But before that connection blossoms into something more, Cal explains that their relationship will inherently be a queer one – a fact that makes Jackson uncomfortable. This season also featured several nonbinary characters the show hired nonbinary consultants to stick all the right landings.Ĭal and cisgender male character Jackson have an instant connection. 'Seeing African queerness portrayed in a way that was authentic and that also was light-hearted at times was something that was absolutely beautiful instead of people regurgitating the same trauma stories and the trauma narratives that they have about African queerness,' says Dua Saleh, who plays nonbinary student Cal. Eric cheats on his boyfriend there – but it comes out of a beautiful moment where he feels a part of something bigger than himself.

In the episode, Eric visits a queer Nigerian nightclub and revels in a riveting Black and queer culture he hasn't experienced at home.

'It was really important that that storyline had a very particular specificity to it,' Nunn says.