'Heartstopper' Season 2 is a Gleeful Celebration of Queer Love

Season 2 of Netflix’s Heartstopper, the sweet and charming show about two high-school-aged British boys falling in love, is just as heartfelt, genuine, and poignant as its premiere season. Based on the webcomic by Alice Oseman, the story picks up the day after the first season ended, following Nick (Kit Connor) having just come out about his bisexuality and his boyfriend to his mom Sarah (Olivia Colman). Where the first season focused on the friendship-turned-romance of Nick and Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick’s confusion about his sexuality, the second season sees Nick endeavoring to come out publicly.

It is an understatement to say this show is necessary, both as a safe space for people to explore their own sexuality but also as a bastion of positive queer identity and representation. Additionally, the show is incredibly well-written. The story revolves around the lives of the central friend group of Charlie, Tao (William Gao), transgender Elle (Yasmin Finney), and Isaac (Tobie Donovan). The characters are fully realized. The interpersonal drama is organic, believable, and moving. The central relationship between Nick and Charlie is darling.

The history of gay male representation on television is a scant one. Story arcs for lesbians and bisexual women happened more frequently before gay men were featured. The first gay male kiss on American TV was on MTV’s The Real World in 1994, followed six years later on network television with Dawson’s Creek. Those of us who are old enough remember how much hype that episode garnered before it aired and how much of a gimmick it felt like. Even now, shows featuring gay and/or bisexual men kissing are rare.