Some iconicVictorious characters return but nostalgia does heavy lifting

Thirteen years after the Nickelodeon series Victorious ended, Netflix returns to the Los Angeles performing arts high school in its new 2026 series, Hollywood Arts. Early episodes refer to past characters and flashbacks, keeping the show connected to its roots, but nostalgia and established characters do most of the heavy lifting, while the new storylines struggle to leave an impression.

The show follows Trina Vega, with Daniella Monet reprising her role as Tori Vega’s less-talented older sister. Trina returns to her alma mater as a substitute teacher after Erwin Sikowitz, played again by Eric Lange, announces his retirement. Still living in Tori’s shadow, Trina tries to rebuild her reputation at Hollywood Arts by inspiring five students to become confident performers.

The talented young cast is led by Alyssa Miles as Emmy and Martin Kamm as her brother, Oscar, the big star of Hollywood Arts. The main group of students brings plenty of energy and personality, but the writing doesn’t give the actors enough room to develop their characters beyond the familiar teen-show archetypes. Like the original, the series benefits from a relatable, age-appropriate cast, but its reliance on cringey Generation Z and Generation Alpha references undermines that appeal.

The show is lighthearted and doesn’t take itself too seriously, with episodes revolving around hijinks, performing arts schemes and teenage romance. The randomness that made audiences fall in love with Victorious still lives in Hollywood Arts, but modern twists that feel more cringey than timely leave the show trying to recreate the original’s charm rather than finding its own. Even the updated version of “The Slap,” now called “The Dap,” (Hollywood Arts’ social media platform familiar to fans of the original) makes the show’s reliance on nostalgia all the more apparent.

The series is also packed with Nickelodeon cameos, with Matt Bennett reprising his role as fan favorite Robbie Shapiro and Yvette Nicole Brown returning as Principal Helen. The Hollywood Arts set is a near carbon copy of the original, bringing back familiar classrooms, hallways and the iconic lockers. Although the references sometimes feel awkwardly placed or forced, these familiar faces and spaces offer a welcome dose of nostalgia for Gen Z viewers.

The new series also falls short in the very area that made Victorious so memorable: the music. The original songs feel bland and do little to showcase the characters’ personalities, making the performances feel like interruptions rather than moments that bring the characters to life. 

Much of the original series’ rewatch value comes from songs audiences remember and love, such as “Best Friend’s Brother” and “Freak the Freak Out.” While covers of well-known songs offer some familiar appeal in the new series, they can’t make up for an original soundtrack that struggles to leave an impression.

Overall, Hollywood Arts is by no means a bad show, but if its goal is to draw loyal Victorious fans back to Netflix, it falls short. Returning characters and a familiar setting offer a welcome dose of nostalgia, but they can only do so much to make up for forgettable music and bland storylines. For a show about finding your voice, Hollywood Arts still seems unsure of its own.