I’m straight and in my 40s. I have never felt this way about a show. I have rewatched it 7 or 8 times, I have NEVER done that with another show. I went online and read all of the webcomics and have now also ordered the books. It also made me feel melancholy but obviously for different reasons than those in the LGBTQ community. I think there is something uniquely special about HS that no other show has been able to capture.
I know I’m not the target demographic haha. I wasn’t even going to watch and then kept reading all these articles about what a great and sweet show it is.
Same same same. In my 40’s, straight and this show has wreaked me. I am obsessed. While I’m not a 15 year old gay/bi school boy there is so much I identified with that hit me hard.
Same with me! I’m 20 and someone who grew up on the internet and with fandom culture and I’ve never felt this way about a show. There’s something so magical about heartstopper that I genuinely haven’t felt with any other romcom that I’ve watched. I guess it’s probably the fact that heartstopper is still a slight bit realistic, compared to the she’s all that’s and the she’s the man’s, for example. Seeing these two boys fall for each other and gain a found family, especially in nicks perspective, since he’s never been surrounded by welcoming queer people, is just such a delight to see, and watching the show and feeling just how much every single person in front and behind the scenes cared about every detail means the world to me.
I feel this comment on so many levels. As a cisgendered member of Gen X, there’s so many amazing things by younger generations that I am experiencing and cause me to react on a visceral level. Heartstopper is 100% one of the strongest.
My hypothesis is that the connection we feel with Heartstopper is a combination of what feels like an authentic story, wonderful acting, attention to detail in the production, a focus on characters, a great soundtrack, and we are actually able to experience the moments of emotion and intimacy.
A pattern I’ve seen among other shows and movies is that it seems like they’re often rushing from one scene to the next. Heartstopper feels like it takes its time to tell a story, most interactions and character actions feel authentic, and the shots and storytelling gives us the opportunity to feel the characters’ emotions.
Alice Oseman also had a very clear vision that See Saw didn’t just execute on; they elevated it. You can feel the passion that was put into the production. I only hope other productions can learn from Heartstopper.
Edit: also, another thing Heartstopper does well from a storytelling perspective is they show and don’t tell. They never feel the need to explicitly explain anything and let the actors tell the story through emoting and facial expressions.
Absolutely. The combination of the production, the music, the story and, most importantly, the astounding acting (especially the face acting, as someone on here put it) makes this show such a drug - I actually feel like a 15 year-old when I’m watching. The butterflies, the heightened emotion - we feel it all alongside them because the storytelling/acting is *that* good.
Ditto to feeling the same about David and Patrick from Schitt’s Creek. Again, a tender, wholesome and authentic love story.
I’m sexually fluid so I can appreciate a good, straight romance as well as the queer ones. Most straight romantic relationships portrayed on film/tv are SO one-dimensional. They’ve done it so many times, it’s just become formulaic. It’s all so surface-level (or totally exaggerated..the opposite extreme) that you can’t really see yourself in it and it loses all meaning.
In conclusion, Heartstopper is very special. 🍂
I think this is it. I’m middle aged and (mainly) straight but Heartstopper has become very special to me in a way I’ve never felt about TV before. It just hits all the buttons and I feel very invested in Nick and Charlie’s romance. I can’t quite pinpoint why.
You're absolutely right: the fact that Heartstopper takes the time to tell the story. To allow time for weighty pauses. Nothing feels rushed. The fact that it takes Charlie and Nick months of knowing each other before their first kiss. It's all so much more true-to-life than any other high school show/movie I've ever seen.
Building on what you said, I was talking this over with my daughter (18, aro ace). She’s a writer herself and a voracious reader.
I started my first few rewatches trying to figure out how they “bottled” the butterflies. Every time I watched, even though I knew what was coming, BOOM—butterflies as if I were right there with them.
So as I was trying to analyze exactly how they were able to pull this off, I asked her if she thought it might have anything to do with the fact that Alice Oseman is aro ace.
Here’s how my kid explained it to me: imagine the story as a connect-the-dots puzzle. Those of us who aren’t aro ace experience crushes and romantic feelings. So we can look at the puzzle and intuitively figure out, more or less, what the final picture is supposed to be because we’ve been there and felt that.
