‘Love, Victor’ Season 2 Grows Into a More Mature Take on Gay Teen Life

Alci Rengifo

The second season of Hulu’s “Love, Victor” is no longer about the dilemmas of hiding your identity. Originally a spinoff of the hit film and YA adaptation “Love, Simon,” the first season stood out by presenting a season-wide take on a gay teen living in the closet who is also Latino. It refreshingly explored the usual themes of alienation and acceptance in a changing culture, but while also touching on other themes like Latin homophobia. In season two Victor (Michael Cimino) comes out and faces all that comes with it. The spirit of the first season is intact, with its humor and YA twists, as it expands into more mature drama.

We last left the students of Creekwood High School as the annual Spring Fling led to some dramatic revelations. Victor finally had to come out as being gay to girlfriend Mia (Rachel Hilson), who was accepting but understandably heartbroken. That same night Victor came home and we were left wondering if he would also come out to his Latino parents, Armando (James Martinez) and Isabel Salazar (Ana Ortiz). And indeed he does. While siblings Pilar (Isabella Ferreira) and Adrian (Mateo Fernandez) are instantly accepting, the parents feign brave faces. It doesn’t get much easier at school, where Victor decides to hold off on coming out to the wider campus, to the frustration of boyfriend Benji (George Sear). Only Mia and Victor’s closer circle of friends know, and for now they help keep his secret. But how long before it becomes impossible? Victor gets the answer when the news that does break around the halls is that he and Mia broke up, and everyone begins to wonder why while spinning wild rumors. 

With YA novels and shows there’s always a temptation to overly romanticize developments. It’s only natural since during our teenage years topics like dating and crushes feel like life or death. Yet even when “Love, Victor” delivers on the corny charms, it has continued to grow into a very sobering drama. The teens are all woke these days and homophobia in liberal suburbia is not as violent as decades past, but that doesn’t mean stereotypes and discrimination have suddenly gone extinct. This point is first made at Victor’s home. Tensions were already high because Armando and Isabel were separating, but it all swirls now with their obvious disappointment at having a gay son. These are not Republican Latinos, but liberals who are still latched onto old traditionalist conditioning. Few YA shows, if any, ever explore the topic. Some moments can be painful. Isabel agrees to let Victor bring friends over for dinner, but when she sees Victor kissing Benji through the kitchen window, she drops her cooking into the garbage. 

For now “Love, Victor” is avoiding the pitfalls of other YA series that have continued past their first season. It does not develop implausible mystery plots like “Thirteen Reasons Why.” The challenges these characters face are all too real and down to earth. Mia starts getting reckless and attending binge-drinking college parties to get over both the experience with Victor and her father having a new girlfriend, who is pregnant. In real life matters of the heart rarely get resolved so easily. Maybe Mia might now open up to Andrew (Mason Gooding), who liked her so much last season. Alas, over the summer he found a girlfriend. For Victor coming out in school can mean the basketball coach suddenly asking if he would like a separate shower, before revealing there have been anonymous “complaints.” Other moments have more humor while still offering biting social commentary. Victor still corresponds via text with Simon from the “Love, Simon” film, and shares the peculiarities of how people change once you come out. Now suddenly classmates try too hard to show they’re supportive by randomly saying “I see you.” A cis girl calls Victor a “bitch” playfully while demanding to know his skin-moisturizing secrets. Stereotyping doesn’t always have to come from the bigoted. There’s also an episode about losing one’s virginity which is surprisingly upfront about the body and how it works when it comes to intercourse. And while other shows make it seem like teens, gay or straight, are experts the moment the clothing comes off, this one is more honest about the nerves that haunt the inexperienced.

As in last season “Love, Victor” showcases some excellent performances by emerging young talents. Michael Cimino is subdued in just the right way, like a kid who grew up in a healthy, sheltered home but is now getting out there. Other standouts include Mason Gooding as Andrew, who is given a chance to show more of his insecurities and kindness, especially when he gives a nervous Felix (Anthony Turpel) advice on taking it easy when pondering sex with his girlfriend. Later in the season we meet Rahim (Anthony Keyvan), a Persian student who is also gay but much more openly so. Rahim is also written with a sharp maturity and expands the show’s diversity, as well as acknowledging its path-breaking style in further opening the space for representation on a streaming show. By also eventually bringing Victor and Rahim together, the show explores a Latino-Persian relationship, which you rarely see even in Los Angeles, much less on a show. The first season of “Love, Victor,” while a strong debut, was considered too watered down by some critics who pointed out it began as a Disney show later transferred to Hulu. Season 2 is not only a worthy follow-up but a better one. It resonates because growing up and finding acceptance is a process that doesn’t stop with graduation.

“Love, Victor” season two begins streaming June 11 on Hulu.