Saagar Kote
Created by Vivian Lin, Netflix’s ‘Crew Girl’ is a romantic sports drama series that follows 16-year-old Teagan Tao (Miku Martineau). She is a talented rower whose life changes after her father is caught stealing money from his clients. Forced to leave her affluent LA home with her mother, Ella (Jessica Paré), Teagan moves to Eagle’s Cove, Massachusetts, hoping to start over at the prestigious Easton Prep. However, the school has no girls’ rowing team, leaving Teagan unable to compete as a single sculler. Her only chance to return to the water is to become the coxswain of the school’s boys’ varsity crew.
In her mission to bring the divided team together and earn their trust, Teagan also faces rivalries, broken friendships, and problems within her own family. Her situation becomes even more complicated when she finds herself romantically caught between teammates Josh Regis (Samuel Braun), a popular boy in school, and Cam Dillinger (Kyle Clark), a determined local. With her rowing dreams, love life, and family all falling into chaos, Teagan must find a way to put everything back on course. These shows, similar to ‘Crew Girl,’ poignantly capture the spirit of youth, sports, life, and more while remaining engaging.
12. Dive Club (2021)
‘Dive Club’ is an Australian drama series that picks up with a devastating storm that leaves a group of teenage divers searching for one of their own after she mysteriously disappears in Cape Mercy. Refusing to accept that their friend is simply gone, the teenagers retrace the events surrounding her disappearance and begin uncovering secrets buried within the coastal town. Isabel (Aubri Ibrag), the daughter of an engineer, becomes part of the group as their search develops into a larger mystery involving the people and places around them. What starts as an effort to find their missing friend gradually forces the teenagers to question the reality of their community. With Steve Jaggi providing the creative vision, the show explores friendship and puts its young characters in demanding situations that test their resilience, much like ‘Crew Girl’ does.
11. The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022-2025)
‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ revolves around Isabel Conklin, AKA Belly (Lola Tung), as her annual summers with the Fisher family become complicated by feelings she never expected to develop. Her lifelong connection with brothers Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno) gradually shifts into a love triangle, forcing Belly to navigate first love, heartbreak, and the uncertainty of growing up. When her relationships with the two brothers change, the effects extend beyond the three of them, reshaping the lives of those around them. Based on creator Jenny Han’s eponymous novel series, the romantic drama series, akin to ‘Crew Girl,’ delves into the trials and tribulations of growing up, the art of handling the weight of ambitions, and the complexities of love triangles.
10. Rebelde (2022)
‘Rebelde’ follows a new generation of students in the competitive world of Elite Way School, a prestigious boarding school. With the school’s Battle of the Bands offering a path, Jana Cohen (Azul Guaita Bracamontes), Luka Colucci (Franco Masini), M.J. Sevilla (Andrea Chaparro), Andi Agosti (Lizeth Selene), Guillermo Alvarez (Jerónimo Cantillo), and Estebán Torres (Sergio Mayer Mori) compete for their place among the institution’s most talented musicians.
But an unexpected incident and the presence of a mysterious secret society complicate their plans. Former student Celina Ferrer (Estefanía Villarreal), now the school director, oversees an environment where the students’ ambitions increasingly intersect with their personal lives. Directed by Santiago Limón, the Mexican teen drama series is a sequel to the Mexican telenovela of the same name. ‘Crew Girl’ and ‘Rebelde’ follow teenagers pursuing something they care deeply about while dealing with the complications of adolescence. Teagan fights for a place in competitive rowing, along the lines of the students at Elite Way School who chase opportunities in music.
9. Dare Me (2019-2020)
‘Dare Me’ centers on the uneasy power struggle that emerges when ambitious cheerleading coach Colette French (Willa Fitzgerald) takes charge of Sutton Grove High School’s squad. Her arrival disrupts the close friendship between teammates Addy Hanlon (Herizen Guardiola) and Beth Cassidy (Marlo Kelly), as Colette’s influence gradually reshapes the team. Competition within the squad grows more intense, and rivalries take new turns, leaving the cheerleaders caught between their existing bonds and the coach’s demands.
