Netflix’s Hollywood Arts Revives Victorious With Trina Vega, but Critics Spot a Familiar Formula

Thirteen years after Victorious took its final bow on Nickelodeon, Netflix is sending viewers back to the Los Angeles performing arts school at the center of the show. The new spinoff, Hollywood Arts, runs for 12 episodes and now streams on the platform. Daniella Monet returns as Trina Vega, the self-absorbed older sister of original star Tori Vega.

Critics have given the series a mixed reception. Many describe it as a largely unoriginal return to a well-worn television formula, yet some also see charm in its lighthearted tone. The show seems aimed at two audiences at once: viewers who grew up with the original and kids who have never heard of it.

Trina Steps Into the Spotlight

Creators Jake Farrow and Samantha Martin build the comedy around Trina, a struggling actress who lives in the shadow of her superstar sister. Victoria Justice played Tori in the original series. With no acting gigs on the horizon, Trina has grown weary of taking handouts from Tori.

She finds a way out by returning to Hollywood Arts as a substitute teacher, even though she has little experience to qualify her for the job. Her path to the classroom opens when Mr. Sikowitz, played again by Eric Lane, abruptly retires. Principal Helen, played by Yvette Nicole Brown, then announces she has found a temporary instructor.

Trina arrives wearing impractical stilettos and clutching a massive Stanley cup. At first she plans to coast through what she hopes will be a brief tenure. Over time, though, she realizes her eccentric lessons and ideas can inspire a new class of performers.

Meet the New Class of Performers

The new students give the series its own set of storylines. Qwest, played by Peyton Jackson, is a musician who has lied to his parents about attending Hollywood Arts on a basketball scholarship. Oscar, played by Martin Kamm, is the school’s biggest star.

His sister Emmy, played by Alyssa Miles, goes by the nickname Techie. She works solely behind the scenes as a stage manager and runs the school’s social media accounts. Frenemies Jen (Erika Swayze) and Pepper (Emmy Liu-Wang) stay in constant competition with each other.

The teens initially hope to get inside information about Tori. They quickly learn that Trina has no real insight into the entertainment industry. One review notes that Trina becomes more invested after she discovers Emmy’s untapped singing potential, which pushes her to act like a proper teacher, and a proper adult.

Critics Question How Much Is New

Variety critic Aramide Tinubu criticizes the show’s exaggerated performances, awkward dialogue and resemblance to earlier children’s sitcoms. The review calls the series a near-carbon copy of its predecessor. It suggests that viewers familiar with Victorious may find little that feels fresh.

Another review echoes that concern and says the series looks like an outright attempt to copy the original, right down to some casting choices. It also points to a confined feeling that likely comes from a limited budget. That critic adds that the show leans on musical performances instead of storytelling, and calls the two-part premiere interminably long.

The same review describes Monet’s comedy as incredibly broad, with a lot of arm-waving. It also notes that Trina’s life outside the school stays vague. Tori never appears on screen, and a few stray phone calls to her are the only tangential connections to Monet’s past role.

Where the Spinoff Finds Its Footing

Despite those complaints, the critics find bright spots. Tinubu identifies a promising element in Trina herself. As a woman in her thirties who remains uncertain about her career and future, she offers a relatable portrayal of adulthood for younger viewers.

That approach separates her from the adults in many earlier kid-centered shows, who appear as frumpy old folks or seem to live on a different planet. The students also face real questions about their talents, ambitions and place in the performing arts world. The review praises the ensemble’s comic timing, physical performances and musical abilities, singling out Emmy Liu Wang‘s singing.

The other review calls the young cast solid. It also describes the series as typical of what Nickelodeon offers kids today, with a heavy focus on performing arts jobs and social media. The tone stays light-hearted and unserious, much like the shows that served as the crown jewels of Nickelodeon and Disney Channel in the early 2000s.

Who Will Want to Watch

Whether Hollywood Arts wins over a new generation may depend on how closely Gen Alpha’s tastes match those of Gen Z. If they do, Variety’s review suggests the show will charm young viewers with a Lisa Frank-esque vision of what high school could be. The review also admits the series will not gain many viewers with fully formed frontal lobes.

The creators do capture something specific about being a millennial through Trina, who is a thirtysomething without her life together. That angle gives longtime fans a reason to check in. It also gives younger viewers a character who feels more human than the typical sitcom grown-up.

Although the series does not break new ground, it could appeal to preteen audiences who want a lighthearted school comedy. All 12 episodes are available on Netflix, which gives younger viewers a fresh entry point into the franchise and brings back a familiar character for fans of the original.