REVIEW: Thriving In Love With ‘Heartstopper’ Season 2

Coming out is hard, and unlike in the movies it’s not just one grand statement. Heartstopper Season 2, much like the first season, captures that. Based on the webcomic by Alice Oseman, the Heartstopper adaptation is created and written by Oseman as well, with Euros Lyn serving as director. The series brings back Kit Connor, Joe Locke, Yasmin Finney, William Gao, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, Sebastian Croft, Tobie Donovan, Rhea Norwood, Jenny Walser, Cormac Hyde-Corrin, and Olivia Colman as the main cast.

Heartstopper is a story that embraces queer joy and youth in a time when so many need to see themselves reflected and affirmed. Last season, Charlie (Joe Locke) came out (although it wasn’t under the circumstances he would have wanted), Nick (Kit Connor) accepted that he’s bisexual, and the two started falling in love. Additionally, romances declared between Elle (Yasmin Finney) and Tao (William Gao) as their will-they-won’t-they friendship began to stretch into something more. And the bullies in Charlie’s life revealed their own insecurities but became a backdrop instead of the main focus as Charlie was embraced by his friends and boyfriend.

Now, in Heartstopper Season 2, love is in the air even more, but more importantly, friendship and support are at the forefront. In it, each member of the friend group begins to grow and learn more about who they are and the relationships (or lack thereof) that they seek out and make with others. Nick and Charlie navigate their new relationship as Nick begins the process of coming out to people who may not be as supportive as his mom. Tara (Corinna Brown) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) face unforeseen challenges as Heartstopper Season 2 works to unpack the complexities of life even when you’re out and proud to your friends. Tao and Elle work out if they can ever be more than just friends and how to become something new while still treasuring what they’ve been. Isaac (Tobie Donovan) wonders why he can read every romance under the sun but can’t find a spark with people around him. And they all do it with exams, a school trip to Paris, and a prom.

Heartstopper Season 2 is a beautiful balance of exploring the complexities that come with being bothered by society while never losing joy. In many queer romances, the struggle and strife can feel overwhelming. Hearstopper doesn’t shy away from the reality that you will experience bigotry. However, by showcasing healthy, intimate friendships and romances, the season centers support systems. Pain is a natural part of life, and often, you’ll deal with pain that you don’t deserve simply for just existing.

But in those moments, finding the people or a person in your life to anchor you is important. As much as we need to see young queer folks surviving bigotry, Heartstopper presents a story where its queer characters thrive. They choose themselves, they have friends who choose them, and ultimately, they get to explore the world on their terms. To thrive in a world is a message that queer teens need to see.

There is an intimacy in how Heartstopper Season 2 captures Nick’s journey to coming out. His life isn’t just his friends, it’s his teammates, his family, and his teachers, and all of those people connected to Nick in his life are individuals with perceptions of sexuality that either support or harm Nick. The whole of the season is about how Nick navigates coming out to everyone, not in one large action, but small affirming ones. Telling people, then groups, and using his trust in Charlie and his friends to build up the strength to live his life even when people like his brother do their best to make him feel less than who they believed him to be.

Heartsopper Season 2 is careful to showcase its characters as whole and dynamic people. They cry and laugh, they love and they learn, and their joy and youth ring through the season, even when there is hardship. While it would be easy to just showcase joy, the connections between each character, romantic and otherwise, are complex explorations of growing up, — there isn’t just one way to do that.

The only issue with Heartsopper Season 2 is that there are moments where characters notice small inconsistencies or secrets bubbling under the surface. Charlie is still recovering from his bullying and holding it in. Tao is terrified of being alone. Isaac feels more and more isolated as his friends are pairing off. And Darcy’s proud persona isn’t what she gets to be at home. While we see hints of these elements explored, they’re only on the surface. More time should be dedicated to watching the support systems that have been built across the series.

While Charlie’s self-harm and suicidal thoughts get part of an episode to surface, I hope that Heartstopper Season 3 will showcase the depths of these characters as they navigate the world now that they’ve let people in. The first season of Heartsopper brought everyone together. The second season of Heartstopper opened a door between each person. In the third season, I hope we get to see them explore the wounds together and work to heal them as they walk through the door that connects each character.

Additionally, this season of the series doesn’t just focus on accepting yourself but also on teaching viewers that when they’re hurt, they don’t owe the person who hurt them forgiveness. A radical idea in media, not every character can be redeemed by apologizing or even understanding their mistakes. Instead, Heartsopper Season 2 allows its characters to release their bullies from their minds without offering the perpetrator the peace of forgiveness. This is particularly true for Charlie as he grows to confront the people who hurt him. He doesn’t fight, he doesn’t yell, just simply shuts a door. It’s a core element of Charlie’s growth as a character and one that more people need to hear.

Heartstopper remains a beautiful look at young love and growing up in Season 2 of the series. One of Netflix’s strongest programs, this second season solidifies the strength of the series in the pantheon of young adult series about growing up and finding love. Heartfelt, beautiful, and beyond words, Alice Oseman’s Heartsopper is a stellar slice of life.

Heartstopper Season 2 is streaming August 3rd exclusively on Netflix, with the webcomic available to read on Tapas.