A rainbow pride flag is waving above a crowd of people. Flags like these can be seen in Heartstopper season two

Annabel Benton

The second season of Netflix’s smash hit Heartstopper continues the success of its first. Whilst providing much-needed representations of friendship and love for young people, the show is also an injection of joy.

Upon its release in April 2022, Heartstopper immediately gained popularity. The adaptation of Alice Oseman’s comic series racked up viewing figures of over 14 million hours in its first week on Netflix, and almost instantaneously gained a loyal fanbase. It launched unknown actors into stardom and offered audiences important representations of teenage LGBTQ+ love. As such, going into its second instalment, the show had a lot to live up to.

The season two trailer promised viewers eight episodes filled with lots of Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke), as well as more screen time for other established and burgeoning couples such as Elle (Yasmin Finney) and Tao (William Gao). The trailer also tells of an upcoming school trip to Paris. With its characters established predominately within a school setting in season one, Heartstopper has transitioned to somewhere new at just the right time.

EXCITING CHANGES

This change in setting was one of the most successful elements of the season. Set against Paris’s Louvre, Montmartre district, and Eiffel Tower, the show’s youthful love stories panned out against a new backdrop. Not only did this give the season a fresh feel, but also added some extra romance – Paris really is the school trip of dreams for young lovers.

“The group is well-defined as we go into season two”

However, the show’s enduring success lies in the refreshing way it provides representation for LGBTQ+ teenagers. Nick and Charlie’s relationship is at the centre of the narrative, but the show’s friendships are equally endearing. The group is well-defined as we go into season two, and the authenticity and positivity with which the characters interact is lovely to see.

IMPORTANT STORYLINES

Alongside its compelling love stories, Heartstopper also handles more sensitive storylines extremely well. Each character’s trajectory tells a separate story of being a teenager in today’s world. Nick’s coming out is portrayed in all of its intricacies, and is a powerful narrative of acceptance, family, and the struggles which many still face from being in a publicly gay relationship. There is also an eating disorder storyline for Charlie, which illustrates how severe the consequences of homophobic bullying can be. Both actors handle these important topics poignantly and sensitively.

Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) and Tara (Corinna Brown) also have important narratives. We see Darcy struggle with her relationship with her mother, as well as with expressing her emotions towards Tara. The pair provide important lesbian representation and convincingly portray the struggles of figuring out young love.

“The storyline is youthful, fun, and sees its actors given enough screen time to shine as main characters”

Elle and Tao have perhaps the best chemistry in season two, as viewers get to watch their burgeoning romance. Speaking in a recent interview with Still Watching Netflix on YouTube, Elle actress Yasmin Finney said that “It means the world to know that […] we’re giving people that representation they’ve been craving for such a long time.” Elle and Tao’s romance does indeed do this beautifully. The storyline is youthful, and fun, whilst allowing those onscreen enough screen time to shine as main characters, rather than being pushed to the sidelines.

BETTER CHARACTERISATION

Simply put, the characters are more fleshed out in season two, giving the show more depth. It’s lovely to see Isaac (Tobie Donovan) with his own storyline besides being a huge bookworm, as iconic as that may be, and for Imogen (Rhea Norwood) to join the main friendship group. New characters such as Sahar (Leila Khan) ensure that the series doesn’t feel stagnant, and, of course, you can’t forget Olivia Coleman, who returns as Nick’s mum.

THE PERFECT SOUNDTRACK

Aside from the storylines and acting, the music of season one was one of Heartstopper‘s standout aspects. This success continues into the second season. Tracks include Julia Jackson’s Pressure to Party, Maggie Rodger’s Shatter, and Conan Gray’s Crush Culture. Wolf Alice, whose song Don’t Delete The Kisses went viral after its inclusion in season one, has their song The Beach play at the end of the first episode, as well as tracks Bros and Blush later in the series.

“The soundtrack ensures that Heartstopper feels vibrant, youthful, and upbeat”

To the delight of Swifties, there is also the inclusion of Taylor Swift’s Seven in the series finale. A relaxing selection of French songs appropriately accompanies the Parisian scenes too. Coupled with colourful animations and vibrant set designs, the soundtrack ensures that Heartstopper feels vibrant, youthful, and upbeat.

ESSENTIAL VIEWING

All in all, the depth of season two means it surpasses the first, whilst retaining all of the playfulness and heart which made its first instalment so popular. Although Heartstopper is aimed at a teenage audience, with its secondary school setting and focus on young relationships, it really is essential viewing for audiences of all ages.

The way in which the show’s writers and actors negotiate sensitive topics and depict the beauty of love with so much joy and authenticity is wonderful. In short, Heartstopper represents young people’s lives today. If you haven’t yet tuned in to watch it, you really should.

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Featured image courtesy of Margaux Bellott on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.

Annabel (she/her) is a BA English Literature student at the University of Manchester. She enjoys writing about student life, culture, and music.

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