@@julia_0872 you are correct, but the school the whole friend group went to before Elle came out as trans was an all boy school, but the. She transferred. She also stated that Henry was being transphobic towards her so while it wasn’t out right stated, it was hinted at
also, they GENUINELY feel like teenagers. so many other shows just have young characters who feel so… grown up. queer kids love heartstopper because the characters actually face struggles that they may face. plus, queer relationshios are often so sexualized and treated as an “adult” topic. refreshing to see smol gays just… existing. Being flawed and sweet and having no idea what to do.
The chemistry of Kit and Joe was what brought this to a whole new level. it was just so pure and you could see that every emotion was just so genuine. 🥹🥹🥹
Tara and Darcy's kiss scene at the party took my breath away. There were literally rainbows punching their way through the screen lmao (not a spoiler, it's in the trailer haha)
All EYE know is if this isn't renewed for another season, I will be rioting against Netflix. This is exactly the feel good, queer series we needed. And the set up between Elle and Tao on the last episode is what I need explored. Being a black trans girl, seeing us portrayed on tv so authentically and non-stereotypically is great for many of us who needed this representation like... YESTERDAY
It’s getting a season 2, Alice oseman said the series would be able to be covered in 4 seasons so that all the books could be covered including the currently being made book 5
honestly the webtoon was way better than netflix adaptation. all the edits tbey did with the story was putting stereotypical queer stuff like gay teacher and getting asked out by a girl … it had no contribution to the plot and was just a lazy way of showing things and making drama. but it wasn’t all bad and im glad it exists
Heartstopper is what I need. I am tired of teen shows that are just dark of all the time. Like I enjoyed Euphoria but after watching I was exhausted because of all the mess up stuff going on. Heartstopper felt like highschool to me and crushing on some on it felt like a breathe of fresh air from shows like Euphoria, Riverdale, Elite which have good moments besides Riverdale for me. We need more teen shows that are actaully made for teens.
Yeah totally!!! When young royals came out it was like so close to being the perfect content for queer youth and I think Heartstopper definitly achieved that perfection. It's refreshing having teen content made for teens.
@@clairehancock-lefebour9977 yep totally agree!! I love how in Young Royals they looked like actaully teens and it was so close to what I wanted!! But Heartstopper is exactly what I wanted a teen drama made for teens. Unlike other teen drama that are filled with drugs, sex, abuse etc. And you know I am fine with shows taking on these issues it just feels like evey teen show is about these things. And Heartstopper does going deeper into mental health which was done amazingly. Heartstopper is probaly my favorite show. Hoping for a season 2!!!!!!
@@riha_324 Don't even stress it!! I loved young royals, but I definitly aim for more romance and friendship in shows. I really like wholesome stuff!! Which is why Heartstopper is awesome for me. :)
Elle and Tao not being confirmed in the first season is actually a really good choice, as someone who read the Webcomic it would have made me really mad to have it confirmed because in the comics their friendship-relationship-something developes a lot with time and i (as many other people i belive) want to see the things like they happen in the original story. maybe its just my opinion, idk. anyway, tge show is really great but you should definatly read the Webcomic:)) you will be 100% satisfied with how everything evolves and the characters develop!!
Yes! I completely agree! Elle and Tao’s relationship takes much longer to come together in the webcomic, so if they confirmed that early in the show it wouldn’t let their relationship to develop later the way it happened in the webcomic.
Yes I love this show!!! The ONE thing they didn't include this season was when the rugby coach talks about her wife and stuff and like charlie and the coach have a heart to heart but this show is still perfect
Quick correction: the movie thing was a group thing. Nick invited Charlie to go to the movie with him and his friends, he just didn’t think Harry or Ben would be there. In the comic it’s Charlie’s choice to stay even though Harry was there (Ben wasn’t in that friend group in the comic).
@@kaodi6993 You're right, but also Im sure that since Charlie knew that the rest of the friend group will be there AND they are NICK's friends he will go to be with and there for Nick. Nick specifically says that Harry and Ben wont be there. When they are, you can see that both of them are put off, but Charlie knows it would be awkward for Nick if they left and so he says its okay, because he wants to be supportive of Nick, even tho in reality neither of them really want to be there with Harry and Ben there.
and in the comics nick has his 3 besties 🤪 Sai, Otis and Christian, who aren't really homophobic and they ship him and Charlie, but they're not really mentioned in the show and it made me sad 😭😭😭 (I could see three of them in the show that looked like them in the comics but they weren't really named.... hopefully in S2 🤞)
On Tao, I feel like a lot of it comes from the being defensive of his friends who had been through a lot of shit and for a while, he was the only defence Charlie had. Plus the similarity with Nik and Ben on not coming out would have put him on 100% defence
nah man. tao was just a shitty character in the show. in the comics, he's way better. they needed to add more drama in the show and did it at the expense of him being likeable tbh
Like it was just to add drama and then Tao yelling at Charlie saying it was all his fault because he didn’t tell him about him and Nick… I understood that he was angry but that’s not the reason he fought Harry
@@matheohno that was the one necessary thing he did but then he acted like a whiney bitch blaming charlie instead of taking responsibility for his own actions every time they do something that makes him likeable they ruin it by makung him come off selfish lonley and whiney
I don’t think Nick was like Ben because Nick was very happy to be seen with Charlie in public and made a point to get him to join the Rugby team and hang out with him at parties. Ben wanted Charlie to not acknowledge that they even knew each other.
Absolutely, there is an abysmal difference between how the two behave. Just because the situation was "similar" it doesn't mean they are the same. To expect perfection from the start from someone who is in a totally new, sort of "life changing" situation and doesn't know what he is doing or who he is for 80% of the time, is a really shallow and egoistic way of thinking.
I have to absolutely agree. I think that was one of the only parts I disagreed with this review. Nick is allowed his time to figure himself out and decide, on his own, when he wants to come out. When he realizes that his being in the closet is forcing Charlie back into the closet, during lunch in the art room (I believe), he is clearly visibly upset by that comparison/realization. Ben absolutely would not have cared in the slightest. That's why they're two are very different.
100% agree. I just posted this about that situation: The ONLY similarity between Nick & Ben is wanting to keep it a secret. But the REASON (and WAY) it was done was 100000000% different. Nick wasn't scared for people to know about his relationship with Charlie. He was scared of coming out because he didn't know what he actually was. The ONLY thing he was sure about was his feelings for Charlie...unlike most other shows...that was never even remotely in question with either Nick or Charlie. Secondly...Nick never once treated Charlie like shit...and most definitely never actively avoided Charlie in public. Nick didn't care if people knew he hung out with Charlie. That's why those situations are not even comparable.
SPOILER FROM THE COMICS: the reason Tao is so overbearing and protective of Charlie is that it was his fault that people at school found out that Charlie was gay, so he feels partially responsible for the bullying that Charlie went through. I kind of liked that they didn't delve too deep into his reasoning in the show because in the comics that revelation was a bit of a twist, and it could work really well as a twist in the show too if another season gets greenlit.
But I thought Tao didn’t know that him being loud was the reason Charlie got outed? When Charlie tells him about Nick in Paris he clearly explains what their friend Aled told him; and Tao looks shocked.
Tao didnt know that he accidentally outed Charlie. Charlie told Tao and he felt guilty then, but before that he was just being overprotective because he was worried for Charlie and didn't want him to go through pain again
That wasn’t mention in the show. I asked several times why tao was having that attitude with Nick, for a second I thought he was in love with Charlie and was jealous.
@@Thebadguymighty. dude, I never said it was mentioned in the show. If you read my comment you'd see that I said it'd be cool if they delved into it in a later season.
7:42 i don't think that was a date. I think Nick wanted to introduce Charlie to his friends. In the webtoon Nick had nice friends Sai and Christian. But they cut them out because they weren't really apart of the story like Charlie's little brother and replaced Aled with Iassac. And he thought Ben and Harry wound not be at the movies. Spoliers about comic below
I think going to the cinema was Nicks birthday thing in the comics, but he definitely new his friends were going be there in the show (excluding Ben and Harry ofc).
@@janecourt5000 Well I don't remember it being his birthday maybe I am wrong. But it was Charlies birthday and Nick hanged out with his friends. So Nick asked Charlie if he wanted to hang out with his friends.
Hey they didn’t cut the friends out. Sai was still there, in his glasses in the middle of the row. Otis was still there! They just didn’t have any lines and Otis was only briefly mentioned. Christian is also there! He’s listed in the cast and everything!
@@rangersking6699 yeah i relize that they were in the movie but during the movie/theater scene you don't hear from them like in the comic. And I think Sai and Christian movie scene was really important because it showed Nicks friends being supportive but they just cut out.
In regards to tao and elle, although it's annoying that they weren't together at the end of the season- the way they get together in the comics is really nice. I was worried when adapting to TV they'd rush their relationship and scrap that moment, but I'm glad they're holding off so they can do the comics justice. can totally understand why as a TV viewer only it'd be frustrating & I highly recommend anyone that feels like that checks out the comics- they're all free to read on webtoon!
Something you didn’t mention that I find very important is that all the actors were actual teenagers! They were all actually around this age while filming. They don’t look like beautiful 20 somethings playing 15 year olds. That and having things not be too dark or super sexual made this show feel so much realer
Corinna who plays Tara is currently 23 so would have been about 22 actually! But most of the cast are really young, and the older ones you can't really tell that they are older :)
I think how long it took Nick to disown his friends speaks to how hard confrontation is, particularly as a teenager where your friends are practically your whole life, you see them single every day (lol I just related to that frustration that Nick went through with his friends cus all relationships are hard!)
Yeah I feel like big reason Nick isn't like Ben is because Nick isn't like ..ashamed to be seen with Charlie and completely just hides him away. And like ..I don't think it's really truely fair to expect the guy who just figured out he's attracted to boys to be ready to come out. Nick told him about his "girlfriend" without him needing to find out. Nick is happy to stick his neck out for him. Nick never says horrible things about him. Nick actually seems to care about what Charlie wants and likes and does. And doesn't just use him for kissing. Nick taking a little to be ready to come out isn't crazy. Especially since Charlie got outed against his will. I think he'd understand holding on.
Exactly. It's also more realistic that way. He had to slowly realize that maybe the friends he had weren't the best. And in real life people don't just make that kinda decision right away.
Also, it seemed long to us, but in the show it's been less than two months since they first kissed. And Nick probably still held hope that some of the rugby lads (specifically the "good ones" in s2) would wake up as well. Apart from the rugby team, Ben and Imogen, Nick has no friends at school (... If we can even consider those people "friends"). Hanging out with Ben is obviously not an option, and Imogen goes to the girls' school, so if Nick leaves the rugby lads, he's virtually alone. Even the first time he and Charlie eat lunch together, he's concerned that Charlie's friends might be upset about it, so it's clear that he'd never hog Charlie to himself at every lunchtime. Until he comes out, the rugby lads are the only company he has. Which speaks volumes about Nick's latent insecurity and issues with hiding his true personality: Nick is an extremely likeable, popular guy who should have no issues making friends and being welcome in any friend group... yet he feels he's stuck with the rugby lads and has no other option. A scene that really made me sad was right before the rugby match in episode 4, when Elle, Tao, Isaac, Tara and Darcy say hi to Charlie: you can see that Nick wants to join them but feels like he can't :(
in the graphic novel the cinema scene isn’t a date. It’s an opportunity for charlie to meet nick’s friends but before going they didn’t know that harry was coming. I’m not sure why Alice Oseman decided to change it or not specify it in the Tv show but yeah
It was the same as the comic. Charlie told Tori in the previous scene that he was going for a movie with Nick and his friends and she expressed concern about it.
I loved it. I really loved all the representation! I also like how it had bisexual rep too! And i like how realistic it is, finding out about yourself and your sexuality, learning to love yourself and just like ACCEPTANCE and FINDING YOURSELF it was all just really sweet. But yes i have to say.. nick upset me during some scenes. i understand why it was hard for nick to ignore those friends, but if he wanted charlie to not deal with their hatred, i would have taken action and avoided them especially at the movies 😓. and same with tao im wondering what would have happened to make him so anxious about being alone. i feel like a part of it was elle leaving. i really loved this show. also does anyone have recommendations? any romances, lgbtq+ romances?
honey i don't know if you've already watching it but check out she-ra and the princess of power and also owl house ....they are both cartoons but made for the gays you know...and they have gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and nb representation
@@rowan3045 ive wanted to watch she-ra!! i have no idea where to find it though and i dont have many streaming platforms 😓 same with owl house. ive never seen the princess of power but ill definitely look into it! thank you!!