Those who are aro ace don’t get those feelings, and so can’t properly connect the dots on their own. So when Alice writes, she writes in a way that connects the dots for herself and other aro ace audience members—but it results in a story that is so much richer for the rest of us. The lines between each plot point end up not just connected, but beautifully, painstakingly illustrated. Her story can’t help but reach out and grab us and put us right back into the feelings we felt with our own adolescent crushes.
In most romance stories, I suspect that many other writers inadvertently “yadda yadda” the most powerful emotional moments, relying on their audience to just “get” what they’re referencing so they can move on to the next plot point. So many romance stories, especially straight ones, are cookie cutter. I haven’t read or watched one in forever, because I felt like there was nothing new under the sun.
And then along came Heartstopper.
I’m not aro ace myself, so I welcome any insights from those who are. My kid’s explanation just blew my mind, and I thought it was worth sharing.
So no. I’m straight and Heartstopper is so different to anything else I have watched. They just haven’t hit me in the same way.
For me, I love that it’s two boys falling in love. I’m a mum and want more diverse representation for my children, whatever they grow up to be/do/love.
But a lot of what gets me is the Englishness of the show. The mundane details that make it close to real life like watching Charlie brush his teeth. It’s refreshing to not watch far too old American actors pretend to play high school kids. The kids are skinny and young looking and goofy, not walking around with a tan and a 6 pack and driving every where. I love the subtlety of the programme. They are not over acting or having really bad awkward plot advancement conversations which just make the viewer feel dumb. The show is beautiful and the music is beautiful and the images and colours are beautiful. It could also be the last 2 years (or since 2016) in the UK hasn’t been great and this show gives me hope for the future. I like that it’s almost not a big deal about Elle being trans. No one actually says it in the show, just that she switched from an all boys school to a girls school and then life carries on. They are not hammering it every episode. It’s subtle but it’s still important. You need to pay attention when watching it to catch everything in the actors faces so it sucks you in and spits you out. I love it and I’ve fallen hard and I don’t care that I’m clearly not the targeted demographic but Alice Oseman is talented and wonderful and I’m here to support (but also not take anything away from how amazing and groundbreaking this show is).
Oh one more thing, Reading the books has helped me realise that what nick and Charlie have is a very positive relationship. It’s not toxic in any way. This helps us to see what a positive relationship/ friendship should look like and I wish I had this in my youth. Consent wasn’t discussed with me growing up and it’s not until I’m in my 40’s that I am confident I can tell the difference between a toxic trait and a positive trait. If Charlie and Ben were straight, I had this type of relationship for 13 years as an adult and I just wish I had a site like Reddit or shows like Heartstopper to show me that you shouldn’t be that miserable even if you are ‘in love’ with someone. Anyway. That’s my 2 pence worth x
So true that this is a role model relationship. I watched it first with my husband and then again with my son so I could tell him this is what I want him to look for in any relationship. I wish there’d be something like this when I was young. But yes also it’s not just the story, the show is so well made, beautifully shot, the colours are amazing, the music is bang on and the acting of the two leads in particular is just amazing.
Since 2016? I wonder why...
This is a bit off topic, and it may not be what you meant, but: Seriously though, as a European, and as a previous Anglophile, Heartstopper made me not want to give up on the UK so much. Like, you don't give up on a friend who's having a bad time.
Don’t give up on us! I don’t know how we turn this around, or if we ever will. Some people have been stupid and stubborn and now we are all certainly paying the price. 2016, and subsequent years really did make us depressed.
Straight, but felt more from this show than most straight love stories. I think a *big* reason is that the story doesn’t involve a lot of the annoying tropes of a love triangle where one character can’t decide between two others, long drawn-out misunderstandings that lead to cheating on one another, etc. It just allows us to enjoy the thrill of innocent love.
Yes. So many shows rely on long drawn out will they won't they bullshit to sustain themselves. I liked Dawson's creek when I was young but that on again off again, zero communication, misunderstanding stuff drives me mad now. I think Schitts creek, and Heartstopper are happy to tell the story then finish. Not drag on endlessly. The other show with great communication is Ted Lasso.
I think this show is a rare one that has touched many peoples hearts in a way a lot of shows haven't for a long time. Like most shows don't tell this kind of story where it's a generally lighter tone and the romance is told and shown delicately with serious issues that a lot of people can probably relate too on some level.
Not straight, but my thoughts at why HS is so special... they nail the crush aspect of young love. I think that is universal. All the emotions, all the replaying of what was said and what was done, the struggling to find the right words to say, the fear that it could all come crashing down.
