But because they’re so protective of Charlie, that means they’re a little hesitant to approve of Nick. It’s obvious right away that Charlie’s friend group means the world to him and that they help each other get through any obstacle. The boys miss Elle so much, while Elle has to make new friends in her new surroundings at school. Elle had recently transferred from the all-boys school Truham to the all-girls school Higgs after coming out as a transgender woman, which causes a little bit of a shakeup in their friend group. Though Charlie and Nick are the central relationship in Heartstopper, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other romances to swoon over and root for.Īt the beginning of the series, we meet Charlie’s best friends who include Tao Xu (William Gao), Isaac Henderson (Tobie Donovan), and Elle Argent (Yasmin Finney). Everything changes, though, once he gets close to Nick Nelson ( Kit Connor), a popular kid who actually has a heart. Charlie is gay but hasn’t had a legitimate relationship with a boy yet, only a casual hookup with a bully named Ben Hope (Sebastian Croft) who hides their romance and treats him badly. Heartstopper is Netflix’s latest romantic comedy series, following the lives of high schooler Charlie Spring ( Joe Locke) and his group of outcast friends at school.
She even tells him that it’s okay to admit that he doesn’t like girls at all, because coming out as a bisexual is a middle ground so many queer people settle on before abandoning the closet for good.By Natalie Zamora 3 weeks ago Follow Tweet
Olivia Colman was a tremendous choice for Nick’s mother, reacting to his confession with absolute joy, a beaming smile the only acceptance he needs as she pulls him in for a tight hug. Nick is tearful and apprehensive, admitting to his mother that Charlie is more than a friend, he’s his boyfriend and has been for several months. You feel like a burden, that being different in the face of parents who possibly expected a predictable straight kid was something to be ashamed of. She’s the rock in my life, so disapproval from her would feel like the end of the world. Before I transitioned I was a fruity lil’ teenager smooching boys in secondary school, and coming out to my mum was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Nick has admitted his love to Charlie, came out to his friends, and now only needs the approval of his mother. Then there’s his coming out scene, which is one of the very last moments in the entire season. He might not say the word, but Imogen knows. In the end he bails on her, only to invite her to the park to pour his heart out and admit his bisexuality. She fancies him, awkwardly pressuring him into a date while he’s still figuring out his own approach to attraction. Imogen Heaney - a character who isn’t in the original comic - is present in the show to provide Nick with extra development. He talks about this with Charlie, but beyond that all other conversations are deliberately abstract. Nick begins admitting to his own sexuality internally very early on, searching online about what it means to be attracted to both sexes with tears in his eyes. Netflix could have rushed through the first two volumes to reach the juicy stuff, but it didn’t, and the unfolding narrative benefits so much from the slow burn. When you fall for someone as a teenager it can feel like you’ve met a soulmate for life, even if it means leaving friends to pursue a romance that could be all too fleeting. He catches feelings fast, and the way in which he falls head over heels and wants to spend every waking moment with Charlie is all too real. From the first episode, it’s clear that sparks are igniting between them as Nick exchanges small, curious glances with Charlie when saving him from bullies and engaging in conversation before classes. He goes against those stereotypes, but it takes time, dedication, and tearful admissions of guilt when it comes to being different.