Michael Cimino (actor)

[shawnt95]

There's a shortage of nudes of Michael anyway, so I'll just go ahead and offer my uncalled for opinion here in hopes it resonates with someone... But why is the acting in Love, Victor season 2 so bad? I could not get through the season and had to stop at episode 6, and even that was a push for me. Where is the gayness I want to see represented on screen? This season gave me, at best, masc4masc energy, and at worst, straight people who don't know how to portray gayness right. Like I understood the awkwardness in season 1 because he was still trying to figure it out or whatever. But season 2 is justttt a no for me. I straight up enjoyed Felix's storyline so much more than Victor's, and that's saying a lot because I'm not one to root for straight couples. Rahim's character gave me hope but then I found out the actor is straight so......... that's a wrap on this show for me.

(Before y'all come for me, I know not all gay people are femme. But they're not even portraying the butch ones right! This season straight up reads straight men who have to kiss each other for show, period. There is no chemistry at ALL between the "gays"!)

Watch Genera+ion on HBO Max, y'all. The acting is bad sometimes on there but at least they have LGBTQ+ actors who portray queerness (not just cis male homosexuality) right, and that gives me joy. And the main character is a femme gay man with depth of character! Which show does that nowadays? I live.

All that said, I will still be lurking in here waiting patiently for that nude of this fabulous twink.

No chemistry at all? I mean, the chemistry between Victor and Benji is massive. And queerness has many ways and every person has different tastes. For example, I like this as you described "cis male homosexuality", meaning that both Victor and Benji are acting and looking like men, because that's why I'm into guys. If I wanted femme guy, I could have dated a girl instead. Your taste is opposite and I get it. But you shouldn't criticize the show for centering on "masculine gays". And who knows, maybe in next season they introduce some new "femme gay" who could be love interest for Rahim.

 

[cashare]

If I wanted femme guy, I could have dated a girl instead.

Umm that's not how gayness works?? Lmao. Even if there's a femme cis person who identifies as a man in a relationship, it's still called cis male homosexuality so I'm not sure what you're going on there about "acting like men."

Again I'm not even talking about femmeness or butchness. My preference or yours isn't even relevant to this discussion. What I'm saying is they just look so done with each other whenever they are on screen. That's not chemistry. Want straight male actors who portray butch gayness right? Mickey and Ian (Noel Fisher and Cameron Monaghan) in Shameless. Now I call that good acting. Love, Victor is gayness as a spectacle for the straights, period.

 

[JSon101]

No chemistry at all? I mean, the chemistry between Victor and Benji is massive. And queerness has many ways and every person has different tastes. For example, I like this as you described "cis male homosexuality", meaning that both Victor and Benji are acting and looking like men, because that's why I'm into guys. If I wanted femme guy, I could have dated a girl instead. Your taste is opposite and I get it. But you shouldn't criticize the show for centering on "masculine gays". And who knows, maybe in next season they introduce some new "femme gay" who could be love interest for Rahim.

I loved the way they introduced Rahim and his challenges with his family and dating. A season highlight for me was the scene where Victor sets up Rahim’s first date. That scene showed just how far Victor had come in his coming out as well as Rahim’s dating insecurities. Totally related to it. I really hope we get more Rahim next season.

 

[vodka_blood]

I love how Victor had the issue of too gay/not gay enough, and people are harping on how he's not gay enough

 

[kilanniaz]

I straight up enjoyed Felix's storyline so much more than Victor's, and that's saying a lot because I'm not one to root for straight couples. Rahim's character gave me hope but then I found out the actor is straight so......... that's a wrap on this show for me.

(

I’ve said something similar too and while I do enjoy the show, Victor is the most boring part of it (unfortunately). It’s all down to the writing and literally all the other characters are more interesting to watch and the straight couples are also written better. I feel this is the same situation I feel towards tarlos in 911 lone star. They’re just there with no depth

Benji also doesn’t even feel like a real character bc he has no purpose outside of his relationship with victor. Literally all his scenes are with victor or about victor.

