courage and <a href=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/"/articles/what-is-perseverance">perseverance when they step outside their comfort zones to grow their talents and make connections with different people. But the show gives a mostly sanitized view of teen life, and characters are fairly stereotypical (the "mean girl," the "geek," etc.).</p>
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courage, and <a href=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/"/articles/what-is-perseverance">perseverance. Tori is a stickler for staying true to herself despite the influences around her. But Jade is a "frenemy," and Trina is self-absorbed. Teens are mostly left to their own devices, as parents are rarely seen, and adult figures at the school are limited to a handful of eccentric teachers and staff.</p>
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Language
a little
Frequent use of "oh my God." Ableist terms include "lame," "spazzy," "crazy," "demented," and "freakshow."
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
Occasional accidents result in bruises or bleeding. Sometimes violence is part of a joke: Robbie gets mugged, an octopus is electrocuted, etc. In two episodes, the teens travel to a fictional war zone.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
The show's now-defunct companion social networking website, TheSlap.com, is promoted in each episode.
Positive Messages
some
Self-discovery is celebrated: Characters show courage and perseverance when they step outside their comfort zones to grow their talents and make connections with different people. But the show gives a mostly sanitized view of teen life, and characters are fairly stereotypical (the "mean girl," the "geek," etc.).
Positive Role Models
some
A few teens (including main characters Tori and Andre) stand out for their self-confidence, courage, and perseverance. Tori is a stickler for staying true to herself despite the influences around her. But Jade is a "frenemy," and Trina is self-absorbed. Teens are mostly left to their own devices, as parents are rarely seen, and adult figures at the school are limited to a handful of eccentric teachers and staff.
Diverse Representations
a little
The majority of important characters are women, including the show's lead, Tori. Three main characters are played by actors of color: Leon Thomas is Black, and Victoria Justice and Avan Jogia are multiracial with Puerto Rican and Indian heritage, respectively. Several recurring teachers and staff are Black and Robbie is Jewish. However, stereotypes and sexist jokes are common: Men talk about "hot blondes" and ballet being "girly"; house cleaners and nail technicians are named Consuela and Foon-Ye; Black women are angry or "crazy," and women of color are called "exotic." A few one-liners turn transphobic, like when Beck talks about his "Uncle Barbara."
The show teaches kids that new challenges are opportunities to explore and learn.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Victorious is a sitcom aimed at younger teens. Victoria Justice (of Zoey 101) stars as Tori Vega. Tori is a decent role model, displaying courage and perseverance by following her dreams and showing self-confidence by sticking to her personal values. This contrasts with some of her classmates' quirks and stereotypical labels (the "mean girl," the "geek," etc.). The cast is racially diverse, and women play important roles, but stereotypes and sexist jokes are common. But the remaining content is mostly kid-friendly -- except for some long kisses between teen couples. Every episode also actively promotes the show's now-defunct partner website TheSlap.com -- a social network that allowed viewers to follow blogs from the characters, play games, and post comments.
This is very apropriate for kids t and up but I put it ages 7+ because i believe that 5 year olds may not care for this show/ understand it. I laughed a little reading these reviews. I've watched each episode at least twice bc my kids and neices/ nephews love it so much and I can assure you that the edgy content of the show is either things your 7+ year old does know or should know. THEY ARE KIDS!!!! They aren't going to overthink this show! Seeing high school couples kiss isn't going to turn them into sluts. I'm a pediatrician and i know from studies and experience that if you keep your kids in a box for long enough they will learn the hard way and wont trust you. Let your kids watch a funny show. If you still dont know wether or not to let your kids watch it, watch it from a kids point of veiw. I dont know what else there is to say.
This show seems harmless except they make kids speak with language that is adult.
They also pertray these young girls as stupid and dress young girls like women.
Each to their own but this is on some of the Disney evil ish!
What's the Story?
In VICTORIOUS, Tori Vega (Victoria Justice) is used to living in the shadow of her older sister, Trina (Daniella Monet), a self-proclaimed star-in-training at a prestigious performing arts school. When an unexpected medical malady sends Tori onstage in her sister's place, she dazzles the crowd and earns a spot at Hollywood Arts High School. Being the new kid in school is never easy, but it's even more of a task fitting in with this eclectic group of artsy students and teachers. Lucky for Tori, she's got supportive new friends in Andre (Leon Thomas) and Cat (Ariana Grande), and even a "frenemy" in Jade (Elizabeth Gillies).
This series marks Justice's rise from a successful supporting role in Zoey 101 to center stage; and, like her TV counterpart, she's worthy of the promotion. Tweens and younger teens will find much to like in Victorious -- original music, dance, plenty of mild teen drama -- and the fact that Tori always emerges with unwavering self-assurance sends positive vibes to impressionable viewers.
This upbeat comedy's glaring pitfall is its reliance on stereotypes: Each character stands for one type (the "mean girl," the "geek"), and gender- and race-based jokes are common. The show also over-promotes its (now defunct) partner social networking website, TheSlap.com. At the very least, though, that gives parents a good reason to talk with their kids about using social media in a safe, healthy way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about communicating through technology like they do in Victorious. How does social networking help you connect with friends? Are there any drawbacks to this? What are some basic things teens should know about social media?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Emily Ashby
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
