In the series of Hulu Love, VictorVictor (Michael Cimino), comes off as a cool and charming guy, and acts as the keeper of the peace among your family. However, immediately, we learned of your opportunity to embrace this new beginning and to start a journey towards self-discovery could be hindered by his family. In his first of many messages to Simon (Nick Robinson), he writes, “Screw it. Screw having the world’s most perfect, the acceptance of parents. The world’s most supportive friends. Because for some of us, it is not easy.”
It is established early on that Victor is the one closest to your religious mother Isabel (Ana Ortiz). Isabel constantly reminds Victor how lucky she is that he is your “rock” and when she prays for him she says thank you. With a “religion of the parents and the gay child” dynamic (see Glee or Pretty Little Liars), I was waiting for things to go south quickly, but as the relationship between Victor and Elizabeth evolves, I was grateful that both characters experience growth.
For Ortiz, the role of the mother of a gay son was already in his portfolio. Previously, he worked with Hilda Suarez, the hip, the hair salon, mom, and fashion-loving son, Justin Suarez (Mark Indelicato), in the show Ugly Betty. Throughout the series, which began in 2006 and ended in 2010, Hilda was fierce when he tried to protect his Justin, especially when someone took jabs at your identity.
Growing up queer, Hilda and Justin were the first mother-son duo on television that resonated with me. To see Hilda in the unconditional love of Justin helped me to feel comfortable to explore my sexuality. This is the reason why I was very excited when I heard that Ortiz was playing the mother of Victor. I would be lying if I didn’t say I expected to be overwhelmed by nostalgia flashbacks of Hilda and Justin’s relationship, but there are marked differences between the relationship and the relationship between Elizabeth and Victor.
“With Hilda and Justin, it was a different dynamic,” says Ortiz, in an interview with Elle. “She was so proud of him and bust it, nobody’s butt that tried to make him feel less because he was gay. She wanted him to have a life where he felt confident and safe. Isabel is totally the opposite. It is really interesting to play to that side of the same coin: a mother who is madly in love with their children, which is a very good father, but there are limitations — or so it seems, right? We don’t know how to [the show is] going to try it with [Victor coming out].”
Although Hilda Elizabeth and share a common love of the family, is Elizabeth’s religious beliefs, which leaves us wondering how Elizabeth will react and if the family is the most important. As [Ortiz] said, there are so many unknowns, but there are cases that point to the hope.
It’s unclear what Victor’s parents think of the people who are gay, until episode five. During Victor’s sweet sixteen party, his grandfather (Juan Carlos Cantu), is asked to tell their friends, Benji and her boyfriend Derek, don’t kiss each other in front of him. This makes Victor stand up to your grandparents and talk with them to have a problem with their friends being gay. As the Winner of the family gathers in the living room, there is a glimmer of hope that perhaps their parents are fine with people who are gay when they stop by Victor and his words.
“She raised Me to be true to himself, and to defend the people he cares about,” Elizabeth says to Victor of the grandmother.
Victor is always there for his mom, if the de-escalation of a fight between his mother and his sister, Pilar, or helping her replace the traditional three-milk cake, he always has your back. And so, for me, watching this scene was a defining moment for me, as a gay man, and be lucky enough to have a mother who supports who I am. It showed that Elizabeth was going to stand beside your son no matter what even if he was advocating for something that maybe didn’t believe in. It also states that Isabel will always have Victor back the way that he does for her.
In the beginning of the show, game of words-wizard Isabel is the type of mom that is wrong with technology and greeting to the Victor in the games of basketball. To Victor, she can do no wrong. But throughout the series, Victor’s view of his mother was put to the test when he finds out that she cheated on your father with your boss.
“I love how close we are to the Victor,” she says. “What we have is special. And I really hope that what I did . . . I just . . . I hope it hasn’t changed us.” Of course, Victor still loves his mom, but admits she doesn’t want to talk about the matter and I don’t think he ever will. Over time, however, Victor does grow closer again to her mother.
The season ends with Victor telling his family that he is gay. In a perfect world, the bond of Elizabeth and Victor have to be strong enough for Isabel to put her other points of view aside and be loving and supportive, but until we have a second season, we’re not going to know. Personally, looking at the family the way of solving problems by avoiding them and not talking about them is as I anticipate Isabel react to the news that Victor’s gay. However, with time I hope that she is able to accept Victor for who he is and move in the way that you so kindly made for her.
