I have said before how much I enjoy Love, Simon both the book and the film and at the time I pointed out there was a series by the same people taking place in the same world that had my interest. It was originally going to come out on Disney+ but some content issues, apparently related to the consumption of Alcohol had Disney deem it not Family Friendly enough for the Platform and it got relocated to Hulu, Disney’s other streaming service. But the UK does not have Hulu, and Disney has a plethora of adult content that it can use to squeeze more money out of us gullible watchers, so came the launch of the STAR (not to be confused with STARZ, co-producers of the awful Torchwood: Miracle Day) the adult section for Disney Plus where Love, Victor (and for some reason not Love, Simon) eventually found its way.
I was originally going to review High School Musical: The
Musical: The Series but ultimately decided that the show is more fitting for a
series retrospective, as the focus is on comedy and less so a story, something
I’ll touch upon when I eventually review it. But Love, Victor has the same
number of episodes and a similar episode length so let’s get to it.
But before we do, a couple of pre-review bits: I have now
read Leah on the Offbeat and it did, I don’t know about ‘fix’ her but it made
me see Leah in a better light. The downside of this is Nick kinda got the shaft.
Love, Creekwood, a recent entry that supposedly serves as a prelude to this
show, (something I will get back to) barely features him at all.
Also, a few corrections from my Love, Simon review, only
Bram (Blue’s) email was book accurate. The book and the film both take place
between September and February, though my criticism of the Anniversary plotline
still stands.
So, let’s dig into Love, Victor and see what this show does.
Welcome to Creekwood
We see a barely unpacked room belonging to our main
character, Victor Salazar, he’s looking over some photos of Simon and Bram on
Instagram, he’s become something of a local legend because of something I’ll
get back to. We get a brief recap of Love, Simon but it’s not all that easy for
Victor. You see, Simon coming out to his parents and friends, whilst it was
awkward was never going to be a deal-breaker, but Victor’s worried (and as
season 2 suggests, rightly so) that it won’t be as easy for him, topping off
that he isn’t really sure of his own sexuality, something that comes up so
rarely in shows.
We flash back 24 hours and we see the Salazar family are, as
is often the way, moving into a new home in a new state. We see the full
family, Armando, the father, Isabel, the mother, Pilar, the sister and Adrian,
the younger brother. Would be a full house, if they could afford that, as it is
they’ve got a flat. We quickly find out that Pilar is less than happy about the
move, especially moving away from her boyfriend. They’ve moved from Texas, the
home of only the most rational of Americans… [note: This sarcasm was written before the BS abortion law]
We’re introduced to Felix, their upstairs neighbour and
fellow denizen of Creekwood High. He gives Victor a 2-way radio to communicate
so yeah, he’s already my favourite character. Victor tells Simon that whilst he
wasn’t miserable in Texas, he never felt truly free to be himself. He hoped for
a chance to start over, a big city likely being more open to him discovering his
sexuality.
He walks to school with Felix and we get a tale of how he
got hit in a crotch playing dodgeball and a jock named Andrew started a rumour
that it destroyed one of his testicles. This earned him the nickname
‘Lonestone’ which he’s since apparently reclaimed. You don’t say this isn’t
your standard Disney Family Fare. Yeah, I’m starting to see Disney’s side on
this and I am so sorry, not to Disney, of course.
We’re reintroduced to drama teacher and now vice-principal
Mrs Albright, who really should be a regular on this show but regrettably
hasn’t shown up since this episode. Turns out Mr Worth, the former Principal
was bit by a monkey in India and is now in quarantine. Insert your own Covid
joke here.
She calls Felix ‘Lonestone,’ then she’s dismissive of Victor
having Felix as a friend and my admiration for Mrs Albright takes a sudden
nosedive. I get teachers having favourites but this veers into her basically being
a participant in bullying Felix, and unless she’s being set up as an
antagonist, that’s not ok.
And she tells Victor the story of Simon and this gets back
to the problem I had with Love, Simon, in particular the ending. In the book,
it was a plea made privately and Bram chose to come out publicly in the aftermath, in
the film, Simon’s public declaration practically forced Bram to out himself. This
show’s taking that and running with it, for better and for worse.
