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| Image courtesy of Netflix |
It takes a lot for a series about queer high school students to avoid sex in favor of moving moments of connection. But Heartstopper finds a way to do so in its second season.
The strength of this series is its ability to create an innocent, pure depiction of queer love. This may just be the most chaste young adult series that isn’t faith-based. The almost complete lack of sex, however, bolsters the tone of genuine connection that becomes so moving.
After quietly becoming a couple last season, protagonists Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick (Kit Connor) navigate dating each other in secret. Nick also struggles with coming out as bi to the rest of his family, namely, an older brother and a distant dad.
Charlie and Nick’s queer friend group get more character development and screen time this season, including lesbian couple Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) and Tara (Corinna Brown). Best friends Tao (William Gao) and Elle (Yasmin Finney)work to understand their spark of romantic feelings as well. The representation of various kinds queer characters here works well and seems a little more natural than similar shows.
Sex Education, seems to use every identity, kink, and sexual issue as a plot point for an episode. Heartstopper avoids doing this and instead digs deeper into just what the main characters are working through. Though after a few episodes, the queer characters seem to outnumber the straight and cis ones. A viewer even might ask themselves, ‘Well, who isn’t queer on this show?’
All the usual tropes for queer high school stories are here, which could make this season nothing new for anyonewell-versed in YA stories. One standout element here is Nick’s former girlfriend, Imogen (Rhea Norwood), who becomes the token ally in the friend group. Otherwise, college applications, non-supportive families, and bullies sprinkle in enough reality to keep the stories grounded. A few other plot devices, including unhealthy relationship patterns, keep things from getting too saccharine, and, as much is possible with the innocent and pure tone, add a little grit.
A class trip to Paris and end of the year Prom provide opportunities for many of the characters to mature and progress while some deeper character plots remain unresolved.
These moments of reality create suspense and unease that bump up against that enduring innocent and pure tone. All the quiet moments of connection between characters packmore of wallop because of this tension and expectation that things could go very wrong. Maintaining this tension is what sets this series apart from others.
Season two of Heartstopper is streaming on Netflix.
— EB