Heartstopper Season 2 Review: Love Just Might Conquer All

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Back for its sophomore season, Heartstopper‘s students at Truham and Higgs are ready to show audiences that they are still teenagers with complicated lives and a willingness to find hope, joy, and love around every corner. While this season is more of a rollercoaster, there is still the overwhelming sense of love and warm hugs that Season 1 gives us.

What makes this season so undeniably great is the constant attention to real young adult issues to which the audiences can relate. While we love the bubblegum sweetness of Season 1, there is a realism to Season 2 that can’t be denied.

All the episodes of Heartstopper Season 2 are written by Alice Oseman and directed by Euros Lyn.

Nick and Charlie Lean on Each Other Through Tougher Days

One of the things Nick told Charlie, promised him actually, at the end of last season is that he wouldn’t keep Charlie a secret. As Heartstopper Season 2 Episode 1, “Out,” begins, audiences see just how happy and free Nick and Charlie seem to be in their little bubble of love. 

Charlie is so happy that his boyfriend promises to take steps toward them being out to everyone and going through with it. However, we can also still see that darkness is brewing just under the surface.

When we approach Heartstopper Season 2 Episode 2, “Family,” Nick starts to have his own struggles with test anxiety, family stress, and coming out. Despite Charlie knowing he isn’t stable enough in his mental health to shoulder Nick’s burdens in the hope that he won’t have to, he does.

This is where we start to wonder if something isn’t happening with Charlie because he tells two different people two different stories about eating while he hasn’t eaten. Fans of the graphic novels go into this season expecting to see Charlie’s eating disorder come to light.

What makes this show so great is that Alice Oseman, as the writer and creator of these characters and the show, ensures that each of these more complex topics is handled respectfully without bringing down the overall hopeful vibe. 

Season 2 dives deeper into Charlie’s mental struggles with his eating disorder and his cutting. It will have fans rooting even harder for Nick Nelson because every step of the way, he respects Charlie and keeps an open mind and heart about the younger man’s struggles.

For example, during Heartstopper Season 2 Episode 5, “Heat,” Charlie’s eating disorder comes to a head, and he passes out into Nick’s arms while they are in Paris. Instead of demanding answers, Nick holds Charlie’s hand and quietly urges him to open up when ready.

This, in turn, leads to Charlie being able to do the same for Nick only moments later when he opens up about his father. Their give and take is a level of maturity not often seen in relationships as young as theirs, but it’s also refreshing for those of us who are pure romantics at heart.

In the final scene of Heartstopper Season 2 Episode 8, “Perfect,” fans see Nick break down in tears as Charlie relays to him that he used to cut and that his eating disorder has been worsening. Instead of being concerned about what Charlie’s struggles mean for him, Nick makes him promise to always come to Nick if things get so bad he feels he can’t handle them.

That is what makes this couple so easy to relate to. They have open and honest communication, allowing for moments of extreme honesty and unconditional love in return.

Tao and Elle’s New Love Mirrors Darcy and Tara’s Struggles

The other two significant relationship developments this season are mirrors of each other. We are talking about Darcy and Tara hitting a snag in their relationship due to miscommunication and Tao and Elle struggling to start theirs due to communication issues.

These couples could solve so many of their struggles early on if they trusted one another enough to talk things through. However, their communication issues are common for people their age, so we can’t find ourselves annoyed or put out even if we try.

Tao and Darcy are two of the most closed-off characters on all of Heartstopper, so it comes as no surprise this creates complications during Season 2. Meanwhile, Elle and Tara find themselves growing ever closer over their shared struggle of wanting their partners/potential partners to be candid with them.

The big difference between what is happening to Tao and Elle versus Darcy and Tara is that Tao’s lack of communication comes from his human nature, while Darcy’s is out of anxiety and fear.

One of the things I’ve noticed between the two seasons of Heartstopper is just how neurodivergent Tao’s natural behaviors are. Sure, during “Perfect,” he tells Nick that his anxiety about people leaving and things changing stems from his father’s passing.

However, so much of who he is comes across as neurodivergent as well. He is very focused on specific aspects of his life staying the same, he doesn’t adapt well to new people entering the friend group, and he struggles to talk when his feelings become stronger than he is used to.

In the case of Darcy, her hesitation is from the fear that her friends will discover and judge her for not being out to her parents. Never mind that her mom is a terrible parent who doesn’t deserve to know that fact about her daughter.

Knowing that Darcy has a highly controlling mother at home gives us much more insight into why she is constantly being silly, over-the-top, and larger-than-life around her friends. It’s also why she is always the first to create hang-out opportunities for the friend group. 

She does this to protect herself from a toxic home life and to keep those sadder feelings deeper under wraps. Unfortunately, that also means she can’t find it in herself to be more honest toward Tara, which becomes a problem.

Ultimately, these couples show us that their relationships will be strong and steady as long as one partner never gives up on trying to get the other partner to show up and be present.

It’s a message that many young folks need to see for themselves, especially young queer individuals.

Isaac’s Journey of Self-Discovery

The final part of Heartstopper Season 2 that needs to be addressed is Isaac’s journey of self-discovery. Throughout Season 1, Isaac was that friend who was always there to cheer you on and root for your love life, while he preferred reading books.

Season 2 starts off seeming to be much of the same. However, fans know that Isaac starts to explore his sexuality more acutely thanks to statements from Oseman about Isaac’s purpose in the grander story.

The thing that makes Isaac’s journey so essential is the number of young adults who will see it and maybe realize for themselves that they, too, aren’t broken. Isaac finding for himself that he doesn’t experience attraction or desire like his friends makes us want to cry at first but then root for him when he finally understands why.

Heartstopper Season 2 Episode 6, “Truth/Dare,” is probably Isaac’s lowest moment when we see him shed tears. He realizes that James kissing him is nothing like what he wants.

This starts his journey toward beautiful queer joy by the end of “Perfect.” However, he has to be introduced to the idea first, which is where Elle’s art show comes in handy for him.

Seeing the light bulb in his mind light up when he meets an AroAce individual who has created an art piece he relates to makes every tear he’s shed worth it. The pure freedom we see wash over Isaac is worth its weight in gold.

Honestly, it is the asexual spectrum representation we deserve but haven’t genuinely received until now. The honesty and beauty accompanying Isaac’s discovery show others that being asexual can be just as valid, joyful, and fulfilling as folks who love physical intimacy.

Stray Thoughts

• Nick Nelson being the friend group therapist and then taking the same advice he dishes out is why this young man is goals.
• Imogen is always a fun little character to pop up on occasion. Her very public breakup with Ben is so satisfying.
• Charlie standing up for Nick against Harry is refreshing, but not as much as seeing him stand up for himself against Ben.
• AJAYI AND FAROUK ARE SO ADORABLE! We love to see older queer representation.
• Nick’s mom continues to be the greatest person on the planet while his brother and dad prove to be the biggest dicks. Can Olivia Coleman be my mom?

 

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

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

Heartstopper Season 2 is streaming now on Netflix.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

25 Best TV Dramas of 2022