Credit: Sierra Prescott
Ahead of The Fosters 2×21, a.k.a. the season 2 finale, we spoke with Gavin MacIntosh about how his character Connor’s relationship with best friend Jude has evolved over the second season. Read on for our full interview with Gavin MacIntosh!
Since we last spoke, a couple of pretty major things involving Connor have happened on The Fosters. The episode that aired about a week and a half ago featured the youngest same-sex kiss ever aired on TV in the United States, and you were a part of it. How does that feel?
Gavin MacIntosh: It’s amazing to be a part of that. The message it’s spreading is an especially important message that so many people need to see and that needs to be portrayed. People who are struggling with those kinds of issues, they don’t know if it’s OK to kiss another boy or girl. They see [Connor and Jude] and it helps a lot of people figure things out.
You and Hayden have both told me before that you’re good friends in real life. Is it weird to have an onscreen romance with someone you have a platonic relationship with offscreen?
We were definitely nervous about it at first. A couple of days before the kiss, we were talking about it and just kind of going through the process and we ended up saying, “We’re gonna be mature about this. It’s acting, and what we’re doing is such a big deal. So many people are going to watch this. It’s going to change so many people’s lives.” And we kind of put that in front. We didn’t really think about the awkwardness.
Credit: Sierra Prescott
The latest in the Jonnor storyline is that Connor came out to his father. We didn’t see his dad’s immediate reaction onscreen, but he did tell Lena that he didn’t want Jude to be around Connor anymore. Will we see anything else about how he responds to his son’s revelation and how their father/son relationship changes as a result?
His dad’s gonna have to face Connor’s decision and he’s gonna have to face what happens. It’s really hard for him to understand that and to deal with that because he’s not the sort of person that supports that, obviously, but hopefully he does end up supporting Connor. That’s my wish.
It’s huge for any teen to come out even if they think their parents will be supportive, which Connor’s dad hasn’t been so far. In terms of the viewer reaction, have you had a lot of people empathize with Connor’s process of arriving at this conclusion about himself and then beginning to actually tell other people about it?
I’ve seen so many reactions to all the things that we’ve done over the past season, mostly positive. A lot of people are saying thank you, sending letters and cards and messages over social media and stuff – it’s just been a huge reaction from the fans.
For a while, Connor was going back and forth about his feelings, and eventually we saw Jude blow up at him about it because he was so confused. Coming out of the closet seemed like a pretty definitive step – do you think Connor is sure about who he is and what he wants, or is there still some uncertainty there?
I think he’s pretty sure about what he wants. I think he really cares about Jude, but I’m not sure it’s really black and white there. It’s not a solid line, like either “Connor is gay” or “Connor is straight.” A few episodes back, Jude had a line – he asked why everyone has to be labeled and be put in boxes, and I think Connor really agrees with that.
Will Jude and Connor’s relationship change as a result of Connor identifying as gay?
I hope it doesn’t. With a lot of relationships, in the best ones, the two people are still friends, so hopefully they’re still best friends even if they are in a relationship.
Does the Jonnor storyline advance in any way in the finale, or is that tabled until season 3?
You could say it advances in a way. Jonnor may have a moment in the last episode!
You can follow Gavin MacIntosh on Twitter and Instagram, and don’t forget to tune in to ABC Family for the season 2 finale of The Fosters tonight at 8/7c!
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