🏺House of Anubis – Nickelodeon’s Forgotten YA Fever Dream, that we somehow liked when we were kids

Let’s be real—most of you probably forgot this teen drama even existed. This is one of those shows I liked for some reason… but tried rewatching and realized: no. This is just cringe.

Also no this isn’t a fever dream, even though it feels like one.

But I didn’t forget it. I lived through this fever dream at 7 PM sharp every week like it was appointment TV. Do I know why I was that dedicated? No. Do I regret it? Also no… but I should.

This is my review of House of Anubis, a show I somehow enjoyed back then and now cringe through like I’m watching my middle school talent show on tape.

—

🎵 Theme Song Check

Look, the show might be dripping in YA cringe energy, but I won’t lie—the theme song slaps. It’s catchy as hell. So catchy that part of me is mad I still hum it unironically. Nickelodeon knew what they were doing.

Also, this show had some banger music, here’s some of my favorite.

—

🧍 Character Breakdown

Victor Rodenmaar Jr. (Francis Magee) – Favorite character, no contest. He was the backbone of the show’s mystery tone. Gruff, intimidating, always yelling “SILENCE!” and somehow managing to be both terrifying and tragic. His obsession with the past and protection of the house gave him actual depth. The show was at its best when he was on-screen.

Also, his whole shtick was that he’s looking for the right ingredients to copy the elixir of life that his dad made, but the issue is that before his dad died he forgot to pass down the recipe.

Rufus Zeno aka “The Betrayer” (Roger Barclay) – Favorite villain. The only character who consistently felt like an actual threat. Creepy, cold, and unpredictable. Unlike most of the over-the-top drama, his presence gave the show genuine stakes. His scenes were unsettling in the best way.

We find out in season 2 he was the original Osirian, who is the protector of the chosen one.

Sarah Frobisher-Smythe – A mysterious and elderly former resident of Anubis House, Sarah was the last known Chosen One before Nina. As a child, she was part of the original quest to unlock the secrets of the Cup of Ankh. Traumatized by the events that followed, she grew up secluded and haunted by the past. She acts as a cryptic guide to Nina in Season 1, offering clues, warnings, and occasionally emotional support. Her tragic backstory adds emotional weight to the lore and helps establish the long history of Anubis House’s mysteries.

Also, she and Victor were close friends when growing up.

Nina Martin (Nathalia Ramos) – The main girl, chosen one, protagonist… but also kind of bland. She was fine in the role, but her constant brooding and whisper-talking gave off Twilight energy (minus the vampires). She had potential but was often reduced to solving riddles and being the center of love triangle drama.

Fabian Rutter (Brad Kavanagh) – Resident nice guy and intellectual. Had a bit of a doormat complex and zero chemistry with half the cast, but hey, he solved puzzles like a champ. Most of his dialogue felt like it was pulled straight from a book about “how to write a nerdy boy with a heart.”

Amber Millington (Ana Mulvoy Ten) – The classic blonde fashionista stereotype… but she actually grew on me. Initially written off as shallow, she got some character development and even helped with clues. Still, her voice was like nails on a chalkboard during high-stress scenes. Somehow made screaming feel scripted.

Patricia Williamson (Jade Ramsey) – The “angry girl” of the group. Had a chip on her shoulder 24/7. She was passionate and loyal, but wow did they crank her aggression to 11 for no reason. Half her scenes felt like she was yelling at people who were just trying to help.

Also in season 1, she was all about Where’s Joy? Someone took Joy!

But come season 2, she kinda just neglects her. Like oh right you exist, anyway.

Alfie Lewis (Alex Sawyer) – The comic relief. And by comic relief, I mean the walking embodiment of Nickelodeon humor™. His jokes were rarely funny, and he was the definition of “forced goofy energy.” Still, there were rare moments of heart from him… very rare.

Jerome Clarke (Eugene Simon) – The schemer. Always up to something and constantly giving “I’ll be the villain in Season 3” vibes. He had the potential to be complex, but they mostly kept him in side plots that felt disconnected from the main story.

Mara Jaffray (Tasie Lawrence) – The quiet girl. Honestly? A background character that kept getting pushed into love triangle plots. Deserved better but was mostly just there.

Joy Mercer (Klariza Clayton) – The girl with the missing season. When she returned, her arc had a lot of promise, but it got lost in the relationship drama. I wanted more mystery from her—less “which boy do I like today?”

Mick Campbell (Bobby Lockwood) – The jock. Literally just the jock. I don’t know what else to say. He had one job: look confused, lift weights, and exist in a triangle with Mara and Jerome at one point. 🏋️‍♂️


🧔‍♂️ Mr. Sweet (Francis Magee)

Mr. Sweet is the strict but fair headmaster of the school. At first glance, he seems like the typical authoritarian principal — uptight, rule-abiding, and always keeping an eye on the Anubis House students. But there’s more to him than meets the eye. He has a complex moral code, often caught between upholding order and hiding deeper secrets about the school’s history and hidden societies. Over time, his personal and professional loyalties become more entangled.

Notable Trait: He plays a double game — presenting himself as a rule enforcer while occasionally bending them to protect those he cares about.

Relationship: He’s also the father of one of the main students, which causes tension between his duties as headmaster and as a parent.

