Heartstopper: what makes Alice Oseman's series of graphic novels so special?

The widely beloved webcomic takes a refreshing approach to portraying LGBTQ+ characters and teenage friendships.

Jenica Davis
10th May 2022
Image Credit: IMDb
The wait is over for fans of Alice Oseman’s graphic novel series Heartstopper with the recent release of its first season on Netflix. It’s been highly anticipated how this beloved webcomic would be transformed on screen, particularly as it has been adapted to screen by Alice Oseman herself. The TV adaptation has already received overwhelming love from fans as well as new admirers of the series. With coming-of-age romance stories being churned out every year, what makes Heartstopper so unique?

Its striking difference lies within its representation. This LGBTQ+ teen series unapologetically displays the kind of queer love that we’ve been craving for more than too long. It’s no secret that happy endings for queer characters are a rare gem to find with queer love stories usually being plagued with death and tragedy. However, this series breaks that curse which the media can’t let go of and shows that happy endings aren’t just reserved for heterosexual love.

What I enjoyed most was watching the friendship blossom between these characters as a group: a group full of understanding and genuine happiness for one another.

Image credit: Instagram @
byemilivre

The story follows the characters of Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson who meet at the start of a new year at Truham Grammar School for Boys. We are taken through the evolution of their romance, which anchors the series, giving us a euphoric feeling of falling in love as we watch them fall in love. Despite it being such a charmingly positive portrayal of queer teenage romance, it’s not to say that the series isn’t realistic. It’s a poignant depiction of the queer teenage experience from Charlie being forcibly outed and bullied by his classmates to Nick’s emotional discovery of his sexual identity. Meanwhile, at Harvey Greene Grammar School for Girls (‘Higgs’), we are introduced to the relationship between Tara and Darcy, lesbians who have been dating secretly but decide to go public. We also see the arc of a young trans woman, Elle, who has transferred to Higgs, struggling with feeling as though she doesn’t fit in and with her feelings towards her best friend, Tao. What I enjoyed most was watching the friendship blossom between these characters as a group: a group full of understanding and genuine happiness for one another.

Encompassing all these different stories, it was heartwarming to see young queer couples comfortable expressing their love so openly and joyfully. It is a vital watch, not just for queer teenagers, but for all teenagers, with its insightful display of the queer experience at a young age. It’s even more refreshing to watch a series that have teenagers that not only look like teenagers but act like them. Not overly dramatised, Heartstopper embraces the awkwardness of adolescence in an authentic light. With this heartfelt series, whether experienced on page or screen, you are promised a sincere, uplifting journey – one where I can safely say that no one dies.

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