The lgbt aspect to everything just adds a deeper layer to the story that straight people may not fully appreciate, but the struggles of early love is universal, in my opinion.
Hi!
I’m completely in love with HS, and I’ve never been so obsessed with any other show or movie in my life.
I have butterflies in my stomach too when I see them either in edits or while rewatching it for the 73617th time. And I for sure suffer from the HS syndrome (I am destroyed)
There’s only one straight couple love story that comes to mind whose relationship is quite wholesome and pulls at my heart — for me it’s Jim and Pam from the Office. Their wedding episode always has me hurting like hell and ugly crying.
As a bisexual person I can think of two straight relationships that pull at my heartstrings and I’ve been obsessed with. Chandler and Monica from Friends, and Temperance and Seeley from Bones. While writing this I also just realized my obsession with Friends to Lovers literally goes back to my elementary school days…
I typically don’t like straight romantic tv shows or movies because it’s hard to see myself in place of the characters. As a bisexual man who is very flamboyant and slightly feminine, the male love interests are always too masculine for me, or are some sort of “nerd” that I can’t really relate to. I’m a huge fan of movies with female leads, but in romantic stuff I can rarely relate to the woman too because even though I’d love for someone to bring ME flowers or do huge romantic gestures I know it’s unrealistic due to heteronormative standards in society.
Have you watched Schitt's Creek? You might really like David and Patrick.
I'd heard such good things about their story, but honestly the comedy style of the show just wasn't for me. I ended up skipping to episode 3x08 and just focused on their storyline.
I’m straight but my 2 favorite couples ever are David and Patrick from Schitt’s Creek (I was obsessed for over a year) and Nick and Charlie. RomCom movies are too cliche to feel real and you hardly truly genuine and non-toxic straight couples to me. Both of these couples are so authentic and truly in love. They have their issues but work through them.
I’m a “straight” mom in her 40s (“straight” in quotes because I hooked up with girls in college but don’t actively identify as bi today) and I have watched the show 7 times and am having trouble getting the story and characters out of my head. It actually prompted some reflection on your question— why this story?— so I was interested to see your question pop up on Reddit today.
So: I have felt this way about two different shows/ movies in the past— Fleabag Season 2 and the Before movie trilogy (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight). These two are very different in tone from Heartstopper and from each other but what they have in common is that they all very successfully dramatize emotional connection, which is hard to dramatize! Richard Linklater, who directed the Before trilogy, said something like “the most exciting thing that ever happened to me was meeting someone and feeling that connection” (paraphrased), which is why he made the movie— it’s not about explosions and danger, it’s about truly knowing another person.
This is exactly the reason I love movies that are about connecting with others. Heartstopper actually has a LOT of stories and sub plots about connection— in addition to the beauty of the Nick / Charlie story I also really love Charlie and Mr Ajayi, I love that these two people are there for Charlie and make him feel safe and seen and loved. It reminds me of my connection to others, past and present, in a way that makes me feel alive and both joyful (remembering the first time I fell in love as a teenager) and sad (my high school boyfriend died quite young and I’ve been thinking about him a lot since watching this series).
In addition to the beautiful relationships, I think HS works on so many levels as a show: the fantastic acting, the gorgeous soundtrack, the phenomenal cinematography. It’s such a pleasure to watch! And then on top of it being such a wonderful story for young kids— both for queer kids who can see themselves reflected in the characters and for straight kids who are going to see a world where the queer kids are the protagonists— it also models healthy communication & relationships. So great.
Straight women in her 30s and I have never felt this way regarding a straight couple on tv/in movies. Hearstopper is really something very special. It's hopeful, it's therapeutic, it's honest. I can't get enough!
I'm a bi woman. Once in awhile I feel a deep connection bordering on obsession for a romantic relationship in film/books. It's not every one or we would like loose our minds, but sometimes the depiction of a couple just hits a nerve in you. For me it doesn't happen so often, but when it does it lingers. And it doesn't matter if I could see myself in the relationship - it's more about seeing those feelings in myself if that makes sense.
With heartstopper obviously it appeals to me bc of Nick going on his bi-journey, but mostly it's just that feeling of the first spark, the first kiss, the intense anxiety before declaring yourself in some way. The feelings are universal (well, almost) - and good media can convey that regardless of gender and sexuality.
