Stream on Disney Plus
Based on 3 seasons, 28 episodes · through June 15, 2022
Love, Victor is a teen drama show about a high school boy named Victor. The show follows Victor as he moves to a new city, makes new friends, and struggles to accept that he is gay. The entire story centers on queer teen romance, coming out, and identity struggles. It heavily features themes of deconstructing traditional Catholic family values and unlearning prejudice. These social-justice and LGBTQ themes are highly visible and drive almost every episode.
Why 95%? See the score breakdownBreakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Love, Victor.
Woke representation / casting
The show puts diverse casting at the center of the story. The main character, Victor, is a gay teenager from a working-class Colombian-American family. Other main characters include his gay boyfriend Benji and a gay Muslim classmate named Rahim. The casting choices emphasize different racial and sexual identities. This makes diversity the most visible part of the show's design.
85%
Woke political dialogue
The dialogue often focuses on coming out and teaching others about gay identity. Characters frequently talk about how hard it is to live in a traditional world. They discuss unlearning old prejudices. While the show does not use heavy academic political jargon, the script is clearly written to teach viewers about acceptance and LGBTQ struggles.
68%
Identity-driven story themes
Self-discovery and gay identity are the most important themes of the entire show. Across all three seasons, the plot focuses on Victor coming out, dating other boys, and finding his place in the gay community. His sexuality is the main driver of the story, making identity politics the center of every major plot line.
95%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The show is highly critical of traditional religious beliefs and cultural norms. It specifically critiques Catholic teachings on sexuality. Victor's mother's religious faith is shown as a major problem that she must overcome. A local Catholic priest is shown in a bad light for teaching that homosexuality is a sin. Traditional family values are portrayed as old-fashioned prejudices that must be unlearned.
78%
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
0%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Conservative groups and family advocates strongly criticized the show. They were angry when Disney decided to put this mature, gay-themed series on Disney+. Critics argued that scenes about teen gay sex and gay bars were not suitable for a children's platform. Government media regulators in Turkey also fined the streaming service for showing content that went against traditional family values.
70%
Creator track record context
The show's creators have mild personal profiles, but many writers on the team are active LGBTQ advocates. Writers like Jen Braeden, Marcos Luevanos, and J.C. Lee have long histories of writing stories focused on queer identity. Producer Adam Fishbach has also worked on progressive projects about race and social issues. This gives the creative team a strong progressive lean.
55%
Production
