Love, Victor Overview: Hulu’s Really feel-Good Sequel Sequence Performs It a Little Too Secure

Reviews

It’s been simply over two years because the theatrical launch of Love, Simon, the 2018 rom-com that broke new floor as the primary main studio movie to heart on a homosexual teen romance. The film is a captivating and inoffensive coming-of-age flick — and your opinion of the movie will probably dictate how a lot you take pleasure in Love, Victor, Hulu’s sequel sequence that options all the identical coronary heart, however too little innovation in its storytelling.

Love, Victornow premiering Wednesday, June 17; I’ve seen all 10 episodes — stars Michael Cimino (Annabelle Comes Dwelling) because the title character, a 15-year-old who’s struggling together with his sexuality as he adjusts to a brand new metropolis and a nerve-wracking transition to Creekwood Excessive College. You actually don’t must have seen Love, Simon so as to soar proper in with the sequence; Love, Victor rapidly catches viewers up on Simon Spier’s time at Creekwood, and Nick Robinson returns as Simon (by way of voiceover) when he and Victor strike up a friendship over Instagram DMs.

Although the present has 10 half-hour installments at its disposal — which appeared ripe for a extra thorough, advanced exploration of teenage sexuality than a two-hour film might supply — Love, Victor solely appears to scratch the floor of its storytelling prospects, opting as a substitute for narrative decisions that really feel a bit simple and predictable. As Victor tells Simon in the show’s trailer, “My story is complicated. Some guys like guys. Some guys like women. Some guys like each. I’m not even certain what I like.” However moderately than dive into the nuances of affection and attraction — particularly the subject of bisexuality, which is underrepresented and often mishandled in popular culture — Love, Victor typically chooses to remain within the shallow finish and canopy a lot of the identical floor because the movie.

Love Victor ReviewIn actual fact, when the present does instantly tackle the tangled net that sexuality could be, all of it feels a bit Afterschool Particular-y. “Sexuality is a spectrum!” Victor effuses in one among his chats with Simon, as if it’s the primary time anybody has had that thought, whereas one other character later refers to sexuality as “much less of a straight line, and extra like a Cirque du Soleil present.” However even because it alludes to the messy strategy of discovering one’s personal sexuality, Love, Victor not often executes any of the large swings that it appears to arrange for itself. (That mentioned, the present was initially ordered at Disney+ before it relocated to Hulu earlier this yr, which might clarify its pretty tame illustration of thorny matters.)

Although it doesn’t take as many daring probabilities as I’d hoped it might, Love, Victor does nonetheless possess an simple allure. The follow-up is co-created by Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker, who wrote the Love, Simon screenplay — they usually’ve actually perfected the method for a great, old school tug on the heartstrings. Given the tumultuous instances wherein we’re residing, Love, Victor’s simple heat is actually comforting.

The sequence additionally boasts a pleasant ensemble: Rachel Hilson (as Victor’s feminine love curiosity, Mia) and Anthony Turpel (as Victor’s eccentric neighbor, Felix) are standouts, and the present brings some well-paced character growth to every of the Creekwood Excessive college students, reworking them from teen stereotypes into fascinating, totally realized human beings. In actual fact, it typically feels as if Victor isn’t within the highlight sufficient, as some episodes largely sideline his self-discovery in favor of different storylines. However Victor’s group of associates is so pleasing to observe — even common jerk Andrew has fascinating shades! — that it’s onerous to thoughts when Victor’s journey takes a backseat.

For individuals who adored Love, Simon, its TV sequel will probably supply some cozy familiarity (together with a number of enjoyable Easter eggs), and telling LGBT-centric tales stays as essential as ever. I solely want the present had been a bit bolder: If Simon Spier might experience that ferris wheel alone in entrance of your entire college, absolutely Victor might take some greater dangers, too.

THE TVLINE BOTTOM LINE: Love, Victor delivers the identical quantity of coronary heart because the movie that impressed it, but it surely misses a chance for daring storytelling and a extra advanced examination of sexuality. 

Articles You May Like

Netflix’s German Series ‘Cassandra’ Will Be Your Next Sci-fi Series Binge in 2024
The Baxters – Season 1 – First Look Photos
‘9-1-1’ & ‘The Bachelor’ Crossover Promo: Joey Guest Stars in Episode 100 (VIDEO)
‘Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura’ Anime Crossover Special: What We Know So Far
Days of Our Lives Spoilers for the Week of 3-25-24 Suggest Two Ugly Secrets Could Ruin Baby Jude’s Christening