Next up on the list of characters we’re introducing are Lake
and Mia, Lake makes the first impression by taking Victor’s photo, intending to
profile him on Creeksecrets, the Creekwood Tumblr. Mia is a little less
invasive. Lake asks if there’s anyone back home but whilst he wants to say he’s
still working through out his sexuality his actual answer is that he doesn’t
have anyone. Which is interesting as Mia and Victor connect quickly.
Next up is Benji, and Victor is immediately smitten as we
get that not completely tired cliché of a love song and slow motion to indicate
attraction. All that’s missing is some animated hearts. Naturally their initial
exchange is awkward as hell. Felix tells him that Benji’s gay, but thinks that
Victor is straight so…
But not everywhere is accepting and the locker-room is
definitely one of the less accepting places. It’s here we meet Andrew, more on
him later. It’s basketball and Victor shows that he’s quite a prodigy, easily
taking the ball from Andrew and gaining enough respect from the coach, who is
really desperate for a trophy. Victor is invited onto the team but it costs
$500 for uniform and equipment and Victor’s family is hardly in a position to
pay for that.
Andrew could tell and started a go-fund-me behind Victor’s
back. How exactly was Victor supposed to receive the money, or was Andrew going
to pay on Victor’s behalf? I don’t know whether or not Andrew had good
intentions with that act, it’s possible, but he really should’ve asked first,
and being a jerk when Victor confronts him about it and asks him to stop is not
really defensible.
And making matters worse, Lake posts about this event saying
it’s Victor that has a short fuse. Frankly he didn’t lose his temper here so…
But he does after, Felix, for all his charm does chat on a bit, and when you’re
at your wits end as it is… Victor snaps.
But he’s not the only one that did, Pilar snapped too and
pushed someone into a wall, earning herself a week of detention and making the
atmosphere at the house less than cosy. Victor acts as a mediator but then
can’t bring himself to talk about his first day. Victor asks his mother about
these arguments and admits it’s not always sunshine and roses, she calls Victor
her rock, showcasing the special relationship these two share, that will make
what happens in season 2 all the more tragic.
So, we’re back at the beginning with Victor messaging Simon.
Before using the radio to contact and apologise to Felix. The two head to the
winter carnival and get a few tickets to enjoy festivities. Simon decided to
respond to Victor despite the most memorable part of the message being ‘screw
you.’
They say it’s been ‘a few years’ since the events of Love,
Simon. Simon was a Junior when we met him in the book, pretty sure he was a
senior in the film. Given that Simon and Bram spent their first year at
different colleges (again, assuming the film and books line up) we’re at least
2 or 3 years on at this point. Simon signs off “Love, Simon” which… dude! You
don’t know this kid.
Anyway, Victor’s navel-gazing at Benji, but decides rather
than asking him, he’d ask Mia to ride the Ferris Wheel with him. We’ll find out
later that Benji has a boyfriend, so that’s a bullet dodged right there.
So first episode gives me a sense of this show, I like that
this isn’t the same Story as Love, Simon. There’s no antagonist and he’s not
being blackmailed or anything like that. Discovering oneself is a classic plotline
for a coming-of-age story and it’s done pretty well. Its weakness appears to be
when it tries too hard to be funny, something carried over from Love, Simon.
Rating 7.5/10
Stoplight Party
I remember hearing about these at Uni, I’m not a party-goer
so it interested me about as much as dental surgery but let’s see what their
spin on it is.
We open with Victor on the Ferris Wheel again, this time
with Benji, but as they move in for the kiss the crowd below all boo and his
family look on in shame. Yeah, this is a dream, naturally.
They didn’t have opening credits in the first episode, but I
like them here, the song’s pretty good and catchy. Pilar’s in a grouchy mood
discovering her boyfriend back in Texas liked an Instagram post of another girl. Victor brings
the subject to money for the basketball team, with his parents suggesting that he get an
after-school job to pay for it.
Armando later remarks that it’s not his fault they had to
move, a statement I question quite heavily given later revelations but I
digress. Lake has put the news of his ride with Mia on the Ferris wheel on
Creek Secrets, torpedoing any hopes of Victor having a quiet second day. They
stop at a coffee shop and Victor sees that they’re hiring.