 

[orions6]

I’ve said something similar too and while I do enjoy the show, Victor is the most boring part of it (unfortunately). It’s all down to the writing and literally all the other characters are more interesting to watch and the straight couples are also written better. I feel this is the same situation I feel towards tarlos in 911 lone star. They’re just there with no depth

Benji also doesn’t even feel like a real character bc he has no purpose outside of his relationship with victor. Literally all his scenes are with victor or about victor.

That’s so true about Benji. I’ve never understood the Victor-Benji shippers because I feel like I barely even know Benji. (And from what I do know, they seem honestly kind of toxic together.)

 

[AllTheColorsOfTheWind]

they seem honestly kind of toxic together.)

This. So. Much. This.
I know it's a show but damn that is not a healthy relationship at all.

 

[Filmguy001]

This. So. Much. This.
I know it's a show but damn that is not a healthy relationship at all.

To be fair, the show did them an injustice by not showing the 10 weeks of happiness they had before they hit some bumps.

 

[petercamp88]

Usually these shows run 4 years. I think Elite is done for after this season. Hulu is still not on a normal footing since Disney bought them.

Usually these shows run 4 years. I think Elite is done for after this season. Hulu is still not on a normal footing since Disney bought them.

Actually, each season covers roughly 6 months of Victor's life > so Season 3 will include his 17th b-day and the Junior Prom finale where he'll definitely be back together with Benji and Rahim will have his own boyfriend storyline > because recent polls confirm that 80%+ of fans want "Venji" > and Disney/Hulu + Producers bottom-line is Ratings / Renewals / Spin-offs / PROFITS > achieved by giving fans what they want and expect > HOLLYWOOD IS A BOTTOM-LINE BUSINESS!

 

[petercamp88]

God, this reply brings up an issue that has dogged every gay-themed production. Could this show be made this way with this budget with a mostly gay cast? I'm not sure.

My previous example of Queer As Folk certainly didn't have the same amount of executive support that this show has. It was a ramshackle little remake of a British show with complete unknowns and literally some people from off the street. Ryan Murphy has gotten there but he had to start with Glee and Nip/Tuck. And I don't particularly like what he did with any of his power except for Pose.

The movie Philadelphia would never, ever have been made without signing Tom Hanks.

You raise some great points here! "Philadelphia", "The Birdcage", Brokeback Mountain" would likely never have been financed, produced, and watched by a large global audience without the various major "straight" stars involvement! That said, "Love, Victor" is a lower budget 10-episode streamer featuring a younger cast of relative unknowns > so not sure why an actual talented gay actor couldn't have been cast as Victor at the very least?

 

[petercamp88]

To be fair, the show did them an injustice by not showing the 10 weeks of happiness they had before they hit some bumps.

Completely agree with you! Producers and writers went from showing "Venji" as unrealistically perfectly happy, to then sabotaging their relationship with a tsunami of overly contrived, relentlessly dramatic EXTERNAL obstacles which few long-term adult couples could withstand! Hopefully next season, they'll strike a more realistic balance! Way too many ridiculous, lazily written, non-sensical and annoying "love triangles", especially involving Victor and veritable stranger newbie Rahim!

 

[petercamp88]

When do we start blaming the behind the scenes people for this. I feel like I see a lot of gay people are in control of these projects: Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name), Greg berlanti (Love Simon), Tom Ford (A Single Man), Brian Singer (Bohemian Rhapsody ) etc… It feels like a lot of powerful men using that power to make straight actors that they find attractive do gay things on camera and not doing what best for the community in terms of representation. It feels very “casting couch” adjacent

Gotta say though that regardless of who is in charge, Hollywood projects require investors who are often highly risk averse in their desire to hopefully realize a return on their investment. Casting choices, especially on larger budget projects often reflect this bottom-line business reality of what Hollywood produces and the reluctance to cast openly gay actors in leading roles. There is no shortage of gay studio executives, producers, directors who have to deal with these ever-present economic and investor "Art vs Commerce" realities which have always existed since the beginning of Hollywood

 

[petercamp88]

Yes! Before season one, they said something like that about inclusivity and inclusion in the cast. But they never kept the promise.

