The Best ABC Family and Freeform Shows of All Time
The 25 Best ABC Family and Freeform Shows of All Time, Ranked https://t.co/w9dtj150oN
- TVLine.com (@TVLine) March 31, 2024
With grown-ish final season premiere, Freeform has unspooled the last of its original scripted series.
Reflecting on its programming, going all the way back to when Freeform was known as ABC Family from 2002 to 2016.
ABC Family went through a name and branding makeover in 2016 to become Freeform, its lineup also evolved.
• Kyle XY (2006-09)
There once was a boy with no belly button. And with his appearance in a forest outside Seattle, Kyle XY was born. Kyle XY was part of ABC Family‘s 2006 pivot to targeting young adults, and it did so with a compelling mix of sci-fi mystery and YA drama. So greatly did the series engage fans, it was the channel’s top-rated show for two straight years, and its eventual cancellation warranted a first-of-its-kind “wrap-up” featurette on DVD.
• The Bold Type (2017-21)
A show inspired by Joanna Coles’ experience as Cosmopolitan’s former top editor? We were tapped in from the start! Leading ladies were thoroughly likable as young millennials navigating sex, love and burgeoning careers at the fictional Scarlet magazine. Plus, impactful storylines, like Jane’s double mastectomy as preventative care, were handled with a refreshing balance of brevity and thoughtfulness that really solidified the series as one of Freeform’s best and brightest offerings.
• Shadowhunters (2016-19)
Three years after flopping on the big screen, 'Mortal Instruments' books were given a second chance at live-action success about a smoldering group of leather-clad demon slayers. Impressive action scenes and visual effects; swoon-worthy romances and an endearing cast.
• Lincoln Heights (2007-09)
They had a real gem on its hands with this gritty and heartfelt drama about a cop who moves his family back to his old, violence-afflicted neighborhood. The show mined powerhouse performances from its gifted ensemble, with the Sutton family navigating turbulent circumstances that tested their emotional grit. The show set itself apart from its network peers with harrowing storylines that touched on meaty topics such as gun violence, social injustice and interracial romance.
• Switched at Birth (2011-17)
With its multiple Deaf characters and frequent use of American Sign Language, the groundbreaking series truly required your full attention: If you looked away from the screen for even a second, you could miss an entire silent exchange. The fact that Switched at Birth was never afraid of letting its stories breathe in that silence was so refreshing and truly revolutionary at the time. Add in a unique take on a family drama - two clans come together after learning their daughters were switched - and plenty of romantic intrigue, and you’ve got a show that was equal parts important and entertaining.
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