Other Media Review

Series Review: Heartstopper

Carrie: Have you seen Heartstopper yet? Tara and I have and we are here to tell you all about these wonderful baby gays and how they are represented so inclusively, beautifully, movingly, and entertainingly on the series Heartstopper. It has one season of eight episodes, each about a half an hour in length. Two more seasons have already been ordered. (Hooray!)

The show is centered around a group of teens at Truham Grammar School in England, as well as Higgs Girls School. Charlie, who is openly gay, survived a miserable year of bullying during the previous year, and although the bullying seems to have diminished, it hasn’t disappeared altogether. Charlie is supported by his best friend, Tao, who describes himself as “the token straight friend,” as well as Isaac, who is bisexual, and Elle, who is transgender. Tao and Elle are very close, and Tao is having a hard time adjusting to Elle’s move to Higgs Girls School. Elle is too, although she flourishes once she makes friends with “the school lesbians,” Tara and Darcy.

Our story gets underway when Charlie meets his classmate, Nick, a popular and kind rugby player. Because Nick’s friends include those who tormented Charlie last year, Tao is hostile towards him, but Charlie, who has all the finely honed self-protective skills of a golden retriever puppy, develops a huge crush on Nick, who appears to be straight.

As the story develops, the characters grow and change, sometimes in surprising ways. It’s a warm hug of a story, bathed in rainbow gels and little animated touches of whimsy among the live action.

the friends share milkshakes

Tara: A warm hug is exactly right, because it is so freaking cute. When I started Heartstopper, I only had time for the pilot, which I loved. I kept thinking about these characters until I was able to carve out more time and then I gobbled the rest of the series in one go.

The main reason I loved it is because of Nick and Charlie. Charlie is so sweet and earnest, doing what he can to survive in the school. Unfortunately, this also means he’s privately kissing a boy who is mean to him in public. I was so happy to see Charlie stand up for himself against this boy, realizing that he deserves better. It also didn’t hurt that he developed a crush on Nick at the same time, so I found myself cheering every time he and Nick had a lovely conversation or hangout.

Nick’s journey was especially great for me, because I loved watching him figure out his bisexuality. He knew he’d been attracted to girls before and Charlie is first the boy he’s been attracted to, so he’s confused and wants to look into it. We see him search online and watch videos to try to figure out the emotional tornado that he’s experiencing. And while I was a bit afraid he’d end up being a jerk like that other boy, forcing Charlie to stay closeted, I was relieved that Nick took a different path that honoured both himself and Charlie as much as possible.

Nick and Charlie
Nick and Charlie

Carrie:

Yes, there were so many times I was sure I knew what conflict was about to arise, but they would dodge it, and it made me so happy!

I loved how this show centered non-heterosexual characters in ways that addressed a range of experiences and identities. It really threads a needle between showing some of the realistic hardships that queer teenagers can face without ever becoming tragedy porn or an after-school special. Instead, it keeps the focus on positive bonds between friends and positive, healthy, loving relationships of many different kinds — a supportive teacher, an encouraging parent, a cool sister, and of course the friends and their romantic partners. A lot of conflicts that I thought would arise are either resolved quickly or passed over altogether, allowing for much more interesting things to happen.

Tara: Yes, I totally agree. As much as I loved Nick and Charlie, I was also glad to see them surrounded by queer friends and other allies. The gay art teacher lets Charlie hide in the art room and gives Charlie advice about boy troubles when he needs them. Tara and Darcy are delighted to learn about Nick and Charlie, when they become a thing. We also see Tara and Darcy come out publicly as a lesbian couple and how difficult it is for Tara when other kids treat them differently.

While it was a little difficult to see some casual homophobia thrown Tara’s way, I was also relieved that it doesn’t appear to be a big deal for anyone at the girls’ school that Elle is trans. This is particularly important representation right now, given the current political environment where trans kids (especially girls) are demonized for living their truth in the UK and North America.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see that the most of the queer kids in the show are actually queer and that Elle is played a trans actor. Related: I’m not sure I’ve seen anything cuter this year (apart from Heartstopper, of course) than Kit Connor, who plays Nick, saying that he has a “fat crush” on Hugh Grant.

