I seriously am in love with devin. Sam was stupid to dump him. Lol. This is a good show for any teen from 12-15 or higher. I love all the shows on the-n, and even have an account on the-n.com
The Best Years
(Rated TV-PG, Drama, Starring Brandon Jay McLaren, Athena Karkanis, Charity Shea, Where to watch: TeenNick, DVD, Online)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
A look at college life, Degrassi style.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 14–16
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Best Years was written by Emily Ashby
Parents need to know that this college drama from the former head writer of teen favorite Degrassi: The Next Generation tackles just as many issues as that show -- albeit in a somewhat soap-operaish way. Romantic relationships among students (and in one case, between a student and his married professor) include sex; sometimes the girls use their bodies to gain guys' interest. Expect some mild language ("bitch," "damn," etc.) and lots of underage drinking -- though the latter sometimes comes with consequences: In one episode, a drunk teen falls to his death from a rooftop. (It's worth noting that many of the characters would be of age in Canada, where the series is made -- though it takes place in the United States.)
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the issues the show raises. What are the dangers of drinking too much? What risks come along with casual sex? What messages does the show send to teens about responsible behavior? Do the characters suffer consequences from their actions? Why is that important? Teens: What impression does this show give of college life? Do you think it's realistic? What aspects, if any, seem exaggerated?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on The Best Years
What’s the Story?
THE BEST YEARS centers on Samantha Best (Charity Shea), a newcomer to Massachusetts' prestigious Charles University. An orphan who's been shuttled through the foster care system for 10 years, Samantha sees her full-ride scholarship as a ticket to a new life, and she's full of expectation as the school year begins. But it's not long before she learns that college is full of pitfalls as well as opportunities -- and that her own identity is subject to constant revision. From going to parties at the campus hotspot to handling friends' personal crises, Samantha finds that college life is full of ups and downs, and sometimes it's all she can do to navigate the uncertainty and reach her full potential. And if that's not enough, it seems her chances at success are sometimes threatened by outside forces as well.
Is It Any Good?
Following his tremendous success as head writer on hit teen series Degrassi: The Next Generation, Aaron Martin has turned his focus to the college world in The Best Years. Teens -- especially those contemplating or already familiar with college life -- will relate to many of the issues of identity facing the characters in The Best Years: "Where do I go from here?" "What do I value?" "Who am I, and what do I want out of life?"
The series puts a soap-opera spin on real campus life, with viable storylines enhanced for dramatic effect. Samantha's relationship with her roommate, Kathryn (Jennifer Miller), a rich socialite from the Midwest, gets off to a rocky start when the two disagree in the aftermath of a tragic accident. Handsome basketball star Devon (Brandon Jay McLaren) quickly catches Samantha's eye and causes plenty of distraction from her work, and Hollywood celeb Dawn Vargas (Athena Karkanis) looks to Samantha for the down-to-earth philosophy she's craving from "real" life. While it's sure to entertain your teens, be sure they understand the realistic implications of the frequent underage drinking, occasional strong language, and sexual relationships between the characters.
Our Members Say
See all 5 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title pause for age 12 and give it
The best show EVER
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
it the best show ever
you have to watch it before you give it a bad review
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Reaches out
From what I see, most users of this site are preteen/teenageers. I first watched the Best years over the summer after my freshman year in College. From the very first episode I was suprised that it is featured on "TheN". I love this show, the cast and characters are awsome. But, I do feel that it is aimed for an older, post highschool audience. This show contains Sex, dancing girls willing to show their bodies (episode where Sam and Kathryn try to win a trip to Cabbo). As long as a Lot of alcohol and drug abuse. I simply feel that younger audiences of... say uner 14 may get the wrong ideas or impressions from a show such as this. The Best Years has completley won me over, and as a college student, it is one of the few shows that can actually relate to young adults of my generation. I cannot wait untill season 2 gets underway, and we get to see what happens w/ Sam and her friends, as well as her newfound "family".
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
The Best Show.
I have always been a fan of all the shows the-n has put out, but this has by-far surpassed them all. At first I thought this show would be a repeat of 'Whistler' (which was terrible, in my opinion). But, I decided to give it a try. This is the best show ever, honestly. I love the original drama, the plots, the ups and downs, the relationships, and the real feel of this show. I would recommend this for anyone looking for an addicting series - anyone aged over 14 ofcourse. While this show is very good, it also has some very mature themes. The very first episode included sneaking around, getting drunk, and someone dying. While this hooked me, I wouldn't imagine my point of view or feelings about the show would be the same if I was even just a year or so younger. So, it all just depends on how mature you are, and the kind of entertainment you enjoy. I love it (as stated many times before). You'll never know unless you try. =]
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