeps everything to himself until the last scene, but it is fun to watch things unfold.

Genre: Mystery, Contemporary
Age Rating: 11+
Watch On: Netflix, Prime Video

A rip-off of Doyle’s books, meet Sherlock Holmes: modern detective in the 21st century. The series is nothing like the books (save the characters) and Sherlock can be quite annoying at times, but the whole show is worth it for Watson and Mary. Honestly, they’re just so sweet especially when Sherlock’s being vexing.

Genre: Mystery, Historical
Age Rating: 12+
Watch On: Disney+

Like Poirot, Marple is based on the books, but I think they’ve been a little more faithful to her character. She’s a sweet old lady (which makes sleuthing easier) and she seems to take to mysteries and gossip. Marple leaves clues as to what she’s thinking along the way (which makes it so much better than all the secretive detectives) though they seem to have run out of ideas towards the end.

Who doesn’t love wishing you found out that you were a part of a vampire world chock-a-block with demons, werewolves and that you get to kill them all? Well, even if that can’t be true, you can always see it on-screen!

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romance
Age Rating: 12+
Watch On: Netflix

Another book-based (but not very faithful) adaptation which is a wonderful story of its own. Fifteen-year-old Clarissa Fray finds out she comes from a long line of obscure demon-hunters called… Shadowhunters, and realises that the entire fate of the Shadow-world depends on her. Join her as she, (jealous) her best friend Simon, (bad-boy) Jace (pretty-girl) Isabelle, (kings) Alec and Magnus go on to stop the bad guys from winning.

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Mystery
Age Rating: 10+
Watch On: Netflix

This is one of those shows full of teenagers, but you get the feeling that it’s for a younger audience. Kyra accidentally stumbles upon the magical world of elves and fairies, but can’t be memory-wiped because she has somehow gotten the powers of a legendary magic-wielding orb within her. To make matters worse, an evil member of society is conspiring against them. Will Kyra and her newfound friends be able to stop them? (Yes, yes they will).

Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
Age Rating: 13-14+
Watch On: Netflix

Ahh, this has got to be one of my favourite book-to-screen adaptations because it was done so well. It follows two stories: one of Alina Starkov who finds out she is a Sun Summoner (she can summon light) and the other of Kaz Brekker and his crew who are sent on a mission to find this (alleged) Sun Summoner. You only need to read the Grisha Trilogy before this, because the Six of Crows characters have a different storyline here.

Genre: Fantasy, Sci-fi
Age Rating: 13+
Watch On: Disney+

This hasn’t yet been released but will be this Wednesday! And every Wednesday that follows (for the next couple of months) a new episode will be released. Loki is my favourite character in the MCU (well ONE of them ♥) and he’s been in many of the movies before, too. And he’s been killed. Anyway, the last time we saw him he slipped away in Endgame, and we’ll find out more about it in this series. The trailer’s here!

Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Age Rating: 13+
Watch On: Netflix

Lara Jean’s been writing letters to all the boys she’s ever loved. One day, someone posts them, and she finds herself in a certain odd situation! Lara finds herself crushing on her sister’s boyfriend, so things are really going the wrong way! This is a really sweet contemporary movie series, and they were based on a trilogy by Jenny Han

Genre: Contemporary, Fiction-fantasy
Age Rating: 10+
Watch On: Disney+

Ever wondered what happened to second-born royals? They become duchesses, dukes, lords, but what do they do? Well, in this fictional take on the aspect, they have powers and stop criminals. Sam who recently finds out this secret goes to an Academy to learn how to control her powers but finds something bigger at the end of it. I really loved this and since it left off on a cliff-hanger, I do hope there’s a sequel!

Genre: Contemporary, Drama
Age Rating: 10+
Watch On: Disney+

The students at East High School are to put on a musical. They learn more about their peers as they do so, and form bonds with them and even help each other with problems of their own. This stars Olivia Rodrigo! And if you haven’t listened to Sour, go and do so right now! This is also a film series.

And that is it! This turned out so much longer than I expected it to (yes, I watch a lot of TV!) but bear with me if I make a Part II soon! This was really fun to do! It only made me realise that there are quite a few shows out there for tweens and new-teens.

