Heartstopper is great not just for its portrayal of queer romance, but also its exploration of the complexities, awkwardness, and the shear exhilaration of adolescent love. The new season really hits home bc of how scared I felt about coming out to my peers. In fact, it wasn't until college that I was fully out and proud. So it's cool to see these young kids expressing their sexuality and finding the strength and support they need to be true to themselves. I think that a show like this is so important for other teenage youth to see, queer or not. It teaches a lot about acceptance and inclusion and community.
2 Reviews
Series 2 - Still full of Joy
tm-sheehan13 August 2023
I'm re posting my review of Series 1 of Netflix Heartstopper as I can't add much to a separate review for series 2.
Except to say while perhaps the originality of Series One has worn off just a little that we enjoyed the joy Series 2 just as much.
All the fabulous diverse characters from series 1 return Nick Joe Locke and Charlie Kit Connor are as besotted by each other as before and Charlie's gradually coming out of the closet.
Their merry band of friends including Tao William Gao and his transgendered girlfriend Elle Yasmin Finney have more to add to their story in Series 2 as do the delightful lesbian couple, Tara Corinna Brown and Darcy Kizzy Edgell as they take off for a school trip to Paris
I can only repeat that if this coming of age story had been around when I was 15 and coming out life would have been a much happier experience.
While the acceptance and fun friendships may not be the reality of many LGBTQI young people discovering and exploring their gender identity and sexual preferences Heartstopper I think has a lot to offer any open minded television audience of any age or sexual persuasion.
Of course this series would be banned in Russia and any country that still refuses to allow its LGBTQ basic rights to love and live happy and productive lives and to contribute to their community like the Heartstopper band of fine young people continue to show us how to celebrate diversity.
It certainly doesn't preach or promote LGBTQI lifestyle what it does promote is friendship , tolerance and love of any persuasion.
My Review- Heartstopper - Netflix
My Rating 10/10
Where were stories and television shows like Heartstopper when I needed them growing up and being bullied at school?
Of course there weren't any as I grew up in the Dark Ages of LGBTQI history when being Gay or different meant hostility and shame.
We've come so far and still further to go but this new 8 part series Heartstopper is a heaven sent delightful and funny series that everyone can enjoy . Even those that sadly are still living in the Dark Ages if they love great entertainment and are open minded enough to give Heartstopper a chance . This series may open your eyes to the 21st Century where sexual and gender diversity can be celebrated because at its heart that's what Heartstopper is really about celebrating being young and free to choose your path in life.
It's also a celebration of diversity transferring what was once shame for the victims of bullying back to the bullies themselves.
It's such a simple plot line with a heartfelt and sincere message live, love and be happy.
Heartstopper is based on the vertical scroll comic by Alice Oseman and it stars Kit Connor who plays Nick Nelson and Joe Locke who plays Charlie Spring two young men in their late teens who attend Truham Grammar High School.
Nick and Charlie discover their unlikely friendship might be something more as they navigate school and young love in this coming-of-age story.
This is the television debut of Joe Locke who plays the delightful out but not yet proud Charlie and it certainly won't be his last Joe is a star in the making.
His co star is Kit Connor cast as Nick a popular charming and sensitive rugby player ( they do exist) discovering and exploring his bisexuality . Kit Connor is a seasoned performer with movie roles in Rocketman as older Reggie , His Dark Materials ,and the Little Joe starring Ben Whishaw. Kit Connor will also go a long way in movies and television as he has developed into a very impressive actor.
The most impressive part of this show for me in this teenage crush and sexual awakening story between two young men is it's broad appeal and normalcy .
It's other message of just be yourself and ignore the bully's in life if possible is so effectively powerful and meaningful especially to any young person of any gender or sexual persuasion who is experiencing what I went through in adolescence at an all boys High School.
There's no drug use no overt sexual content but so much affection in all the characters with standouts from Yasmin Finney as Elle Argent and William Gao as Tao Xu Charlie Spring's straight best friend plus the rest of the ensemble that includes a touching cameo from Olivia Coleman as Sarah Nelson , Nick's Mum.
I read that the background of the character of Elle Argent (Yasmin Finney ) the girlfriend of Tao Xu is a transgender girl who transferred to Harvey Greene Grammar School for girls following her transition and bullying from her peers.
I must admit I didn't pick up on that first viewing but it fits so well into the story.
Euros Lyn is a fine Director and together with Alice Oseman has done a superb job transferring her creation to the screen and in doing so they have made a huge contribution to GLBTQ awareness and acceptance hopefully in the broader community.
