Happyland
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Strong female lead rescues otherwise so-so teen soap.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Happyland
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
HAPPYLAND follows Lucy Velez (Bianca Santos), an industrious teen who's lived her whole life in the theme park where mom, Elena (Camille Guaty), is the long-running main attraction. Despite a solid job of her own in Happyland, Lucy yearns for more than the superficial, economically stagnant existence there, but fate seems determined to stand in her way of leaving. And then there's Ian Chandler (Shane Harper), the smug heir-apparent of the park itself who has taken a liking to her and wears down her defense ... that is, until it comes to light that a brief romance between Elena and Ian's dad actually begat Lucy. Even her relationship with her friend Harper (Katherine McNamara) has its sticking points, thanks to Harper's boyfriend's (Cameron Mouléne) unrequited attraction to his longtime friend Lucy. As the show progresses, Lucy learns that growing up is never easy but that, with friends and family by your side, it can be manageable.
Is It Any Good?
Happyland is a soapy dramedy geared toward teens, which makes the Disneyland-esque theme park setting and elaborate character costumes a little corny. But as the story evolves, even they serve a purpose as visual reinforcements of the show's comparison between fantasy life and reality and Lucy's struggle to find her place on one side or the other. Teens may or may not relate to the main character's specific challenges with regard to family and life situation, but they will see some familiar issues arise in rocky relationships and roadblocks to the characters' success.
Happily, the show uses these coming-of-age topics to bolster a decent female lead who copes with adversity in admirable ways, even if some of her circumstances are a little far-fetched and the plot fairly mundane. Although Lucy has high standards for herself, though, the same can't always be said of those around her, and teens will see and hear of instances of alcohol and drug use among other negative behavior that rarely yields consequences. The bottom line? Happyland doesn't break any new ground, and its incest-tainted premise is a little bizarre, but it does touch on some issues that likely relate to your teens' lives.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about relationships. Are the romantic relationships your teen sees among her peers always committed? Is casual contact and/or sex considered OK, or is it frowned upon? What are the risks of casual encounters?
Is Lucy a strong role model for teens, and girls in particular? What traits make her an admirable character? What traits don't? How does she use the life she leads to inspire her quest for something different?
What do your teens think is this show's intended message? Does its setting in an elaborate theme park do it any favors, or is this a distraction from the heartier content?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 30, 2014
- Cast: Shane Harper, Bianca Santos, Camille Guaty
- Network: MTV
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More, Friendship, High School
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: October 14, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Comedy TV Shows for Teens
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate