Plenty of teen shows take on the glossy, gossipy parts of being a teenager, while others go for grit and scandal. "Party of Five" does neither, with a serious but deeply emotional take on one unusual set of teenage experiences. After the sudden death of their parents, a group of five siblings is left with only each other to count on. Their eldest brother becomes the family guardian, while the younger siblings try to manage their own storylines of hereditary alcoholism, date rape, abortion, and other tough moments. It's definitely not a perky show, but it's also one that doesn't try to sensationalize its hard choices. Instead, it acknowledges that these are things that teens do face, and applauds its characters for trying, even if they fail.