IN true Netflix fashion their runaway hit ‘Heartstopper”s – based on Alice Oseman’s young-adult novels of the same name – aesthetic is firmly placed in the 1980s. As a gay coming of age romcom, the first series struck a chord with its target audience teenagers – while also resonating with a more mature audience grappling with their emotions.
LGBT+ adults, in particular, felt touched by its authentic portrayal of queer adolescence, with the romance between the two teenage boys the rugby lad, or the Jock if you will, Nick (Kit Connor) and more arty and nerd Charlie (Joe Locke).
In the second series they spend all their time kissing, sending each other texts such as “Good morning handsome” and celebrating their two-month anniversary – all this writer says is it wouldn’t be me doing that… well we all do cringy things in the name of love.
It also comes at a crunch time for the boys with it being GCSE time and both of them are distracted by each other. While Nick – who’s not properly out – is out to his mother (played by the great Olivia Coleman), there are other family members to tell including his “dick” of an older brother, those are his words, and also a distant father – which is a stereotype but I guess all of them have some sort of factual basis.
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The fact Nick is bisexual allows for an exploration of bi-phobia and bi-erasure, with people suggesting he simply hasn’t figured out that he is gay yet, which is all to common even in the LGBT+ community. Same with the couple just being really “good-mates” to some in the series, which is another thing the show touches on.
THE "GOOD MATES" MONTAGE😭 I'M SCREAMING #Heartstopper pic.twitter.com/gRmkbYywiL
— Liz (@henryswille) August 3, 2023
‘Heartstopper’ stands out in its quiet plea for understanding, aiming to resonate with everyone and showcasing its maturity in doing so. Notably, even the teachers in the series are portrayed with emotional lives beyond the school gates.
The series navigates through typical teenage experiences, including a school trip to Europe, end-of-exam celebrations, and prom night. During their time in Paris, the characters encounter love bites, breakups, and hookups. The show also delves into the complexities of sleepovers and room-sharing on trips, as well as the varying levels of acceptance and support from parents for same-sex couples.
The show also includes several nods to the real world, with one adult character acknowledging older viewers who may not have experienced such positive gay teenage relationships.
‘Heartstopper’ is an endearing and heartwarming series that effectively captures the essence of queer adolescence while touching the hearts of viewers from all walks of life. Life may be hard being gay, but it can also be wonderful, that is what the show reminds us of.
Heartstopper is available on Netflix.
