Love, Victor Review: Hulu’s Feel-Good Sequel Series Plays It a Little Too Safe
It’s been just over two years since the theatrical release of Love, Simon, the 2018 rom-com that broke new ground as the first major studio film to center on a gay teen romance. The movie is a charming and inoffensive coming-of-age flick — and your opinion of the film will likely dictate how much you enjoy Love, Victor, Hulu’s sequel series that features all the same heart, but too little innovation in its storytelling.
Love, Victor — now premiering Wednesday, June 17; I’ve seen all 10 episodes — stars Michael Cimino (Annabelle Comes Home) as the title character, a 15-year-old who is struggling with his sexuality as he adjusts to a new city and a nerve-wracking transition to Creekwood High School. You certainly don’t have to have seen Love, Simon in order to jump right in with the series; Love, Victor quickly catches viewers up on Simon Spier’s time at Creekwood, and Nick Robinson returns as Simon (via voiceover) when he and Victor strike up a friendship over Instagram DMs.
Though the show has 10 half-hour installments at its disposal — which seemed ripe for a more thorough, complex exploration of teenage sexuality than a two-hour movie could offer — Love, Victor only seems to scratch the surface of its storytelling possibilities, opting instead for narrative choices that feel a bit easy and predictable. As Victor tells Simon in the show’s trailer, “My story is confusing. Some guys like guys. Some guys like girls. Some guys like both. I’m not even sure what I like.” But rather than dive into the nuances of love and attraction — especially the topic of bisexuality, which is underrepresented and often mishandled in pop culture — Love, Victor often chooses to stay in the shallow end and cover much of the same ground as the film.
In fact, when the show does directly address the tangled web that sexuality can be, it all feels a bit Afterschool Special-y. “Sexuality is a spectrum!” Victor effuses in one of his chats with Simon, as though it’s the first time anyone has had that thought, while another character later refers to sexuality as “less of a straight line, and more like a Cirque du Soleil show.” But even as it alludes to the messy process of discovering one’s own sexuality, Love, Victor rarely executes any of the big swings that it seems to set up for itself. (That said, the show was originally ordered at Disney+ before it relocated to Hulu earlier this year, which could explain its fairly tame representation of thorny topics.)
Though it doesn’t take as many bold chances as I’d hoped it would, Love, Victor does still possess an undeniable charm. The follow-up is co-created by Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker, who wrote the Love, Simon screenplay — and they’ve certainly perfected the formula for a good, old-fashioned tug on the heartstrings. Given the tumultuous times in which we’re living, Love, Victor’s easy warmth is certainly comforting.
The series also boasts a delightful ensemble: Rachel Hilson (as Victor’s female love interest, Mia) and Anthony Turpel (as Victor’s eccentric neighbor, Felix) are standouts, and the show brings some well-paced character development to each of the Creekwood High students, transforming them from teen stereotypes into fascinating, fully realized human beings. In fact, it sometimes feels as though Victor isn’t in the spotlight enough, as some episodes largely sideline his self-discovery in favor of other storylines. But Victor’s group of friends is so enjoyable to watch — even popular jerk Andrew has interesting shades! — that it’s hard to mind when Victor’s journey takes a backseat.
For those who adored Love, Simon, its TV sequel will likely offer some cozy familiarity (along with a few fun Easter eggs), and telling LGBT-centric stories remains as crucial as ever. I only wish the show had been a bit more daring: If Simon Spier could ride that ferris wheel alone in front of the entire school, surely Victor could take some bigger risks, too.
THE TVLINE BOTTOM LINE: Love, Victor delivers the same amount of heart as the film that inspired it, but it misses an opportunity for bold storytelling and a more complex examination of sexuality.
I find it worrisome that the review mentions Victor’s “female love interest” but nothing about his interest in a guy. If I wanted to watch a show where a guy dates a girl I can turn to the 99.9% of other shows that focus on this. Even the ads highlight him and the girl. Hard pass.
Again, bisexualityyyyyyyyyyyyy. Victor is no less queer because he dates a girl.
I am familiar with what a bisexual is. That’s not what we were sold with this show. I have no interest in seeing him date a girl.
Then shut up and don’t watch it.
Look how simple that is!
According to several other reviewers Victor is deep in the closet, and his dating a girl is part of his trying to be sure of what he likes. The trailers definitely show Victor’s attraction to guys – I barely noticed any girls in them.
Remember it was originally intended for Disney+. The house of mouse typical isn’t big on hot sweaty man on man sex unless it flies in space.
