graphic by ella sylvie
If you’ve spent any time on social media recently, you’ve probably heard about “Heartstopper,” the new LGBTQ+ British teen drama that hit Netflix on April 22, 2022. Six years after the release of Alice Oseman’s first volume of the graphic novel by the same name, fans rushed to watch the highly anticipated screen adaptation, and they were not disappointed!
“Heartstopper” follows 15-year-old Charlie Spring (Joe Locke), the only openly gay boy at Truham Grammar School for Boys, who falls for 16-year-old rugby star Nick Nelson (Kit Connor). From crush to more, Nick and Charlie help each other through their journeys of self-discovery with the support of their friends, Isaac, Tao, Elle, Tara and Darcy.
And to give the original “Heartstopper” comic fans a little something extra, some of Oseman’s most recognizable drawings were included in the show as short animations. Fans can look out for the iconic “Heartstopper” leaves, flowers, birds and other electrifying doodles throughout the show that bring the realistic adaptation back to its roots in its pivotal moments.
Fans of the comic have also pointed out several comic-to-screen parallels, including iconic quotes and moments where it looks as though frames of the comic were plucked right off the page and thrown directly onto the screen. This buzz comes with the fact that fans are convinced the casting director found comic Nick and Charlie’s real-life doubles in Connor and Locke, both in looks and personality.
But the production of “Heartstopper” isn’t the only thing that has people raving. What everyone is most excited about is the story. In an era in which television often depicts teenage characters in adult situations, “Heartstopper” is a breath of fresh air. Tossing out sex, drugs and traumatic experiences, “Heartstopper” gives fans the wholesome queer story everyone has been looking for with milkshake dates, arcade fun and of course, Nellie, Nick’s adorable border collie.
Many LGBTQ+ teens feel that too much queer media focuses on the trauma and bullying that can come from being openly queer at a young age. “Heartstopper,” however, finds a unique balance by focusing primarily on positive self-discovery and friendship while still touching on the homophobia and transphobia the core friend group faces from bullies.
By looking closely at the lives of the core “Heartstopper” kids, we see exactly how the show prioritizes presenting queer stories in a positive light despite the problems these characters face rather than concentrating on the problems themselves. For example, Elle is a young trans woman of color who has just switched from Truham Grammar School for Boys to Harvey Greene Grammar School for Girls (or, colloquially, Higgs) after enduring transphobic comments from her male classmates. She is realistically depicted as struggling in her new environment and missing her friends, but the show makes sure not to reduce her to her struggles. She eventually finds her place with Tara and Darcy, Higgs’ only lesbian couple, and spends her time goofing around in their form group. At lunch, the friends toss snacks at each other and find amusement within their own bubble. Together, the three face their bullies head-on and support each other through it all. Go girl power!
Similarly, Charlie, being the only openly gay boy at his school, is also confronted by bullies daily and is led on by a boy named Ben, who kisses him in secret but pretends not to know him in public. Of course, Charlie goes through his own set of struggles as every teenager — especially a queer teenager — does, but “Heartstopper” makes sure Charlie’s arc is more than this. With the help of the rest of the “Heartstopper” gang, Charlie works to accept that he is not a burden to his friends and that he deserves real love even after being used. Throughout the show, we really get to see how Charlie uses his friends’ genuine love for him to begin truly accepting himself.
But perhaps what fans are buzzing about most is how Nick’s personal journey with his own sexuality is depicted in the healthiest possible way. Even though he is initially confused by his attraction to Charlie, Nick is never portrayed as someone who is ashamed of who he is. He takes his time to learn about bisexuality, becoming sure in himself before feeling the need to explain himself to anyone else. By surrounding himself with fellow queer students, Nick slowly learns more about his own identity and accepts himself for who he is. And when he comes out to his mom, fans get the perfect moment void of any harmful questions or comments with a simple motherly response of, “I love you.” This scene truly represents the show as a whole, showing fans that they can be proud of their identities and find beauty in their queerness by highlighting heathy, non-traumatic moments and relationships.
But even a perfect queer show would be incomplete without the perfect queer soundtrack, right? Don’t worry, “Heartstopper’s” got that too! The soundtrack is complete with iconic queer anthems like “girls” by girl in red, “Sappho” by Frankie Cosmos, “Colors of You” by Baby Queen, and “Why Am I Like This?” by Orla Gartland. Fans of the show have had the soundtrack on repeat since its release, enjoying the work of queer artists that can bring them directly back to moments from the show.
Since its release, “Heartstopper” has shot to the top 10 Netflix shows in several countries and has received a perfect critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. With such a diverse set of characters, there is someone for everyone to relate to, and we can’t get enough. I urge you to join Nick, Charlie, Tao, Elle, Tara and Darcy for bowling alley birthdays, milkshakes, snow angels, beach trips and more wholesome queer fun in “Heartstopper!”