One of the appeals about drama shows is that they can distract us from our own lives. It’s no wonder that even after a decade, “Gossip Girl” and “Gilmore Girls” are considered classic comfort shows. With the release of shows like “Euphoria,” however, the definition of a sweet and innocent teen coming-of-age story is becoming warped.
Netflix’s “Heartstopper” released on the streaming platform in April of last year. Based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novel series, “Heartstopper” has taken the world by storm. The show follows teens Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) as they discover their unlikely friendship might be something more as they navigate school and young love.
Season one received a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and season two just came out this past week. It has been in the headlines ever since, with season three theories already arising.
Here are some reasons why the show should be on your watchlist, especially if you’re someone who thinks coming-of-age romance TV shows have been destroyed by the 21st century’s internet culture.
- It has beauty and innocence, making for an authentic show
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There are too many cute moments to count, but luckily Buzzfeed is a step ahead and compiled a list of all the cute moments in season one. (Still waiting on that season two article, btw). Shows like “Euphoria” and “Elite” have many sexual undertones, but for “Heartstopper,” love is shown in many innocent yet treasurable scenes like when Nick wants to hold Charlie’s hand for the first time.
The show as a whole reminds the audience what being in love and facing life through a teenage lens is all about. There are days when texting your significant other, who is a few inches away, feels like the whole world is disappearing.
Netflix - Queer representation is abundant and portrayed so naturally
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It’s not a huge shocker that there will be LGBTQ+ representation, given the main love story is between Charlie and Nick. Even the common concepts found in a queer space are portrayed so accurately in the show, for example,when Charlie has his “gay crisis” moment, or when Nick talks about how ordinary “bisexual erasure” is in society.
One of the beautiful feelings “Heartstopper” portrays overall is what it means to grow up queer and that, much like love, it’s something natural in life. Season two definitely expanded this feeling by introducing the concept of asexuality in a world that values crush culture.
Samuel Dore/Netflix - It’s not always rainbows and unicorns (though there are a lot of rainbows)
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It wouldn’t be a drama show without any drama, right? While super adorable, this coming-of-age show also demonstrates what it means to deal with toxicity, whether it be in a relationship or an environment. “Heartstopper” also doesn’t fail to address the struggles of academia in all of its extremes: from exams to bullying.
Samuel Dore/Netflix - The soundtrack is everything
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Right after watching season two, I instantly searched Spotify for the “Heartstopper” playlist. While it has some common pop artists like Conan Gray and Taylor Swift, the abundance of indie artists really adds to the atmosphere of the show. It was the first time I had heard of mxmtoon, but now I will never be able to hear “mona lisa” without thinking of the young love moment between Tao and Elle. The soundtrack of “Heartstopper” definitely gives main character energy, which we love, especially walking through the streets of New York.
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I hope that one of these items piques your interest in watching “Heartstopper.” Even if you’re not sure about it, I highly recommend watching it to try because you will be hooked even if you think teen love stories aren’t your thing. There is definitely something for everyone in this show.