So Tao acted the way he did because Charlie was bullied really badly the year before because word had gotten around that he was gay. Charlie took it really hard and was depressed, Tao was is only friend and he stood by him the whole time and he saw how it effected Charlie’s mental health. He didn’t want the same thing repeat itself again. So he became overly protective. That was basically long story short. I feel like it wasn’t really explained in the series but the way Tao acted made sense to me because I’ve read the graphic novels (and it is better explained there)
I want to thank everyone for watching the show , I was lucky enough to be involved as cast memeber of the show and i get help Nick come out with his bisexual journey (I'm the youtuber he watches) this is an excellent review and you have a great channel you make some excellent points and I think the show takes a step in the right direction for shows lgbtq+ diversity ❤❤❤
I didn't realise they used an actual youtuber. The subtitles just said "vlogger" so I assumed you were only an actor. So glad the show picked a real person. Made it more realistic
@@generichuman2044 yeah I've been making videos on bisexuality for years thats why alice asked me to be in the show it was really weird I thought I'd have to audition but she was like nope I like your videos just make it how you would make one for your channel
@@Courtney-Jai that's pretty amazing. I'm going to check out some of your content. I think I would have found it really useful when I was figuring things out
I feel like they depicted British secondary school accurately , especially with the bully aspect. Because there’s obviously the outward bullying which is the use of offensive language and throwing things but then there’s the more subtle things like how Harry would pretend to find interest in Charlie because he knew it would get under his skin after all he had gone through the year prior. That sort of bullying can sometimes (not always obviously) be almost just as bad because it’s gives the bullies the opportunity just to pass it off as “just wanting to get to know them”. Also the year 11 group was really accurate in the way that there will be a few in the group who are just straight up bullies but then there’s the ones who just do nothing who are almost just as bad.
As someone who was bullied really badly across my life. I can tell you this is 100% true. The intense bullying sets you up for hypervigilance towards the more subtle kinds of bullying. The subtle division between you and everyone else. The rude questions reviewing someones tone and body language to see if they are being rude to you. All of it. And then the self gaslighting to see if it was really that bad. Because " well they didn't say anything mean technically". So no one believes you. Its seriously frustrating
@@industrialalliance9905 I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I completely get what you mean as well about the gaslighting thing as well. It’s why teachers need to be trained to spot this sort of bullying as well because most just don’t see this as bullying when it’s just as awful and traumatising to victims of outright name calling 💖
Harry's behavior is extremely insidious because it's exactly the type of bullying that teachers have suuuuch an easy time ignoring. Like, what's Charlie going to tell a teacher? That Harry asked him what it's like being gay? That he's tried setting him up with a player from a rival team? Asked him if he likes musicals? A teacher would dismiss it as banter, just like Harry does, and tell Charlie to just ignore it (... which is probably what HAS happened with some teachers, hence why Charlie tells Tao that fighting back will only make things worse) Unfortunately, teachers like Mr. Ajayi (and later Coach Singh) are extremely rare, and even he can't be there every time Charlie needs him The only time Harry faces any repercussions is when he starts a physical fight on school grounds, all other instances of bullying are simply ignored... which is far too relatable :(
Now that every show has a gay character and no one around them seems to care about it, we tend to forget how important it is to have good representation and to talk about the real experiences of being LGBTQ+. Yes, it is very cliche to have a gay guy being bullied and falling for a "straight" guy who's discovering himself, but we still don't live in a society where we can just stop talking about these things.
I had a very honest moment with myself when it came to the bisexuality of the character. I appreciated it because I've been in the same situation chasing after a "bi" guy (most of us out boys have) and it helped me empathize a bit more with that. I still think not only do people need more exposure to reacting to bisexuality but how to react as a bisexual. Reciprocity. This show couldn't be more on time. I loved every minute 🤍.
And Nick’s discovering himself as bisexual. I thought from an early age that I’d be a lesbian and in my teens I started liking boys too (I could have done without the confusion). So, I think the storyline is realistic.
The thing about Tao It's better explained in the novel I didn't like him at first but now I think he's a total cutie The same with the whole cinema situation
I love that Elle is so accepted by her friends and, while past bullying and trauma are alluded to, the show doesn't make her keep experiencing intense bullying. She's allowed to just be a girl.
About Tao and Elle, I feel like everyone is forgetting that this show was a book first. When thinking about the cliffhanger of their relationship, we have to remember that this is where it was left in book one. There are four books, with a new one coming out in 2023. A lot of these plot points that you’re mentioning can be explained by reading the books.
i get why you feel that way on nick, even though it saddens me because nick is my fav lmao. in the comics, you see that nick has some decent friends in the rugby team, like genuinely good people. i wish that that had been shown in the show too so we could more of nick's mindset. it would've made it easier to sympathize w him if we knew that he also had some genuine relationships he was having trouble leaving behind? i do think nick redeems himself in the show but you're right to be annoyed at him for taking so long tbh
Yeah I feel like nick was Ben-ified in the show a little, I think the comic does a better job of highlighting the differences between nick and Ben’s situations. Luckily kit is so sweet as nick he was impossible to hate
While I agree, I feel like the show wanted to emphasize Nick's anxiety about coming out by giving him toxic friends. Like in the comics he's not even friends with Ben but for the show they have all the boys together and pushing a straight relationship on to him. It makes it more dramatic and is my guess as to why they got rid of Nick's friends and why Imogen was put into the show
yeah idk i love nick a lot and hes my favorite, i definitely related to him a lot. And i dont really think he was like ben, he clearly cared about charlie a lot but he had lots of pressure from everyone and it was hard for him to come to terms with himself or come out to others :( i dont think he took that long either, it was a normal period of time considering this was like his first time ever thinking about his sexuality and boys. and i kind of find it weird how people compare him to ben 😭
@@eeeboiii7509 Yeah, I understand why they changed some things to be more dramatic but I don't think it was entirely necessary, it could be that it just seemed a bit uneventful for the show but idk. Imogen really confused me for a sec there, I was worried where it was going but then it didn't end up changing the outcome of the plotline like at all other than adding another character. I feel like there was similar added drama to do with Tao's reactions to things, some of them make a tiny bit more sense than in the comic but others make less sense/or are just more dramatic. Maybe I just prefer calmer things, but as a whole it is still amazing and very wholesome. And I really liked some of the changes, like developing Elle, Darcy, and Tara more.
the reason for Tao's abandonment issues WAS something that slightly annoyed me while watching the show, like in the graphic novel Tao actually tells Charlie he doesn't like Nick because he was afraid that Nick would find out and hurt him and he would start getting bullied again and he didnt want to see that happen to his best friend a second time and I think that was what made his character easier to understand in the novel?? I wish we could have had that development more in the show rather than just him being jealous and not wanting to be alone. (I still love how he was in the show and Will played the character really well I just missed some of his development!)
in the novel, tao is the reason charlie got bullied to begin with. so he feels guilty and wants to protect charlie bc he doesn’t want that happening again which made me like tao more than how he was annoyingly portrayed in the show
TAO IS NOT ANNOYING. hear me out.. tao was just concerned as a best friend. he knows all the stuff Charlie has been through in the last year. Tao knows nick is on the rugby team, and tao also knows that those guys can be pos. Tao was just looking out for charlie. ALSO AS YOU SAID HES SCARED TO BE ALONE sometimes there is no reason.. not trauma not anything to do with your childhood. just being scared to grow up alone. it’s a valid fear.. that’s another reason why tao acted like that. he didn’t want to lose him over some “stupid rugby lad”. in conclusion i don’t think tao was a annoying i think he didn’t want to lose his best friend and he didn’t want his best friend to be hurt again. thank you for your time.
@@nini-cc5rn True, like even in the graphic novel it gave that vine at the beginning but like I could understand him being so protective, probably I wouldn't be so happy if I saw my best friend dating a guy of a group that used to bullying him. He is a good boy but sometimes he was too direct in my opinion.
@@dianahi2663 The thing is, he didn't even know Charlie was dating Nick. From his perspective Charlie was crushing on a straight boy rugby player who hung out with people that were just like the bullies from last year. Then when he sees moments like Charlie poking Nick's big rugby arms or them almost hugging, he sees it as Nick leading Charlie on and flirting with him to make fun of him, not as the two of them genuinely being in love with each other. To quote the show, Tao: "You know he's just an attention seeker like Harry and the rest of his mates!" (and then later on) Charlie: "Do you really think he's messing me around?" Tao: "I mean, that's what it looks like." He just wants to protect his friend from the bullies and is trying to get Charlie to see that Nick is leading him on and can't understand why his best friend won't even consider that possibility, leading to more and more direct confrontations. Obviously the fear of losing his friend to these bullies is another big factor in his behavior too but protecting Charlie feels like his main goal, at least the way I read it haha
@@_Garima-sx4zq He meant well but his actions could sometimes be annoying, and I understand why he's overprotective but he often was unnecessarily rude to Nick. Apart from that, I completely agree with you. He's a good friend, he just doesn't know how to act and he's prejudiced which I can't really blame him for
It really is such a good show! But can I say tho, they have absolutely so much tension between Charlie and Nick and I could just feel it through the screen. Season 2 better be confirmed 😌
SAAAAAME!!! they have excellent chemistry but I wonder if they just aren’t completely comfortable around one another yet? A huge difference is in young royals, where Simon and wilhelm have not only excellent chemistry but also ARE SO COMFORTABLE WITH EACH OTHER. They’re best friends irl. so ye.
Actually, regarding the “Why didn’t you go to another movie when you saw the guys there?” comment; they all went together. Nick had already kinda integrated himself into Charlie’s friend group, so he wanted the same for his friends. So they decided to go to the movies together. Charlie said yes cause Harry wasn’t going, but then he showed up.
@@whattypeofx7750 yep but they are teenagers let them act like ones. Backing away would have been an admission of guilt or shame (needs to be a maturity in deciding to just leave and not caring that most teenagers don't have) ... and there were the other friends too not just harry. Other friends that in the comics tried a little to befriend and be nice to charlie...( don't know why they didn't show it, it would have help to get a quick view on the group and not just harry and ben. Probably season 2?) Big problem was that once harry came into the picture and start talking they would back off and not stand against him. (damn realistic sadly and not ok)
I kept waiting for them to get caught and Nick having a big freak out and leave Charlie and sit back while his friends bullied Charlie and it just never happened. Nick always stood up for him. And when Tao told him he should leave Charlie alone I thought he would and then he didn’t. And that’s what makes this show so good. It avoids all the unnecessary drama and angst we usually get and the characters actually talk to each other
LITERALLY SAME! When I saw her for the first second I was like “HMMMM you look very familiar.” And the after she spoke I was like “QUEEN LILIBET HELLOOOO” god she was my favorite side character
I didn’t read the original story first. So when I started watching the 1st episode I was like “why it’s always GAY and not BI people...” and by the end of the show I found myself ugly crying on the floor and being a proud bi person ♡0~0♡
Oh my gosh same!! Nick definitely felt like a realistic depiction of the bisexual experience (at least for me). I also appreciate that he is honest and caring to people because I personally haven't seen many good depictions of bisexual people. They are either villainized by being manipulative and sexual to everyone, or they are practically invisible because they are only ever seen liking the opposite sex. I just felt like Nick was a real person: caring, honest, and trying to figure himself out (there may be a bit of self projection going on lol)
For real! I was quite happy there weren't undertones of bi erasure and that the story reflected that figuring out your sexuality can be complex for bi individuals too. I love this show dearly.
I was crying my eyes out watching this show. Their relationship was just so relatable and pure, I really wish that we can get another season. I loved that every character was different and that was not this basic friend group that we seen already. And the casting?! They look just like in the books. Just wholeawsome.
