8 TV Teen Romances That Aged Poorly, From Vampire Diaries to The O.C.
A romance revisited
A video Lucy Hale shared earlier this month with Ian Harding, her Pretty Little Liars co-star, renewed conversation about their characters’ relationship. Viewers commenting on the clip said it glamorized the pairing of Aria and Ezra. Hale acknowledged the relationship’s problems, calling it “problematic” and saying it “didn’t age well.” She said the video celebrated her friendship with Harding; the two recently worked together on a new movie.
Teen drama conventions
The discussion around “Ezria” connects to a broader question about how teen television portrayed relationships. Such dramas often framed student-teacher romances, older partners and secret affairs as appealing, glamorous or scandalous.
The shows did not all treat these storylines alike. Some presented the relationships as troubling, while others continued to depict them as romantic or comic.
A modern reassessment
Cast members have revisited some of these relationships in interviews. Their comments, along with changing audience perspectives, have prompted renewed scrutiny of romances once presented as part of teen drama entertainment.
The list covers eight television relationships that can look different through a modern lens, including stories associated with Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, The O.C. and The Vampire Diaries.
Key points
- Lucy Hale’s video with Ian Harding renewed discussion of Aria and Ezra’s romance.
- Hale described the fictional relationship as “problematic” and said it “didn’t age well.”
- Teen dramas portrayed student-teacher relationships, older love interests and secret affairs in different ways.
- Cast interviews and modern perspectives have prompted reassessments of some TV romances.