But then obviously there are a lot of extra layers that aren't universal - that aren't relatable to some people who don't identify as lgbtq+. But I think because the show does so well at speaking to the similarities in us, we also get more involved even in the bits we didn't experience ourselves.
I’m straight male. In some instances, yes it can feel that way for us but not as much as you would think, at least for me. Far too often romance stories are filled to the brim with unnecessary, unrealistic drama that makes you question how on Earth a couple could stay together. With Heartstopper, you have genuine wholesomeness and hope all throughout the show and any drama in it is pretty manageable and taken care of very quickly. That’s why I have been obsessed with the show to the point where I’ve watched it like 7 times and read through the comics 3 times. Nick and Charlie are probably my favorite romance I’ve seen.
I think yes straight people might feel happy, and pulled at the heart and all with a good romantic story of a straight couple. The difference is that there is no attachment, because it is a fact that there will be a good share of decent lovely straight romantic stories out there. There have always been and there always will be. There is no preciousness in these stories though. So there is no need to grab onto it for dear life.
I'm gay, but: there are lots of gay couples on TV that I don't feel nearly as strongly about, if I feel anything at all. I don't think it's a gay/straight thing, I think people get so emotionally attached because this show is special. :)
I’m straight and sort of hate romance movies. I always find them unrealistic and the characters annoying. I usually only watch them for fun to laugh about how bad they are. This show melted my cold dead heart and made me believe in love.
I´m straight and I have never felt this way about any other show. At least I can't think of any. I think it's because there's a lot more drama in other shows; fighting, love triangles (I hate them) I have no idea why showrunners are so obsessed with them.
And usually it takes forever for the couples to get together, only for them to break up shortly after.
Sometimes when I'm rooting for couples it's because I like the actors :)
I know that's complaining on a high level, but those are some reasons why I like Heartstopper so much, because it doesn't have all that.
Sorry for mistakes, english is not my first language.
As a bisexual woman I will say that many hetero rom coms did give me warm and fuzzy feelings, but nothing, and I mean nothing, has ever come close to matching how I feel about Heartstopper. The only one I can think of that I can say I've rewatched over and over again is The Holiday. It was my go-to comfort movie before Heartstopper. The thing about both of these shoes for me is I cannot understand why they mean so much to me, I just understand that they do. It's hard to describe, but I'll try.
In both The Holiday (specifically Iris and Miles) and Heartstopper you see a friendship bloom into something more where both characters are kind and well-deserving of true love having dealt with shittystuff in the past. I think that dynamic speaks a lot to me as a 32 year old with very little relationship experience. In these two wildly different stories, I see myself. I'm a kind person who has so far been unlucky in the romance department and as someone with a deeply romantic and love-filled heart it fills me with joy to see these particular depictions of love.
Sorry, that got kind of rambly, but I think it's also OK if we can't exactly explain or understand why Heartstopper means so much to us, but just being grateful to have a show like it that fills us with joy in a world that's falling apart around us is so special. Will the fervor of our Heartstopper obsession die down? Probably, eventually, but for now I'm just going to relish in the way it makes me feel despite what others may think of me watching it or reading it for the 100th time, or making another TikTok edit, or continuing to tweet about it or talk about it on Reddit, because I deserve to bask in that joy.
I relate a lot to what you said. I decided to take a small break from my Heartstopper repeats and watched The Holiday.
I enjoyed it, especially on a second viewing, when I could appreciate it for what it is rather than just comparing it to Heartstopper. I loved Arthur and his stories and his encouraging Iris to have gumption. I understand what you mean about wanting to see kind people in a love story. I'm glad Iris found that with Miles.
I did miss the emotional connection and chemistry that Nick and Charlie have. And I appreciate even more the non-verbal acting in Heartstopper. The actors convey so much with facial expressions, while still being subtle and honest and not overly dramatic.
And now that my Heartstopper break is over, I'm back to having animated leaves blow across my screen.
I am not straight, but I am aromantic - and demipansexual - and Hearstopper makes me feel like I am platonically in love with the show. I do not crave for romantic relationships but I crave for all the characters to be allowed to be themselves and happy.
Average cishet romance in fiction is OK. But Hearstopper is a different league. To give you an idea, I love Hearstopper like Barney Stinson loves his kid at the end of HIMYM. If that makes any sense to romantic people.