They made similar promises about having gay writers on the team, but wouldn't provide even any broad numbers. Yes, there are gay writers on the show, but I've also read in multiple media articles that most of the writing team is straight!

 

[petercamp88]

I do agree that it's much more likely to be benji behind the door, especially after the conversation victor has with felix in mia's bedroom. BUT that being said, I really hope they keep rahim around. he felt like a breath of fresh air, and I hope there's room for him on the show even without being a love interest.

VICTOR IS AT RAHIM'S DOOR > WHY?
1/ Victor & Benji always say "HEY", not "Hi" to each other, especially during "serious" discussions
2/ Benji is justifiably angry > Victor would be using a more contrite "can we please talk" tone of voice
3/ Rahim's door is the less predictable, surprise opening scene to freak our the largely disapproving fanbase
4/ BUT Victor isn't there to "choose" Rahim > He's there to tell him he still loves and is committed to Benji {Large majority of fans LOVE the Rahim character, but NOT if he's the unwelcome interloper who breaks up Venji. Both Victor and Rahim's popularity has taken a hit with this overly sudden, non-sensical "love triangle" storyline, which needs to be repaired asap so that Rahim can have his own independent romantic storyline with the required love, support, and enthusiasm of the global fanbase)
5/ Victor and Rahim work better as good friends > And having Victor suddenly fall in love with the FIRST new gay dude he meets is lame, cliched, and lazy script-writing from a talented team capable of far better storyline development!

BETTER QUESTION IS WHY WOULD BENJI STILL "CHOOSE" TO DATE TRUST-BREAKER, SERIAL KISSER VICTOR? {Most of the tsunami of EXTERNAL obstacles thrown at Venji's relationship by the writers have mostly been from Victor's side in dealing with his "coming out" drama! What happened to the sweet, thoughtful and "romantic" Victor of season 1 who Benji understandably fell for, minus all of his season 2 self-centered, sad-sack "coming out" drama?)

VICTOR ENDS UP WITH BENJI BY THE END OF SEASON 3 > WHY?
1/ Disney/Hulu + Producers bottom-line biz objectives are Ratings / Renewals / Spin-offs / PROFITS > achieved by giving viewers what they want and expect to see > And recent polls confirm 75% of fans want endgame Venji! (ALWAYS REMEMBER FOLKS THAT HOLLYWOOD IS A BOTTOM-LINE $$$ BUSINESS!)
2/ Viewers have invested 2 full seasons watching the carefully written and developed Venji relationship. Producers spent months casting both characters for their superb chemistry > Season 2 billboards featured Venji together prominently. They aren't going to toss this relationship away so easily from both a creative and BUSINESS $$ perspective!
3/ IF Victor's heart can so easily be swayed by veritable stranger newbie Rahim vs his first love / first sex Benji after 2 full seasons of relationship growth > WHY would viewers continue to invest their time following his his next "big romance"?
4/ It makes zero sense that Victor would close his eyes and be able to clearly see Rahim as the partner he's beaten the odds with in future since they've only hung out together as friends a few times vs 2 full seasons of romantic "firsts" with Benji
5/ Fans understand there needs to be "drama" in any teen series, but they also want and expect Venji's relationship to be given a fair-minded chance to be successful vs the overly contrived avalanche of "drama" thrown at it during season 2!

 

[petercamp88]

Oh that kiss with Rahim was awful, like I'm sorry. That was so rushed just to force the conflict. They were hinting at a kiss happening, right? However, the way they just kissed after Benji left was so weird and distorted. And then they ended it on the cliffhanger? Betrayal.