But the tension extends beyond the gym when a shocking crime unsettles the entire community and exposes secrets. The thriller-drama series is based on the eponymous novel by Megan Abbott, who serves as co-creator with Gina Fattore. ‘Crew Girl’ and ‘Dare Me’ navigate what happens when young athletes have to function as part of a team. Teagan must earn the boys’ trust as their coxswain, while the cheerleaders struggle with shifting loyalties and internal competition.
8. My Life with the Walter Boys (2023-)
In ‘My Life with the Walter Boys,’ Jackie Howard (Nikki Rodriguez) is a teenager whose plans for Princeton are thrown off course when a tragedy leaves her without her family. She moves to rural Colorado to live with Katherine Walter (Sarah Rafferty), her late mother’s best friend, and Katherine’s husband, George Walter (Marc Blucas), entering a household already crowded with their ten children. The unfamiliar surroundings and chaotic family life make settling in difficult, forcing Jackie to adjust to a world far removed from the NYC city life she knows.
Matters become even more complicated when she develops feelings for Katherine and George’s sons, Alex Walter (Ashby Gentry) and Cole Walter (Noah LaLonde), turning her life into an increasingly complicated emotional journey. The drama series from creator Melanie Halsall is based on Ali Novak’s novel of the same title. Similar to ‘Crew Girl,’ the story follows a teenage girl forced to rebuild her life in an unfamiliar environment. Jackie moves from NYC to rural Colorado, while Teagan leaves affluent LA for Massachusetts and starts over at a new school.
7. Gymnastics Academy: A Second Chance! (2022)
Creators Vanessa Shapiro and Clay Glen’s ‘Gymnastics Academy: A Second Chance!’ is an Australian sports drama series that chronicles the experiences of 14-year-old gymnastics prodigy Kyra Berry (Jada-Lee Henry). Her Olympic ambitions are threatened by a serious knee injury, leaving her without much to hold on to. Her fortunes change when Australian coach Maddy Cornell (Emily Morris) recognizes Kyra’s potential and invites her to train at the prestigious Coreega Academy in Australia.
Competing for a scholarship that can secure her place at the academy, Kyra must prove herself in an unfamiliar country. Her arrival also makes her a target for teammates who see her as a threat. Kyra focuses on her performances as she fights to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. ‘Crew Girl’ and ‘Gymnastics Academy: A Second Chance!’ are set in competitive sporting environments where establishing oneself among other athletes becomes as important as skill, shaping the characters’ fates.
6. Big Shot (2021-2022)
‘Big Shot’ is a sports comedy-drama series that explores the life of Marvyn Korn (John Stamos). He is a basketball coach whose temper costs him his job and forces him to rethink his career. His next opportunity takes him far outside his comfort zone when he lands a coaching position at an elite girls’ high school in California. Used to the intensity and demands of college basketball, Marvyn initially struggles to connect with his new players and discovers that coaching them requires an understanding of their lives beyond the court. While he learns to support the team rather than simply demand results, his relationship with the players begins to change.
The experience also pushes Marvyn to confront his own shortcomings, gradually transforming him. With David E. Kelley, Dean Lorey, and Brad Garrett lending their creative voices, the show connects athletic development to the emotional evolution of young characters, along the lines of ‘Crew Girl.’ Rowing becomes central to Teagan’s attempt to rebuild her life, while basketball gives Marvyn a chance to give his career a sense of purpose.
5. Olympo (2025)
‘Olympo’ is a Spanish sports drama series that narrates the saga of Amaia Olaberria (Clara Galle), the captain of Spain’s synchronized swimming team. She fights to maintain her position at the Pirineos High Performance Center, where the country’s top young athletes train for elite competition. Her confidence takes a hit when Núria Borges (María Romanillos), her close friend and teammate, begins outperforming her. Amaia notices several athletes achieving unexpected breakthroughs and begins to suspect that something unusual is happening behind the scenes.
Her growing curiosity pushes her to investigate what could be driving these changes, even as the pressure of competition continues to mount. Soon, Amaia finds herself confronting uncomfortable truths that threaten to disrupt both her career ambitions and her understanding of the people around her. Jan Matheu, Laia Foguet, and Ibai Abad are the creative team behind this show, which captures the essence of ‘Crew Girl’ through its exploration of youth and sporting ambition in an institutional setting. Both Teagan and Amaia find themselves in situations where they must confront hard choices to ensure their sporting success.