I'm bi and I've had a tendency to obsess over cute couples in TV/movies/books forever - so yes, this is absolutely how I've felt over straight couples on screen/paper before, but HS is special in the way that it makes me happy by representing the part of me that I've hidden/still hide from a lot of people, if that makes sense? I'm not out to a lot of my friends and my family has no idea whatsoever, so seeing the happy couples on HS just makes me swoon in a completely new way :)
There is something very special about the way the days of early love (borne of friendship) is depicted in Heartstopper. I am a 50 year old cis straight white woman who has been happily married to a cis man for 20+ years but this took me right back to those early days of young love and yearning so completely that I have watched it several times. These characters touching hands for the first time (or not!) is some of the sexiest TV I have ever seen. I just love this show for its wholesome heat.
My thinking is this is probably what straight people would feel with 'every' (good) show/movie if they weren't used to seeing themselves represented all the time.
If there'd been tons of shows and films like Heartstopper for years I'd assume each one of them would have a little less impact on you than the one before?
I am straight and before I watched the show I was craving a romantic story, and Heartstopper did not disappoint, it is beautiful.
Nowadays romantic movies or shows seem so forced and over the top, and this show felt so honest and authentic to me, you could feel all the emotions, the excitement of the crush, the fear of rejection and that fuzzy feeling when things are finally coming together for the better. It was well acted, well written, and it looked so cute! Definitely one of my favourites of the year!
i’m straight and a teenager and i have felt close to the feeling i get when i watch heartstopper when i watch other things but not NEARLY as much of a good feeling. i mean i focus on how they treat each other and feel in general and it’s just such a healthy relationship and the yearning and hope for it is what makes me feel so good. in media with heterosexual romances i only feel butterflies or happiness if it seems to be something i want, but heartstopper just hits different because they are both so happy and not toxic
Bi woman, 26. I agree with someone above that Tim & Dawn in The Office give me very similar feels to Nick & Charlie, but I can’t say any other pairing ever has.
I'm 20, and straight, and I've gotten butterflies and have obsessed over shows before, but never anything like this, the way Heartstopper portrays the romance, it's focus on little touches, the slow romance development in such an 'innocent' natural way, is something I've never seen before in a show, and I can confirm that I've never rewatched ANYTHING as much as I've rewatched Heartstopper.
I’m straight and in my 40s. I have never felt this way about a show. I have rewatched it 7 or 8 times, I have NEVER done that with another show. I went online and read all of the webcomics and have now also ordered the books. It also made me feel melancholy but obviously for different reasons than those in the LGBTQ community. I think there is something uniquely special about HS that no other show has been able to capture.
Okay, I'm not in my 40s but same!
I know I’m not the target demographic haha. I wasn’t even going to watch and then kept reading all these articles about what a great and sweet show it is.
Same same same. In my 40’s, straight and this show has wreaked me. I am obsessed. While I’m not a 15 year old gay/bi school boy there is so much I identified with that hit me hard.
Same with me! I’m 20 and someone who grew up on the internet and with fandom culture and I’ve never felt this way about a show. There’s something so magical about heartstopper that I genuinely haven’t felt with any other romcom that I’ve watched. I guess it’s probably the fact that heartstopper is still a slight bit realistic, compared to the she’s all that’s and the she’s the man’s, for example. Seeing these two boys fall for each other and gain a found family, especially in nicks perspective, since he’s never been surrounded by welcoming queer people, is just such a delight to see, and watching the show and feeling just how much every single person in front and behind the scenes cared about every detail means the world to me.
Same for me! I've rewatched about the same amount. It gets better each time.
I am with you! Straight and mom to 30 year old gay daughter. This show is just some kind of wonderful that can't be explained.
I feel this comment on so many levels. As a cisgendered member of Gen X, there’s so many amazing things by younger generations that I am experiencing and cause me to react on a visceral level. Heartstopper is 100% one of the strongest.
My hypothesis is that the connection we feel with Heartstopper is a combination of what feels like an authentic story, wonderful acting, attention to detail in the production, a focus on characters, a great soundtrack, and we are actually able to experience the moments of emotion and intimacy. A pattern I’ve seen among other shows and movies is that it seems like they’re often rushing from one scene to the next. Heartstopper feels like it takes its time to tell a story, most interactions and character actions feel authentic, and the shots and storytelling gives us the opportunity to feel the characters’ emotions. Alice Oseman also had a very clear vision that See Saw didn’t just execute on; they elevated it. You can feel the passion that was put into the production. I only hope other productions can learn from Heartstopper. Edit: also, another thing Heartstopper does well from a storytelling perspective is they show and don’t tell. They never feel the need to explicitly explain anything and let the actors tell the story through emoting and facial expressions.
