While nearly all the teen dramas started with main characters who were siblings or would become siblings, every single one did begin with main characters who had some form of absentee parents.
On Beverly Hills 90210, Kelly’s dad took off when she little.
With Dawson’s Creek, Joey’s mother died when she was thirteen and her father was in prison. Jen’s parents sent her to Capeside to live with her grandmother.
Ryan’s father was in prison on The O.C. and his mom kicked him out of the house and soon took off. Summer’s mom abandoned her and her dad she was thirteen.
On One Tree Hill, Peyton’s mom died when she was 8 and her dad spent long periods of time away at sea. Brooke’s parents were often out of town as well. Lucas didn’t really have a dad in Dan.
Serena and Eric’s dad was MIA while Blair’s father lived in France and Chuck’s mom was dead (or so he thinks).
On 90210, Silver’s dad Mel appeared to be out of the picture while Dixon’s biological parents were who-knows-where.
Almost all these “absentee parents” led to much drama on the shows. But it’s worth noting that even the “2-parent households” had their problems, too!
TeenDramaWhore 