Mia’s father’s a little absentee I might say. She’s not a legal
adult, should she be home alone for long periods? Anyway, he’s in Berlin doing
something, I’m sure and Lake suggests they throw a party. Mia also felt an
attraction to Victor as he isn’t the usual kind of High School Jock/Perv that
normally falls for her.
Felix has a bit of a thing for Lake and asks Victor to help, apparently, he’s been writing a novel about them…
So thanks to Creek Secrets, Victor has become popular
overnight. At Lunch Victor talks to Mia and Lake and Felix decides it’s a good
moment to inject himself into the conversation too. Anyway, the party is
official, and Lake tells them it’s a stoplight party, which is the first Mia
knew of this. Felix advises Victor to wear yellow.
Lake, it seems, has eyes for Andrew, who shows he is
absolutely a jerk in this scene. Victor hands in his application to the coffee
shop and finds that Benji is also a barista there. He’s apparently the
assistant manager, he shows Victor how to make coffee and Victor we got more
slo-mo and jazz music, plus innuendos.
Erm, Victor, you just spilt steaming hot milk on your hand,
maybe react to the burning pain before apologising for spilling the milk. He
runs out in embarrassment, coming home to find a yellow t-shirt to wear to the
party.
Lake has decided to wear red because… she’s an idiot. Mia is
wearing black to be subversive. Book Leah would’ve been proud… Actually, she
wants the relationship to start, if it does start, naturally and not because of
a party game. Party’s pretty busy, filled with extras wearing a mix of our 3
colours, though only a few in red. Lake’s tactic backfires because Andrew
really isn’t that interested in her. Victor starts chatting the basketball team, leaving
Felix on his own.
Felix tries to flirt with Lake but she’s not interested
either. When one of his teammates asks if he’s friends with ‘that loser’ he
says no. F*ck me, this again. You are the king of being lead, Mr Salazar!
Speaking of that Andrew gives him the green jacket, saying that wearing yellow
makes him come off as desperate. Mia does don a yellow jacket and walks around
the party. She’s disheartened to see Victor in the green jacket and takes hers
off, we see that might be part of Andrew’s plan.
Pilar is still looking at her boyfriend’s Instagram, he’s
now tagged in a photo with another girl. Isabelle walks in on her taking photos
with her top off, obviously they can’t go the whole hog here because that would
be f*cking creepy but without it, this doesn’t really work. Isabelle warns her
that it could result in making things far worse, but ultimately decides to
trust her as even without her phone, there are other ways she could do it.
Lake is hanging around Andrew, now exceptionally desperate.
Felix catches up with Victor, noticeably drunk and this is the primary reason
why Disney dropped it from Disney+. Frankly that makes less sense than some of the
other stuff they do. Victor gets a text from Simon with some more life advice,
including one bit that resonates “don’t be so eager to fit in that you betray
yourself and the people you care about.”
And just outside, Felix has fallen asleep and the jocks are
writing on his face. Victor eventually stands up for him and takes him away.
Meanwhile, Pilar’s night doesn’t get much better, her boyfriend has decided he
doesn’t want to do long-distance and has broken up with her. Isabelle is there
to console her in a really sweet scene.
Victor takes Felix upstairs and runs into Mia, after some
effort to help Felix, the two begin to talk. I’ll spare you the details for a
later episode but again the two seem to connect, helped when Victor takes off
the jacket and reveals he was wearing yellow. Victor takes Felix home, past
curfew but lucky for him it’s Armando who answered the door, who’s more
interested in how it went with Mia.
But just as Victor’s about to settle for Mia, he gets a call
from Benji. There weren’t any other applicants for the Barista job so it’s his,
despite the less than stellar interview. OK, I’m calling bullsh*t. No-one else
wanted the job? You really expect me to buy that? Not everyone in the world is
at high school. Plus, jobs look good on college applications. Still, needing the
money, he says yes and that does mean spending a lot of time with Benji.
