‘One Tree Hill’ Meets ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ in Netflix’s Top 10 Returning Series

Published Aug 19, 2026, 7:27 AM EDT Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts! On Block Talk, he interviews nightlife personalities, covers the wide world of entertainment through features, ranking episodes, and recaps ALL of Drag Race, as well as Dragula and Survivor. He has interviewed hundreds of RuGirls that span the globe at DragCon NYC, DragCon LA, and DragCon UK. In his free time, he makes one-of-a-kind jewelry and gift baskets with his mom. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. If there's one teen-drama formula that works time after time, it’s the fish-out-of-water heroine caught in a dramatic love triangle between two contrasting brothers. On One Tree Hill, the series began with half-brothers Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan Scott (James Lafferty) romantically entangled with Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton), though that storyline was later dropped in favor of a different love triangle between Lucas, Peyton, and Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush). Prime Video's The Summer I Turned Pretty centers on Belly Conklin (Lola Tung) and her emotional and romantic ties tobrothers Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno). That formula is now being followed by one of Netflix's best teen dramas, which recently returned for its third season and already charted in the streamer's Top 10 shows. My Life with the Walter Boys tells the story of 15-year-old Jackie Howard (Nikki Rodriguez), who finds herself caught between two very different Walters: the sensitive, reliable Alex (Ashby Gentry) and the troubled, charismatic Cole (Noah LaLonde). Based on the novel of the same name by Ali Novak, the teen drama has aired three addictive seasons to date, with the trio's first declarations of love and complicated heartbreak shaping their lives. Thanks to a strong dramatic roadmap, fans have clearly become invested in Jackie, Cole, and Alex, as well as in every vibrant character in their orbit. What Is 'My Life with the Walter Boys' About? My Life with the Walter Boys begins with Jackie, who moves to the town of Silver Falls, Colorado, after losing her family in a car accident back in New York. In the aftermath, she is taken in by her mother's best friend, Katherine Walter (Sarah Rafferty), and her family, which consists of seven sons and one daughter. Before Jackie arrives, there is tension between Alex and Cole over their respective love lives, and it naturally resurfaces thanks to the new girl in town. For Jackie, the clear contrast between the brothers emphasizes the pros and cons of both potential choices. Alex is safe and dependable, while Cole is moodier and challenging. Yet her bonds with both of them develop organically on My Life with the Walter Boys through shared experiences and quiet moments of intimacy. After experiencing the tragedy of losing her family, Alex and Cole are an important source of comfort. Like One Tree Hill and The Summer I Turned Pretty, the series anchors its romantic angst in deep emotional backstories that deal with tragedy, loss, and finding your place in the world, but there's also baked-in longevity given the story's main love-triangle conceit. Eventually, Jackie will have to choose someone. We know what Season 3 brings, but that could eventually change if the Netflix adaptation diverges from the source material. 'My Life with the Walter Boys' Has the Perfect Recipe for Longtime Success on Netflix One Tree Hill and The Summer I Turned Pretty were partly successful because the storylines beyond the main love triangle were just as developed, and the same is true for My Life with the Walter Boys. The large ensemble cast offers potential for plenty of subplots involving the other siblings and their friends — all centered around romance, of course. Cole's fraternal twin, Danny Walter (Connor Stanhope), serves as the unexpected heartthrob thanks to his sensitive side as a thespian. When he decides he's interested in Erin Collins (Alisha Newton), Cole's ex, it's a sweet story that showcases a much different yet accessible dynamic. Meanwhile, Nathan Walter (Corey Fogelmanis) and Skylar Summerhill (Jaylan Evans) experience the ups and downs that any couple faces. The endearing love between Katherine and George Walter (Marc Blucas) serves as the heartbeat of the family, a benchmark that their oldest son, Will (Johnny Link), tries to emulate in order to improve his relationship with his fiancée, Hayley (Zoë Soul). Season 3 represents a major shift for the series' main love triangle, but that doesn't mean My Life with the Walter Boys is slowing down. With a fourth season on the way, the possibilities for where the story could go next are exciting. Viewers may not aspire to live within the confines of the Walters' cramped ranch, but its celebration of family and sprawling ensemble makes My Life with the Walter Boys stand out from other shows that paved the way first.