By Charlotte Dekle

In part one of our three-part, The Evolution of the Teen Show, with looked at the category of teens being teens shows. This week, we examine the second category, teens solving mysteries. Please add to the conversation by leaving a comment below.

teens solving mysteries

this is a more modern category of teen shows. More Late 2000s and 2010s. These include the ever-popular Outer Banks, Veronica Mars, and Riverdale. My personal favorite being Veronica Mars, but you do you. These shows usually contain 30-year-olds playing 16-year-olds solving mysteries. These mysteries could include anything from what is this boat to murder. This, being a more modern show trope, reflects the distrust that we feel in these troubling times. When these teens solve a murder or a mystery, we feel catharsis that someday we may solve all of our issues. In this time of civil unrest, it’s satisfying to watch attractive teens solve mysteries. In Outer Banks, this group of teenagers searches for a hidden compass to solve a mystery. It does what good television should do...transport you to another world of classism and racism, a total escape from nowadays, amirite? But this mystery component gets old and tired quickly, so shows flounder for ideas to keep the show exciting and fresh. But it usually leads to off the rails plot lines that make no sense whatsoever (I’m looking at you Riverdale). In their defense, it’s hard to surprise modern-day audiences due to internet access. You could do a quick google search and hundreds of message boards are discussing possible twists and turns and one could probably be right. Also in this time of fan fiction and fan service, shows have to increasingly go crazier with plot lines to make sure it doesn’t go stale and surprises the audience who have already made up their minds. Veronica Mars does a fantastic job at this because it keeps it grounded in reality, somewhat, and watching Kristen Bell shoot wisecracks for an hour is fun. But that show never ceases to impress me, even the Hulu reboot. Teens solving mysteries is probably present in every show to an extent. Even the ones mentioned in teens being teens. Gossip Girl had the mystery of who Gossip Girl was. 13 Reasons Why had a new mystery every season. But they were about the characters and less about the plot. These mystery shows have to be driven by an intriguing plot that keeps the audience engaged which, as I previously said, is very difficult to do. I applaud any show that attempts a mystery component but only a few succeed. Other examples include Pretty Little Liars, with the central characters trying to solve who A was and theCW version of Nancy Drew.