June 14

 

Love, Victor Gets Real -- and Very (Very) Messy

Photo credits: HULU

I spent 5 hours with friends this past weekend binge watching Season 2 of Love, Victor. My expectations were low, because Season 1 was a sanitized coming out story akin to a Hallmark movie. But -- there was that cliff hanger in the last frame. Victor, determined to come out to his parents, chickened out and started to leave the room, but at the last moment turned around and finally announced that he was gay -- and the scene ended abruptly, before we could witness his parents' reaction. So we had to wait a whole year. 

Well, my friends, all that was child's play. The photo above could not be more misleading. So much shit happens in Season 2 that those smiles and adoring looks on the faces of Victor and Benji get wiped off, cast to the floor and then stomped on. Talk about a series growing up fast.

OK. So without delivering a batch of character-specific spoilers, just let me say that we get treated to naked gay male sex, the perils of alcoholism, heartache, homophobia, truancy, heartache, religious tension (more than one religion, actually), close-ups of bottles of lube, locker room scenes, new romances that tear apart couples who were anchors of Season 1, more h-e-a-r-t-a-c-h-e, a wedding, the hottest karaoke scene imaginable (not a typo), massive misunderstandings, money problems, singing in church, shirtless wonders (see below), trial separations, gay bars, mothers in gay bars, femmephobia, betrayals, a pregnancy, fashion critiques, a return appearance of Josh Duhamel (woof!), a manscaping mishap, even more heartache, PFLAG meetings, clinical depression, Grindr, a brand new male breakout star (super hot!), lesbian undertones -- and Victor finally grows a pair. Wait -- I forgot to mention the pet turtle. And doughnuts.

Favorite quote: "Say the word and I'll ditch these gays like corporations after Pride month."

Well. I'm winded just typing these words. But wait for it -- there's the cliff hanger to end all cliff hangers. My band of friends speculated, argued and hashed it out for 90 minutes afterward. So hie on over to Hulu and grab the popcorn -- enough for all ten 30-minute episodes. You'll be jonesing for Season 3 in no time.

Meanstbewhiles, there's Season 4 of ELITE (Netflix) to look forward to. The most bi- and gay content of any mainstream TV series I've seen. Drop date June 18. Looks like it's about to get crowded in that shower...

Photo released by Netflix.