Netflix’s Heartstopper: The Love Story We Needed Decades Ago… and Today
Charlie Mason
Editor
OK, Ausiello, you were right. Heartstopper was amazing. Beyond.
When my boss told me to watch Netflix’s teenage romance, insisting that I’d like it, I said what I usually do when he makes suggestions — “Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, you betcha” — with every intention of ignoring him. But this week, I gave it a shot. Dunno what possessed me, really. Too much wine? The last thing I wanted to do was sit through a show that Michael had described as “really sweet.” Life, it seemed to me, had become too ugly, too cold and relentless and f—king insane. I didn’t want to spend any time with an alternative that didn’t really exist and maybe couldn’t anymore.
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It turned out that I needed Heartstopper. Badly. Its story, if you don’t already know, is pretty simple: Gay boy meets straight boy, straight boy realizes that he’s bisexual, love blossoms, sometimes literally, all around them. But it’s written so earnestly, acted so deftly and directed so thrillingly that its impact is profound. There is a joy to these eight episodes, to their gentleness and tension, that radiates too brightly to be rejected. They comprise four hours of happiness and hope.
And yes, Michael, they are “really sweet.”
Heartstopper was exactly what I was so reluctant to admit that I needed after how many years now of absorbing blow after blow, from the pandemic to politics to almost hourly upheaval. It also occurred to me, as I zipped through episodes that went by so fast, I would’ve sworn they were 10 minutes apiece, that this series is going to mean a lot to a whole lotta kids. At a time when hateful “Don’t Say Gay” bills are giving them the impression that being anything but straight is wrong, something shameful that’s to be hidden, here comes Heartstopper, with its sensitivity and insight, to reassure them that nope, “different” isn’t wrong, it’s just different. It can also be pretty magnificent.
I can’t imagine how vastly my childhood and adolescence would have been changed for the better, had there been a show like Heartstopper around all those decades ago. Growing up is confusing, as it is, and growing up without any idea that what you are is something that exists, and that it’s OK, scary as hell. But I’m not here to play “If only… ” I’m here to say, “Thank goodness — Heartstopper is here, better late than never.”
I totally feel the same way. The series is so sweet and as a gay man myself I must admit that I recognized a lot of the emotions that I witnessed on-screen. I’m lucky – my coming out was fairly easy, no trauma what-so-ever, but it still makes me so happy that there is a show like this out there which can show younger gay and lesbian teens that it’s okay to be who you are. There was no insane hyper intensive drama, instead it just felt very emotional and realistic.
Should have been 16 episodes I mean they’re ONLY 30mins each. I’m way far from high school and it made me cry Alot
Basically since I missed out alot on relationships
Autism is often too rough on life in general. I hope
CHARLIE & NICK stay together FIVE Seasons at least
Can’t wait until the pendulum swings.
Care to elaborate?
I was wondering when y’all were going to look at this series! It really is wonderful. As a 44-year old queer person, I can say that I have already watched the show a couple of times and loved it. I so wish I had it when I was a kid because it would have made a huge difference in my life. They remind me a bit of Jonnor on The Fosters (all the hesitation and the pinky holding). And seeing a queer story not rooted in trauma is also a total blessing.
It’s always bittersweet because these shows often showcase white actors, so nonwhites, still don’t feel seen and they just reinforce what gays look for, so if you aren’t straight-acting/looking, you’re still not accepted.
You should check out “Love, Victor”…
To be fair… the show also has several LGBTQ characters who are people of color.
Not the same as lead characters. And, gay media still centers white male characters continuously. Your comment ignores this. Something tells me you’re not a gay person who knows what it feels like if that’s your response.
Uhm, maybe not make any personal assumptions? I’m gay myself. I just didn’t really agree with your post, that is all :) I do agree that it is important to have people of color gay characters aswell, but imo they do excist.
I doubt any gay person who isn’t white would respond to my comment with to be fair there were some. You may be gay but being gay and nonwhite is not the same. That was my original point that you dismissed with your comment. It’s great that there’s visibility but that visibility is often limited. I don’t doubt that you’re gay, most gays are content with the limited presentation of gay leads that we’ve been subjected to again and again. Usually, young, straight-acting white guys who are conventionally attractive.
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So maybe don’t assume that it’s okay to just say, he they exist be happy with that. That’s not enough. I responded to your comment, just as you did mine. It was quite telling.
*they exist.
This is based on a comic. Most of the other main characters are not white, one of them is asexual, which is something that severely lacks representation. I would suggest Love, Victor, for a gay teen show with a non-white lead.
Heartstopper is filmed in Great Britain. So yeah it looks different than something that is located in New York. I think if you have a show set in Iowa you have the same situation: you either use non-white characters for diversity but not exactly reality or you mirror what is exactly there. But in Heartstopper there is also a black lesbian girl – I think her role is the third biggest in the cast. An asian guy, a black teacher etc.
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Then you have other series like Sex Education and Genera+ion with more diversity which are still available on streaming sites.
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I understand it if someone feels left out. But you know what: I lived for almost 30 years before Queer as Folk happened. Before that gays and lesbians were shown as disturbed psycho nutcases or got seduced by Heather Locklear in one episode and turned straight. Trans people weren’t even mentioned. So keep in mind you really have the option to watch a dozen of TV shows which offer you much more than I had for a long time (and soon the new Queer as Folk).
