Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kissing, rebellious behavior in fun middle school drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Riv4lries
What's the Story?
The Italian young adult drama RIV4RIES follows a group of middle school outsiders who decide to challenge the popular kids at school and the rivalries that form as a result. Terry (Kartika Malavasi) has just arrived from Rome and is starting school at Montalcini Middle School in Pisa. At the top of the school's social hierarchy are the popular kids known as "The Insiders," which is headed up by Claudio (Samuele Carrino) along with his best friend Dario (Edoardo Miulli) and their friend Sabrina (Eugenia Cableri). But Terry isn't daunted by the popular kids, and is more than happy to disrupt the status quo and help "The Outsiders"—including Marzia (Melissa Di Pasca), Alessio (Joseph Figueroa), Paolo (Duccio Orlando), and Luca (Lorenzo Ciamei)—stake their claim. But when the school principal builds a wall across their football (soccer) pitch and begins to implement stricter rules, the students have to figure out how to work together to change things.
Is It Any Good?
The youth-oriented dramatic comedy, a spinoff of the Italian series Di4ries, features universal themes that will appeal to preteens and young teens. Riv4lries features all the friendship turmoil, young love, and rebellion against authority and the status quo that one would expect from the genre. Terry and the rest of the cast learn more about themselves and others as they negotiate friendships and bullies, fall in love, endure breakups, and deal with the everyday ups and downs that comes with being in Italy's version of middle school. Granted, some of Terry's actions, and those of some of her classmates, cross the line when it comes to respecting authority, but there are some consequences and a few lessons learned throughout. Meanwhile, to amp up the fun, Riv4lries invites viewers into the fray by breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to the TV audience at key moments. Overall, the series offers some entertaining middle school excitement that pre-teens will find entertaining.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the ways Terry (and other students) choose to challenge authority. Are they always constructive? What are the consequences?
How is Riv4lries attempting to appeal to U.S. viewers? How does it compare to youth dramas produced in North America?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 1, 2025
- Cast : Kartika Malavasi , Samuele Carrino , Melissa Di Pasca
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship , School ( Middle School ) , Sports ( Gymnastics , Soccer )
- Character Strengths : Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 25, 2025
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