Is Victorious Actually Appropriate? What Parents Need to Know About the Nickelodeon Classic
Victorious has a TV-G rating, but that's misleading. This Nickelodeon show about teens at a performing arts high school is packed with innuendo, romantic situations, and mature themes that sail right over younger kids' heads but land squarely with tweens and teens. Best for ages 10+, though many parents wait until 12+. If your kid loved iCarly, they'll probably want to watch this next—but be ready for some conversations.
Victorious ran from 2010-2013 on Nickelodeon and launched Ariana Grande's career (she played Cat Valentine, the bubbly redhead). The show follows Tori Vega as she navigates Hollywood Arts, a performing arts high school in LA, dealing with friendships, performances, and the typical teen drama you'd expect.
It's got that classic Dan Schneider formula (he also created iCarly, Drake & Josh, and others): quick-paced comedy, talented young performers, elaborate musical numbers, and... a whole lot of stuff that makes parents do a double-take.
Let's just say it: the TV-G rating on this show is wildly inaccurate. TV-G is supposed to mean "suitable for all ages." Victorious is not suitable for all ages.
The show is absolutely loaded with sexual innuendo. We're talking:
- Constant jokes about "wazz" (a made-up word that's clearly a stand-in for something else)
- References to "juice" in contexts that are... not about beverages
- Characters in compromising positions
- Dialogue that sounds innocent but is clearly written with a wink
- Foot jokes. So many foot jokes. (This is a Dan Schneider trademark and it's uncomfortable)
The thing is, a 7-year-old watching won't catch most of this. They'll see silly characters and fun songs. But a 12-year-old? They're going to get it. And honestly, that's kind of the problem—the show is written to fly under the radar for network censors while delivering content that's really aimed at older tweens and teens.
The innuendo is constant. If you're sensitive to sexual references in kids' media, this show will drive you up a wall. It's not explicit, but it's persistent. The writers clearly enjoyed seeing what they could get away with on a kids' network.
The characters aren't great role models. Jade (the "mean girl") is genuinely cruel to others, and it's often played for laughs. Cat gets progressively more ditzy and childlike as the series goes on in ways that feel uncomfortable. Beck and Jade's relationship is toxic—lots of jealousy, manipulation, and unhealthy dynamics that are never really addressed as problematic.
There's a lot of focus on appearance and dating. The girls are often in revealing outfits (not inappropriate for teens, but definitely styled for maximum appeal). Dating drama is constant. There's kissing, relationship drama, and a lot of emphasis on who likes whom.
The humor can be mean-spirited. Characters regularly insult each other, and bullying behavior is sometimes rewarded or goes unpunished. Trina (Tori's sister) is treated terribly by basically everyone, and we're supposed to find it funny.
But the talent is real. The kids on this show can actually sing and perform. The musical numbers are legitimately good, and if you've got a kid interested in theater or music, they might find that inspiring.
If your tween or teen is asking about Victorious, it's probably because:
- They discovered Ariana Grande and want to see where she started
- They loved iCarly or other Nickelodeon shows from this era and are working through the catalog
- Their friends have watched it and they want to be in on the references
- It's comfort TV - the show is silly, colorful, and doesn't require much emotional investment
- The musical performances are genuinely fun to watch
The show has had a resurgence on streaming platforms, so it's finding new audiences years after it ended.
Ages 6-9: Too much innuendo and relationship drama, even if they won't fully understand it. The mean-spirited humor isn't great for this age either. Try High School Musical: The Musical: The Series instead for performing arts content.
Ages 10-11: This is the borderline age. Some kids will be fine, others aren't ready. It depends on their maturity level and your family's comfort with innuendo. If you're going to allow it, watch the first few episodes together so you can gauge their reactions and have conversations about what they're seeing.
Ages 12+: Most kids this age can handle the content, though you might still want to discuss the relationship dynamics and mean behavior. They'll definitely catch the innuendo, so be prepared for that.
The real question: Is this the content you want them consuming? The show isn't harmful in a scarring way, but it's also not enriching. It's junk food TV—fine occasionally, but not something you'd want as a steady diet.
If your kid is watching Victorious, here are some conversation starters:
About relationships: "Beck and Jade fight a lot and seem really jealous. What do you think makes a healthy relationship?" This show is actually a great example of what NOT to do in relationships.
About meanness: "Jade is pretty cruel to people. Why do you think the show treats that as funny?" Talk about how entertainment sometimes glorifies behavior that would be hurtful in real life.
About the innuendo: If your older tween or teen is watching, they're going to pick up on the jokes. You can acknowledge it: "Yeah, the writers put in a lot of jokes that aren't really appropriate for a kids' show. What do you think about that?"
About talent and hard work: The one genuinely positive angle—these characters work hard at their craft. "The performances in this show are really good. What do you think it takes to get that skilled?"
If you're looking for performing arts content without the baggage:
- High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Disney+) - More wholesome, still has great music and teen drama
- Julie and the Phantoms (Netflix) - Genuinely sweet, great music, positive messages
- Glee (for older teens) - More mature but also more honest about what it is
- School of Rock (Nickelodeon) - Similar vibe but less problematic content
For more options, check out shows like Victorious.
Victorious isn't going to traumatize your kid, but it's also not the innocent TV-G content the rating suggests. It's best suited for ages 10-12+, depending on your family's values and your kid's maturity level.
The show has some genuine entertainment value—the musical performances are fun, the pace is quick, and it's colorful and silly. But it's also packed with innuendo, features unhealthy relationships, and has a mean streak that's played for laughs.
My take? If your tween really wants to watch it, it's not worth dying on this hill. But maybe watch a few episodes together first, set some expectations about what you'll talk about, and be ready to have conversations about why Jade's behavior isn't actually funny or why Beck and Jade's relationship isn't #goals.
And if you decide it's not right for your family? That's completely valid too. There are plenty of other shows for tweens that won't leave you wondering what the writers were thinking.
Want to dig deeper? Chat with Screenwise
about your specific situation—we can help you figure out if this show makes sense for your family based on your kid's age and your values.
Already watching? Use our conversation starters about media to turn screen time into connection time.
Looking for better options? Browse our guides to age-appropriate shows to find something that fits your family better.