If Heartstopper helps just one teenager who is experiencing bullying or shaming this series along with its ensemble cast that includes Stephen Fry as the voice of Headmaster Barnes and the delightful Oscar Winner Olivia Colman it had achieved its goal.
Except to say while perhaps the originality of Series One has worn off just a little that we enjoyed the joy Series 2 just as much.
All the fabulous diverse characters from series 1 return Nick Joe Locke and Charlie Kit Connor are as besotted by each other as before and Charlie's gradually coming out of the closet.
Their merry band of friends including Tao William Gao and his transgendered girlfriend Elle Yasmin Finney have more to add to their story in Series 2 as do the delightful lesbian couple, Tara Corinna Brown and Darcy Kizzy Edgell as they take off for a school trip to Paris
I can only repeat that if this coming of age story had been around when I was 15 and coming out life would have been a much happier experience.
While the acceptance and fun friendships may not be the reality of many LGBTQI young people discovering and exploring their gender identity and sexual preferences Heartstopper I think has a lot to offer any open minded television audience of any age or sexual persuasion.
Of course this series would be banned in Russia and any country that still refuses to allow its LGBTQ basic rights to love and live happy and productive lives and to contribute to their community like the Heartstopper band of fine young people continue to show us how to celebrate diversity.
It certainly doesn't preach or promote LGBTQI lifestyle what it does promote is friendship , tolerance and love of any persuasion.
My Review- Heartstopper - Netflix
My Rating 10/10
Where were stories and television shows like Heartstopper when I needed them growing up and being bullied at school?
Of course there weren't any as I grew up in the Dark Ages of LGBTQI history when being Gay or different meant hostility and shame.
We've come so far and still further to go but this new 8 part series Heartstopper is a heaven sent delightful and funny series that everyone can enjoy . Even those that sadly are still living in the Dark Ages if they love great entertainment and are open minded enough to give Heartstopper a chance . This series may open your eyes to the 21st Century where sexual and gender diversity can be celebrated because at its heart that's what Heartstopper is really about celebrating being young and free to choose your path in life.
It's also a celebration of diversity transferring what was once shame for the victims of bullying back to the bullies themselves.
It's such a simple plot line with a heartfelt and sincere message live, love and be happy.
Heartstopper is based on the vertical scroll comic by Alice Oseman and it stars Kit Connor who plays Nick Nelson and Joe Locke who plays Charlie Spring two young men in their late teens who attend Truham Grammar High School.
Nick and Charlie discover their unlikely friendship might be something more as they navigate school and young love in this coming-of-age story.
This is the television debut of Joe Locke who plays the delightful out but not yet proud Charlie and it certainly won't be his last Joe is a star in the making.
His co star is Kit Connor cast as Nick a popular charming and sensitive rugby player ( they do exist) discovering and exploring his bisexuality . Kit Connor is a seasoned performer with movie roles in Rocketman as older Reggie , His Dark Materials ,and the Little Joe starring Ben Whishaw. Kit Connor will also go a long way in movies and television as he has developed into a very impressive actor.
The most impressive part of this show for me in this teenage crush and sexual awakening story between two young men is it's broad appeal and normalcy .
It's other message of just be yourself and ignore the bully's in life if possible is so effectively powerful and meaningful especially to any young person of any gender or sexual persuasion who is experiencing what I went through in adolescence at an all boys High School.
There's no drug use no overt sexual content but so much affection in all the characters with standouts from Yasmin Finney as Elle Argent and William Gao as Tao Xu Charlie Spring's straight best friend plus the rest of the ensemble that includes a touching cameo from Olivia Coleman as Sarah Nelson , Nick's Mum.
I read that the background of the character of Elle Argent (Yasmin Finney ) the girlfriend of Tao Xu is a transgender girl who transferred to Harvey Greene Grammar School for girls following her transition and bullying from her peers.
I must admit I didn't pick up on that first viewing but it fits so well into the story.
Euros Lyn is a fine Director and together with Alice Oseman has done a superb job transferring her creation to the screen and in doing so they have made a huge contribution to GLBTQ awareness and acceptance hopefully in the broader community.
If Heartstopper helps just one teenager who is experiencing bullying or shaming this series along with its ensemble cast that includes Stephen Fry as the voice of Headmaster Barnes and the delightful Oscar Winner Olivia Colman it had achieved its goal.
See also
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