Heartstopper Review: A Sensational and Sweet Service to Young Queer Love

It takes about five minutes for protagonists Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson of Netflix’s newest romantic comedy, Heartstopper, to fall head over heels for each other. 

It will take you about half that time to fall head over heels for them. 

From the moment Heartstopper Season 1 begins, it’s impossible not to see how special it’s going to be. The show establishes itself as a sensation from the moment the opening credits finish rolling, and we’re introduced to Joe Locke’s character Charlie Spring — an openly gay 16-year-old boy who is ready for love.

But even before the series peels back the curtain, letting you take a deeper look into the lives of Charlie, Nick, and their endearing group of friends, Heartstopper introduces itself through brilliant cinematography, a cotton-candy color palette, and perfectly poignant needle drops at every turn. 

Euros Lyn creates a soft tone for the series with the use of light and reflections that dance across the screen, where the golden hues warm and brighten even England’s grey skies. The graphics taken from creator Alice Oseman’s webcomics are also subtly weaved throughout, helping the story feel steeped in adolescence, but never overly saturated. 

There isn’t a single shot in Heartstopper that isn’t deliberate — especially in the moments between Charlie and Nick. Lyn uses his lens to make scenes sing in exactly the way they need, insuring each “heartstopping” moment is able to fully come to life. 

Because that’s what Heartstopper is about — that moment where someone new enters your life, and you feel alive for the very first time.

It’s not filled with brooding stares, or intense angst. Heartstopper is about the moments that give you butterflies — the heart-pounds and the giggle fits, the blushing that surfaces from flirting with a crush that soon becomes your first real love.

It’s the anthesis of current teen dramas like Euphoria and Sex Education — shows that dazzle in their own right, but fail to capture the more wholesome, endearing sides of sixteen. Heartstopper trades in the sex and drugs for smaller, more introspective character moments, encapsulating them flawlessly.

That all starts with Locke and Connor, who are the epitome of perfect casting. Both boys are incredibly charming in their own right, with chemistry that hurls the entire story forward from their very first “hello.”

Locke brings a bumbling sweetness that feels innate in its awkwardness. Connor manages to give Nick a swagger of confidence that never detracts from how genuinely kind — and at times, confused — the character actually is.

The two actors create an unbelievably visceral manifestation of first love — the rose-colored glasses part of falling, complete with romantic montages. Their sparkling chemistry never dulls, instead shining brighter as the characters grow closer together over time. 

There is an endless amount of sensational things about Heartstopper, but seeing a queer romance given the same iconic romantic tropes — with full commitment by both the writing and the actors — is an incredibly beautiful thing to witness.

Charlie and Nick get to experience everything two people falling would; their relationship unfolds at the dizzying pace of any young couple, complete with hesitant flirtation, a nerve-racking first kiss, and epic confessions in the rain. 

It’s all gloriously there (and done better than most, truthfully), but all set to the grounding backdrop of a coming out, coming-of-age, story.

There is an interesting perspective twist on allowing Charlie to be an openly gay character, while Nick navigates his way to an eventual bisexual identity. Male bisexuality is rarely represented on screen, but centering it in a story about two boys falling in love is virtually unheard of. 

Nick’s story is told with sincerity, providing Connor with a myriad of moments to translate the gravitas of his situation. 

There are flashes of panic — a clear anxiety that lives within him as he drives himself to uncover his truth. But there’s also an eventual beautiful moment of clarity — opposite Oscar winner Olivia Colman, by the way — that allows him to unburden himself from all the weight he’s been carrying. 

Heartstopper does it all with unbelievable grace. There is a meticulous effort in making sure the journey towards defined sexuality is highlighted but never overshadows romantic moments that deserve their own focus. 

The heavier plot points are all balanced with lighter flourishes, however, and Heartstopper never forgets how important it is to find a certain hilarity in the process.

Not being able to decide who in Pirates of the Caribbean is more sexually attractive — Keira Knightley or Orlando Bloom — while watching the film next to your parent, is a great example of one of those moments. 

Objectively funny, but also extremely relatable for anyone whose been through it themselves. 

Perhaps even more satisfying, is how Heartstopper crafts not just one fully fleshed out queer romance, but multiple  — all equally as compelling, all unique in their importance to the story.

Tara and Darcy are established in their relationship and identity, but faced with coming out to the rest of the world. Tao and Elle are discovering their feelings may be blossoming from friendship to something else. Charlie and Nick, are a friends-to-lovers romance — one that is trying to be happy while Nick figures out who he is on his own time.

Everyone will find themselves in someone throughout the eight half-hour episodes. 

It’s all tossed together and thrown into a beautiful friendship salad, where the characters are able to find solace from the outside world through trust they build with one another. Those friendships, create an emphasis on how important it is to live your truth — not just for you, but for the inspiration it can evoke in others.

Without Nick and Charlie, Tao and Elle might never recognize their feelings. Without Tara and Darcy, Nick wouldn’t see what “out and in love” truly looks like.

Most importantly, if there was no Nick Nelson, Charlie wouldn’t know what it feels like to be with someone who makes him laugh. 

It’s sugary sweet rom-com goodness, but far too earnest and important to ever be corny.

Instead, it just soars. 

 

 

What did you think of Heartstopper? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Heartstopper Season 1 is now airing on Netflix.

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