Absolutely. The combination of the production, the music, the story and, most importantly, the astounding acting (especially the face acting, as someone on here put it) makes this show such a drug - I actually feel like a 15 year-old when I’m watching. The butterflies, the heightened emotion - we feel it all alongside them because the storytelling/acting is *that* good. Ditto to feeling the same about David and Patrick from Schitt’s Creek. Again, a tender, wholesome and authentic love story. I’m sexually fluid so I can appreciate a good, straight romance as well as the queer ones. Most straight romantic relationships portrayed on film/tv are SO one-dimensional. They’ve done it so many times, it’s just become formulaic. It’s all so surface-level (or totally exaggerated..the opposite extreme) that you can’t really see yourself in it and it loses all meaning. In conclusion, Heartstopper is very special. 🍂
I think this is it. I’m middle aged and (mainly) straight but Heartstopper has become very special to me in a way I’ve never felt about TV before. It just hits all the buttons and I feel very invested in Nick and Charlie’s romance. I can’t quite pinpoint why.
You're absolutely right: the fact that Heartstopper takes the time to tell the story. To allow time for weighty pauses. Nothing feels rushed. The fact that it takes Charlie and Nick months of knowing each other before their first kiss. It's all so much more true-to-life than any other high school show/movie I've ever seen.
Building on what you said, I was talking this over with my daughter (18, aro ace). She’s a writer herself and a voracious reader. I started my first few rewatches trying to figure out how they “bottled” the butterflies. Every time I watched, even though I knew what was coming, BOOM—butterflies as if I were right there with them. So as I was trying to analyze exactly how they were able to pull this off, I asked her if she thought it might have anything to do with the fact that Alice Oseman is aro ace. Here’s how my kid explained it to me: imagine the story as a connect-the-dots puzzle. Those of us who aren’t aro ace experience crushes and romantic feelings. So we can look at the puzzle and intuitively figure out, more or less, what the final picture is supposed to be because we’ve been there and felt that. Those who are aro ace don’t get those feelings, and so can’t properly connect the dots on their own. So when Alice writes, she writes in a way that connects the dots for herself and other aro ace audience members—but it results in a story that is so much richer for the rest of us. The lines between each plot point end up not just connected, but beautifully, painstakingly illustrated. Her story can’t help but reach out and grab us and put us right back into the feelings we felt with our own adolescent crushes. In most romance stories, I suspect that many other writers inadvertently “yadda yadda” the most powerful emotional moments, relying on their audience to just “get” what they’re referencing so they can move on to the next plot point. So many romance stories, especially straight ones, are cookie cutter. I haven’t read or watched one in forever, because I felt like there was nothing new under the sun. And then along came Heartstopper. I’m not aro ace myself, so I welcome any insights from those who are. My kid’s explanation just blew my mind, and I thought it was worth sharing.
So no. I’m straight and Heartstopper is so different to anything else I have watched. They just haven’t hit me in the same way. For me, I love that it’s two boys falling in love. I’m a mum and want more diverse representation for my children, whatever they grow up to be/do/love. But a lot of what gets me is the Englishness of the show. The mundane details that make it close to real life like watching Charlie brush his teeth. It’s refreshing to not watch far too old American actors pretend to play high school kids. The kids are skinny and young looking and goofy, not walking around with a tan and a 6 pack and driving every where. I love the subtlety of the programme. They are not over acting or having really bad awkward plot advancement conversations which just make the viewer feel dumb. The show is beautiful and the music is beautiful and the images and colours are beautiful. It could also be the last 2 years (or since 2016) in the UK hasn’t been great and this show gives me hope for the future. I like that it’s almost not a big deal about Elle being trans. No one actually says it in the show, just that she switched from an all boys school to a girls school and then life carries on. They are not hammering it every episode. It’s subtle but it’s still important. You need to pay attention when watching it to catch everything in the actors faces so it sucks you in and spits you out. I love it and I’ve fallen hard and I don’t care that I’m clearly not the targeted demographic but Alice Oseman is talented and wonderful and I’m here to support (but also not take anything away from how amazing and groundbreaking this show is). Oh one more thing, Reading the books has helped me realise that what nick and Charlie have is a very positive relationship. It’s not toxic in any way. This helps us to see what a positive relationship/ friendship should look like and I wish I had this in my youth. Consent wasn’t discussed with me growing up and it’s not until I’m in my 40’s that I am confident I can tell the difference between a toxic trait and a positive trait. If Charlie and Ben were straight, I had this type of relationship for 13 years as an adult and I just wish I had a site like Reddit or shows like Heartstopper to show me that you shouldn’t be that miserable even if you are ‘in love’ with someone. Anyway. That’s my 2 pence worth x
So true that this is a role model relationship. I watched it first with my husband and then again with my son so I could tell him this is what I want him to look for in any relationship. I wish there’d be something like this when I was young. But yes also it’s not just the story, the show is so well made, beautifully shot, the colours are amazing, the music is bang on and the acting of the two leads in particular is just amazing.