I was really annoyed by Tao at first, it wasn't his responsibility- or more importantly, his place- to protect Charlie. On the other hand Charlie was so crippingly insecure that he couldn't/wouldn't stand up for himself. I hope he learns to care for himself more and Tao learns that he can be more secure in his relationships without overstepping
I think what I love its a perfect balance of Romance and reality, Like its not your typical LGBT drama where everything revolves around being the characters sexuality and our main lead dealing with the world, or its also not your typical BL/Yaoi drama where everyone lives in LGBT utopia where everyone excepts you so I loved this show and I need more seasons that's it
I think it was made really well and the pacing was great, nothing felt pushed front forward or just blurted and I've already binged it over 5 times already. Can't wait for any possible upcoming season(s)
yes! watched Friday night and again Saturday night. going in without context was great and after reading more about the comic I felt like the 2nd viewing had different meaning, especially with Charlie’s character and knowing more about future storylines.
What? You weren't having sex in high school? Hormones are at their highest then. I knocked my boots in high school than in my adult life. Different experiences I suppose.
@@jomiasharris357 I just exited high school and no not at all. Most people its also the same, there were a boy or two who would date many girls but not sleep with them. If sex was going on it was pretty hush hush and there was absolutely no hook up culture. Most sex gossiped mind you was of girls when they were 14-15 with older people but then it just kind of fizzled out. the school I went to was a private more academic school in Australia. You'll find with gen Z a sort of reactive sex-repulsion or conservatism to the previous millennial hyper '''acceptance''' culture or whatever, pendulum effect and all that. Even with couples who had been together for a while it was unclear.
@@gman854 not everyone does this in high school, that is true, but from my experience, gen z isn't sex repulsed. I think instead there's some consensus of you do you, at least in my region
Let’s be real: There hasn’t exactly been a shortage of nuanced and sensitively-handled LGBTQ+ films and shows in the past decade (Moonlight and Love, Simon being two of my personal favourites). Studios’ ever-increasing willingness to put effort and funding behind LGBTQ+ projects also serves as an inspiring sign of how the world is gradually starting to truly appreciate and respect the complexity of sexual orientation and identity. In saying that, the ‘B’ in LGBTQ+ remains oddly under or misrepresented in modern movie and TV. Yes, there are multiple instances of characters that are inferred as being bisexual, but rarely does the complexity of bisexuality get explored in depth and in many cases, its used as a cheap plot device to excuse the sexual exploits of a film or show’s more promiscuous characters. This lack of accurate bisexual representation in modern popular art forms has also had dire consequences on people’s perception of bisexuality, with many people wrongly associating bisexuality with sexual promiscuity and the harmful stereotype that bisexual people cannot commit to healthy, long-term relationships. Sadly, the discrimination of bisexual people is not isolated to those with heteronormative beliefs. Even within the LGBTQ+ community itself, there exists an alarming degree of misunderstanding of what bisexuality constitutes. I personally know many gay men that shockingly believe that men that identify as ‘bi’ are merely using the term as a transitionary term and that they are merely not ready to come out as a ‘fully gay’. I’ve seen first-hand how hurtful it is when someone that has been through sexual discrimination themselves (and knows all too well how it feels) ends up discounting another person’s sexual orientation as mere ‘confusion’ or ‘fear’. As someone that has had more than one long-term bisexual male partner, I have always found the irony that exists around bisexuality within the gay community itself highly upsetting. It is for this reason that I was elated when I realized that the core narrative arc of Netflix’s brilliant Heartstopper was a young boy coming to grips with the fact that he is indeed sexually attracted to both men and women. Kit Connor portrays the complexity, confusion and intensity of coming to grips with bisexuality with an impressive degree of consideration and I truly hope that it helps develop understanding for this beautifully complex sexual orientation amongst both straight and gay people alike. I am also really excited by the thought that follow-up seasons of the show could potentially delve into this important topic even more, as it has created a truly wonderful platform for both the young and old to better understand bisexuality in all its complicated beauty.
Yep I agree with everything you've said. I'm not bisexual but notice the lack of representation, especially characters refusing to actually saying the word out loud. I was pleasantly suprised by this show & think it's great that they transparently discussed different sexualities, including bisexual.
There are so many misconceptions about bisexuals. I had to reflect on my internalized biphobia but at the same time cried my heart out for the mistreat of bisexuals before I realized it. And the representation is either them cheating or showing them in weird "poly" relationships that's just basically a 3some
SAME!!!! I’m a bisexual woman and I could always sorta relate to movies like Love, Simon so it’s not like I was starved, but to see my own experience of the coming out thought process that goes “Wait. Am I gay? But I still like the opposite gender…is that a thing? Do I count?” represented in Heartstoppers was something I didn’t even realize I needed so badly 😭
I like the taoelle thing because in the comics, their relationship has some massive cute stuff happen in France and I want it to be in France in the next season because its just so iconic
Im gonna need y’all to put some more respect on Nick Nelson name the same way y’all did Peter Kavinsky…because he was honestly my favorite character. Everything about him was wholesome. He was respectful, a protector, never switched up or was fake or lead anyone on or even used anyone he’s young and he was figuring himself out but imo he did it in such a mature and elegant way. He early on already established that he didn’t like the people he was on the rugby team with or their opinions didn’t line up with his so it’s like how do you detach from a situation so easily with out causing attention or that you been apart of for a while, and for a good part of the show when he did walk away from them they always came back to him it’s also high school, So Like I didn’t see Nick as no where near the problem really in that situation. I feel he did the best he could given the circumstances and when ever there was an adversity against Charlie and being bullied he was always there so. Yeah lol. I like the character.
Nick has flaws as everyone does but he tries his best, he grows and he considers Charlie's feelings and when he does something bad he apologizes and does better. Also he is such a sweet person. I really love his character
i was actually worried that they're gonaa make Elle and Tao a thing in season 1 itself when i saw the trailer because in the webcomic they get together a little later, after a lot of development in their friendship and all. but then i realised that we never actually got to see how Elle started having feeling for Tao in the comics. in the comics it's just Tao's pov. so i think it was a good addition.
Trust the process, Tao and Elle couldn't get together this season because it was just introducing their dynamic for future events Remember this is based on an established graphic novel, the show is expanding the characters, but getting them together now would be counterproductive I promise it'll be good
As someone who grew up as the only out gay kid in an all boys school in the south of England, I can't even begin to explain to you how watching this show made me feel. I'm so glad that people like me will be able to see themselves represented in mainstream media now, instead of having to face it mostly by themselves, like I did. Love this review, thank you so much
I honestly admired the way nothing had to be sexual for you to immediately know they had a connection and the chemistry was in the little things like hand-holding, tugging arms, nudging shoulders. The show definitely felt Real, and I like how the story didn't need a lot of negative influences to make it "Entertaining". I think I'm OBSESSED though because why have I watched it 3 times in 2 days.
YASSSSS I adore the comic and the author, waiting to buy the complete physical hardback bundle It makes representation and talking about difficult topics so easy whilst keeping up the warmth and dimension of the characters
i loved the show so much! read the graphic novels all in one sitting like a year ago, and now watched the show all in one sitting too! it's so heartwarming and wholesome, made me smile so much. and the casting is so spot on!!!! a win for the gays for sure!!
love that the actors are teenagers because often it is a 30 year old playing a 16 year old which won’t really be realistic but since all the actors are young and some are even still in school it makes it a lot more relatable.
The movie theater wasn’t a date, Nick invited Charlie to the movies with his mates, since all the rugby guys were going. It was him trying to bring Charlie closer to his friends and it backfired because he didn’t know Ben and that other twat was gonna be there (totally forgot that character’s name lol)
The series is so good, I've been a fan of the comic for a while so was glad it was so loyal. Also on the note of them choosing to go still go to the cinema, in the comic it's Charlie who still chooses to go regardless of the bullies being there (and Ben is absolutely nowhere near them, in the comic he and nick don't even really know each other) so that could have been a bit better explained in the show I think.
I loved the adaptation, when i read the comic i loved it and the little tie ins. Because Alice was so involved and cared so much it was actually good as adaptations often miss. Im curious to see how people feel about the characters and the themes going forward as the fandom keeps expanding, people who were fans previously have a different view on certain parts of Heartstopper and its interesting to see what new fans have to say.
This show was absolutely incredible and it really deserves the praise it's getting and if-not moreso. I was surprised you had a love-hate relationship with Nick because I think that it really pulled it off well and I think showed a more conflicted side to Nick. It's what culminates in his conversation with Imogen about having to put on a persona even if it doesn't reflect who you really are and having to come to terms with the fact that it can ultimately harm others and yourself. He was kind of in denial about how awful his friends really are and would sometimes downplay how hurtful they were because he never really saw the other side of it. Within his circle, joking and making fun of each other is a pretty okay thing because it's mutual, but when he really started to see it affect Charlie when he said he's "used to it", he finally realized how his silence ultimately was hurting Charlie. Nick realized he was unknowingly dismissing Charlie being bullied as he was worried about being outed himself, and I think he realized he was ultimately paralleling what Ben was doing, though not nearly as malicious as it doesn't seem like he much realized it at first. Charlie sacrificed a lot for Nick but he didn't much reciprocate, which is why he made such a bold turnaround at the end. I think it really puts some real depth into the lifelong struggle of coming out and having to face so many social hurdles when it comes to the process, and it shows the real human side to it, which I really appreciate.
*SPOILER WARNING FOR THE BOOKS!!* As somebody who has read all 4 graphic novels multiple times, heartstopper has a huge place in my heart. Also about Elle and Tao not getting together, they do! But they get together in the third book. I really hope a second season comes out, and if you want it to, watch it more than once and leave good reviews! Tell your friends to watch!
I loved the show and my favourite character is Isaac. I feel like he's a really supportive friend but was a bit left out at times, like when they went bowling. I hope we can know more about him on the next season
i loved this show! i’ve read all the novels and i love that they added some key interactions from the book into the show, like when nick shows up in the rain and stuff. i really hope they make a 2nd season and include the paris trip because i feel like that was such a key factor in their entire friend group developing
@@emelia1114 I actually liked that there was no coming out scene for the art teacher, he was just already established as being gay (flag pin) and there for Charlie before the start of the season, when he was bullied after being outted, but I totally need a season two of him and that other teacher getting togetherrr
If its any solace about the movie seen - in the comic Nick said that he thought if his friends saw how ‘cool and lovely’ charlie was theyd come around (and three if his friends do actually come around and apologise which I felt was an important point in the comic bc it helped move the ‘rugby lads’ away from being black and white and more realistic - and also added to the running importance of friendships in the story)
this show did not disappoint. i’ve been waiting for this for close to a year after reading the books and it is truly such an amazing adaptation. i think a few things in the show didn’t translate super well though. like tao was much more annoying in the show than he is in the books and when he finally learns about nick and charlie he takes it so much better and his reasoning makes way more sense. also in the books i think nick wanting to keep their relationship a secret didnt feel as similar to ben wanting to keep it secret but that could just me. that being said i love how in the show they spent more time getting to know darcy, tara, and elle. we don’t know a whole lot about them in the books and seeing them become such well rounded characters was amazing. there were definitely changes made from the books onto the screen, but overall this is one of the best adaptations i’ve seen and i can already tell it’s gonna be so good for so many people, young and old, queer and straight. i can’t get enough of it really
One of the things I really liked about the show was the fact that we did end up having that conflict with Nick going on that date with that girl. I love that he was able to clearly set his boundaries and follow thru with his promise of going to Charlie’s birthday party. I think in so many other queer TV shows that moment right there always causes conflict because a character wants to maintain the mirage that they r straight
for me I think it was that nick is different from ben bc he was genuinely trying to figure himself out and realizing who his "friends" actually are and is working to break out of that mold, which is very hard when your only a teenager, whereas ben was malicious and manipulative and didn't even go over to charlies house, nick was ACTUALLY friends with Charlie, so there was a big difference there to me. Also tao I think comes across to me as someone who fears change and values consistency in his life, and I think he was reacting the way he did bc there was a LOT of change happening in his friend group and he didn't know how to handle it, like Charlie said hes rude sometimes but thats just the way he expresses himself, I think it comes more from caring about his friends than being jealous of them, and he realized in several ways by the end of the season how his behavior was hurting people more than helping them and apologized. and as someone who read the webtoons way before the show, trust me that when season 2 comes out you'll be glad Elle and tao didn't get together this season it would've been rushed and you would've missed out on seeing how they actually get together which is very sweet and important for some of that tension in the arc
From what I’ve heard, Isaac is ace/aro and he will get more story in season two. If that’s true, I’m so excited because DAMN the representation in this show is *chef’s kiss* and I’m also hoping Tao and Elle will have more of a storyline in season two. And the comic hints to Tao being the reason Charlie was outed, which gives more context into why he might be overprotective of Charlie. Like his guilt is making Tao feel very protective of Charlie. I’m very excited to see where this show goes!
