Relationships are never simple, and they require a certain level of understanding. Not every film or TV show manages to showcase that authentically, but Switch embraces that truth with warmth, humor, and honesty. The series, which premiered at this year's TRIBECA FESTIVAL, follows Lena (played by Pauline Chalamet) and Maxine (played by Coral Pena), two women navigating a new relationship while trying to understand what they want.

What starts as a seemingly straightforward plan to find a third partner quickly turns into a deeper journey of self-discovery, communication, and vulnerability. As the duo encounters a series of unexpected experiences, they are forced to confront their fears, desires, and the realities of modern relationships. In an exclusive conversation with Netflix Junkie, stars Pauline Chalamet and Coral Pena discuss the emotional growth of their characters, Lena and Maxine, and why vulnerability lies at the heart of their story.

Aayush Sharma: At the beginning of Switch, Lena and Maxine seem to be approaching vulnerability from completely different directions—one eager to connect, the other much more guarded. How did each of you interpret the emotional armor your character wears, and what did you discover beneath that armor as the story unfolded? 

Pauline Chalamet: I guess what I discovered through the character was that she was someone who, in the beginning, was very open to experiences, open to anything, open to life, and really just wanted to amass life experiences and see how much she could take in at once. But what she ends up with is a journey with one person that goes much deeper than just another experience. So I think, at first, she was seeking one experience after another, and then through their shared journey, she discovered something even more profound.

Coral Pena: For Maxine, I think we all remember that hurdle we had to get through individually, whether it was in our teens or at another stage of life. For Maxine, it is in her 20s. She is realizing that if she really wants to experience the world, she has to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. So she is allowing herself to be excited by something that makes her uneasy because she so desperately wants to have honest and meaningful connections. But it's scary, and she does not really know where her boundaries are yet, when it comes to being open to something that feels dangerous to her, what is actually dangerous, and what is simply vulnerability. So yeah, she is trying to be adventurous like Lina, but she has not quite figured it out yet.

Aayush: There's a wonderful irony in the series that the more Lena and Maxine search outward for someone else, the more they're forced to confront themselves. Did you see the various men they meet as actual romantic possibilities, or almost as mirrors reflecting different insecurities and unanswered questions within the relationship? 

Coral: I mean, I definitely didn't see it as romantic. It was just a way to connect further with each other.

Pauline: That is a really interesting point, that, in each episode, each of the guys kind of brings out one of a different kind of insecurity or a problem dynamic that they have not yet addressed in their own relationship. So that is an interesting way of looking at the different guys that they cross paths with.

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Aayush: Pauline, your character, Lena, enters the story with a level of certainty about what she wants that gradually becomes more complicated. How did you approach portraying someone who appears self-assured while quietly questioning her own assumptions about intimacy and partnership? 

Pauline: Well, I think I just relied on Coral. 

Coral: We did rely on each other a lot.

Pauline: I think you are right. Lena really thinks she has everything figured out, and Maxine kind of questions, which evokes a lot of new questions that Lena has to address about herself and, inevitably, about the future of their relationship.

Aayush: Coral, Maxine's energy, evolves dramatically throughout the series. She almost seems to become more comfortable occupying space and expressing herself with each new encounter. How did you build that progression, and what did you want audiences to understand about her journey toward self-confidence?

Coral: Personally, I think it happened organically for both Pauline and me because we shot sequentially. When we first started filming the show, everything was new. We were a little nervous; we did not really know each other, and we were still finding our footing. By the end, though, it felt like, 'These are our people,' and we were completely comfortable with one another. So that growth happened naturally, and I don't feel like I had to force it. For Maxine, I think she is really lucky to have found a partner like Lina, who's incredibly patient. Pauline is like that as well, someone who understands, 'I chose to be in a relationship with a person who struggles with this, and I am not going to judge them for it.' If you're someone who has a hard time being vulnerable, that's probably the loveliest kind of person to come across: someone who does not judge your missteps.

Aayush: The film explores sexual identity in a way that feels refreshingly fluid rather than prescriptive. Were there conversations during production about avoiding labels becoming the defining feature of these characters and instead focusing on the complexity of human connection?

Pauline: 100%. Isabelle and Sofya, they were very open with us about how the show was loosely inspired by their dynamic and by their journeys as queer women who have moved through the world in different ways. They also talked about how the label of bisexuality is something that has been very important to them, and how they wanted to create a show that explores this gray area that we rarely see on screen. More often, stories are presented as either gay, lesbian, or heterosexual, while bisexuality is often treated as a middle ground. They spoke with us a lot throughout each episode about the importance of looking beyond labels and focusing on the foundation of Lena and Maxine's relationship. They also discussed how each of the different men they were involved with played a role in shaping and influencing that relationship.

Coral: I do think one of the things the show really tries to convey is that vulnerability is vulnerability and intimacy is intimacy. Rather than spending so much of your life trying to define those things and fit them into a box, the show asks what new forms of vulnerability can be unlocked when you are simply honest with yourself and open to the idea that something—or someone—can surprise you. I think that is really beautiful. There are a lot of people who feel like they live in the gray area and are sometimes fearful of that. Maybe this show can remind them that it is okay to live in the gray. It is scary, but it is also exciting.

Aayush: What fascinated me about Switch is that the search for a third person often feels less important than the process of these two women learning how to articulate desire. Did the series change the way you think about the difference between wanting something and knowing how to communicate that want? 

Pauline: That is a good question. I think it really speaks to the importance of communication in relationships. Often, one partner wants something or feels very strongly about something, and especially at the beginning of a relationship, the other partner may focus on giving them what they want without really asking themselves what it is that they want. As a result, communication can become complicated. I think that is something we see these characters navigate throughout the story, and it very much reflects what it means to be in a modern relationship—or really, any relationship. It is about learning how to communicate honestly while also understanding your own needs and desires.

Coral: The thing I always wanted to carry through, and what's most important to me about the show, is that it all comes back to Lena and Maxine—their love for each other, their care for each other, and their genuine interest in one another. Challenging themselves only allows them to grow closer. I think we are often afraid to be truly vulnerable, but what's waiting on the other side of that is not only a deeper appreciation for your partner, but also for yourself. It's about the journey of learning not only what you want, but also how you want to treat your partner and how you want to be treated in return. It is all connected. The way you treat your partner is often a reflection of how you treat yourself, and I think the show explores that idea in a really meaningful way.

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