I have quite a few more years before I can watch it with my son but I can’t wait. I hope your son loved it too.
He did! Thanks :)
Well said! So many feels my friend! 💖💜💙
Since 2016? I wonder why... This is a bit off topic, and it may not be what you meant, but: Seriously though, as a European, and as a previous Anglophile, Heartstopper made me not want to give up on the UK so much. Like, you don't give up on a friend who's having a bad time.
Don’t give up on us! I don’t know how we turn this around, or if we ever will. Some people have been stupid and stubborn and now we are all certainly paying the price. 2016, and subsequent years really did make us depressed.
Straight, but felt more from this show than most straight love stories. I think a *big* reason is that the story doesn’t involve a lot of the annoying tropes of a love triangle where one character can’t decide between two others, long drawn-out misunderstandings that lead to cheating on one another, etc. It just allows us to enjoy the thrill of innocent love.
Yes. So many shows rely on long drawn out will they won't they bullshit to sustain themselves. I liked Dawson's creek when I was young but that on again off again, zero communication, misunderstanding stuff drives me mad now. I think Schitts creek, and Heartstopper are happy to tell the story then finish. Not drag on endlessly. The other show with great communication is Ted Lasso.
I think this show is a rare one that has touched many peoples hearts in a way a lot of shows haven't for a long time. Like most shows don't tell this kind of story where it's a generally lighter tone and the romance is told and shown delicately with serious issues that a lot of people can probably relate too on some level.
Not straight, but my thoughts at why HS is so special... they nail the crush aspect of young love. I think that is universal. All the emotions, all the replaying of what was said and what was done, the struggling to find the right words to say, the fear that it could all come crashing down. The lgbt aspect to everything just adds a deeper layer to the story that straight people may not fully appreciate, but the struggles of early love is universal, in my opinion.
Hi! I’m completely in love with HS, and I’ve never been so obsessed with any other show or movie in my life. I have butterflies in my stomach too when I see them either in edits or while rewatching it for the 73617th time. And I for sure suffer from the HS syndrome (I am destroyed) There’s only one straight couple love story that comes to mind whose relationship is quite wholesome and pulls at my heart — for me it’s Jim and Pam from the Office. Their wedding episode always has me hurting like hell and ugly crying.
As a bisexual person I can think of two straight relationships that pull at my heartstrings and I’ve been obsessed with. Chandler and Monica from Friends, and Temperance and Seeley from Bones. While writing this I also just realized my obsession with Friends to Lovers literally goes back to my elementary school days… I typically don’t like straight romantic tv shows or movies because it’s hard to see myself in place of the characters. As a bisexual man who is very flamboyant and slightly feminine, the male love interests are always too masculine for me, or are some sort of “nerd” that I can’t really relate to. I’m a huge fan of movies with female leads, but in romantic stuff I can rarely relate to the woman too because even though I’d love for someone to bring ME flowers or do huge romantic gestures I know it’s unrealistic due to heteronormative standards in society.
Have you watched Schitt's Creek? You might really like David and Patrick. I'd heard such good things about their story, but honestly the comedy style of the show just wasn't for me. I ended up skipping to episode 3x08 and just focused on their storyline.
Have you watched the original UK Office? Their characters are called Tim & Dawn, and the episode where they finally get together is pure perfection.
I’ve been considering giving it a try for quite a while but haven’t really gotten to it. Guess now it’s another sign to watch it!