reading the comic will definitely clear things up, because it has more aspects of the story than the show. like many comments said, the movie thing wasn't necessarily a date, it was more so for Charlie to meet Nick's friend. the show might get renewed for the second season, because not everything was mentioned. (really hope it does!) but i do enjoy how people feel about this show, it's really interesting
I read a bit of the graphic novel, it was SO cute, I need to watch the show later if it's good, it seems like it though. ❤ (You can read it on webtoon or tapas for free btw but I wanna get the actual book lol)
I also loved the little animations that show up when characters crush on eachother or the little sparks when Charlie and Nick hold hands, it was so cute and it just gave everything such a soft vibe
I've been reading the webcomic for years now so it has been so special for me to see the story come to life on screen. I think it was really well done, and I love that the main change from the comic to show is that the side characters' stories got so much more development. I'm really hoping for future seasons and hopefully seeing some aro/ace representation with Isaac. As someone on the asexual and aromantic spectrums, it's so awesome seeing this show getting so much love, which was created by an aroace person, and the potential for even more representation than we had in season 1.
one character that you didn’t touch that I loved but didn’t really get any love on the show, Issac! I feel like he was just a throw-away character, it would’ve been better if he was there to support Charlie instead of his older sister which I do adore! but I loved Issac, his was funny and just overall to be seem a optimistic nice person.
I think I love the last episode to be honest, just everything is wrapped up very nicely and the scene where Nick and Charlie are at the beach and Nick shouting-" He's my boyfriend!" is so cute
There's another thing they hinted at in this season that they'll probably tackle in the next one. It's a very heavy topic and I think this will make the series feel less shallow, so I'm very excited to see how they're gonna handle it!
i'm excited but not at the same time. theres so much in the two novels about that topic that it would be soo much to take in but it would also bring a lot of awareness to the topic which is really important. i'm really curious on how they'll go about bringing that to life as well.
@@makenzie6349 I noticed this show is 100% about feelings, so I think they'll focus on how important it is to have support when you're going through something like that. Now that Nick is already Charlie's boyfriend, I think the drama will be less "oh will they be together?" and more "what role will Nick play in what Charlie's going through?"
@@makenzie6349 I feel you. I’m actually worried myself because my liking for the show will literally DISINTEGRATE if they tackle it poorly. I agree with the comment above me that it will focus on support and probably bring some of their codependency issues to light that the comic did.
this show was just so adorable. i loved the soundtrack and the little animations, they made the already good show even better. i also like it because i feel like it’s realistic to todays teens, like the way they talk and text and dress. idk i just appreciated that detail bc some shows seem to have no idea how teens rly act
I accidentally binge watched it, like I wanted to watch it 1ep per day, but it was so good I just couldn't help ! And after I've finished it I felt like a stupid and I was still in the mood so I just ended up rewatching it And I've watched it again, and I'm on episode 5 now So, I've watched it like 3.5 times within 36hrs or release 🥴🥴
they were going to the movie theater with nicks friends, it was not a date for just them two. They act surprised when they saw them because they didn't expect Harry to be there
ahh!! i'm so excited about this show! as someone who read the comics for years, it was so exciting to see it put into a show and it was done SO WELL!! the show is very, very similar to the comics, but when it differentiates, it does it for the better and adds to the characters. (edit) also, if heartstopper gets a second season we will definitely see more of tao and elle!!!
I think one of the main mistakes we do as an audience is to judge teenage characters because they don't act as we do or make the same decisions as we make, especially when we are adults. I see your point about Nick and getting frustrated by the decisions he makes, but if you put yourself in his shoes (teenage boy, peer pressure, still trying the understand himself, his feelings, his sexuality, not mature enough, not enough life experiences to know better) then you can understand him better and be fairer when judging him, even if you don't agree with his decisions.
Here’s the thing… the gay/bi rep in this was great. However, as someone who came out as trans at the age of 15, I thought the portrayal of the trans girl and transphobia was,,, bad. Like, I’m all for feel good stories, but if you’re going to portray homophobia while mostly ignoring that transphobia even exists, it just feels inauthentic. How are none of the girls in her new school bullying her? Clearly the boys and girls schools interact often. It makes no sense and it really took the show down several notches for me. It felt like they wanted a trans girl for diversity’s sake without understanding how being trans affects your life, especially in high school.
I feel what you're saying. I had the impression that Elle actively tries to stay away from all other girls to stay sort of 'protected' from being bullied. I also had the impression that the two lesbian girls that kinda 'adopt' her know (and probably some other girls like you said), the female teacher as well. It was more of a surprise to me that Elle's not facing bullying or hurtful behaviour at her school, and of course this is how it should IRL be, but I get that its unfortunately not the current reality for trans people. Fingers crossed that the writes will tackle this topic in the next season!
Agreed! How do you feel about the casting? I thought it wasn't the best, considering that Elle JUST started transitioning at 15, and she just... Completely passes as cis somehow? I genuinely had to Google whether the actress was trans--
great review! the fact that actual teens were casted based on the true identity of their characters sold it for me. everyone looked so good especially Yasmin Finney and Kit Connor. ✨
the show is so amazing, BUT I hated how Tao essentially blamed Charlie for everything (when he wasn’t ready to tell Tao about his relationship with Nick - Tao being very forceful about it). But he’s also genuinely funny and the banter with Harry was too good
I adore the show, I've watched it so many times, I love the writing and how the story unfolds. It's good to see a critique video, as much as it's adorable there are a few things that don't make sense (but it's so beautiful I don't care!). I kind of feel that because Nick is super popular it gives him the confidence that another character might not have to come out really quickly. Like when in episode three and right when he takes Charlie by the hand, in episode 7 when they hold hands running up the corridor in the school, at the rugby match when Nick watches Charlie taking to his friends and when they meet and hug at the cinema, it sort of feels Nick is so used to being confident that he does these things without worrying about it, yet he's telling Charlie to keep it secret. It's just something I've been thinking about. I feel there's a lot of subtle things like this going on but we're so taken by the love story it's bypassed. Like when Tory talks to Charlie in the last episode, it's a great example of how to have a mental health conversation with someone you're close to or worried about. People often afraid to say the wrong thing. This made it feel very natural and achievable for anyone, sometimes it's just about asking and listening to someone, holding that space for them.
If it helps to understand Tao, in the comics, Tao was the one that accidentally outed Charlie the year before, which led to the bullying (he wasn’t aware he did that). That’s why Charlie hesitates to tell him about him and Nick in the comics. They seem to have taken that out in the adaptation, although Tao actually alludes to it by talking to Elle about how maybe Charlie thinks he’ll tell people. So, Tao ends up being treated more distantly for less clear reasons, affecting our perception of him.
I think that when Charlie and Nick went to the movies, they were gonna meet up with some of Nick’s friends. Then they found out Ben and Harry were also there. That’s also why they sat next to eachother, because they probably booked the tickets together
This show confirmed we need more wholesome teen dramas.
YESS just normal wholesome teen shows. Don't get me wrong I like shows like euphoria but Heartstopper just made me so happy.
@@caramel_rxse3951 I feel the same love some saucy High School Drama but we need variety.
Or just more heartstopper😍😍 I want the entire comic series to be made into TV!!!
@@braydnbaker1483 Yess!! Hopfully
YESSSSSSSSSSS
I love that there was all forms of LGBTQ representation.. gays.. lesbians.. trans.. bi.. the queer community stays winning
@@riha_324 Elle!
@@rehtric3681 she never mentioned that
@@julia_0872 you are correct, but the school the whole friend group went to before Elle came out as trans was an all boy school, but the. She transferred. She also stated that Henry was being transphobic towards her so while it wasn’t out right stated, it was hinted at
@@riha_324 Elle!!!!
@@julia_0872 She used to go to an all boys school and then moved to an all girls school, put two and two together
also, they GENUINELY feel like teenagers. so many other shows just have young characters who feel so… grown up. queer kids love heartstopper because the characters actually face struggles that they may face. plus, queer relationshios are often so sexualized and treated as an “adult” topic. refreshing to see smol gays just… existing. Being flawed and sweet and having no idea what to do.
Love thiss😭♥️
they feel like teens because most of the actors ARE teens!!! Some series/movies actors are just 20-30 year olds acting like teens ;-;
It's so true, exactly what gay teenage kids facing each day 😭😭
I'm just happy that none of the relationships are sexualized. This show was real in many ways.
@@xuephyre3225 exactly, you don't need long sexual scenes to convey realness. I'm not really talking about Sex Ed, mainly gossip girl or Euphoria
I watched this show all in one sitting, and I have zero regrets. Nick and Charlie are too pure, and the casting was absolutely perfect. 👌❤️
Me too!!! I loved it so much!
There is one regret. We have to wait for at least 1 year before we see them again.
I did the same and it was just brilliant 👏🏿
Me too!! I freaking loved all of the representation! 💗
The chemistry of Kit and Joe was what brought this to a whole new level. it was just so pure and you could see that every emotion was just so genuine. 🥹🥹🥹
Tara and Darcy's kiss scene at the party took my breath away. There were literally rainbows punching their way through the screen lmao (not a spoiler, it's in the trailer haha)
That was so sweet! And i also liked how you could see Nick's reaction to it which was also pretty cute and it seemed to have a good impact on him
@@lw1717 Yeah, in Nick's eyes, that moment seem one of hope.
i got chills from that scene
That scene was BEAUTIFUL and it made cry lol, I just saw freedom print in my screen
And especially when the beat drops ughhhhdhejdhejh
All EYE know is if this isn't renewed for another season, I will be rioting against Netflix. This is exactly the feel good, queer series we needed. And the set up between Elle and Tao on the last episode is what I need explored. Being a black trans girl, seeing us portrayed on tv so authentically and non-stereotypically is great for many of us who needed this representation like... YESTERDAY
Hun, I'm with you.
Elle is biracial though.
We most likely will get a season two since the story has barely touched the later on things
@@deadflame5268 Wouldn't be the first time Netflix cancels a popular show out of nowhere, though.
It’s getting a season 2, Alice oseman said the series would be able to be covered in 4 seasons so that all the books could be covered including the currently being made book 5
I was bawling throughout the whole show. From the graphic novel to a whole show on Netflix! The gays are winning rn 💅🏽
The comic is amazing
YEP WE WINNING FOR REAL
Well I'm glad you're having a lot of sex, but I think you meant bawling 😀
honestly the webtoon was way better than netflix adaptation. all the edits tbey did with the story was putting stereotypical queer stuff like gay teacher and getting asked out by a girl … it had no contribution to the plot and was just a lazy way of showing things and making drama.
but it wasn’t all bad and im glad it exists
@@goblinfolk there were gay teachers in the comic though? Wdym? But yeah I get what you mean by the asked out by a girl thing
Heartstopper is what I need. I am tired of teen shows that are just dark of all the time. Like I enjoyed Euphoria but after watching I was exhausted because of all the mess up stuff going on. Heartstopper felt like highschool to me and crushing on some on it felt like a breathe of fresh air from shows like Euphoria, Riverdale, Elite which have good moments besides Riverdale for me. We need more teen shows that are actaully made for teens.
Yeah totally!!! When young royals came out it was like so close to being the perfect content for queer youth and I think Heartstopper definitly achieved that perfection. It's refreshing having teen content made for teens.