Carrie: I also think it was important that the teens are, for the most part, actual teens, as opposed to 25-year-olds with six packs. It’s so much more affecting to see how young they are, and how they are navigating this very specific time of life.

Tara: What did you think of the little animated elements, Carrie?

For people who haven’t watched it yet, every so often, there would be little animated elements on screen like leaves blowing. I found them effective for reminding us that this story began as a webcomic and graphic novel, as well as for amping up Charlie and Nick’s chemistry at all the right moments.

Carrie: I think the little animated touches might be too much for some people, but I gotta say, they felt just right to me. The series is cozy and happy, and most of the characters are basically decent people who are trying their best, and the few that are truly shitty get a comeuppance of some sort. Also there is a dog (Nellie).

Tara: I mean, we have to give extra points for the dog, who is not only adorable, but an excellent excuse for Nick and Charlie to hang out more. There are worse pickup lines than “wanna come hang out with me and my dog?” and it clearly worked for Nick, even if he didn’t even know that his feelings for Charlie were romantic at the time.

Charlie, Nick, and Nellie (a brown and white dog)

Carrie: Side note: Olivia Coleman plays Nick’s mum and the moment in which:

Mild plot spoiler

He explains to her that he is bisexual, and asks if she knows what that means, and she says she does in the sweetest and funniest way, is my everything

Olivia Coleman
Do not cite the deep magic to me, son, I was there when it was written!

Tara: I wasn’t planning on watching Heartstopper, because I’m typically not into shows about teenagers. However, I’m glad I listened to the four friends who reached out and told me that I must watch it because I would love it. They were completely right and I’ve been telling everyone else I know to watch it since then.

And guess what? Now I’m telling all of you! If you’re looking for a show that’s full of warmth and young, queer joy, this is just the ticket. Now I just have to find a way to wait for the next season…

Carrie: I know! The struggle is real! I adored this show, and I especially enjoyed watching it with my teenage daughter. The show is great all by itself, but it also facilitated conversations between us that I’ll always treasure. Art that helps people talk to one another is truly great art. I’m with Tara on looking forward to Season Two!

Add Your Comment →

  1. JenT says:

    Absolutely adored it. What a wonderful series. And Alice Oseman said she had plans for ace representation in season 2. Can’t wait!

  2. I loved this show SO MUCH!

  3. Qualisign says:

    That trailer! Wow. Okay, so even though the cast is mostly younger than my grandkids, I must watch this. The sweetness and hope in the midst of the horror of youth in that clip is amazing.

    And Carrie’s statement that “A lot of conflicts that I thought would arise are either resolved quickly or passed over altogether, allowing for much more interesting things to happen” would be an absolutely perfect theme for the REC league.

  4. HeatherT says:

    I just recommended this to a bunch of people (again) yesterday!

  5. Dana says:

    I’ve watched this show THREE times now!! It is my go-to when I’m sad, sick, or depressed (or starting to get sad, sick, or depressed) and it helps SO MUCH. I normally don’t love shows about teenagers because I don’t really need to live the horrific teenage angst years, but this one is an exception. I love the inclusion and compassion towards all the characters (I just wish there was more Isaac time!!)

  6. LisaM says:

    @Dana, I was frequently distracted trying to see what Isaac was reading that day. I loved him bringing a book everywhere.

    I am also hoping for more Tori, she is a sarcastic supportive delight.

  7. Juhi says:

    Ok. I gotta watch this. Thank you!

  8. Lisa F says:

    This is on my TBW pile; I’m glad it’s so good!

  9. Midge says:

    I stumbled over a comment about Heartstopper somewhere, looked it up, started watching it and fell in love! It’s a daily dose of happiness, these kids are just so adorable! I can’t wait for the next season.

  10. AtasB says:

    This is on my to-watch for this week, looks like lots of fun. I see people requesting the graphic novels on Pango books a lot but no one seems to be selling theirs, lol!

  11. Cicely says:

    I love this show SO MUCH. I love the complexities of each character (except Isaac… when did we find out he’s
    bi???), the genuine grappling with emotions, and the way it leaves room to be generous to kids who are themselves just figuring things out (ok, except the main jerk, whom I just don’t care about). I’ve watched the entire series several times and really, every episode is gold.

  12. Jennavier says:

    I love the comic so I’m really excited to watch it!

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