Ahoy there! This time, Love, Victor is tackling queer identity and just a wee bit about respectability politics. Love, Victor, is a Hulu show set in Becky Albertalli‘s “Simonverse.” It follows Victor Salazar (Michael Cimino) as he navigates family woes, coming out and first love. This series takes place in the same Atlanta suburb and high school, Creekwood High, as Albertalli’s book Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Love, Simon, the movie based on said book. Those worlds collide when Victor reaches out to Simon Spier (Nick Robinson) for gay guidance.
Last episode, the whole crew went to a cabin in the woods to lose their virginities (whatever that means).
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Now that everyone’s released the tension let’s get back to the plot lines at hand. Is season two, episode five, “Gay Gay,” actually double the gay? Let’s find out.
“I’m just trying to show you that I am a queer ally … or is it a straight ally?”
We open at Creekwood with Victor staring longingly at the b-ball team. Benji (George Sear) is all, “But isn’t it fun to not have to be around homophobes at the buttcrack of dawn?” Vic’s like, “Some of them are cool.” Cue: Andrew (Mason Gooding), who enters with a “Whaddup, my bromos?” He starts in on talking about decorating and how he watches Queer Eye, and that he’s a good ally and please, oh, please Victor, won’t you come back to the team? But #Venji are skeptical of Andrew’s half-hearted virtue signaling, so they’re all, “Bye, Felicia” about it.
Later, Benji’s trying to convince Victor that maybe basketball was part of his compulsory heterosexuality phase. Oh, Benji, if your face were even slightly believable, hun-bun. Mia (Rachel Hilson) joins them and they make plans to go support Benji at his concert later.
Love, Victor — “Gay Gay” — Episode 205. Felix (Anthony Turpel) and Lake (Bebe Wood), shown. (Photo by: Greg Gayne//Hulu)
Next, Lake (Bebe Wood) and Felix (Anthony Turpel) are doin’ homework on her bed, but she really wants to be doing something else. Namely, she wants Felix to ravage her, much like the Black Plague ravaged Europe back when. Of course, Lake’s mom, Georgina (Leslie Grossman), interrupts #Flake to let them know that she’s been temporarily promoted to Good Morning, Atlanta host due to someone else’s gall bladder explosion. That means she needs peace and quiet and promptly kicks Felix out because, oh no teen sex! But Felix invites Lake to his since his mom’s actually on some new meds and doing really well and he wants Lake to meet her.
Meanwhile, Isa (Ana Ortiz) and Mando (James Martinez) finally have a chance to talk about their sexcapades from the other night. They compliment one another and giggle and it’s cute. But, ultimately, they realize they should talk since the physical side of their relationship was never their problem, which turns into another plea from Mando for Isa to please join him at a PFLAG meeting. She says she’s not ready, but she’s working on it. How, exactly?
“Cabin crew”
It’s time for the concert! Lucy (Ava Capri) and Andrew are already there when Vic and Mia arrive. In her excitement to get the party started, Lucy rattles off a bunch of band names that I am not cool enough to know. Then, Andrew drags Victor off to discuss him rejoining the team. Vic won’t say whether he misses b-ball or not, but he definitely doesn’t miss being thought of as a “locker room perv.” Andrew’s all pssh, “The couple dudes who complained about it’ll get over it. You’re the least gay gay person alive.” Victor peaces out of the convo.
Unfortunately, Benji and his band aren’t much more of a safe space for Victor. When he meets them all, they’re all immediately ragging on Andrew for being a “Basic Sports Person.” Victor tries to recover the awkwardness by saying he’s quit basketball. Oh, but it gets worse cuz one of Benji’s bandmates calls Victor Benji’s “perfect straight boy fantasy.” And Benji reveals how happy he is that he no longer has to play cheerleader. Yikes. How much you think Vic actually enjoys your crappy high school band, Benji?
Love, Victor — “Gay Gay” — Episode 205. Benji (George Sear) and Victor (Michael Cimino), shown. (Photo by: Greg Gayne//Hulu)
Meanwhile, #Flake head into Felix’s, which is remarkably clean. Mom Dawn (Betsy Brandt) has even made schnitzel. She invites Lake to stay for dinner … and methinks she’s on the edge of a manic episode.
Back at the coffee shop concert, Benji’s band is performing a song about how awful young love is. Yup. Victor is not interested in being there after his earlier conversations and downplays his anger about Benji and Co’s comments when Benji gets defensive. Even in his hurt, Victor manages to compliment Benji, though. Victor takes off, and Andrew follows.
