The Hulu teen drama Love, Victor focuses on Victor Salazar, a highschooler who is struggling to come to terms with his own sexuality. Benji Campbell, played by George Sear, is one of the friends that helps him on that journey. He’s a charismatic and kind student who has already dealt with the drama of coming out to his parents and his peers. His role starts out minor but grows as Victor develops a crush on him.
Benji doesn’t receive as much attention as other characters; his personality and backstory are squeezed into easy-to-miss details.
He’s Dating A College Student
Derek doesn’t make many appearances in the show. He’s never present at group events or in the school hallways. The reason he’s so scarce is explained in the final episode during the Spring Fling dance. Derek tells Benji that he doesn’t feel comfortable attending a high school function. This implies that Derek has already graduated. He’s been away from high school long enough that it now feels inappropriate. The age gap explains why school officials may have been wary about him attending the dance at all.
He’s Only Been Out For A Year
At the Spring Fling dance, Benji tells Victor he’s been out for “a while now.” His ambiguous phrasing could put that date anywhere between a few months and a few years. We know he’s been in a relationship with Derek for a year
In a previous episode, Benji said that he came out to his father after he got his driver’s license. He would’ve had to turn 16 before the state allowed him to take the licensing test. Since he’s 17 now, he’s been out for a little over a year at most.
He Tells A Lot Of Lies
Victor puts a strain on his new friendship with Benji when he asks him to pretend he’s straight in front of his family. Being asked to lie isn’t the problem; Benji is quick to lie when his boyfriend tries to reveal their relationship. He lies to Victor about his suspended license to get him to drive. After Victor kisses him, he withholds that information from his boyfriend. This one isn’t an outright lie, but Victor knows that his boyfriend will see it that way.
He’s A Scorpio
The driver’s license shown in Episode 7 confirms Benji’s November 12th, 2002 birth date. Suddenly, his handling of secrets makes sense. He shows distress when Victor forces him to keep secrets again and again. At the same time, he refuses to betray his friend by revealing any information.
Scorpios are also passionate people. Suppressing that passion is what caused Benji’s drunken accident the year before. Romance is a tougher topic for Scorpios. It’s why he needed Victor’s help planning his anniversary date with Derek.
His Art Abilities Are Equal To Mia’s
It looks like Victor has a thing for artists. Both of his love interests, Benji and Mia, have an amazing knack for portrait drawing. Perhaps the pair could’ve bonded over this mutual passion if not for the love triangle.
Benji’s work is shown just once when he gives Victor a hand-drawn portrait for his birthday. The accuracy is amazing since Benji never had Victor pose for it. It’s a little hint that Benji had his eye on Victor long before their kiss.
There Isn’t A Musical Genre He Doesn’t Like
The first time we meet Benji, he’s wearing a Pink Floyd shirt from the 1977 Animals Tour. He’s immediately identified as a rock fan. This is confirmed when he buys a ZZ Top shirt from a thrift store during a road trip.
Benji subverts expectations by covering Carly Rae Jepsen‘s viral pop song “Call Me Maybe“ for a Battle of the Bands contest. In the car with Victor, he admits he enjoys the music of country legend Dolly Parton. So, Benji refuses to be limited to just one genre.
He Works A Huge Number Of Hours
Benji calls Victor from the coffee shop in Episode 2 to let him know he’s got the job. Right before Victor answers, his phone flashes the time: 11:00 PM. This is on a school night. Benji’s been at the cafe all day and is now closing the shop on his own. He is the assistant manager, but he’s also a teenager.
Earning the position at such a young age and managing such long hours is impressive. It’s understandable why he rarely appears at hangouts with the rest of the characters.
He’s A Sneakerhead
The first thing that Benji notices about Victor is his shoes. He takes one look and knows that they’re vintage Nike Cortezes. This style is a sneakerhead staple. Sneakerheads are people who love sneakers and often collect them. Nike Cortezes aren’t rare or expensive enough to collect, but they’re beloved for their classic style and comfort anyway. They’re a great fit for someone who doesn’t have the money to invest in limited editions or high-end styles yet. His simple clothing paired with watches and rings already shows his interest in accessories.
He Showed Felix Kindness Before Victor
Felix is a magnet for bullies. The nicer students don’t help him, they ignore him. Benji does things differently. He greets Felix first when he comes up to Victor in Episode 1. Felix describes him as “chill” once he’s gone. It’s a simple compliment that shows Benji’s history of kindness towards Felix.
Benji’s sexuality means he has his own bullies to worry about. He could join the others in mocking Felix to raise his own social standing. His choice to befriend Felix instead speaks to his integrity.
He Isn’t As Rich As His Classmates
No kid would work as hard as Benji if his parents were willing and able to provide him with everything. He isn’t careless with the money he earns either. Benji suggests a thrift store when Victor needs to buy a suit for his girlfriend’s charity event. Even though Benji isn’t the one that will be paying, it’s instinct for him to assume that everyone is as frugal as he is. This attitude is reflected in his own clothing. Band tees and jeans make up most of his wardrobe.