@@clairehancock-lefebour9977 yep totally agree!! I love how in Young Royals they looked like actaully teens and it was so close to what I wanted!! But Heartstopper is exactly what I wanted a teen drama made for teens. Unlike other teen drama that are filled with drugs, sex, abuse etc. And you know I am fine with shows taking on these issues it just feels like evey teen show is about these things. And Heartstopper does going deeper into mental health which was done amazingly. Heartstopper is probaly my favorite show. Hoping for a season 2!!!!!!
I loved how it wasn't sexualised in the show and really did just focus on their lives :3
@@riha_324 Don't even stress it!! I loved young royals, but I definitly aim for more romance and friendship in shows. I really like wholesome stuff!! Which is why Heartstopper is awesome for me. :)
@@xiao3920 Yeah it's like probably the best representation of teens I've seen in a teen drama in a while!!
Elle and Tao not being confirmed in the first season is actually a really good choice, as someone who read the Webcomic it would have made me really mad to have it confirmed because in the comics their friendship-relationship-something developes a lot with time and i (as many other people i belive) want to see the things like they happen in the original story.
maybe its just my opinion, idk.
anyway, tge show is really great but you should definatly read the Webcomic:)) you will be 100% satisfied with how everything evolves and the characters develop!!
Yeah, at least it gives us something to look forward to in Season 2!
(if there's gonna be Season 2)
Your English is pretty alright
Yes! I completely agree! Elle and Tao’s relationship takes much longer to come together in the webcomic, so if they confirmed that early in the show it wouldn’t let their relationship to develop later the way it happened in the webcomic.
Yes I love this show!!! The ONE thing they didn't include this season was when the rugby coach talks about her wife and stuff and like charlie and the coach have a heart to heart but this show is still perfect
@@Ryley_S Yeah but that happens after the events of EP8 in the comic, so I'm not surprised it wasn't included. I hope they do show it in S2 tho
Quick correction: the movie thing was a group thing. Nick invited Charlie to go to the movie with him and his friends, he just didn’t think Harry or Ben would be there. In the comic it’s Charlie’s choice to stay even though Harry was there (Ben wasn’t in that friend group in the comic).
yes
and I feel this is how teenagers will react in such situation. leaving is the mature move
@@kaodi6993 definitely
@@kaodi6993 You're right, but also Im sure that since Charlie knew that the rest of the friend group will be there AND they are NICK's friends he will go to be with and there for Nick. Nick specifically says that Harry and Ben wont be there. When they are, you can see that both of them are put off, but Charlie knows it would be awkward for Nick if they left and so he says its okay, because he wants to be supportive of Nick, even tho in reality neither of them really want to be there with Harry and Ben there.
@@OberonOZ yes, this is what I understood. Nick's friends are spineless.
and in the comics nick has his 3 besties 🤪 Sai, Otis and Christian, who aren't really homophobic and they ship him and Charlie, but they're not really mentioned in the show and it made me sad 😭😭😭
(I could see three of them in the show that looked like them in the comics but they weren't really named.... hopefully in S2 🤞)
I love the fact that it isn’t over sexualized. It was a very beautiful story about finding yourself.
Yeeeeah I liked that fact as well ☺️
ITS GOOD THAT TAO AND ELLE DIDNT CONFIRM IT BC ITS A SLOWBURN IN THE COMICS AND THEIR FIRST KISS IS TOO ICONIC TO CHANGE
when they go to the louvre >>>>>>
I WANT TO SEE THEM KISSING IN THE LOUVRE IN SEASON 2!!
On Tao, I feel like a lot of it comes from the being defensive of his friends who had been through a lot of shit and for a while, he was the only defence Charlie had. Plus the similarity with Nik and Ben on not coming out would have put him on 100% defence
i think if you’ve read the graphic novels it makes more sense why tao is like that in the show
nah man. tao was just a shitty character in the show. in the comics, he's way better. they needed to add more drama in the show and did it at the expense of him being likeable tbh
@@saamqri2507 the fight between Tao and Harry was kinda unnecessary
Like it was just to add drama and then Tao yelling at Charlie saying it was all his fault because he didn’t tell him about him and Nick… I understood that he was angry but that’s not the reason he fought Harry
@@matheohno that was the one necessary thing he did but then he acted like a whiney bitch blaming charlie instead of taking responsibility for his own actions every time they do something that makes him likeable they ruin it by makung him come off selfish lonley and whiney
This show is making me believe in love once again! It was bingeable, gave great representation without feeling forced, and felt real
Very bingable. I watched it all in one night. I was up until 2 am.
hey king asante!!! :)
It felt too much like love simon lol & very white yet again
I don’t think Nick was like Ben because Nick was very happy to be seen with Charlie in public and made a point to get him to join the Rugby team and hang out with him at parties. Ben wanted Charlie to not acknowledge that they even knew each other.
Absolutely, there is an abysmal difference between how the two behave. Just because the situation was "similar" it doesn't mean they are the same.
To expect perfection from the start from someone who is in a totally new, sort of "life changing" situation and doesn't know what he is doing or who he is for 80% of the time, is a really shallow and egoistic way of thinking.
@@marti9734 LITERALLY THIS YES EXACTLY THANK YOU. i identify so much of myself in nick he's such an amazing character 😭
I have to absolutely agree. I think that was one of the only parts I disagreed with this review. Nick is allowed his time to figure himself out and decide, on his own, when he wants to come out. When he realizes that his being in the closet is forcing Charlie back into the closet, during lunch in the art room (I believe), he is clearly visibly upset by that comparison/realization. Ben absolutely would not have cared in the slightest. That's why they're two are very different.
EXACTLY!! I’m absolutely horrified with how much people are acting like Ben and Nick are the same on this??
100% agree. I just posted this about that situation:
The ONLY similarity between Nick & Ben is wanting to keep it a secret. But the REASON (and WAY) it was done was 100000000% different.
Nick wasn't scared for people to know about his relationship with Charlie. He was scared of coming out because he didn't know what he actually was. The ONLY thing he was sure about was his feelings for Charlie...unlike most other shows...that was never even remotely in question with either Nick or Charlie.
Secondly...Nick never once treated Charlie like shit...and most definitely never actively avoided Charlie in public. Nick didn't care if people knew he hung out with Charlie. That's why those situations are not even comparable.
SPOILER FROM THE COMICS: the reason Tao is so overbearing and protective of Charlie is that it was his fault that people at school found out that Charlie was gay, so he feels partially responsible for the bullying that Charlie went through. I kind of liked that they didn't delve too deep into his reasoning in the show because in the comics that revelation was a bit of a twist, and it could work really well as a twist in the show too if another season gets greenlit.
But I thought Tao didn’t know that him being loud was the reason Charlie got outed? When Charlie tells him about Nick in Paris he clearly explains what their friend Aled told him; and Tao looks shocked.
Tao didnt know that he accidentally outed Charlie. Charlie told Tao and he felt guilty then, but before that he was just being overprotective because he was worried for Charlie and didn't want him to go through pain again
That wasn’t mention in the show. I asked several times why tao was having that attitude with Nick, for a second I thought he was in love with Charlie and was jealous.
@@djmensil7303 yeah you're right I just went back and checked, I've misremembered.
@@Thebadguymighty. dude, I never said it was mentioned in the show. If you read my comment you'd see that I said it'd be cool if they delved into it in a later season.
7:42 i don't think that was a date. I think Nick wanted to introduce Charlie to his friends. In the webtoon Nick had nice friends Sai and Christian. But they cut them out because they weren't really apart of the story like Charlie's little brother and replaced Aled with Iassac. And he thought Ben and Harry wound not be at the movies.
Spoliers about comic below
I think going to the cinema was Nicks birthday thing in the comics, but he definitely new his friends were going be there in the show (excluding Ben and Harry ofc).
@@janecourt5000 Well I don't remember it being his birthday maybe I am wrong. But it was Charlies birthday and Nick hanged out with his friends. So Nick asked Charlie if he wanted to hang out with his friends.
@@janecourt5000 it was not nicks birthday, he was just going out with his friends and invited Charlie
Hey they didn’t cut the friends out. Sai was still there, in his glasses in the middle of the row. Otis was still there! They just didn’t have any lines and Otis was only briefly mentioned. Christian is also there! He’s listed in the cast and everything!
@@rangersking6699 yeah i relize that they were in the movie but during the movie/theater scene you don't hear from them like in the comic. And I think Sai and Christian movie scene was really important because it showed Nicks friends being supportive but they just cut out.
In regards to tao and elle, although it's annoying that they weren't together at the end of the season- the way they get together in the comics is really nice. I was worried when adapting to TV they'd rush their relationship and scrap that moment, but I'm glad they're holding off so they can do the comics justice. can totally understand why as a TV viewer only it'd be frustrating & I highly recommend anyone that feels like that checks out the comics- they're all free to read on webtoon!
Something you didn’t mention that I find very important is that all the actors were actual teenagers! They were all actually around this age while filming. They don’t look like beautiful 20 somethings playing 15 year olds. That and having things not be too dark or super sexual made this show feel so much realer
Corinna who plays Tara is currently 23 so would have been about 22 actually! But most of the cast are really young, and the older ones you can't really tell that they are older :)
And they found a trans actress!
I think how long it took Nick to disown his friends speaks to how hard confrontation is, particularly as a teenager where your friends are practically your whole life, you see them single every day (lol I just related to that frustration that Nick went through with his friends cus all relationships are hard!)
Yeah I feel like big reason Nick isn't like Ben is because Nick isn't like ..ashamed to be seen with Charlie and completely just hides him away. And like ..I don't think it's really truely fair to expect the guy who just figured out he's attracted to boys to be ready to come out.
Nick told him about his "girlfriend" without him needing to find out. Nick is happy to stick his neck out for him. Nick never says horrible things about him. Nick actually seems to care about what Charlie wants and likes and does. And doesn't just use him for kissing. Nick taking a little to be ready to come out isn't crazy. Especially since Charlie got outed against his will. I think he'd understand holding on.
Exactly. It's also more realistic that way. He had to slowly realize that maybe the friends he had weren't the best. And in real life people don't just make that kinda decision right away.
Also, it seemed long to us, but in the show it's been less than two months since they first kissed. And Nick probably still held hope that some of the rugby lads (specifically the "good ones" in s2) would wake up as well.
Apart from the rugby team, Ben and Imogen, Nick has no friends at school (... If we can even consider those people "friends"). Hanging out with Ben is obviously not an option, and Imogen goes to the girls' school, so if Nick leaves the rugby lads, he's virtually alone. Even the first time he and Charlie eat lunch together, he's concerned that Charlie's friends might be upset about it, so it's clear that he'd never hog Charlie to himself at every lunchtime. Until he comes out, the rugby lads are the only company he has.
Which speaks volumes about Nick's latent insecurity and issues with hiding his true personality: Nick is an extremely likeable, popular guy who should have no issues making friends and being welcome in any friend group... yet he feels he's stuck with the rugby lads and has no other option.
A scene that really made me sad was right before the rugby match in episode 4, when Elle, Tao, Isaac, Tara and Darcy say hi to Charlie: you can see that Nick wants to join them but feels like he can't :(
in the graphic novel the cinema scene isn’t a date. It’s an opportunity for charlie to meet nick’s friends but before going they didn’t know that harry was coming. I’m not sure why Alice Oseman decided to change it or not specify it in the Tv show but yeah
Yeah
Removing Harry
The other friends were supportive
They did specify it I think it may if just been missed because nick said “Harry and Ben won’t even be there”
It wasn't a date in the show either, I believe it was pretty similar to the comic, I think he just misremembered what happened
It was the same in the show!
It was the same as the comic. Charlie told Tori in the previous scene that he was going for a movie with Nick and his friends and she expressed concern about it.
