I think that the problem is compounded by the fact that there are not many black characters on the show to begin with, and that Syd mentions that it's "typical" of Ali to hang out with black guys (so their race is made a point of by the writers). The two characters are not developed at all and are really provided as a…

This guy is a douche, and this interview is obnoxious.

Despite being on PBS, this show has always been a soap opera for sure. But this season is a poorly-constructed soap opera with pretty much every possible soap opera cliché wedged in.