Never Felt This Way Before: Ode To ‘Queen Sugar’s Nova And Chantal

 

Chantal and Nova had a casual relationship during Queen Sugar’s first season. 

As Queen Sugar begins its seventh and final season next week, writer/activist Nova Bordelon and BLM activist Chantal Williams’s short lived romance deserves a revisit. 

Chantal (Reagan Gomez-Preston) and Nova (Rutina Wesley) are guest speakers at a radio show that ends poorly in As Promised written by Melissa Carter and directed by Tanya Hamilton. DP: Antonio Calvache.

They exchange words... DP: Antonio Calvache.

....and Chantal places her number into Nova’s phone. DP: Antonio Calvache.

In season one, episode six’s aptly titled, As Promised, Nova and Chantal meet on a radio show that seems a manufacturing of The Breakfast Club— a false community vibe that gets its kicks on Shade Room gossip. Nova and Chantal want to talk about their work, especially in regards to the tragic case of Too Sweet. Yet the raunchy male hosts focus on Nova’s sister— the famous basketball wife, Charley Bordelon West. Even the callers request only information on the titillating details, not much on the prison reform and bail aide that Nova wants to address. Afterwards, Chantal apologizes to Nova and flirtatiously places her number in Nova’s phone. They bond over Chantal’s Hindu necklace which represents Ganesh, the goddess of obstacles. Thus, this potentially symbolizes a short-lived pairing that definitely had a more intense, soft, tender chemistry as opposed to Nova’s other longer term lovers. 

From community activists to lovers, Nova and Chantal’s passion sets the screen on fire in the seventh episode, In No Uncertain Terms written by Denise Harkavy and directed by Neema Barnette. DP: Antonio Calvache.

Nova softly releases her emotional burdens on Chantal. DP: Antonio Calvache.

In No Uncertain Terms shows Nova and Chantal hooking up. Chantal tries sneaking off to leave— perhaps believing that they are a typical one night stand. Nova invites her to stay for breakfast— a positive sign of turning an overnight stay into an invitation to her world. The moment is riddled in stolen kisses and pensive stares with a vulnerable Nova admitting that she has never felt so free before. The difference between this new, refreshing relationship, versus Nova’s previous entanglement with the married white cop Calvin is that with Chantal there exists no residual shame, no inner turmoil between Nova’s “Black love is sacred” politics and her heart, and that poignant kind of blissful intimacy that can only be manifested with another woman. 

Nova and Chantal enjoy herbs in Nova’s garden. DP: Antonio Calvache.

Herbs of all kinds. DP: Antonio Calvache.

In the middle of Nova’s wondrous joy, however, is facing the consequences of stealing a hefty sum from the family farm account without permission. Hurricane Charley bursts on Nova’s property to blast her. The moment Charley sees Chantal, her anger increases. Charley calls Nova trifling. The rift between the sisters has been steadily drifting and drifting. Nova’s face appears hurt by Charley’s words, believing that her romance with Chantal disgusts Charley. In the next episode, Charley claims it is Nova smoking weed and having an affair (which she did not find out until the end of In No Uncertain Terms) that she finds problematic. 

Later, Nova and Chantal attend an artist interview in the artist’s studio. Chantal and Micah have one on one time looking at large scale representational paintings of stolen Black lives. While Charley scolds Nova’s lifestyle, her son is accepting and kind. It is quite beautiful that Nova introduces Chantal to Micah and leaves them to get along as she conducts her work. 

Where With All, speaking of hurricanes, the eighth episode has Chantal playing the passenger on Nova’s supportive ride for a fellow ninth ward citizen during a tropical storm. They’re obviously growing closer; their activism for the community tying them together, encouraging a deeper bond. An old lady in the backseat offers both solemn thoughts and unexpected humor. Overall, Nova and Chantal temporarily become the buddy comedy relief through a horrific storm that the poor city does not need. After all, Katrina was an environmental violence that still has repercussions to this day. 

Unfortunately, part of Chantal being the rider, is monitoring the driver’s phone. Aunt Vi is not the only repeated caller. Chantal sees Calvin pop up numerous times. Nova immediately tells her not to answer. Although Chantal asks no questions, her eyes do. Why be so defensive about this man? What’s the big secret? 

As the women hear that the storm is shifting to a second level category, Chantal invites Nova to stay with her. Nova declines, getting the wrong idea that Chantal wants her to move in. These two situations— Calvin and the moving in (which yes, is too soon)— are generating red flags. If returning to that moment when Chantal tries to sneak off in the morning of the previous episode and Nova saying that Chantal frees her, then it is understood that Chantal feels that something more is blossoming between them. In the car, they appear to be backtracking, especially Nova with her mixed signals. Chantal is trying to shelter Nova from the storm, but Nova immediately sets more boundaries, saying that she’s not that kind of person. She needs her space. And that should be okay. 

Chantal and Nova have breakfast again in So Far written by Anthony Sparks and directed by Salli Richardson-Whitfield. DP: Antonio Calvache.