Some of them are book adaptations but I love when producers take a little liberty and change things up a bit. Also, there’s more awesome news in the Fandom world! Sabaa Tahir’s realising a new novel (which will be adapted for TV!!) and Rick Riordan’s novel Daughter of the Deep is releasing in 4 months (the cover’s just been released!

I am also so pumped for all the MCU content we’re getting! I can’t wait for Eternals because that trailer was just so good.

Have you watched any of these shows? If so, who’s your favourite character? Do you have some recommendations for me? Or do you have a blog you want me to check out? Tell me in the comments! Until then xx

104 thoughts on “what to watch for teens & tweens (ft. disney+ and netflix)”

  2. That was a good post! All those look really good (well most of them, anyway). ohmygosh I’m excited for Eternals too! It seems really good!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. This is a very cool list!! Also I realise I’ve watched only shadow and bone out of this haha. I’m a lot interested in the second born royals thing because I’m a second born kid and the synopsis fits so well to me😂😂😂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  4. Oh my god, your choices are so amazing! TATB is life for me!💛 Even Shadow and Bone and High School Musical are genuinely GREAT shows!
    My favourite character is TATB is for sure Peter Kavinsky, he has my whole heart – and Noah Centineo, haha!
    I have a recommendation for you to watch on Netflix and thats for sure, Alexa & Katie – do watch it!
    By the way, which one’s your favoutite?
    Amazing post♥️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I know! I LOVE tatb!! Peter is so awesome and the whole story is so great! Ooh, I’ve heard so many people recommend Alexa and Katie and I just check out the synopsis and it looks really cool! I’ll be sure to check it out!
      My favourite… well, I love all of them, but it’s got to be Shadow and Bone, Wandavision and Modern Family!
      Thanks for this comment, and thanks for reading ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  12. I’m saving this post to watch them later!! Your way of recommending movie is so incredible and I loved it ❤️
    I’ve watched ‘to all the boys I’ve loved before’ and to be honest it was the most beautiful romantic movie I’ve ever watched ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. Whoa that’s an interesting list. I always wanted to watch Sherlock, I hope I get to see it one day! And I couldn’t agree more with Wandavision! Im so hyped for loki, ahh!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18. This is the post I NEEDED!!! Me and my sisters like to have a series that we watch together and we can never find one that’s either not a young child show or super inappropriate.
    YASSS! Wandavision is my love!!! That sounded weird… 😂
    Those all look super interesting! But I have a question, have you ever watched The Greenhouse Academy? That one’s another good one. It’s kind of a science fiction, and some of the things don’t make very much sense sometimes *plot holes I should say* But I thought it was still a super good one, even though my sisters watched some of the episodes without me… (which made me sad 🙁🙁)
    Fun fact, high school musical was filmed in my uncle’s high school and they had to close down the school for a little while to film it there!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  24. Great list! I haven’t seen many of these, but I love WandaVision and Sherlock! I’m suuuuper excited to watch Loki! Um, I’m not sure what I would recommend. Maybe One Day at a Time. Have you seen that?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  29. All amazing series to watch. I enjoyed Shadowhunters but they changed a lot from book so prefer books over it and same goes to Sherlock but I still need to read books and I’m watching series along with books to avoid spoilers. To all the boys is on my radar next.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  41. Even though I’m not a teen, I’ve watched quite a few of these – I clearly have more free time than I thought! 🤣 Also, I’m so happy you put BBC’s Poirot series on here – that show is incredibly underrated, in my opinion! For Ms. Marple, though, I actually prefer the adaptation starring Margaret Rutherford, even though it doesn’t stay as true to the books. If you ever get the chance to watch those movies, I would highly recommend them!
    Thanks for all the tips; you’ve certainly gotten me intrigued by Mind Your Language!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  43. Maya, this is so helpful! I was actually wishing the other day for someone to post a cool watch list since I’ve run out of things to watch lately! And this came out just in time! You must be a mind reader! 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a reply to Maya Rajesh Cancel reply