Heartstopper on Netflix is a series that is long overdue, it is a heartwarming series that explores the friendship that slowly develops into a same sex relationship between a young out gay man and his high school crush, the captain of the rugby team. You cannot help but smile and get caught up in the story that has you cheering and crying for both Charlie and Nick.
Heartstopper on Netflix is a series that is long overdue, it is a heartwarming series that explores the friendship that slowly develops into a same sex relationship between a young out gay man and his high school crush, the captain of the rugby team. You cannot help but smile and get caught up in the story that has you cheering and crying for both Charlie and Nick.
Heartstopper, based on the novel with the same name by Alice Oseman dropped on Netflix on April 22nd and has been an instant success, flooding social media and the internet with positive reviews.
Heartstopper is a series that will be beneficial for many young teens who question their sexuality, as this series is groundbreaking for the simple reason it is normalizing being gay. The series also touches on the ongoing bullying that young gay teens experiences in high school and how hard it is to be different, when you aren’t seen as normal by your peers.
Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) starts a new year and class and is seated next to Charlie Spring (Joe Locke). An unlikely friendship develops as Nick is a celebrated rugby player in the school and Charlie has been recently outed gay at the school and have been bullied and victimized by many.
The two quickly become friends and Nick invites Charlie to join the school rugby team with relative success but the two are inseparable and genuinely develop a bond and trust.
Directed by Euros Lyn, Heartstopper, is a remarkable series as not only is it tackling the heady topic of gay romance in high school, it also normalizes the idea of two young women developing a relationship and a young man falling for a trans woman. These are all difficult topics, but the series does an outstanding job presenting all these touching romances in such a way that you cannot help but want the best for all of them and you are left cheering them on and falling in love with all the characters on the screen.
Joe Locke as Charlie Spring is a relatable character. We have all at one point or another felt like we didn’t fit in and Joe Locke has developed and presented a characterization that you can see in yourself. Charlie Spring is the perfect representation of a time especially when at an age where trying to figure out my own identity, many people will be able to relate.
Kit Connor as Nick Nelson is adorable. There is a realness to this character as you can genuinely see the character of Nick trying to understand all these feelings he has for Charlie. There is a feeling of venerability and uneasiness as he struggles with understanding his identity and overcoming the fear of will he be loved or rejected for being himself. A touching performance to witness on the screen.
Special mention needs to be given to Olivia Coleman who places Sarah Nelson, Nick’s Mom. There is no role Olivia can’t do where she gives it her all and with this performance she kicks it out the park, especially the scene where Nick comes out to her and admits his relationship and love for Charlie. My wish is that every parent was as loving and accepting of their teenagers when they openly express themselves.
As a gay man who grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s a series like Heartstopper would have resolved a lot of turmoil that was swirling around in my head as trying to figure out where I fit in was really hard, especially as there was no positive representation in the media.
Heartstopper is the series that teenagers should watch with their parents as it is an honest representation of what is a very difficult time in a teenagers life where they are trying to understand themselves. As the characters slowly come into their own, it is nice to see a same sex story presented in such a way. It is positive and supportive and that is all you can ask for when you are simply trying to fit in.