🧑‍🎤 Eddie Sweet (Burkely Duffield)

Eddie is introduced later in the series and is revealed to be Mr. Sweet’s son. He’s the classic rebellious new student — sarcastic, confident, and often questioning authority. He clashes with others at first but becomes deeply involved in the mysteries surrounding Anubis House. Eddie has a key connection to the supernatural elements of the story and, over time, becomes a central player in uncovering hidden truths.

Notable Trait: Sharp-witted and skeptical, but grows more mature as his arc deepens.

Dynamic: His relationship with Mr. Sweet is rocky — built on misunderstandings, resentment, and eventually respect.

🧙‍♀️ Miss Denby (Susy Kane)

Miss Denby is a teacher with mysterious motives, introduced in later seasons. She’s more than just a member of the faculty — she’s secretly tied to the secret society that Victor leads, and her calm, intelligent exterior masks a far more calculating mind. While she doesn’t often raise suspicion among students, her presence signals danger.

Notable Trait: Polished and professional, but with chilling composure when her true loyalties emerge.

Role in the Cult: Works closely with Victor and others behind the scenes, helping move their ancient plans forward under the guise of school discipline.

👩‍🍳 Trudy – The housekeeper and maternal figure to the students. Trudy’s the only true adult presence who isn’t wrapped up in cult secrets or weird plots. She cares deeply for the kids and often provides warmth and comic relief. She’s basically the only sane adult in the house.


—

👟 K.T. Rush (Alexandra Shipp)
K.T. is introduced in Season 3 as the new American student at Anubis House, stepping into the mystery-solver role after Nina’s sudden departure. While she starts off as an outsider, she quickly becomes wrapped up in the secret society plotline and forms a key bond with Eddie. Her motivations are more personal—driven by cryptic messages from her late grandfather, who had ties to the ancient order. K.T. is brave, inquisitive, and a little more assertive than Nina, but her arc never fully lands due to the show’s rushed pacing and tonal shift in its final season. Still, she brought fresh energy and had potential… if only the writers hadn’t thrown her into the mess that was Season 3’s plot.


—

Let me know if you want her added to the Spoiler Section summary too, especially how she ties into the Forobashier arc.



—

✅ Pros

Surprisingly committed mystery lore (when it worked)

Victor’s intimidating presence

Rufus being an actual threat

That theme song. Still stuck in my head.

Genuinely intriguing concepts at times (Egyptian mythology, secret societies)


❌ Cons

Cringe overload on rewatch

YA drama clichés everywhere

Dialogue that feels like it was AI-generated by a teen in 2009

Most of the main cast is just there

Some twists are eye-roll levels of bad

The pacing is rough—some episodes feel like nothing happens


⭐ Final Rating: 6.5/10

A weird, cringe-laced relic of early 2010s Nickelodeon that somehow got so close to being cool… but tripped over its own drama tropes and fell face-first into a sarcophagus. Still, I won’t lie—there’s something strangely watchable about it, even now.

—

⚠️ Spoilers ahead, y’all been warned

—

🗝️ Spoiler Section

Let’s break it down season by season—and yes, it gets progressively dumber.

Season 1:

The villain is Victor himself (sorta), acting as the gatekeeper to the Cup of Ankh. He’s not truly evil, just misguided and obsessed with the past. The show works best here—mystery, codes, Egyptian lore, and a solid build-up. The whole “Chosen One” prophecy plot gave it Harry Potter-lite energy.

Season 2:

Here comes Rufus Zeno, who evolves into a full-blown threat. This is peak villain era. He infiltrates, manipulates, and pushes everyone’s buttons. He straight-up poisons people, kidnaps, blackmails, and gaslights. He even fakes his own death at one point—Victor believes him to be gone, which is why he doesn’t search for him until the end.

We also meet a new staff member who turns out to be secretly working with Rufus the entire time. The twist is buried late in the season but gives Rufus’s infiltration even more weight.

Also this season gives us Senkhara—the creepy ghost woman in gold paint who randomly appears in mirrors and whispers curses like she’s cosplaying The Ring. She was cool at first but ended up just yelling vague threats and never physically doing anything. Still, visually unsettling and gave the show a horror edge.

This is also the season that confirms Victor’s heart. While he often acts like the big bad, he proves once and for all that he’s not evil—when he uses the last single tear of gold from the mask to save Joy’s life instead of using it for himself. He chooses compassion over self-preservation, and that moment alone cements him as the best character in the show.

Also turns out the key ingredient to the elixir is the tear of gold.

Season 3:

This is where the show starts to spiral. We’re introduced to new antagonists, secret societies, and… Forobashier.

Let me be clear: Forobashier (however you spell it) was teased as a guardian of balance—only for the final season to lazily flip him into the main villain. Out of nowhere. No buildup. No logic. Just boom—“he’s evil now.”

It was like they ran out of ideas and tossed a dart at the mythology board. The twist felt unearned, and by then, most of the OG cast had been sidelined. The mystery was drowned out by soap-level romance drama and random magical fetch quests.

Also, Victor and Mr. Sweet get nerfed into comic reliefs and are bullied by Harriet Denby, who becomes the main antagonist by the end. Harriet’s cold, condescending, and always ten steps ahead. She basically takes over the entire society and turns Victor and Sweet into her punching bags.

The dramatic energy is gone, and we’re left with something that feels more like a high school stage play about ancient Egypt than a gripping mystery series.