Wait, where are all of these supposed gay erotic space epics?
Was there a Starlord/Thor spinoff that I missed? Or a Star Wars side story where Finn and Poe were more than just blatant subtext?
Plus this is what we get when Disney takes on what was originally a Fox property. I have high hopes but this review is worrisome.
Love, Simon is one of my favorite movies and I was super excited about the show. But this review made me worried… So, Victor isn’t LGBTQ+? He’s a straight guy who hooks up with guys? What is this about? Even if he’s bisexual, the show doesn’t say the word? Gosh, I can’t with another gay-bating show.
Love, Simon was……OK. Both as a book and film. Some great performances by a talented cast elevated what is merely decent plot/writing. Love, Simon, wasn’t bad. It was good. It just wasn’t great.
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What it was, was original. It was a new take on teen rom-coms. Because it was innovative, it was elevated beyond what it was.
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Further, it should have been a one off. This was not a universe ripe for further exploration, ie sequels or spinoffs. But the writer had a hit, it was made into a successful movie, so she greenlit any possibility of making more money (no judgement). But spinoffs of this aren’t likely to work. First, they aren’t going to show too much skin, due to the ages and (sadly) genders of the primary characters. Further, this lacks the standout supporting cast of the film, which made the film work. Frankly, it was the main character’s interactions with his best girl friend, and his parents, that elevated the OG film to whatever heights it achieved. His love story was secondary, it was his relationship with those around him that was interesting.
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Love, Simon wasn’t great. It was original, and we get so little of that today that we elevate it beyond what it was. As such, a spinoff was unlikely to every be that great.
Hard disagree. I enjoyed the interactions with his parents but saw nothing of note in his friendship with the girl bff. Just my opinion. But as long as Victor is one of the LGBTQ letters, I’ll tune in. Kinda tired of predictable straight relationships
You do know the author of Love, Simon wrote Love, Victor as a book (as well as a third book in the series also) and that’s what this is based on right?
When I read our comment, I was really excited to hear there was a sequel to the book; however, you are incorrect. The sequel is about Simon’s friend Leah. The book is called the Leah on the Offbeat. I checked Amazon.
That should have been your comment.
He is, but he doesn’t realize it till one of the later episodes. I would really reccomend watching it, I have become a bit obsessed. I have watched love simon twice today and all of the love victor episodes twice today as well. I love it so much, and you really should watch it.
I thought Disney was going make Hulu the place for their adult content, I guess by “adult” they meant young adult since that seems to be who they’re catering to. Even Little Fires Everywhere and Mrs America were safe, predictable and forgettable, just like everything on ABC. They should go back to making Hulu free, there’s not much on there worth paying for.
I just finished Ramy on Hulu and that’s 5 stars!
If you’re looking for more edgier content like someone mentioned Ramy would be a good start but also Normal People. There’s some really excellent content on Hulu if you go through it.
No please no. Ramy is fine but Normal People. The show is yet another about normalizing toxic relationships.
Then shut up and don’t watch it.
Look how simple that is!
I’m guessing you haven’t seen “The Great”. That show was very extreme in it’s violence and sexual content. I liked the show but honestly I hope if it’s gets a 2nd season it’ll be toned down some. “Pen15” is similar too. It should’ve been figured “Love, Victor” would play it safe as it was supposed to be on Disney+ when they were filming it.
Lol I wouldn’t consider the handmaid’s tale safe OR forgetable
I’ll still watch this show even if it has been diluted for audiences. Now that they know it will be on Hulu, I hope they’ll be more brave for the second season and give us the show we deserve. I’m still miffed that there are shows on Disney+ that feature sex jokes, gratuitous shots of character’s anatomy, and PG13+ violence and yet somehow this show is too risky to be shown there. Runaways is being shown on Hulu and on Disney+ and I know that show featured a same-sex relationship, but that’s probably okay since it was two girls instead of two guys. *eye roll*
While it is a continuation of Love, Simon, the character of Simon is 17, while Victor is 15, so I don’t really know how “daring” the storytelling can be. Even though it’s on Hulu, I’m sure it’s still tamer by focusing on a kid still figuring out his sexuality rather than acting on it.
Why are people so critical of the premise of this show. As a gay man, I dated a girl for over a year in high school. There is such a thing called peer pressure. Maybe not so much now though. Still there are repercussions for being who you are even in this day and age. I’m sure the story will progress in such a way that he will realize what he is really attracted to in life. I for one am looking forward to seeing that progression.