Review in Hulus Pleasing but Predictable Love Victor Even the

It'southward been just over ii 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 motion picture is a charming and inoffensive coming-of-age flick — and your opinion of the film will likely dictate how much yous enjoy Love, Victor, Hulu'southward sequel series that features all the same center, just too little innovation in its storytelling.

Love, Victor — at present premiering Wednesday, June 17; I've seen all 10 episodes — stars Michael Cimino (Annabelle Comes Dwelling) as the title graphic symbol, a 15-year-old who is struggling with his sexuality as he adjusts to a new metropolis and a nerve-wracking transition to Creekwood High School. You certainly don't have to have seen Love, Simon in society 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 upwards a friendship over Instagram DMs.

Though the show has ten half-hour installments at its disposal — which seemed ripe for a more thorough, complex exploration of teenage sexuality than a 2-hour movie could offer — Love, Victor only seems to scratch the surface of its storytelling possibilities, opting instead for narrative choices that experience a bit easy and predictable. As Victor tells Simon in the show's trailer, "My story is disruptive. Some guys like guys. Some guys like girls. Some guys like both. I'm not even sure what I similar." But rather than swoop into the nuances of love and allure — especially the topic of bisexuality, which is underrepresented and often mishandled in popular civilization — Love, Victor oft chooses to stay in the shallow end and cover much of the same ground equally the film.

In fact, when the evidence 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, every bit though it'south the start time anyone has had that idea, while another character later on refers to sexuality equally "less of a straight line, and more than like a Cirque du Soleil evidence." But even equally it alludes to the messy process of discovering ane's own sexuality, Love, Victor rarely executes whatsoever of the big swings that it seems to fix for itself. (That said, the show was originally ordered at Disney+ before information technology relocated to Hulu earlier this yr, which could explain its adequately tame representation of thorny topics.)

Though it doesn't take equally many assuming chances as I'd hoped information technology would, Beloved, Victor does still possess an undeniable amuse. 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 nosotros're living, Dear, 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 cocky-discovery in favor of other storylines. Simply Victor's group of friends is so enjoyable to lookout — even pop wiggle Andrew has interesting shades! — that information technology'south hard to mind when Victor's journey takes a backseat.

For those who adored Beloved, Simon, its TV sequel will likely offering some cozy familiarity (forth with a few fun Easter eggs), and telling LGBT-axial stories remains as crucial as e'er. I only wish the show had been a scrap more daring: If Simon Spier could ride that ferris wheel lone in front end of the entire school, surely Victor could take some bigger risks, too.

THE TVLINE BOTTOM LINE: Honey, Victor delivers the same amount of eye as the flick that inspired it, but it misses an opportunity for bold storytelling and a more complex examination of sexuality.

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Source: https://tvline.com/2020/06/14/love-victor-review-hulu-series-love-simon-sequel/

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