The Aching Simplicity of Heartstopper

Two boys bump into each other in a hallway, both on their way to class. “Are you literally doing your homework while walking to your lesson?” the one asks. “I… might be,” the other replies. What follows is a scene filled with playful banter, a failed attempt to help finish a math worksheet on time, and a smiley face inked onto a hand. We’re watching two characters, Nick and Charlie, slowly begin to fall for each other. But for many of us it’s also a moment composed of relatable dialogue in a relatable situation. Brimming with simple, wholesome scenes like this one, Netflix’s Heartstopper has generated worldwide popularity since its release this past April. Heartstopper is a coming of age story about love, friendship, and life. It primarily follows two boys, Nick and Charlie, as their friendship evolves into a deeper bond over the season’s 8 episodes. On paper, the plot sounds quite simple. So what makes so many people absolutely adore Heartstopper? 

Let’s take a second to juxtapose the show with another wildly popular teen drama: Euphoria. If you’ve seen both shows in their entirety as I have, it’s almost impossible to believe they both reside within the same TV genre. Euphoria is all flashy colors, bold makeup and fashion, with many intertwining plot lines that tangle characters in dark and twisted situations. Heartstopper is a pleasant, upbeat show filled with brightness in both plot and aesthetics. The difference between the two shows is so drastic, it’s almost impossible to believe Euphoria characters like Rue, Nate, and Jules are only supposed to be one or two years older than Nick and Charlie. How is it that Heartstopper thrives in a TV genre dominated by Euphoria and other similar shows whose dramatic twists and dark turns keep people coming back for more? The answer is, quite fittingly, simple: Heartstopper offers exactly what all the other shows don’t. 

Heartstopper does not try to compete with many of the other shows in its genre. It doesn’t seek to have the most dramatic and surprising plot, or put its characters through the worst tragedies possible. It doesn’t try to push the limits of what can be considered a teen drama, but instead captures exactly what it’s like to be a 15, 16, 17-year-old trying to figure out who you are. Heartstopper is full of little moments that everyone can relate to, no matter if we see pieces of ourselves reflected in characters like Nick and Charlie, or not. It captures universal experiences like simple conversations in the hallway before class, butterflies surrounding a first kiss, and conflicts over changing friendships. Unlike other teen dramas, it’s impossible to forget Heartstopper is a show about high schoolers. It’s so deeply rooted in the discoveries and experiences that are typically expected of those years — experiences many of us personally went through. 

Another reason Heartstopper excels as a series is its LGBTQ+ representation. This show is filled with a queer cast (both the characters and their real-life actors). It’s refreshing to see multiple teenagers coming into their identity and sexuality from different, unique perspectives. While Heartstopper addresses both the internal and external conflicts that accompany these new and emerging feelings, the focus is on a positive portrayal. Heartstopper shows multiple characters exploring their identities, discovering who they are, and embracing these findings in environments where they are encouraged and supported. After discussing Heartstopper with one of my closest friends, she said “I wish this show had been around when we were in high school. It would have made my life a lot easier.” It’s not just her, I’ve found this sentiment is common with older viewers of the show, and demonstrates just how important the show’s representation is. Heartstopper offers younger viewers examples of positive, queer characters and relationships at an age where they are beginning to explore their own sexualities. This is so, so important. 

And of course, there’s Heartstopper’s bingeability. It’s not binge-worthy in the major-cliffhanger-on-the-edge-of-your-seat sense, but rather because it makes you feel good. Watching Heartstopper feels like being wrapped in a warm hug, or a soft blanket. While the characters encounter struggles, the highlight is on how they overcome these challenges and are better off for it. The show emphasizes the soft, sweet, and tender moments and serves as a gentle reminder that happy endings exist, and maybe, just maybe, everything is going to be okay. 

Teen romances have been told a thousand times, in a thousand ways. There’s nothing groundbreaking about Nick and Charlie’s story, but something about their wide grins and optimistic attitudes is nothing short of contagious. Heartstopper addresses some complex, layered themes, but in doing so it casts a brightness over them. The show is simple in the sense that it doesn’t try to be anything more than it is: a story about a group of queer teens trying to find where they fit into the world and about two boys falling in love for the first time. The feelings Heartstopper captures are of youth, hope, and nostalgia, ultimately leaving us aching for more. And that is why Heartstopper is so special.