This is a strong episode, again better when it’s not trying
too hard to be funny, no inappropriate teachers though so it already gets a
score boost
Rating 8/10
Battle of the Bands
Victor’s email to Simon… He compares Mia to the impossible
burger, yeah, this is going to work out so well. What he means is he wasn’t
sure he was going to like girls until he tried to, they remember bisexuality is
a thing, remember in the books Leah is bisexual but I digress. Victor meets Mia
in a metalwork shop where she’s using a blowtorch without supervision, huh.
Apparently, it’s her dad’s and she managed to smuggle it into the school.
Victor asks her out, inviting her to the Battle of the Bands
at the coffee shop. Mia agrees, saying she was planning to go with Lake anyway.
Pilar is helping her mother make a Facebook profile so she
can keep in contact with everyone back home. She’s done 2 hours of hair and
makeup to look good for some profile pictures. Armando is smitten and offers to
take the look ‘out on the town.’
Lake and Andrew are in detention for… I’m not really sure
what Lake did, but Andrew is just a jerk. Can that nagging voice season 2 says
he has in the back of his head get a little louder, please! Turns out Lake’s
mom is a TV host, something we’ll come back to. Hearing that Mia is dating
Victor, Andrew offers to take Lake, something she’s all too happy about.
Felix tells Victor he plans to win Lake’s heart by DJing at
the battle of the bands. He’s never actually performed before and hasn’t worked
out his DJ disguise because all DJs have one of those apparently. I hear a
bucket on your head is pretty much the norm, with the downside (debatably) of
not really being able to see what you’re doing.
It’s end of day and Victor and Benji are talking about the
easy listening, he’s been working there for 5 hours, he’s doing Basketball in
the morning, and regular high school in between, when does he sleep? Anyway,
Victor gets out his phone so they can sync up some proper music. Apparently
Baby Shark is his most played song, he apparently plays it for Adrian… I feel
like Adrian’s too old for it. In that he isn’t a baby, but moving on. Call me
Maybe, yikes, is this 2012? He apparently made up a dance for it involving
ass-shaking, he was what, 10.
It’s another cute moment between him and Benji, and we find
out that Benji is in fact the lead singer in a band himself. Not wanting his
feelings toward Benji to drive the whole thing awry, he tells Benji he and Mia doing something else and quickly texts Mia saying he has a new plan for
tomorrow. And that new plan is an art exhibition, hence the foreshadowing of
the sculpting from earlier. It’s a relatively small exhibit, mostly focusing on
trash pollution.
One other perhaps unintended consequence of this decision is
Victor is no longer there for Felix either. He greets Lake but she’s still
totally uninterested. She goes to Andrew who is also totally uninterested. I’d
draw a diagram but I’d be here all day. She over-reacts to his jokes, “fart
gallery,” hilarious.
Isabelle and Armando are out for Sushi and shots, it goes
pretty well for them. Meanwhile, Felix is DJ F-bomb. And he has a cartoon bomb
on his head, it starts out ok but his inability to see through the head
ultimately kinda ruins it. Yeah, again, their attempts to be funny fall kinda
flat with me. Lake ain’t stupid and one too many questions about Mia clues her
into Andrew’s game.
So they enter an area covered in sheets. I don’t think they
had much budget for this gallery. It gives them a private space to kiss, and
they agree to go back to Battle of the Bands, which Victor remarks that they
should have just done in the first place.
At home, Pilar accepts a friend request by someone named
Roger R. She doesn’t know who that is. But he quickly sends a message
“I know we’re not supposed to be talking but… I miss you”
This has Pilar suspicious, and it’s only made worse for the
audience after a remark from Isabelle on the date. Andrew at least has the
decency to apologise to Lake over using her to get to Mia, he says it’s
complicated why he hasn’t tried to ask her out already. Felix comes over and
she doesn’t even realise he was DJ F-Bomb.
Victor and Mia arrive, just in time for the victor’s (ha,
pun) performance and it is Benji of course. And it’s of Call Me Maybe. How did
he convince his bandmates to do this? This kinda feels like a declaration but
as we find out, he has a boyfriend. Isabelle has earned the ire of both Armando
and Pilar.
It’s another solid episode, it hypes the drama and throws a
couple of wrenches into the works. If anything, this works out better for
Victor. Simon’s bits feel almost like padding at this point.
Rating 7.5/10
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