‘Heartstopper’ Review: This Perfect Book Adaptation Of A Teen Love Story Made My Heart Go All Gooey And Warm

‘Heartstopper’ Review: This Perfect Book Adaptation Of A Teen Love Story Made My Heart Go All Gooey And Warm

After a very long time, I watched a series from the young-adult genre that and I am extremely thankful for watching it. Not that I am against the said genre, but I feel there are too many young-adult series that have been released recently and that have maybe, bought a stagnancy. I watched Heartstopper over the weekend and, even though it was a proper young-adult series I am floored! This series is the adaptation of the eponymous book series by Alice Oseman, and it is the first of the lot that makes me want to read the books as well. Because it is usually vice-versa for me. The series was released on April 22 on Netflix.

Plot Of Heartstopper

For those who do not know what the series is about let me give you a gist of it. It revolves around Charlie Spring, a grade 10 student in Truham Grammar School. He came out as gay a few years ago but he is bullied at school for his sexual orientation. Typical jerks! Nicholas Nelson, Truham’s golden rugby player, is a grade 11 student and is partnered with Charlie in their form class. In the meantime, Charlie was going out with Nick’s classmate, Ben who was still not ready to come out as gay but our dear Charlie was very supportive of his decision. But Ben turned out to be a toxic boy who would not acknowledge Charlie in school, let alone talk to him. But Charlie and Nick start getting close because of the time they spend together. But the catch here is that Nick is straight and is going through a turmoil of realising that maybe, he is not straight after all!

 

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Cast And Characters

Okay, so let me get straight into the characterisation first. All the actors fit their respective roles so very well that they stuck with me even after I finished watching the series. Let me begin with Charlie Spring, oh god, this boy! His character is played by Joe Locke. Charlie is very innocent and naive and it made me want to protect him from all the horrible world at all costs! He is an absolute sweetheart who has never been prioritised in his previous relationship and therefore thinks that everyone’s lives would be better if he just wouldn’t exist. My heart cracked when he said this dialogue and I wanted to hurt all those idiots who hurt my little Charlie.

There were moments with Ben, played by Sebastian Croft, when Charlie would literally look at him with hearty eyes and Ben would just ignore him and go straight to kissing him like a horny teenage boy! And when Nick enters Charlie’s life, my heart soars with happiness because my sweet, sweet boy will finally start getting treated right. Nick, played by Kit Connor, is the literal embodiment of the word nice. He is thoughtful, has been there for Charlie during one of the difficult times and always makes time for him. There were several times in the series when Nick DMs Charlie to know if he is okay and it simply made my heart go ‘awwwwww’! There is so much attraction between Nick and Charlie that even we as viewers can feel the tension.

Charlie is not a loner in school. He has a group of friends who care about him too much and are sceptical when Charlie starts hanging out with Nick too much because the latter’s friends are legit jerks and homophobes. Tao, one of Char’s best friends, is so sassy that I love him. He always puts Nick’s classmate, Harry, in his place with his verbal attacks and I felt a second-hand vindication every time this happened. What brings tears to my eyes is how Charlie gets scared every time his friends or Nick is inconvenienced. He finds his faults in every situation and when Nick does the bare minimum to make their “relationship” work, he feels honoured. That’s how broken and scarred he is from his past relationship.

 

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Verdict

The plot of the series sails smoothly through the lives of Charlie, Nick and their friends and all the while focusing on the bullying and facing the problems each of them has in their personal lives. The story is fast-paced and each episode leaves on a sort of cliffhanger that immediately wants you to click on the next one to know what happens further. The music and songs throughout the series also gel with the plot very well. There is no unnecessary stalling in the plot and the characters are in-sync with the narrative.

The best part about this series is the accurate representation of the LGBTQIA+ community. At no point did I feel that the characters were stereotyping the community or was there any sort of misrepresentation. It also sheds a lot of light on the struggles that LGBTAIA+ students face at school and the bullying they go through. It is absolutely heartbreaking to watch them go through this discrimination.

Having watched the first season, I am very excited for its next one. I am so invested in Nick and Charlie’s story currently that I am going to order the books as well to get ahead of the series! If my review was not evident enough, you need to watch this series ASAP. It is feel-good, light-hearted and fantastic, and I think it has become my comfort series to watch already!

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Kinjal Panchal

Kinjal is an avid reader who drools over fictional men but is a hardcore realist. Don’t do anything to make her give you the ‘bombastic side eye’!

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