I loved it. I really loved all the representation! I also like how it had bisexual rep too! And i like how realistic it is, finding out about yourself and your sexuality, learning to love yourself and just like ACCEPTANCE and FINDING YOURSELF it was all just really sweet. But yes i have to say.. nick upset me during some scenes. i understand why it was hard for nick to ignore those friends, but if he wanted charlie to not deal with their hatred, i would have taken action and avoided them especially at the movies 😓. and same with tao im wondering what would have happened to make him so anxious about being alone. i feel like a part of it was elle leaving. i really loved this show. also does anyone have recommendations? any romances, lgbtq+ romances?
yess! the "am i gay" test scene took me OUTTT! def watch young royals if you want a similar vibe!
honey i don't know if you've already watching it but check out she-ra and the princess of power and also owl house ....they are both cartoons but made for the gays you know...and they have gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and nb representation
@@rowan3045 ive wanted to watch she-ra!! i have no idea where to find it though and i dont have many streaming platforms 😓 same with owl house. ive never seen the princess of power but ill definitely look into it! thank you!!
Watch Young Royals if you want that representation!!
So Tao acted the way he did because Charlie was bullied really badly the year before because word had gotten around that he was gay. Charlie took it really hard and was depressed, Tao was is only friend and he stood by him the whole time and he saw how it effected Charlie’s mental health. He didn’t want the same thing repeat itself again. So he became overly protective.
That was basically long story short. I feel like it wasn’t really explained in the series but the way Tao acted made sense to me because I’ve read the graphic novels (and it is better explained there)
I want to thank everyone for watching the show , I was lucky enough to be involved as cast memeber of the show and i get help Nick come out with his bisexual journey (I'm the youtuber he watches) this is an excellent review and you have a great channel you make some excellent points and I think the show takes a step in the right direction for shows lgbtq+ diversity ❤❤❤
I loved seeing you in the show, you helped me figure out my bisexuality a few years back so I want to thank you for that :)
@@carlie4964 well that makes me really happy 😊
I didn't realise they used an actual youtuber. The subtitles just said "vlogger" so I assumed you were only an actor. So glad the show picked a real person. Made it more realistic
@@generichuman2044 yeah I've been making videos on bisexuality for years thats why alice asked me to be in the show it was really weird I thought I'd have to audition but she was like nope I like your videos just make it how you would make one for your channel
@@Courtney-Jai that's pretty amazing. I'm going to check out some of your content. I think I would have found it really useful when I was figuring things out
I feel like they depicted British secondary school accurately , especially with the bully aspect. Because there’s obviously the outward bullying which is the use of offensive language and throwing things but then there’s the more subtle things like how Harry would pretend to find interest in Charlie because he knew it would get under his skin after all he had gone through the year prior. That sort of bullying can sometimes (not always obviously) be almost just as bad because it’s gives the bullies the opportunity just to pass it off as “just wanting to get to know them”. Also the year 11 group was really accurate in the way that there will be a few in the group who are just straight up bullies but then there’s the ones who just do nothing who are almost just as bad.
I love how harry even has the stereotypical bully accent and vocabulary
As someone who was bullied really badly across my life. I can tell you this is 100% true. The intense bullying sets you up for hypervigilance towards the more subtle kinds of bullying. The subtle division between you and everyone else. The rude questions reviewing someones tone and body language to see if they are being rude to you. All of it. And then the self gaslighting to see if it was really that bad. Because " well they didn't say anything mean technically". So no one believes you. Its seriously frustrating
@@industrialalliance9905 I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I completely get what you mean as well about the gaslighting thing as well. It’s why teachers need to be trained to spot this sort of bullying as well because most just don’t see this as bullying when it’s just as awful and traumatising to victims of outright name calling 💖
Harry's behavior is extremely insidious because it's exactly the type of bullying that teachers have suuuuch an easy time ignoring. Like, what's Charlie going to tell a teacher? That Harry asked him what it's like being gay? That he's tried setting him up with a player from a rival team? Asked him if he likes musicals? A teacher would dismiss it as banter, just like Harry does, and tell Charlie to just ignore it (... which is probably what HAS happened with some teachers, hence why Charlie tells Tao that fighting back will only make things worse)
Unfortunately, teachers like Mr. Ajayi (and later Coach Singh) are extremely rare, and even he can't be there every time Charlie needs him
The only time Harry faces any repercussions is when he starts a physical fight on school grounds, all other instances of bullying are simply ignored... which is far too relatable :(
Now that every show has a gay character and no one around them seems to care about it, we tend to forget how important it is to have good representation and to talk about the real experiences of being LGBTQ+. Yes, it is very cliche to have a gay guy being bullied and falling for a "straight" guy who's discovering himself, but we still don't live in a society where we can just stop talking about these things.
about 15% of TV shows in the US have a main or recurring queer character -- so we have 85% more show to go before "every show has a gay character."
@@otsoko66 I'm talking about the ones I watch, which are basically only the ones that are on Netflix. Of course I wasn't being literal
I had a very honest moment with myself when it came to the bisexuality of the character. I appreciated it because I've been in the same situation chasing after a "bi" guy (most of us out boys have) and it helped me empathize a bit more with that. I still think not only do people need more exposure to reacting to bisexuality but how to react as a bisexual. Reciprocity. This show couldn't be more on time. I loved every minute 🤍.
And Nick’s discovering himself as bisexual. I thought from an early age that I’d be a lesbian and in my teens I started liking boys too (I could have done without the confusion). So, I think the storyline is realistic.
I need more shows like Heartstopper and Dead End. It has a nice balance of wholesomeness while conveying the struggles of their identities.
The thing about Tao
It's better explained in the novel
I didn't like him at first but now I think he's a total cutie
The same with the whole cinema situation
I love that Elle is so accepted by her friends and, while past bullying and trauma are alluded to, the show doesn't make her keep experiencing intense bullying. She's allowed to just be a girl.
About Tao and Elle, I feel like everyone is forgetting that this show was a book first. When thinking about the cliffhanger of their relationship, we have to remember that this is where it was left in book one. There are four books, with a new one coming out in 2023. A lot of these plot points that you’re mentioning can be explained by reading the books.
i get why you feel that way on nick, even though it saddens me because nick is my fav lmao. in the comics, you see that nick has some decent friends in the rugby team, like genuinely good people. i wish that that had been shown in the show too so we could more of nick's mindset. it would've made it easier to sympathize w him if we knew that he also had some genuine relationships he was having trouble leaving behind? i do think nick redeems himself in the show but you're right to be annoyed at him for taking so long tbh
Yeah I feel like nick was Ben-ified in the show a little, I think the comic does a better job of highlighting the differences between nick and Ben’s situations. Luckily kit is so sweet as nick he was impossible to hate
While I agree, I feel like the show wanted to emphasize Nick's anxiety about coming out by giving him toxic friends. Like in the comics he's not even friends with Ben but for the show they have all the boys together and pushing a straight relationship on to him. It makes it more dramatic and is my guess as to why they got rid of Nick's friends and why Imogen was put into the show
yeah idk i love nick a lot and hes my favorite, i definitely related to him a lot. And i dont really think he was like ben, he clearly cared about charlie a lot but he had lots of pressure from everyone and it was hard for him to come to terms with himself or come out to others :( i dont think he took that long either, it was a normal period of time considering this was like his first time ever thinking about his sexuality and boys. and i kind of find it weird how people compare him to ben 😭
@@eeeboiii7509 that's a very good point.
i also hope they talk more about imogen in the next season. weirdly enough i liked her a lot
@@eeeboiii7509 Yeah, I understand why they changed some things to be more dramatic but I don't think it was entirely necessary, it could be that it just seemed a bit uneventful for the show but idk. Imogen really confused me for a sec there, I was worried where it was going but then it didn't end up changing the outcome of the plotline like at all other than adding another character. I feel like there was similar added drama to do with Tao's reactions to things, some of them make a tiny bit more sense than in the comic but others make less sense/or are just more dramatic. Maybe I just prefer calmer things, but as a whole it is still amazing and very wholesome. And I really liked some of the changes, like developing Elle, Darcy, and Tara more.
Isaac is the best character. No issues. No drama. Just vibes.
😂😂😂no ways. Isaac doesn't exist. He's basically the wallpaper😂😂
the reason for Tao's abandonment issues WAS something that slightly annoyed me while watching the show, like in the graphic novel Tao actually tells Charlie he doesn't like Nick because he was afraid that Nick would find out and hurt him and he would start getting bullied again and he didnt want to see that happen to his best friend a second time and I think that was what made his character easier to understand in the novel?? I wish we could have had that development more in the show rather than just him being jealous and not wanting to be alone. (I still love how he was in the show and Will played the character really well I just missed some of his development!)
in the novel, tao is the reason charlie got bullied to begin with. so he feels guilty and wants to protect charlie bc he doesn’t want that happening again which made me like tao more than how he was annoyingly portrayed in the show
TAO IS NOT ANNOYING. hear me out.. tao was just concerned as a best friend. he knows all the stuff Charlie has been through in the last year. Tao knows nick is on the rugby team, and tao also knows that those guys can be pos. Tao was just looking out for charlie. ALSO AS YOU SAID HES SCARED TO BE ALONE sometimes there is no reason.. not trauma not anything to do with your childhood. just being scared to grow up alone. it’s a valid fear.. that’s another reason why tao acted like that. he didn’t want to lose him over some “stupid rugby lad”. in conclusion i don’t think tao was a annoying i think he didn’t want to lose his best friend and he didn’t want his best friend to be hurt again.
thank you for your time.
this. you're exactly right Tao is a cutie and the slander against him is annoying
his intentions were pure but he acted pretty unfairly to charlie and was super rude to him for no reason :(
@@nini-cc5rn True, like even in the graphic novel it gave that vine at the beginning but like I could understand him being so protective, probably I wouldn't be so happy if I saw my best friend dating a guy of a group that used to bullying him. He is a good boy but sometimes he was too direct in my opinion.
@@dianahi2663 The thing is, he didn't even know Charlie was dating Nick. From his perspective Charlie was crushing on a straight boy rugby player who hung out with people that were just like the bullies from last year. Then when he sees moments like Charlie poking Nick's big rugby arms or them almost hugging, he sees it as Nick leading Charlie on and flirting with him to make fun of him, not as the two of them genuinely being in love with each other. To quote the show, Tao: "You know he's just an attention seeker like Harry and the rest of his mates!" (and then later on) Charlie: "Do you really think he's messing me around?" Tao: "I mean, that's what it looks like." He just wants to protect his friend from the bullies and is trying to get Charlie to see that Nick is leading him on and can't understand why his best friend won't even consider that possibility, leading to more and more direct confrontations. Obviously the fear of losing his friend to these bullies is another big factor in his behavior too but protecting Charlie feels like his main goal, at least the way I read it haha
@@_Garima-sx4zq He meant well but his actions could sometimes be annoying, and I understand why he's overprotective but he often was unnecessarily rude to Nick.
Apart from that, I completely agree with you. He's a good friend, he just doesn't know how to act and he's prejudiced which I can't really blame him for
It really is such a good show! But can I say tho, they have absolutely so much tension between Charlie and Nick and I could just feel it through the screen. Season 2 better be confirmed 😌
SAAAAAME!!! they have excellent chemistry but I wonder if they just aren’t completely comfortable around one another yet? A huge difference is in young royals, where Simon and wilhelm have not only excellent chemistry but also ARE SO COMFORTABLE WITH EACH OTHER. They’re best friends irl. so ye.
Actually, regarding the “Why didn’t you go to another movie when you saw the guys there?” comment; they all went together. Nick had already kinda integrated himself into Charlie’s friend group, so he wanted the same for his friends. So they decided to go to the movies together. Charlie said yes cause Harry wasn’t going, but then he showed up.
full tea still like, just hit the road, there is no need to remain in spaces where we dont want to stay.
@@whattypeofx7750 yep but they are teenagers let them act like ones.
Backing away would have been an admission of guilt or shame (needs to be a maturity in deciding to just leave and not caring that most teenagers don't have) ... and there were the other friends too not just harry. Other friends that in the comics tried a little to befriend and be nice to charlie...( don't know why they didn't show it, it would have help to get a quick view on the group and not just harry and ben. Probably season 2?) Big problem was that once harry came into the picture and start talking they would back off and not stand against him. (damn realistic sadly and not ok)
nah when I read that and saw it in the show both instances I literally screamed, turn around! run!