4. All American (2018–2026)
In ‘All American,’ Spencer James (Daniel Ezra) is a gifted high school football player whose NFL ambitions receive an unexpected boost when high school coach Billy Baker (Taye Diggs) recruits him to join his team. Moving between Crenshaw and Beverly Hills, Spencer quickly discovers that earning a place on his new team is more complicated than proving himself on the field. His arrival unsettles Billy’s son Jordan Baker (Michael Evans Behling), the team’s starting quarterback, while Spencer also moves into the Baker household.
While Spencer adjusts to his new school and teammates, he forms an unlikely friendship with Olivia Baker (Samantha Logan), who faces struggles of her own. The sports drama television series is an April Blair creation inspired by the true story of NFL champion Spencer Paysinger. Similar to ‘Crew Girl,’ the narrative sheds light on the process of achieving professional success while also examining the personal cost involved and the relationships that develop along the way.
3. Spinning Out (2020)
‘Spinning Out’ follows Kat Baker (Kaya Scodelario), a gifted figure skater whose Olympic ambitions are thrown into doubt after a devastating fall almost derails her career. Her chance to remain in competitive skating arrives when she switches from singles to pairs, teaming up with wealthy skater Justin Davis (Evan Roderick). As the unlikely partners work toward their shared goal, their relationship grows increasingly complicated, blurring the boundaries between professional partnership and personal connection. Kat also carries a secret that threatens to undermine everything she is trying to achieve, adding another source of pressure as the pair confronts the physical and emotional demands of elite competition.
With their dreams of reaching the highest level dependent on their ability to overcome setbacks and work together, Kat and Justin must navigate a puzzling reality. With Samantha Stratton providing the creative vision, the sports drama series chronicles the pressures surrounding competitive sport and youthful ambition, much like ‘Crew Girl.’ The visual aesthetics and the character motivations connect the shows on a deeper level.
2. Zero Chill (2021)
‘Zero Chill’ depicts the experiences of Canadian twins Kayla MacBentley (Grace Beedie) and Mac MacBentley (Dakota Taylor), whose lives take a dramatic turn when Mac earns a place at a prestigious hockey academy in England. The move gives him a chance to pursue his ambitions at a higher level, but it also uproots Kayla from Canada and forces her to leave behind the figure-skating environment she knows. While Mac struggles to establish himself among elite hockey players, Kayla faces her own challenges as she attempts to find her footing in a new skating scene.
With the move putting unexpected strain on their sibling relationship, both twins must navigate the pressures of competitive sport, adjusting to a new country, and pursuing their individual goals. The Kirstie Falkous and John Regier creation is a British drama series that delves into the complexities of ambition, youth, relationships, and the trials and tribulations of growing up, along the lines of ‘Crew Girl.’
1. Surviving Summer (2022-2023)
Created by Joanna Werner and Josh Mapleston, ‘Surviving Summer’ is an Australian drama series that follows Brooklyn teenager Summer Torres (Sky Katz), whose rebellious behavior unexpectedly changes her life. She is forcibly sent to the Australian coastal town of Shorehaven, where she considers the cost of her actions. Initially determined to leave, Summer gradually becomes drawn into the local surfing scene after befriending Ari Gibson (Kai Lewins) and his group of young surfers. What begins as an unwanted change of scenery turns into an opportunity for Summer to find her place in a completely different environment, as competitive surfing brings new emotional complications into her life. She grows closer to the group, becomes increasingly invested in the sport, and her attitude toward Shorehaven begins to change.
Her experience ultimately pushes her to reconsider where she belongs and what she wants from her new life. ‘Crew Girl and ‘Surviving Summer’ feature main characters who are suddenly placed in unfamiliar surroundings and try to find their way through sports and new relationships. Teagan leaves LA for Massachusetts, while Summer is sent from Brooklyn to coastal Australia, forcing both girls to adapt to communities very different from what they are used to.
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