Next, we see how Mando and Isa each deal with their little romp. Mando’s at PFLAG flirting it up and talking about how happy he is with his life. Meanwhile, Isa’s at church, processing with the Father Lawrence (Sean O’Bryan). She ends up telling the priest about Victor being gay. The priest praises Isa for the disapproval she’s been showering upon Victor, which plants the seed of perspective in her. While the Father talks about God not offering loopholes, Victor’s father is at PFLAG, thanking God for giving him the courage to love and accept his son.
“What is the perfect level of gay that will keep everyone happy?”
Later, Andrew happens upon Victor playing basketball all by his lonesome. Vic throws some hoops and truth bombs. Of course, he wants to play basketball, but he’s not about to be treated like a second-class citizen. Likewise, he’s pissed about being too gay for some spaces and not gay enough for others #preach. Victor wants to know if he’ll still belong on the basketball team (as Andrew keeps insisting he does) if he one day decides to be more gay gay and dye his hair pink? Per-fect.
Andrew wants to know if Vic actually wants pink hair, and Victor admits that he might like to try it. So, Andrew tells him to do it, and he’ll support him. Then Victor lays into Andrew about his lack of true ally-ship (hint, it’s a verb, not a noun).
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Love, Victor — “Gay Gay” — Episode 205. Andrew (Mason Gooding) and Lucy (Ava Capri), shown. (Photo by: Greg Gayne//Hulu)
Meanwhile, Lucie is babysitting Mia (just like Andrew asked her to) and she’s going on about how hot #Venji are. Then she realizes she’s talking to Victor’s ex and things get a little uncomfy, but Mia’s all, “Nah, it’s cool, I just want everyone to be happy. Happy the way that you make Andrew.” So, Lucy brings up the moment #Mandrew shared at the sex cabin and wants to know if there’s anything between them. Mia tells her, “No big, but we totally boinked once.” Lucy thinks it’s all gravy, and she’s not bothered at all. She decides that lack of botheration is a sign she should break up with Andrew? Whaaa?
“So, who wants dessert?”
Next, at Felix’s, they’ve just finished dinner and Lake unknowingly lights a match when she compliments the china. Felix’s mom doesn’t take the news that Lake isn’t staying for dessert well. Mom decides to gift Lake the plates she liked so much and starts boxing ’em up. Felix asks her if she took her meds that morning. CRASH. Broken china.
Someone in Felix’s life has finally seen that he is in over his head and should not be dealing with this alone, is not equipped to. But when Lake tells him this, he makes her promise to keep it a secret. He’s been handling this alone for years. </3 Seriously, THIS STORYLINE.
At school the next day, Andrew calls Victor to the locker room. Surprise! The whole team (minus one jerk who quit) all has pink hair! They want Victor back, and they’ll stan him no matter how gay or how he’s gay. And Victor doesn’t have to decide just yet whether he wants to watch them shower. Awwww.
It’s half-time and the Creekwood Grizzlies are winning. Oh, look who’s in the bleachers: Benji. He apologizes for being a jerk about basketball, and he and some girls do some kinda cheer dance thing, which tires him out and it’s kinda lol. #Venji kiss and make up. All’s good for now. Support your partners, y’all.
Love, Victor — “Gay Gay” — Episode 205. Benji (George Sear), shown. (Photo by: Greg Gayne//Hulu)
“She spent one night talking to you and she broke up with me.”
Meanwhile, Lake is researching Bipolar disorder when her mom comes into her room. It’s clear Lake’s about to break her promise to Felix and tell her mom what’s going on. That is selfless love.
Next, the parents Salazar are on a dinner date. Isa wants to get the ball rolling again and takes full blame for all their problems. But, newly enlightened Mando tells her, nope, their problems are older than that. They have much changing and growing to do (and that’s why she needs to go to PFLAG). He essentially gives her an ultimatum: Accept Victor, or our marriage ain’t gonna work out. <3 <3 <3
Freshly dumped, Andrew pays a visit to Mia to see what role she had to play at the end of his ‘ship with Lucy. Mia’s distracted by his pink hair, which he tells her is his fault because apparently, she’s his conscience. They kiss and make up. You know, Mia really deserves something to go the way she wants it to. She’s been dumped on for two seasons now, for really no reason.
Good on Love, Victor, for tackling All the Issues. Seriously. What did you think of Team Pink hair? Should Lake tell her mom about Felix’s mother?
Overdoin’ the ally-ship of the ep: “And if you’re gay, then so am I. So are all of us. We’re gay AF.”
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