I kept waiting for them to get caught and Nick having a big freak out and leave Charlie and sit back while his friends bullied Charlie and it just never happened. Nick always stood up for him. And when Tao told him he should leave Charlie alone I thought he would and then he didn’t. And that’s what makes this show so good. It avoids all the unnecessary drama and angst we usually get and the characters actually talk to each other
when I heard Olivia Coleman's voice in the car I screamed, I had no idea she was gonna be in this, loved the show so much
LITERALLY SAME! When I saw her for the first second I was like “HMMMM you look very familiar.” And the after she spoke I was like “QUEEN LILIBET HELLOOOO” god she was my favorite side character
I also love how the actors who play teens are actually teens for once
I didn’t read the original story first. So when I started watching the 1st episode I was like “why it’s always GAY and not BI people...” and by the end of the show I found myself ugly crying on the floor and being a proud bi person ♡0~0♡
Me too i was sobbing with happiness
Oh my gosh same!! Nick definitely felt like a realistic depiction of the bisexual experience (at least for me).
I also appreciate that he is honest and caring to people because I personally haven't seen many good depictions of bisexual people. They are either villainized by being manipulative and sexual to everyone, or they are practically invisible because they are only ever seen liking the opposite sex.
I just felt like Nick was a real person: caring, honest, and trying to figure himself out (there may be a bit of self projection going on lol)
@@lux_24601 the pirates of the Caribbean scene got me DYING cuz it’s so relatable T.T
For real! I was quite happy there weren't undertones of bi erasure and that the story reflected that figuring out your sexuality can be complex for bi individuals too. I love this show dearly.
I was crying my eyes out watching this show. Their relationship was just so relatable and pure, I really wish that we can get another season. I loved that every character was different and that was not this basic friend group that we seen already. And the casting?! They look just like in the books. Just wholeawsome.
I was really annoyed by Tao at first, it wasn't his responsibility- or more importantly, his place- to protect Charlie. On the other hand Charlie was so crippingly insecure that he couldn't/wouldn't stand up for himself. I hope he learns to care for himself more and Tao learns that he can be more secure in his relationships without overstepping
7:40 that scene wasnt a date, nick invited charlie to join his friends going to the movies, and they invited ben and harry without telling them
I think what I love its a perfect balance of Romance and reality,
Like its not your typical LGBT drama where everything revolves around being the characters sexuality and our main lead dealing with the world, or its also not your typical BL/Yaoi drama where everyone lives in LGBT utopia where everyone excepts you
so I loved this show and I need more seasons that's it
I think it was made really well and the pacing was great, nothing felt pushed front forward or just blurted and I've already binged it over 5 times already. Can't wait for any possible upcoming season(s)
it is also not too long runtime wise which is always great for rewatchability!
yes! watched Friday night and again Saturday night. going in without context was great and after reading more about the comic I felt like the 2nd viewing had different meaning, especially with Charlie’s character and knowing more about future storylines.
@@JT-ic9cz I really hope to see more of the show and Alice Oseman has definitely come a long way from her novels, comics, to a show on Netflix
I also loved the lack of $eggs as it felt really realistic to high school relationships
Right bc every time I watch a Highschool series, sex is involved like 24/7
this hits different after watching never have I ever lmao
What? You weren't having sex in high school? Hormones are at their highest then. I knocked my boots in high school than in my adult life. Different experiences I suppose.
@@jomiasharris357 I just exited high school and no not at all. Most people its also the same, there were a boy or two who would date many girls but not sleep with them. If sex was going on it was pretty hush hush and there was absolutely no hook up culture. Most sex gossiped mind you was of girls when they were 14-15 with older people but then it just kind of fizzled out. the school I went to was a private more academic school in Australia. You'll find with gen Z a sort of reactive sex-repulsion or conservatism to the previous millennial hyper '''acceptance''' culture or whatever, pendulum effect and all that. Even with couples who had been together for a while it was unclear.
@@gman854 not everyone does this in high school, that is true, but from my experience, gen z isn't sex repulsed. I think instead there's some consensus of you do you, at least in my region
Let’s be real: There hasn’t exactly been a shortage of nuanced and sensitively-handled LGBTQ+ films and shows in the past decade (Moonlight and Love, Simon being two of my personal favourites). Studios’ ever-increasing willingness to put effort and funding behind LGBTQ+ projects also serves as an inspiring sign of how the world is gradually starting to truly appreciate and respect the complexity of sexual orientation and identity.
In saying that, the ‘B’ in LGBTQ+ remains oddly under or misrepresented in modern movie and TV. Yes, there are multiple instances of characters that are inferred as being bisexual, but rarely does the complexity of bisexuality get explored in depth and in many cases, its used as a cheap plot device to excuse the sexual exploits of a film or show’s more promiscuous characters.
This lack of accurate bisexual representation in modern popular art forms has also had dire consequences on people’s perception of bisexuality, with many people wrongly associating bisexuality with sexual promiscuity and the harmful stereotype that bisexual people cannot commit to healthy, long-term relationships.
Sadly, the discrimination of bisexual people is not isolated to those with heteronormative beliefs. Even within the LGBTQ+ community itself, there exists an alarming degree of misunderstanding of what bisexuality constitutes. I personally know many gay men that shockingly believe that men that identify as ‘bi’ are merely using the term as a transitionary term and that they are merely not ready to come out as a ‘fully gay’. I’ve seen first-hand how hurtful it is when someone that has been through sexual discrimination themselves (and knows all too well how it feels) ends up discounting another person’s sexual orientation as mere ‘confusion’ or ‘fear’. As someone that has had more than one long-term bisexual male partner, I have always found the irony that exists around bisexuality within the gay community itself highly upsetting.
It is for this reason that I was elated when I realized that the core narrative arc of Netflix’s brilliant Heartstopper was a young boy coming to grips with the fact that he is indeed sexually attracted to both men and women. Kit Connor portrays the complexity, confusion and intensity of coming to grips with bisexuality with an impressive degree of consideration and I truly hope that it helps develop understanding for this beautifully complex sexual orientation amongst both straight and gay people alike.
I am also really excited by the thought that follow-up seasons of the show could potentially delve into this important topic even more, as it has created a truly wonderful platform for both the young and old to better understand bisexuality in all its complicated beauty.
Yep I agree with everything you've said. I'm not bisexual but notice the lack of representation, especially characters refusing to actually saying the word out loud. I was pleasantly suprised by this show & think it's great that they transparently discussed different sexualities, including bisexual.
i agree with you
There are so many misconceptions about bisexuals. I had to reflect on my internalized biphobia but at the same time cried my heart out for the mistreat of bisexuals before I realized it. And the representation is either them cheating or showing them in weird "poly" relationships that's just basically a 3some
SAME!!!! I’m a bisexual woman and I could always sorta relate to movies like Love, Simon so it’s not like I was starved, but to see my own experience of the coming out thought process that goes “Wait. Am I gay? But I still like the opposite gender…is that a thing? Do I count?” represented in Heartstoppers was something I didn’t even realize I needed so badly 😭
I like the taoelle thing because in the comics, their relationship has some massive cute stuff happen in France and I want it to be in France in the next season because its just so iconic
Im gonna need y’all to put some more respect on Nick Nelson name the same way y’all did Peter Kavinsky…because he was honestly my favorite character. Everything about him was wholesome. He was respectful, a protector, never switched up or was fake or lead anyone on or even used anyone he’s young and he was figuring himself out but imo he did it in such a mature and elegant way. He early on already established that he didn’t like the people he was on the rugby team with or their opinions didn’t line up with his so it’s like how do you detach from a situation so easily with out causing attention or that you been apart of for a while, and for a good part of the show when he did walk away from them they always came back to him it’s also high school, So Like I didn’t see Nick as no where near the problem really in that situation. I feel he did the best he could given the circumstances and when ever there was an adversity against Charlie and being bullied he was always there so. Yeah lol. I like the character.
Nick has flaws as everyone does but he tries his best, he grows and he considers Charlie's feelings and when he does something bad he apologizes and does better. Also he is such a sweet person. I really love his character
i was actually worried that they're gonaa make Elle and Tao a thing in season 1 itself when i saw the trailer because in the webcomic they get together a little later, after a lot of development in their friendship and all. but then i realised that we never actually got to see how Elle started having feeling for Tao in the comics. in the comics it's just Tao's pov. so i think it was a good addition.
Trust the process, Tao and Elle couldn't get together this season because it was just introducing their dynamic for future events
Remember this is based on an established graphic novel, the show is expanding the characters, but getting them together now would be counterproductive
I promise it'll be good
As someone who grew up as the only out gay kid in an all boys school in the south of England, I can't even begin to explain to you how watching this show made me feel. I'm so glad that people like me will be able to see themselves represented in mainstream media now, instead of having to face it mostly by themselves, like I did. Love this review, thank you so much
This might be irrelevant but as a side note I love how all black girls were wearing their natural hair or natural hairstyles😍😍
I honestly admired the way nothing had to be sexual for you to immediately know they had a connection and the chemistry was in the little things like hand-holding, tugging arms, nudging shoulders. The show definitely felt Real, and I like how the story didn't need a lot of negative influences to make it "Entertaining". I think I'm OBSESSED though because why have I watched it 3 times in 2 days.
YASSSSS I adore the comic and the author, waiting to buy the complete physical hardback bundle
It makes representation and talking about difficult topics so easy whilst keeping up the warmth and dimension of the characters
i loved the show so much! read the graphic novels all in one sitting like a year ago, and now watched the show all in one sitting too! it's so heartwarming and wholesome, made me smile so much. and the casting is so spot on!!!! a win for the gays for sure!!
love that the actors are teenagers because often it is a 30 year old playing a 16 year old which won’t really be realistic but since all the actors are young and some are even still in school it makes it a lot more relatable.
The movie theater wasn’t a date, Nick invited Charlie to the movies with his mates, since all the rugby guys were going. It was him trying to bring Charlie closer to his friends and it backfired because he didn’t know Ben and that other twat was gonna be there (totally forgot that character’s name lol)
The series is so good, I've been a fan of the comic for a while so was glad it was so loyal. Also on the note of them choosing to go still go to the cinema, in the comic it's Charlie who still chooses to go regardless of the bullies being there (and Ben is absolutely nowhere near them, in the comic he and nick don't even really know each other) so that could have been a bit better explained in the show I think.
The snow scene, with the song in the background specifically, hurt my feelings.
I loved the adaptation, when i read the comic i loved it and the little tie ins. Because Alice was so involved and cared so much it was actually good as adaptations often miss. Im curious to see how people feel about the characters and the themes going forward as the fandom keeps expanding, people who were fans previously have a different view on certain parts of Heartstopper and its interesting to see what new fans have to say.
This show was absolutely incredible and it really deserves the praise it's getting and if-not moreso. I was surprised you had a love-hate relationship with Nick because I think that it really pulled it off well and I think showed a more conflicted side to Nick. It's what culminates in his conversation with Imogen about having to put on a persona even if it doesn't reflect who you really are and having to come to terms with the fact that it can ultimately harm others and yourself. He was kind of in denial about how awful his friends really are and would sometimes downplay how hurtful they were because he never really saw the other side of it. Within his circle, joking and making fun of each other is a pretty okay thing because it's mutual, but when he really started to see it affect Charlie when he said he's "used to it", he finally realized how his silence ultimately was hurting Charlie. Nick realized he was unknowingly dismissing Charlie being bullied as he was worried about being outed himself, and I think he realized he was ultimately paralleling what Ben was doing, though not nearly as malicious as it doesn't seem like he much realized it at first. Charlie sacrificed a lot for Nick but he didn't much reciprocate, which is why he made such a bold turnaround at the end. I think it really puts some real depth into the lifelong struggle of coming out and having to face so many social hurdles when it comes to the process, and it shows the real human side to it, which I really appreciate.
*SPOILER WARNING FOR THE BOOKS!!*
As somebody who has read all 4 graphic novels multiple times, heartstopper has a huge place in my heart. Also about Elle and Tao not getting together, they do! But they get together in the third book. I really hope a second season comes out, and if you want it to, watch it more than once and leave good reviews! Tell your friends to watch!
