Best TV Couple #8: Hollywood Desonier & Violet Bordelon

Vi (Tina Lifford) and Hollywood (Omar Dorsey) are the best thing happening in St. Joe.

Queen Sugar's Violet 'Vi" Bordelon and Hollywood Desonier's relationship is not a no strings attached agreement nor a silly cougar having fun with her younger squeeze. Vi is the town's infamous piemaker and Hollywood is a retired rig worker, having come into riches after a colossal explosion almost killed him and his crew. While Roberta--the resident vixen always on the hunt on fresh blood-- took a shine to the handsome, bald gentleman, Vi wasn't taking chances. She kept her man close and pushed enemies far away. Hollywood only had eyes for Vi anyway, paying no attention to Roberta or any other woman shamelessly flirting with him. And Vi adored this new lease on life, on the love Hollywood granted her and her loved ones.

Butterfly kisses between lovers.

Hollywood and Vi are sweeter than sugary iced lemonade on a hot summer day. They had been through much together, having rescued Blue from a perilous predicament involving his drug addicted mother while his father was imprisoned. Along with her older brother Ernest, Vi and Hollywood raised the child, giving him the love needed to survive and thrive. After Ernest passed away, Vi stayed strong and diligent, fully embracing the matriarch role of the Bordelon family.

Unlike most television dramas, Queen Sugar doesn't let ageism become a crucial factor. Sure, Hollywood is much younger with a bright future ahead, possibly children if he wanted. For Vi, he has given up on the thought of having them. He simply loves her and cannot wait to get married. On the other hand, Vi is a vivacious sixty-year-old woman handling business affairs and conducting a steamy romance. Her wig assortments are fire and her fashionable outfits evoke confidence. It is not surprising that someone like Hollywood-- a man of fine, appreciate taste-- could fall head over heels. There have been minor incidents with women believing Vi is Hollwood's mother (most recently season three, episode three's "Your Distant Destiny" during Hollywood's high school reunion). Hollywood and Vi both take down haters with wholesome respectability and a hint of snarky clapback.

Vi learns all about LeeAnne in a heartbreaking scene.

Unfortunately, in the beginning, Hollywood hadn't disclosed his entire biography, withholding his first wife, LeeAnne. At Vi's splendidly decorated outdoor party for Hollywood, LeeAnne stumbles on to the scene calling out for Hollywood and their baby. It turns out LeeAnne (who was off her medication) miscarried their child and became mentally ill, unable to cope with the loss. Hollywood has stayed married to her so that she could have medical insurance.

It took a while for devastated Vi to forgive Hollywood, much less speak to him. She played the silent card. He persistently continued getting through.

Eventually, they grow close again, Vi's walls opening the floodgates of trust, knowing that Hollywood is too good of a man to lose despite the heavy white lie. Once the explosion happens, fears takes allegiance. When he steps off the van-- alive and unharmed-- she leashes herself into his arms and refuses to let go.

They are reunited. Hollywood quits the rig for Vi. Of course, she is surprised and hopes he has thought it through.

In season two, episode sixteen's "Dream Variations," Hollywood proposes and Vi accepts.

Don't mess with Viwood (or is it Hollet?).

After a horrific domestic abuse relationship that temporarily damaged her mentality and spirit, Vi refuses to allow men any control. Her independence is valuable because she remembers when she didn't have it, when she couldn't be free to candidly speak her mind. The unexpected lupus diagnosis is not deterring her from achieving big dreams either. She is determined to open her own pie shop. At times, this frustrates Hollywood. He wants to give her the world-- fund the pie shop, get her a transporter truck. He wants to hold her at the dizzy spells, be the rock to hold. Lately, she has been dismissing his aide, including announcing not wanting to be Miss Violet Bordelon-Desonier. Every turn, appears a new beast to strike, a new wound to Hollywood's pride.

As Hollywood and Vi's romance continues unfolding, will Hollywood truly be enough for Vi? And will there be a wedding at all?

In the meantime, Tina Lifford and Omar Dorsey are beautiful. Each poignant episode, among the sadness and pain that surrounds them, Lifford and Dorsey bring viewers these two layered characters who would do anything for the other, fighting for love, fighting for their family. They are absolutely stunning in their portrayals. Next to Blue Bordelon, Hollywood and Vi uplift everyone with positive energy, thoughtful wisdom, and divine encouragement.