Yahoo Finance Love, Victor’s George Sear breaks down *that* cliffhanger and Benji's s2 journey
Rainbow Crew is an ongoing interview series that celebrates the best LGBTQ+ representation on screen. Each instalment showcases talent working on both sides of the camera, including queer creatives and allies to the community.
Next up, we're speaking to Love, Victor star George Sear. Season two spoilers follow, including some major finale reveals.
"The reaction’s been kind of crazy," says Love, Victor star George Sear. And he's not just talking about the "overwhelmingly positive" fan response either. #Venjie quickly trended online following the show's return, but Benji has some competition now thanks to Rahim, a rival love interest who Victor may have chosen to be with at the end of season two.
While there's a lot to love about Love, Victor, that last scene is the one that's got everyone talking. But regardless of who Victor ends up with, Sear is just "really grateful" to be part of a show that’s making such a huge impact, "particularly with LGBTQ+ youth."
"I've had a lot of messages from people," George adds. "But I don’t want to go into them too much. They feel quite private some of those messages." Even just ten years ago, it would have been impossible to imagine a gay love story resonate on such a large scale like this, so whatever happens next, we can't wait to see what's in store for Love, Victor.
Digital Spy caught up with Sear to ask more about that cliffhanger, because, of course we did. But along the way, we also discussed Benji's journey with alcoholism and why that awkward sex scene wasn't actually awkward to film at all.
Was there anything that took you by surprise when you first read through the script for season two?
Just the nature of the writing. It got a lot more mature. I was really excited to be able to play this whole new side to this character. I think it’s what the show really needed as well, because we got to delve a little deeper in other arenas with these characters, particularly with Benji and Victor’s bond, their relationship.
I always feel like the writing with these scripts, you kind of expect one thing, and then they throw a curveball – like, in particular, with the parents’ reaction to him coming out. I think traditionally you might think that it was his dad who maybe had a stronger resistance. But it was actually his mum that does, and his dad is the first one that goes to the PFLAG meetings.
So we're sure you've talked about this a lot already, but we have to ask about that cliffhanger. What was your reaction when you first read the script?
I think kind of like everybody else. I was just like, "I need the next script. I need to see who he’s going to pick." [laughs]
But it’s been wild to see people feel quite strongly about it, which is good. It means that if we do get to do another season, which I really hope so… I’m really interested to see how the writers will play that. Because it might not be… I mean, who knows who it will be? But then also there might be something completely unexpected.
Do you know who Victor picks?
I don’t know. I really don’t know. I think there was a few different ideas going around the writer’s room. Not that I heard of any in particular that were solid, but that’s just my sense. I feel like they were kind of seeing their options, almost.
In that case, who do you want Victor to end up with? We feel like you’re probably a bit biased towards Benji…
Like everybody, when you play these characters for so long, you grow this attachment. So of course I’m a little biased. But I also do want these characters to be happy – whatever that means. And whatever serves the story, too. That’s more important than how I feel about it individually.
You mentioned the mature themes of season two, and Benji’s alcoholism storyline was a big part of that. How do you feel about the way this was handled in the writing?
I was actually quite glad that it got raised again, because they touched upon it in episode seven of the first season, when he’s opening up to Victor in the motel room, and shortly before they have their first kiss.
Benji is presented as this quite confident individual. But this time around, they definitely peeled the layers back, and we got to see some of his own struggles, with the alcoholism being the big one. We got to see all of this through the lens of this relationship.
It was interesting to me that he kept it so secret as well. I did some research into AA, and I took a read of the big book, and I spoke to one of my friends who was part of it for years. Because I know a big part of their thing is honesty, being very transparent, and being very open, and not being secretive about your struggle with alcohol.
Not sharing that part of his life is quite detrimental, actually, to his relationship. He’s often pushing Victor to be honest. But then there’s also that moment where he’s vulnerable about it. He says he doesn’t love that part of his life. He didn’t want it to interfere with the part of his life that he did love. I think everyone can relate to that, where they’re almost protective to a fault.
Season two is also more mature when it comes to exploring the physical aspects of queerness, especially in that one scene where Victor's mum walks in on them both together in bed. Was that an awkward scene to film?
It wasn’t that particularly awkward to film, really. It’s funny – Anna was standing on the other side of the door. We were sort of… you know. She was like, "This is hot." [laughs] It wasn’t awkward.
I mean, what a moment, though, for your mum to walk in, particularly given everything that had led up to that point. It really became this boiling point, and this explosion afterwards. Benji then gets quite outspoken, doesn’t he? Whereas he’s been sort of refraining from saying anything up until now.
But if anything, me and Michael [Cimino]… We speak about this. The first scene in the cabin was… you know, the one at the end of episode four? I think that one was a little more, you could say, awkward, because it was our first intimate scene we were filming. So if anything, that one was more—
There were moments that were awkward – which is good, because also these characters are feeling all these awkward things, too, particularly in Victor’s case. I think it maybe even helps the experience.
We read that you both decided not to have an intimacy coordinator present while filming these scenes. Why did you make that decision?
They offered it to us. They offered it to us on season one as well. But season one was a lot more tame, I guess you could say. So we were like, "I don’t know if we need that. We’ll be alright." And then this time around, it was more of a conversation. They were like, "We’re thinking of bringing an intimacy coach on. Do you want some time to sit with them?"
We both instinctively just felt, "I don’t think we really need that actually." We felt like we had this chemistry going, and we just wanted to evolve that chemistry on our own. I think a lot of people like our chemistry on screen, and that’s been the reaction. I like the fact that we’re very in the moment with each other and very locked into that. We just didn’t want a third party having an influence on that.
For some people, it’s probably a very helpful thing, depending on the situation. But for us, we just didn’t really feel like it was going to be very helpful to serve these characters, really.
Was there anything that you found particularly challenging about the role this time around in season two?
I think I expected it to be more challenging because Benji had a lot more stuff written for him, which I loved. There was a lot more to get my teeth into as an actor – like you said, with the alcoholism, and the background with his parents.
I’ve never been one for backstory, really. I know a lot of actors like it, and everyone has their own techniques. I just loved how these scripts felt a lot richer. So I guess in a way, I was like, "OK, this is a challenge. I want to honour these scripts, and do this the best I can." But then I think that just really motivated me to prep as much as I could.
There are some days that are more challenging than others. The more emotional days, whether it’s an argument or more of a conflict, you have to get yourself in that place. I try to stay in those feelings. Those are the more challenging days.
But overall, it was quite a joy, this season, to be working in the pandemic with great people, and forming all these great bonds with people. It was a massive team effort.
Beyond that big question mark hanging over the cliffhanger, what do you hope happens next for Benji in season three?
I want to see him happy. I want to see him follow some of his dreams. Because there’s that attachment to the character, I want him to do well in the world. So it’d be nice to see some of that.
But, yeah, I’d love to see where his relationship with Victor continues to go. I think the show’s all about self-discovery. I think the journey of self-discovery never ends. Yes, Benji’s got his sexuality figured out, but he doesn’t always have his life figured out. I just want to see him grow into himself even more. I’m sure the writers have some surprises in store.
Love, Victor season two is streaming on Star on Disney+ in the UK with new episodes dropping every Friday. The whole season is available to watch on Hulu in the US.
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