LoliRock

Name: LoliRock
Item: LoliRock
Rating: 3
Author: Emily Ashby

TV review by

Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media

Popular with kids

Common Sense says

age 6+

(i)

Magic, fantasy, and a girl band make for fun series.

Save

Rate TV

Watch or buy

Parents say

age 8+

Based on 22 reviews

Kids say

age 8+

Based on 49 reviews

Get it now

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

Get it now on

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

X of Y

Did this review miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive, diverse representations in books, TV shows, and movies. Want to help us help them? Suggest a diversity update

A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

Educational Value

The show intends to entertain rather than to educate.

Positive Messages

The series suggests that personal destiny is predetermined and that no choices a person makes can change her path. Iris embraces hers, though, and assumes responsibility for saving her realm and the people in it. To do so, she must learn to trust her new companions and herself. A selfless act saved her when her mother sent her away for her safety; now she must show that same level of selflessness and love in battling evil.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Iris begins the story lacking self-confidence, but in learning her true identity, she finds the strength to embrace her gifts and unlock her power. Talia and Auriana guide and mentor her, and the three battle evil forces to free their kingdoms. Gramorr and his soldiers, Mephisto and Praxina, are greedy for power and desperate to maintain their hold on the lands they conquered.

Violence & Scariness

Characters have powers that let them summon massive crystals to block their enemies and smaller ones they can shoot at each other. Villains trap people in crystals as well, and they smash buildings, houses, streets, and anything else that gets in their way. No injuries are visible, though.

Sexy Stuff

Language

Name-calling such as "jerk" and "fool," plus "butt."

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that LoliRock is the story of a teen who's shocked to discover she's actually a long-lost princess and her kingdom's only hope for freedom from a menacing sorcerer. Iris is kind and always looking to help others, so transitioning to the role of magical princess isn't much of a stretch, and she's guided by new friends and fellow princesses. When they battle the show's villains, there's little injury, but there is a lot of destruction and some entrapment of people. Expect to hear some name-calling such as "jerk" and "fool," and Iris and her friends must lie to keep their identities a secret.

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Parent of a 3-year-old Written bySara H. February 19, 2017

age 2+

Magical princesses.

Honestly, for the most part it's not too different from any G rated movie we let your 2 year olds watch. Frozen has a princess with a magical ice power. On... Continue reading

Report this review

Adult Written byKandiroxi September 19, 2018

age 4+

Pretty good Compared to other kids shows

I’ve never heard cussing in this show. If I’ve missed it that goes to show you just how little it was. My 4, 6 and 8 year olds watch this show. It’s definitely... Continue reading

Report this review

Teen, 15 years old Written byAimeeAB January 3, 2018

age 6+

To Address The 'Swearing'

Despite what you may think, in many places around Europe, unless you're very religious, saying hell isn't classed as a curse word. This show was origi... Continue reading

Report this review

Teen, 15 years old Written byNerdfromthenet August 21, 2016

age 7+

Don't see what the fuss is about

I know that some people are upset of the use of "Hell yeah!" It was only used once in the entire season and it wasn't used in a hurtful way. If a... Continue reading

Report this review

What's the story?

Iris (voiced by Kazumi Evans) has a secret: When she sings, strange and powerful things happen around her. She's never understood why, but it doesn't stop her from auditioning for a girl band looking for a new voice. Suddenly a new destiny unfolds before her when a couple of villains -- Mephisto (Vincent Tong) and Praxina (Kelly Sheridan) -- descend on her and she's saved by Talia (Ashleigh Ball) and Auriana (Tabitha St. Germain), who identify themselves as princesses from magical realms. What's even more shocking is that Iris is a princess, too, heiress to the throne of Ephedia and destined to save her people from the evil sorcerer Gramorr (Mackenzie Gray). Now the three girls must find a way to defeat Gramorr and find Iris's parents -- when they're not performing onstage to huge crowds, that is.

Is it any good?

As heroines go, kids could do worse than this trio of teen dynamos who are talented (musically and magically), altruistic, and devoted to the worthy cause of freeing their realms. As with so many hero/heroine stories, this necessitates a hefty dose of duplicity on the part of the good gals, who must guard their secret (i.e., lie) even from the people closest to them, but that's a prerequisite for this kind of displaced-magical-being tale. What's good to know is that Iris especially is motivated by kindness and compassion, which unlocks her most powerful magic: love.

Magic crystals, oracle gems, nefarious villains, and a newbie heroine learning the ropes of her powers make for an entertaining series overall. At the same time, the dual storyline feels a little awkward and forced at times, and one has to wonder whether promoting the show's music is a motivation in the setup. Either way, LOLIROCK will garner some fans among kids, especially those with a soft spot for tales of magical kingdoms and unwitting princesses.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about what destiny is and whether such a force really exists. How do our choices change the course of our lives? Do you think we're driven by a destiny we have little control over? How does our current situation (where we live, our socioeconomic status, and so on) influence our future?
Are Iris, Talia, and Auriana good role models? What motivates them? Do you know of people in the real world who give themselves over to a selfless cause like these characters do? Who are your real-life heroes?
Kids: These teens fight evil in a literal sense, but what negative influences do you face at school or in your community? Do you meet them head-on, or does avoiding them altogether do the job? To whom do you turn when you need guidance on a difficult issue?