Love, Victor has been championing self-love and self-expression since its premiere in 2020, and its messaging hasn't changed in the final season. The Hulu series quickly became a fan-favorite among teen viewers in general and specifically LGBTQ audiences thanks to its frank and heartwarming handling of issues. Based on the 2018 romcom Love, Simon, the series centers on Victor Salazar (Michael Cimino, Senior Year) as he learns to love himself and finds love in his new school environment.
While the second season ended on a dramatic cliffhanger of Victor having to choose between his love interests, that's far from the only storyline needing to wrap up in Love, Victor season 3. The final season also explores new and old loves for its large ensemble cast, as well as set them on a trajectory towards their post-high school lives. While Victor's ex-girlfriend Mia (Rachel Hilson, This Is Us) tentatively reunites with Andrew, her best friend Lake (Bebe Wood, also known for voicing Shannon in the Trollhunters franchise) tentatively begins a new relationship with Lucy.
Screen Rant spoke to Hilson and Wood about the journeys their characters take in the final season of Love, Victor and the romances they each embark on at its start.
Screen Rant: Bebe, can you talk about how you feel having been a part of such an important and uplifting story for LGBTQ teens?
Bebe Wood: I feel super, super honored. I feel super, super humbled. I think it's really surreal to see the reach of this show and see how many people it's impacted.
We always knew that the show was special, but I'd never seen such an immediate sort of reaction. And in the moment our show came out, I feel like we were embraced by so many people in such a loving, supporting, supportive community. I don't think I'll ever like get over it. I feel very honored and grateful.
Rachel, Mia has come such a long way from the start of the show. How would you describe the Ferris wheel ride of emotions that she goes through this season?
Rachel Hilson: Oh, I like how you just incorporated that. On the one hand, it's high school, and there are a lot of emotions. In high school, there's a lot of feelings. There's a lot of things that happen, but she's been through quite a bit. And I think she's done the best she can with the cards she's been dealt.
Honestly, I think her relationship with Victor kicked off this new exploration of herself, her journey with her family, her romantic journey and her friendships with Lake and some of the other characters. I think she's really come to the new place of balance and stability by the end.
Speaking of Lake, what can you tell us about Lake and Lucy this season, given where fans left off last season?
Bebe Wood: I've been saying today that season 1 and season 2 is a journey of self-acceptance and, I think, self-love for Lake. And it's really fun that season 3 is centered around self-expression and self-exploration, now that she has sort of garnered this self-love and this foundation of confidence in who she is.
There's a lot to expect from season 3. I'm very excited for people to see it, and it feels like a very natural progression for Lake. This was something that was always meant to happen, I think, her relationship with Lucy. I'm very, very excited about it
Rachel, what can you say about Mia and Andrew?
Rachel Hilson: Yeah, bless them. I definitely feel like they're two people who've been always heading in the same direction, but they get a little bit distracted along the way.
I feel like they are soulmates ultimately - and whether they stay together forever, who knows? But I feel like they've been each other's rocks. I think we see just what that means in the context of high school. Because in high school, there are some boundaries when you're young and you're also exploring who you are individually. I think it's a special relationship that they have, and I like where it ends up.
Set in the world of the original 2018 film “Love, Simon,” the series follows Victor, a new student at Creekwood High School on his own journey of self-discovery, facing challenges at home, adjusting to a new city, and struggling with his sexual orientation. When it all seems too much, he reaches out to Simon to help him navigate the ups and downs of high school.
Check out our interview with Love, Victor stars Anthony Turpel, Isabella Ferreira & Mateo Fernandez.
All 8 episodes of Love, Victor season 3 are available to stream on Hulu.
Love Victor stars Bebe Wood & Rachel Hilson chat about the romances that carry them into the final season and the growth of their characters.Tatiana Hullender