NOTE TO IDIOT PRODUCERS AND THEIR WRITING TEAM:
IF you're going to make the fanbase wait ONE entire year before addressing yet another "cliffhanger" ending, then at least make it as upbeat, exciting, relatable and endlessly watchable as the season 1 cliffhanger, which was also a logical extension of the first season storyline!
The annoying, overly sudden, lazily written, non-sensical "love triangle" with Rahim was none of those things!

 

[petercamp88]

Oh that kiss with Rahim was awful, like I'm sorry. That was so rushed just to force the conflict. They were hinting at a kiss happening, right? However, the way they just kissed after Benji left was so weird and distorted. And then they ended it on the cliffhanger? Betrayal.

Even the music before the kiss was ominous and foreboding!

 

[petercamp88]

VICTOR IS AT RAHIM'S DOOR > WHY?
1/ Victor & Benji always say "HEY", not "Hi" to each other, especially during "serious" discussions
2/ Benji is justifiably angry > Victor would be using a more contrite "can we please talk" tone of voice
3/ Rahim's door is the less predictable, surprise opening scene to freak our the largely disapproving fanbase
4/ BUT Victor isn't there to "choose" Rahim > He's there to tell him he still loves and is committed to Benji {Large majority of fans LOVE the Rahim character, but NOT if he's the unwelcome interloper who breaks up Venji. Both Victor and Rahim's popularity has taken a hit with this overly sudden, non-sensical "love triangle" storyline, which needs to be repaired asap so that Rahim can have his own independent romantic storyline with the required love, support, and enthusiasm of the global fanbase)
5/ Victor and Rahim work better as good friends > And having Victor suddenly fall in love with the FIRST new gay dude he meets is lame, cliched, and lazy script-writing from a talented team capable of far better storyline development!

BETTER QUESTION IS WHY WOULD BENJI STILL "CHOOSE" TO DATE TRUST-BREAKER, SERIAL KISSER VICTOR? {Most of the tsunami of EXTERNAL obstacles thrown at Venji's relationship by the writers have mostly been from Victor's side in dealing with his "coming out" drama! What happened to the sweet, thoughtful and "romantic" Victor of season 1 who Benji understandably fell for, minus all of his season 2 self-centered, sad-sack "coming out" drama?)

VICTOR ENDS UP WITH BENJI BY THE END OF SEASON 3 > WHY?
1/ Disney/Hulu + Producers bottom-line biz objectives are Ratings / Renewals / Spin-offs / PROFITS > achieved by giving viewers what they want and expect to see > And recent polls confirm 75% of fans want endgame Venji! (ALWAYS REMEMBER FOLKS THAT HOLLYWOOD IS A BOTTOM-LINE $$$ BUSINESS!)
2/ Viewers have invested 2 full seasons watching the carefully written and developed Venji relationship. Producers spent months casting both characters for their superb chemistry > Season 2 billboards featured Venji together prominently. They aren't going to toss this relationship away so easily from both a creative and BUSINESS $$ perspective!
3/ IF Victor's heart can so easily be swayed by veritable stranger newbie Rahim vs his first love / first sex Benji after 2 full seasons of relationship growth > WHY would viewers continue to invest their time following his his next "big romance"?
4/ It makes zero sense that Victor would close his eyes and be able to clearly see Rahim as the partner he's beaten the odds with in future since they've only hung out together as friends a few times vs 2 full seasons of romantic "firsts" with Benji
5/ Fans understand there needs to be "drama" in any teen series, but they also want and expect Venji's relationship to be given a fair-minded chance to be successful vs the overly contrived avalanche of "drama" thrown at it during season 2...

IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL S3 EPISODES FOR VENJI TO REPAIR THEIR RELATIONSHIP > JUST IN TIME FOR A MUCH HAPPIER JUNIOR PROM FINALE > SINCE EACH SEASON COVERS ROUGHLY 6 MONTHS IN VICTOR'S LIFE > Victor will need to regain Benji's trust after blabbing his AA secret to Rahim, then inviting him to the wedding, asking him to slow dance, failing to shut down his kiss, and admitting to Felix that he "felt something". The predictable storyline to achieve this happier expected outcome for most fans will be Benji's alcohol relapse battle which Victor will be there to help him through > a welcome change to see Victor providing love and support, rather than receiving it in spades from Benji and others in his "coming out" journey during the first two seasons! (CUE THE PREDICTABLE EPISODE 10 CROWD-PLEASING "KING & KING" VENJI PROM DANCE SCENE!) NEWSFLASH: Both Michael & George have had standard story-arc convos with Producers about where Venji's relationship is heading during season 3 and beyond > BUT > no interviewer ever asks them this question vs just asking about "who's door is Victor at?" > which doesn't actually mean this will be the person who Victor ultimately "chooses" > ENDGAME: VENJI > DUH!

 

[Barnet_boy]

VICTOR IS AT RAHIM'S DOOR > WHY?
1/ Victor & Benji always say "HEY", not "Hi" to each other, especially during "serious" discussions
2/ Benji is justifiably angry > Victor would be using a more contrite "can we please talk" tone of voice
3/ Rahim's door is the less predictable, surprise opening scene to freak our the largely disapproving fanbase
4/ BUT Victor isn't there to "choose" Rahim > He's there to tell him he still loves and is committed to Benji {Large majority of fans LOVE the Rahim character, but NOT if he's the unwelcome interloper who breaks up Venji. Both Victor and Rahim's popularity has taken a hit with this overly sudden, non-sensical "love triangle" storyline, which needs to be repaired asap so that Rahim can have his own independent romantic storyline with the required love, support, and enthusiasm of the global fanbase)
5/ Victor and Rahim work better as good friends > And having Victor suddenly fall in love with the FIRST new gay dude he meets is lame, cliched, and lazy script-writing from a talented team capable of far better storyline development!

BETTER QUESTION IS WHY WOULD BENJI STILL "CHOOSE" TO DATE TRUST-BREAKER, SERIAL KISSER VICTOR? {Most of the tsunami of EXTERNAL obstacles thrown at Venji's relationship by the writers have mostly been from Victor's side in dealing with his "coming out" drama! What happened to the sweet, thoughtful and "romantic" Victor of season 1 who Benji understandably fell for, minus all of his season 2 self-centered, sad-sack "coming out" drama?)

VICTOR ENDS UP WITH BENJI BY THE END OF SEASON 3 > WHY?
1/ Disney/Hulu + Producers bottom-line biz objectives are Ratings / Renewals / Spin-offs / PROFITS > achieved by giving viewers what they want and expect to see > And recent polls confirm 75% of fans want endgame Venji! (ALWAYS REMEMBER FOLKS THAT HOLLYWOOD IS A BOTTOM-LINE $$$ BUSINESS!)
2/ Viewers have invested 2 full seasons watching the carefully written and developed Venji relationship. Producers spent months casting both characters for their superb chemistry > Season 2 billboards featured Venji together prominently. They aren't going to toss this relationship away so easily from both a creative and BUSINESS $$ perspective!
3/ IF Victor's heart can so easily be swayed by veritable stranger newbie Rahim vs his first love / first sex Benji after 2 full seasons of relationship growth > WHY would viewers continue to invest their time following his his next "big romance"?
4/ It makes zero sense that Victor would close his eyes and be able to clearly see Rahim as the partner he's beaten the odds with in future since they've only hung out together as friends a few times vs 2 full seasons of romantic "firsts" with Benji
5/ Fans understand there needs to be "drama" in any teen series, but they also want and expect Venji's relationship to be given a fair-minded chance to be successful vs the overly contrived avalanche of "drama" thrown at it during season 2!

I had exactly the same thoughts

 

[iloveblueeyes]

I kinda like the show for what it is but Michael is so bad at acting

 

[petedrumm]

I kinda like the show for what it is but Michael is so bad at acting

I wouldn't say he's bad. He was really good in season 1, IMO. But I will say season 2 seemed to be beyond his acting abilities