I started watching Violetta over the summer, just to have something to watch while I am doodling or doing administrative things that don't require my full attention. I must admit that I kind of enjoy these shows. It's a telenovela, each show lasts 40 minutes or longer and there are 80 or more episodes each season. I prefer shows that are longer and have more content, although in Violetta it is sometimes redundant. Apart from that, the actors are all okay to good looking and the acting is pretty standard for Disney. I would not recommend watching the English dub, it's horrible. English dub's are generally more terrible and I hate the fact that they dub the songs too. Now to some more negative points: I HATE the fact they introduce(!) a show with plot holes. We don't really find out how old Violetta is and they never answer the question what kind of institution the Studio is. Is it a music school or a Conservatory? If it is so expensive, how can Violetta enroll and pay tuition without her control-freak father finding out about that? Do the other people there go to school? Their lives seem to be centered around the studio. How old are they? I find it pretty delusional about life as the writers seem to be incapable of including such substantial information.
Also, I abhor Ludmilla. Some of the things she does are outright illegal, I don't understand why she never gets punished. Moreover, she claims to be the best singer and she is considered one of the best singers in the studio, but her voice is actually pretty weak in comparison to Camilla's voice and her singing is perceived as underaverage.
Speaking of music, in the show the characters are not only constantly lying to each other but also to us. Everyone thinks Violetta is the best singer. I mean, she is really pretty and has star qualities, but she is by far not the best singer. Her intonation is often far off and she only has a limited and low register. Moreover, whenever Leon is playing the piano, Violetta goes: "Oh my goad you are a wonderful pianist", even if he is just playing four chords that any beginner can play. It is even worse when Violetta plays the piano, because she seems to think that it requires lifting up her shoulders, it looks so fake. I just don't understand why they can't do a basic "How to look like you are actually playing an instrument" when all the actors are "playing" an instrument in every episode. And sometimes they are rehearsing with instruments that you cannot hear, which I find rather interesting.
I just think the writers/directors should not try to convey that they are talented by constantly putting it into the script, but by actually choosing talented people. No offense, but it feels like they are manipulating us to think like it is good. Some actors are very good singers and performers.
In summa, make your own picture of Violetta. I like that it is musicy and encourages people to follow their dreams, I just wish there weren't as many plot holes. There is a lot more, but I am too lazy to rant on.
Have fun.
