Trinkets

With appealing actors and relatable storylines, this series scores by treating its characters' concerns seriously, without descending into the mopiness that plagues some teen shows. Tabitha, Moe, and Elodie are troubled, true -- the Shoplifters Anonymous frame may have clued you in -- with teachers, and friends, and parents who hand them hassles. But the friendship between the three girls, though it begins contentiously, soon emerges as something strong and supportive that each can rely on to carry them through their (many) difficult moments. It's a framework teen viewers, who have their own monumentally important friendships, will find engaging.

The sensitive writing is Trinkets' best feature, with an uncanny grasp of how adolescents show each other acceptance and, most often, contempt. As the new kid in town, Elodie is subject to plenty of the latter: As she walks through the hallways of her new school gazing wistfully at peers who refuse to gaze back, viewers might be forgiven for wincing in pained recognition. Other things about this show go down easily, too. The cast's clothing is casual, hairstyles and makeup are realistic, the locations look real -- and since Trinkets is filmed, not just set, in Portland, Oregon, that setting takes on a naturalistic air that adds to the show's real feel. The trio of main characters feel like teens you might know, or at least ones you want to hang out with for a few fast-moving episodes.