A Queer-Friendly Series That Will Get Your Hearts Beating Again (HEARTSTOPPER)

Based on the hit WebToon comic turned bestselling graphic novel by Alice Oseman, this all-new Netflix adaptation of this queer phenomenon has finally reached our screens. After years of gaining such a loyal fanbase for Charlie and Nick, the infamous comic strips are now in a live-action setting to introduce this story to more audiences, ultimately expanding the fandom, or at least that's the hope.

Heartstopper is a British rom-com told in eight 30-minute episodes... and it is not enough. The show centers around Charlie and Nick at Truham Boy's school. Charlie has been recently outed as gay at his school and constantly suffers being bullied by schoolmates while Nick is the star rugby player who ends up sitting with Charlie on the first day back at school. The two talk, connect and slowly fall for each other throughout these eight episodes. 

In the midst of their romance blooming, we meet Elle, who is trans and recently moved from Truham to the neighboring girls' school, Higgs, where we also Tara and Darcy, who are dating as they deal with the pressures of being an out lesbian couple. Alongside that, we also meet Tao, Charlie's overprotective best friend, and Isaac, a new character made for the live-action adaptation of the show. The show may focus mostly on Charlie and Nick but everyone is just as important to this story as they are. 

The show indeed does not live up to its title card. It instead brings life back to your body as being one of the only teen-centric television that is as effective and relatable despite it abandoning the R rating of most of today's shows. Heartstopper is meant for the growing teens as it encourages acceptance, love, sadness, and loneliness with each character being a clear mirror of all teenage experiences no matter the circumstance. The show does not only include two gay love stories but as well as a pansexual one with the slow-burn attraction between Tao and Elle. 

It may be a clear-cut queer-friendly show, but the narrative provides a safe space for everyone, whether it be for straight people or better yet, families. The storytellers, especially Alice Oseman, provide a version of her hit comic that's applicable for all ages, genders, and sexual orientations, making this one of Netflix's most diverse targeted content since the likes of Stranger Things. But even Netflix's biggest hit can't beat the universality of this heartwarming show. And I really emphasize the word 'heartwarming' for there are scenes where you feel your body heating up in a way you'd drink hot chocolate to feel better. 

Speaking of our two leads, their chemistry literally comes out off the page, and witnessing their flirtatious looks, and pining may seem cliche for the unimpressionable audiences but longtime fans will happily be awaiting these mannerisms between the two for that was how they were written. First-timer, Joe Locke, definitely is Charlie with everything the character is from apologizing too much to fixing his hair every time Nick is around even if it always looks okay. The same can be said with Kit Connor when it comes to him portraying the kind-hearted jock we always want to be friends with back in high school who indeed has a heart of gold. A little note to all my ladies and love-stricken queer boys out there... every time this actor smiles, it is pretty darn expected to melt all of your ice-cold hearts. Kit Connor to be the next heartthrob? If I do say so myself.

Unlike the comics, every other character has a moment to shine, without the leads even being in the scene which was something I was mostly expecting from the adaptation, providing more perspectives for the supporting characters to make them less like supporting roles that... well, support the main stars. And with this particular change, audiences will get to understand and relate to at least all of the people you see onscreen alongside the choices they make and how they deal with them. 

Heartstopper does not pay tribute to the comics. The show is the comic come to life. There may have been tweaks here and there for the sake of flow and to gain the interest of new audiences but there was never a moment that felt off-book. I hope it stays that way if Netflix renews the show (fingers crossed after the loss of subscribers and investors debacle) as we have come used to hit TV shows going completely off-book by the time the second half of the second season rolls in (I'm looking at you, Shadowhunters)

With that said, Heartstopper is a definite must-watch for what seems to be a rainy weekend. I might even watch it again this weekend for I had never felt like this gay for queer content since the works of Becky Albertalli made it on the big and small screen on Love, Simon, and Love, Victor. This show should be garnering the same amount of attention to become the instant classic the way To All The Boys I've Loved Before rose to fame.