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BTW I don’t think that the gay lead in Heartstopper is “straight-acting”. He just isn’t. He becomes part of the rugby team but I consider this as a progress because it’s not shown as easy. And what you criticize as “straight-looking” is a stereotype. Who decides who is “straight-looking”?
Just who is telling you that great Britain isn’t diverse
THIS – UK is very diverse. If diversity was lacking in this show then it’s down to the show not the country
Charlie is half spanish.
Really? This is your critique? Everything have to be now about non whites? Have you seen every show where the gay characters are always non whites. This is refreshing, just a regular coupmein love.
I had the exact same feeling watching this charming show. If I had seen this kind of show when I was a teenager struggling with my feelings about being gay, it would have meant the world to me — and frankly, would have changed my world for the better.
I’ve watched the entire first season twice now. I fell in love with Charlie and Nick’s friendship and love story. I’m a straight female who grew up in the 1980’s with a gay best friend. I watched his struggle and wish he would have lived to see this show and know that life gets better. Thank you Alice Osman for creating Heartstopper.
❤️Love is Love. ❤️
i completely agree! the show is so beautiful, heartwarming and delightful, and even the more serious topics are not too heavy, but instead a little more realistic. it’s been a while since i’ve felt this much joy watching a tv show, while also crying constantly because yes; i needed this show, and these characters, and their wonderful relationships.
I don’t think I knew how much I needed this show. Telling queer focused stories, intrinsically positive, not overly dramatic. It’s really a unicorn. It may be just a show, but does it have to be? I’m coming away from this season with a new, more hopeful outlook on what it means to be LGBTQ+ today.
It’s such an amazing show I’ve watched twice now.
I agree with the fact that the show is sweet. However, the show is very simple and I couldn’t help but feel slightly weird with all of the texting scenes. There was no talking and everything felt very detached. I’m not trying to be overly critical and harsh because I think representation is very important, but there are some flaws with the story.
Texting is exactly how younger people talk these days. There doesn’t have to be a cinematic score playing. It’s just us with our phones and emotions. This show did an amazing job with what it’s like to be in the current day real world.
I can’t handle the cheese of this show (I tried) but I really enjoy these personalized “commentary” articles that show a more vulnerable side of TVLine staff. More please!
Couldn’t agree more!
*about hear more from site writers comment in a more personal manner. I’ve followed Michael Ausiello for *years* and really enjoyed the peek BTS at his recommendation on this.
MORE COMMENTARY please 😊
I loved this show, and have watched 2 times already… It is really good and I really like the the carachters. As a bisexual 38 year old man (married to a man), I found myself feeling the same way Nick does in the series, and I really felt related to the situations. I wish I had a show like this available when I was a teenager… It is ok to be BI, it is ok to fall in love with a man, with a woman, with anyone, be true to yourself…
I keep seeing ppl seeking books with this title, didn’t know what it was. Def going to watch, thanks for this!
I loved this show so much! It was soooo cute and heartwarming and unique. It didn’t follow a bunch of bs tropes just for drama’s sake. I ended up staying up binging it in one night and didn’t even notice until it was time to be up again. Then, I binged it again the next night because I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I hope Netflix renews it!
It felt like this is what Burt and Irving would have been like if the Severance characters would’ve met as a teenagers. It was a relateable story that focussed on the nervousness of first love. The anxiety and utter joy of every encounter until you find out whether love is reciprocated or not. The characters felt both like someone you could meet in real life and people who met long ago back when you were a teenager. It was enjoyable to watch from beginning to end and I can’t wait for a second season.
Heartstoppers is such a gem of a show and everything I needed and wanted to see as a kid. I was trying to pace the episodes but couldn’t. I totally agree that they felt like 10 minutes long. I dont normally say a TV show is perfect especially not in its first season but Heartstoppers definitely is. Heres hoping Netflix gives this show a S2 and isnt a one and done type of situation Netflix usually does with there YA offerings.
There are at least five books in the original series on webtoons. They have plenty of material, and it just gets better. I doubt that they will ditch it any time soon. 😊
Heartstopper was created from a webtoon of the same name. I’ve been reading the original for a while now, and I’m so thrilled that the author’s work is being enjoyed by so many people in this medium. It gets even better, I promise!
Heartstopper elevates sweetness to an art form. I’ve already watched every episode 3 times and intend to also check out the source material webtoon. Such a beautiful and heartwarming story and cast!
Thank you! I found Heartstopper by accident, binged it, and loved every minute. I wish there had been something like this when I was growing up. It would have made my life so much easier. At least in the choices I would have allowed myself to make at a younger age than when I did. It’s been said but bears repeating. Representation matters.
“Heartstopper” delivers precisely that type of “sweetness” that we often get in shows that are well done about adolescence, in this case queer adolescence. I would argue that both “Young Royals” (also on Netflix) does the same thing as does “Love, Victor” on Hulu.
Came to this series just now and have somehow watched it 5 times back-to-back!! Incredible!! Can’t stop watching it ❤️❤️😊😊🏳️🌈
This is a 55yr old married woman with two grown up straight children – not the target market but such an amazing piece of drama, narrative and definitely needed