Nova has Chantal try her skillet meal— changing the topic from the article Chantal is obsessing over. DP: Antonio Calvache.

So Far, the tenth episode, Nova and Chantal appear to be relaxed and well— another breakfast conversation, more love in the morning, lounging about in sleepwear. Chantal then makes a huge fuss over Nova’s upcoming conversation with Melissa Ford-Perry. A humble Nova is uncomfortable by this attention and tries to distract Chantal with food. Things come crashing down after Chantal invites her BLM group to Nova’s house to give Nova talking point ideas. Chantal and Nova have a huge argument. It is obvious that they are at different levels in their lives— Chantal the huge fan girl wanting to build on Nova’s successful platform and Nova guarding/keeping her writing/activist life separate from her relationship. 

When Chantal invites her group over to help Nova (after it has already been established that Nova prefers to work alone), Nova is visibly upset. DP: Antonio Calvache.

Chantal is hurt by Nova’s refusal. DP: Antonio Calvache.

Nova must always have it done in her own way. Writing is often a solitary practice. DP: Antonio Calvache.

Later, Chantal breaks up with Nova for several reasons— their politics are not aligning, Chantal interferes with Nova’s solitary practice, and Chantal discovers that Calvin is a white cop. It feels very rushed and insincere. They are not even fighting to stay together— Chantal is especially not listening to reason. Maybe Chantal cannot handle Nova’s boundaries. Then again, Chantal admits to looking through Nova’s drawers and finding pictures of Calvin. So that represents a trust issue. 

Nova admits to liking both Chantal and Calvin’s looks. That’s not enough for Chantal to stay. DP: Antonio Calvache.

Even though Nova and Chantal ended things, Chantal popped up in two more episodes throughout Queen Sugar’s run, showcasing that Chantal and Nova still had that community connection. In Yet Do I Marvel, season two, episode nine, Nova’s article on the Zika virus scares the whole of St. Joseph Parish. Chantal (who is now on the health community board) informs Nova that her words have petrified people. Interesting enough, Nova's boyfriend Dr. Robert’s ideas have somehow manifested into Nova’s work. Once upon a time, Nova declined Chantal’s aide. Also while Nova treasured Chantal’s Ganesh necklace, let’s not forget the ugly jewelry Dr. Robert gifted Nova— something that was not her. Like this relationship. Perhaps Chantal knew that too. 

In Yet Do I Marvel written by Jason Wilborn and directed by Julie Dash, Nova’s article on the Zika virus is not the only thing pissing off Chantal— though that is more seen in her body language at Dr. Robert. DP: Antonio Calvache.

Nova and Dr. Robert seemingly team up against Chantal’s stern attitude. DP: Antonio Calvache. 

In season four, episode four’s Skin Transparent, Nova’s Blessing and Bone book has painful repercussions. Almost her whole family does not show up to her book reading before her book tour. Only Micah, her beloved nephew. But guess who else proudly shows up to support her? 

Chantal Williams. 

It would have been even sweeter if Chantal reunited with Micah in the empty front seats reserved for family, but not everything is meant to be. Chantal’s beaming smile in a crowd of strangers is a most welcoming sight from the major blowback Nova experiences. 

In Skin Transparent written by Valerie Woods and directed by Numa Perrier, Nova reads a surprising excerpt from her Blessing and Blood memoir. DP: Antonio Calvache. 

Chantal is a vision in pink, very proud. DP: Antonio Calvache. 

Chantal brings a genuine smile on Nova’s face. DP: Antonio Calvache.  

Chantal holds Nova’s hand and asks her if she’s seeing anyone. Always a flirt. DP: Antonio Calvache. 

Queen Sugar certainly did not grant Nova and Chantal the time, space, and care to mature as a couple much less paint a full character analysis for Chantal. Nothing else is further detailed in Nova’s ex-girlfriend other than her communal activism. The show has a growing ensemble with many stories that intersect together in less than an hour. Yet the audience knows more about Calvin and Nova’s other boyfriends than Chantal herself. Another glaring problem is that queer couples, especially bisexual queer couples, always seem to veer back to heteronormativity. In Nova’s case, she returns to Calvin repeatedly, then Dr. Robert DuBois, and in between (like that strange Remy situation). Her queer relationships are flighty noncommittal flings that deserve much deeper depth. For example, Dr. Octavia Laurent, Nova’s former professor and lover is introduced during Nova’s book tour— after Nova previously dismisses Chantal’s request for emotional intimacy. There has definitely been missteps to Nova’s development over the years and her queerness is one. 

Nova calls Chantal over. DP: Antonio Calvache.

Chantal— currently utilizing self-care therapy— prefers that Nova come to her place and talk about her family issues. DP: Antonio Calvache. 

Queen Sugar’s final season returns on Tuesday, September 6th. Maybe Chantal will return again or maybe not. Either way, it was fond enjoyment remembering Chantal and Nova’s sweet potential together.