The way Ben was tryna give main character energy was funnnnny. Like come on boo boo u are a side character and that’s being generous
I loved the show and my favourite character is Isaac. I feel like he's a really supportive friend but was a bit left out at times, like when they went bowling. I hope we can know more about him on the next season
loved this review (and subbed as a result 😎) but 6:29 WAS SO ACCURATE BECAUSE BEN CAN FLIP OFF and “who asked?” WAS WHAT I THOUGHT IMMEDIATELY TOO 😭
We need more LGBTQ shows like this!!!! It was the cutest thing I’ve ever watched!!!! Can’t wait for season 2
i loved this show! i’ve read all the novels and i love that they added some key interactions from the book into the show, like when nick shows up in the rain and stuff. i really hope they make a 2nd season and include the paris trip because i feel like that was such a key factor in their entire friend group developing
And we need the gay teachersss
@@yuyuscully FRR i was hoping they’d have the art teacher come out to charlie or something 😭
@@emelia1114 I actually liked that there was no coming out scene for the art teacher, he was just already established as being gay (flag pin) and there for Charlie before the start of the season, when he was bullied after being outted, but I totally need a season two of him and that other teacher getting togetherrr
@@yuyuscully omg i didn’t see the flag pin!! but yea i definitely want them to expand on his relationship with that other teacher
If its any solace about the movie seen - in the comic Nick said that he thought if his friends saw how ‘cool and lovely’ charlie was theyd come around (and three if his friends do actually come around and apologise which I felt was an important point in the comic bc it helped move the ‘rugby lads’ away from being black and white and more realistic - and also added to the running importance of friendships in the story)
this show did not disappoint. i’ve been waiting for this for close to a year after reading the books and it is truly such an amazing adaptation. i think a few things in the show didn’t translate super well though. like tao was much more annoying in the show than he is in the books and when he finally learns about nick and charlie he takes it so much better and his reasoning makes way more sense. also in the books i think nick wanting to keep their relationship a secret didnt feel as similar to ben wanting to keep it secret but that could just me. that being said i love how in the show they spent more time getting to know darcy, tara, and elle. we don’t know a whole lot about them in the books and seeing them become such well rounded characters was amazing. there were definitely changes made from the books onto the screen, but overall this is one of the best adaptations i’ve seen and i can already tell it’s gonna be so good for so many people, young and old, queer and straight. i can’t get enough of it really
literally such a good show!! i enjoyed it sm!!! its nice to have a wholesome show recently tbh
It really is!
One of the things I really liked about the show was the fact that we did end up having that conflict with Nick going on that date with that girl. I love that he was able to clearly set his boundaries and follow thru with his promise of going to Charlie’s birthday party. I think in so many other queer TV shows that moment right there always causes conflict because a character wants to maintain the mirage that they r straight
for me I think it was that nick is different from ben bc he was genuinely trying to figure himself out and realizing who his "friends" actually are and is working to break out of that mold, which is very hard when your only a teenager, whereas ben was malicious and manipulative and didn't even go over to charlies house, nick was ACTUALLY friends with Charlie, so there was a big difference there to me. Also tao I think comes across to me as someone who fears change and values consistency in his life, and I think he was reacting the way he did bc there was a LOT of change happening in his friend group and he didn't know how to handle it, like Charlie said hes rude sometimes but thats just the way he expresses himself, I think it comes more from caring about his friends than being jealous of them, and he realized in several ways by the end of the season how his behavior was hurting people more than helping them and apologized. and as someone who read the webtoons way before the show, trust me that when season 2 comes out you'll be glad Elle and tao didn't get together this season it would've been rushed and you would've missed out on seeing how they actually get together which is very sweet and important for some of that tension in the arc
From what I’ve heard, Isaac is ace/aro and he will get more story in season two. If that’s true, I’m so excited because DAMN the representation in this show is *chef’s kiss* and I’m also hoping Tao and Elle will have more of a storyline in season two. And the comic hints to Tao being the reason Charlie was outed, which gives more context into why he might be overprotective of Charlie. Like his guilt is making Tao feel very protective of Charlie. I’m very excited to see where this show goes!
reading the comic will definitely clear things up, because it has more aspects of the story than the show. like many comments said, the movie thing wasn't necessarily a date, it was more so for Charlie to meet Nick's friend. the show might get renewed for the second season, because not everything was mentioned. (really hope it does!)
but i do enjoy how people feel about this show, it's really interesting
The fact they’re British and I’m British and they’re 18 and I’m 18 ugh I LOVE ❤️
Right!!!!! I felt so connected
I went to an all boys grammar I relate to them so much 😭
14 and 15 at the start.
@@ursamjr4406 talking about they real age
I read a bit of the graphic novel, it was SO cute, I need to watch the show later if it's good, it seems like it though. ❤
(You can read it on webtoon or tapas for free btw but I wanna get the actual book lol)
I also loved the little animations that show up when characters crush on eachother or the little sparks when Charlie and Nick hold hands, it was so cute and it just gave everything such a soft vibe
I've been reading the webcomic for years now so it has been so special for me to see the story come to life on screen. I think it was really well done, and I love that the main change from the comic to show is that the side characters' stories got so much more development. I'm really hoping for future seasons and hopefully seeing some aro/ace representation with Isaac. As someone on the asexual and aromantic spectrums, it's so awesome seeing this show getting so much love, which was created by an aroace person, and the potential for even more representation than we had in season 1.
“OH MY GOD THIS SHOW IS SO CUTE!” -literally everyone after the first episode
one character that you didn’t touch that I loved but didn’t really get any love on the show, Issac! I feel like he was just a throw-away character, it would’ve been better if he was there to support Charlie instead of his older sister which I do adore! but I loved Issac, his was funny and just overall to be seem a optimistic nice person.
I think I love the last episode to be honest, just everything is wrapped up very nicely and the scene where Nick and Charlie are at the beach and Nick shouting-" He's my boyfriend!" is so cute
There's another thing they hinted at in this season that they'll probably tackle in the next one. It's a very heavy topic and I think this will make the series feel less shallow, so I'm very excited to see how they're gonna handle it!
Tw: sensitive and spoilers?? (not sure but I thought I’d leave a warning). The ED?
@@alexfoster1422 Yes!
i'm excited but not at the same time. theres so much in the two novels about that topic that it would be soo much to take in but it would also bring a lot of awareness to the topic which is really important. i'm really curious on how they'll go about bringing that to life as well.
@@makenzie6349 I noticed this show is 100% about feelings, so I think they'll focus on how important it is to have support when you're going through something like that. Now that Nick is already Charlie's boyfriend, I think the drama will be less "oh will they be together?" and more "what role will Nick play in what Charlie's going through?"
@@makenzie6349 I feel you. I’m actually worried myself because my liking for the show will literally DISINTEGRATE if they tackle it poorly. I agree with the comment above me that it will focus on support and probably bring some of their codependency issues to light that the comic did.
this show was just so adorable. i loved the soundtrack and the little animations, they made the already good show even better. i also like it because i feel like it’s realistic to todays teens, like the way they talk and text and dress. idk i just appreciated that detail bc some shows seem to have no idea how teens rly act
if you are interested in heartstopper, read the webtoon to get more content cause most of the comics weren't animated on to the show. IT GETS SO GOOD
“…and I guess… Gossip Girl???”
im DEAD lmaooo
I'm so glad to have a show that focuses on LGBT+ and isn't super miserable, depressing, artsy etc. I just want more comforting, lighthearted content.
i LOVED tara and darcy so much! i love seeing wlw in shows and i absolutely loved their dynamic
I accidentally binge watched it, like I wanted to watch it 1ep per day, but it was so good I just couldn't help !
And after I've finished it I felt like a stupid and I was still in the mood so I just ended up rewatching it
And I've watched it again, and I'm on episode 5 now
So, I've watched it like 3.5 times within 36hrs or release 🥴🥴
they were going to the movie theater with nicks friends, it was not a date for just them two. They act surprised when they saw them because they didn't expect Harry to be there
ahh!! i'm so excited about this show! as someone who read the comics for years, it was so exciting to see it put into a show and it was done SO WELL!! the show is very, very similar to the comics, but when it differentiates, it does it for the better and adds to the characters.
(edit) also, if heartstopper gets a second season we will definitely see more of tao and elle!!!
I think one of the main mistakes we do as an audience is to judge teenage characters because they don't act as we do or make the same decisions as we make, especially when we are adults. I see your point about Nick and getting frustrated by the decisions he makes, but if you put yourself in his shoes (teenage boy, peer pressure, still trying the understand himself, his feelings, his sexuality, not mature enough, not enough life experiences to know better) then you can understand him better and be fairer when judging him, even if you don't agree with his decisions.
It's even funnier in the graphic novels because EVERYONE(except tao) knew Charlie and nick were together they were just waiting for them to say it 😭😭😭
The show is the very definition of "my heart is full" statement. The audio tracks seals in everything
Elle is low-key my spirit animal I just love her so much and she’s so sweet 🥲
for me it's Darcy 😆
YES YES I WAS WAITING for you to talk about itt!!!
Here’s the thing… the gay/bi rep in this was great. However, as someone who came out as trans at the age of 15, I thought the portrayal of the trans girl and transphobia was,,, bad. Like, I’m all for feel good stories, but if you’re going to portray homophobia while mostly ignoring that transphobia even exists, it just feels inauthentic.
How are none of the girls in her new school bullying her? Clearly the boys and girls schools interact often. It makes no sense and it really took the show down several notches for me. It felt like they wanted a trans girl for diversity’s sake without understanding how being trans affects your life, especially in high school.
I feel what you're saying. I had the impression that Elle actively tries to stay away from all other girls to stay sort of 'protected' from being bullied. I also had the impression that the two lesbian girls that kinda 'adopt' her know (and probably some other girls like you said), the female teacher as well. It was more of a surprise to me that Elle's not facing bullying or hurtful behaviour at her school, and of course this is how it should IRL be, but I get that its unfortunately not the current reality for trans people. Fingers crossed that the writes will tackle this topic in the next season!
Agreed! How do you feel about the casting? I thought it wasn't the best, considering that Elle JUST started transitioning at 15, and she just... Completely passes as cis somehow? I genuinely had to Google whether the actress was trans--
great review! the fact that actual teens were casted based on the true identity of their characters sold it for me. everyone looked so good especially Yasmin Finney and Kit Connor. ✨
the show is so amazing, BUT I hated how Tao essentially blamed Charlie for everything (when he wasn’t ready to tell Tao about his relationship with Nick - Tao being very forceful about it). But he’s also genuinely funny and the banter with Harry was too good
I adore the show, I've watched it so many times, I love the writing and how the story unfolds. It's good to see a critique video, as much as it's adorable there are a few things that don't make sense (but it's so beautiful I don't care!). I kind of feel that because Nick is super popular it gives him the confidence that another character might not have to come out really quickly. Like when in episode three and right when he takes Charlie by the hand, in episode 7 when they hold hands running up the corridor in the school, at the rugby match when Nick watches Charlie taking to his friends and when they meet and hug at the cinema, it sort of feels Nick is so used to being confident that he does these things without worrying about it, yet he's telling Charlie to keep it secret. It's just something I've been thinking about. I feel there's a lot of subtle things like this going on but we're so taken by the love story it's bypassed. Like when Tory talks to Charlie in the last episode, it's a great example of how to have a mental health conversation with someone you're close to or worried about. People often afraid to say the wrong thing. This made it feel very natural and achievable for anyone, sometimes it's just about asking and listening to someone, holding that space for them.
If it helps to understand Tao, in the comics, Tao was the one that accidentally outed Charlie the year before, which led to the bullying (he wasn’t aware he did that). That’s why Charlie hesitates to tell him about him and Nick in the comics. They seem to have taken that out in the adaptation, although Tao actually alludes to it by talking to Elle about how maybe Charlie thinks he’ll tell people. So, Tao ends up being treated more distantly for less clear reasons, affecting our perception of him.
I think that when Charlie and Nick went to the movies, they were gonna meet up with some of Nick’s friends. Then they found out Ben and Harry were also there. That’s also why they sat next to eachother, because they probably booked the tickets together