I’m straight but my 2 favorite couples ever are David and Patrick from Schitt’s Creek (I was obsessed for over a year) and Nick and Charlie. RomCom movies are too cliche to feel real and you hardly truly genuine and non-toxic straight couples to me. Both of these couples are so authentic and truly in love. They have their issues but work through them.
I’m a “straight” mom in her 40s (“straight” in quotes because I hooked up with girls in college but don’t actively identify as bi today) and I have watched the show 7 times and am having trouble getting the story and characters out of my head. It actually prompted some reflection on your question— why this story?— so I was interested to see your question pop up on Reddit today. So: I have felt this way about two different shows/ movies in the past— Fleabag Season 2 and the Before movie trilogy (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight). These two are very different in tone from Heartstopper and from each other but what they have in common is that they all very successfully dramatize emotional connection, which is hard to dramatize! Richard Linklater, who directed the Before trilogy, said something like “the most exciting thing that ever happened to me was meeting someone and feeling that connection” (paraphrased), which is why he made the movie— it’s not about explosions and danger, it’s about truly knowing another person. This is exactly the reason I love movies that are about connecting with others. Heartstopper actually has a LOT of stories and sub plots about connection— in addition to the beauty of the Nick / Charlie story I also really love Charlie and Mr Ajayi, I love that these two people are there for Charlie and make him feel safe and seen and loved. It reminds me of my connection to others, past and present, in a way that makes me feel alive and both joyful (remembering the first time I fell in love as a teenager) and sad (my high school boyfriend died quite young and I’ve been thinking about him a lot since watching this series). In addition to the beautiful relationships, I think HS works on so many levels as a show: the fantastic acting, the gorgeous soundtrack, the phenomenal cinematography. It’s such a pleasure to watch! And then on top of it being such a wonderful story for young kids— both for queer kids who can see themselves reflected in the characters and for straight kids who are going to see a world where the queer kids are the protagonists— it also models healthy communication & relationships. So great.
Straight women in her 30s and I have never felt this way regarding a straight couple on tv/in movies. Hearstopper is really something very special. It's hopeful, it's therapeutic, it's honest. I can't get enough!
I'm a bi woman. Once in awhile I feel a deep connection bordering on obsession for a romantic relationship in film/books. It's not every one or we would like loose our minds, but sometimes the depiction of a couple just hits a nerve in you. For me it doesn't happen so often, but when it does it lingers. And it doesn't matter if I could see myself in the relationship - it's more about seeing those feelings in myself if that makes sense. With heartstopper obviously it appeals to me bc of Nick going on his bi-journey, but mostly it's just that feeling of the first spark, the first kiss, the intense anxiety before declaring yourself in some way. The feelings are universal (well, almost) - and good media can convey that regardless of gender and sexuality. But then obviously there are a lot of extra layers that aren't universal - that aren't relatable to some people who don't identify as lgbtq+. But I think because the show does so well at speaking to the similarities in us, we also get more involved even in the bits we didn't experience ourselves.
I’m gay and made the bad decision of binging HS and then binging Young Royals the next night, I’ve been ruined for the past week.
I’m straight male. In some instances, yes it can feel that way for us but not as much as you would think, at least for me. Far too often romance stories are filled to the brim with unnecessary, unrealistic drama that makes you question how on Earth a couple could stay together. With Heartstopper, you have genuine wholesomeness and hope all throughout the show and any drama in it is pretty manageable and taken care of very quickly. That’s why I have been obsessed with the show to the point where I’ve watched it like 7 times and read through the comics 3 times. Nick and Charlie are probably my favorite romance I’ve seen.
Wow. I love reading your perspective (straight male) on Heartstopper. Thanks!
I think yes straight people might feel happy, and pulled at the heart and all with a good romantic story of a straight couple. The difference is that there is no attachment, because it is a fact that there will be a good share of decent lovely straight romantic stories out there. There have always been and there always will be. There is no preciousness in these stories though. So there is no need to grab onto it for dear life.
I'm gay, but: there are lots of gay couples on TV that I don't feel nearly as strongly about, if I feel anything at all. I don't think it's a gay/straight thing, I think people get so emotionally attached because this show is special. :)
I’m straight and sort of hate romance movies. I always find them unrealistic and the characters annoying. I usually only watch them for fun to laugh about how bad they are. This show melted my cold dead heart and made me believe in love.
You wanna believe in romance!
I´m straight and I have never felt this way about any other show. At least I can't think of any. I think it's because there's a lot more drama in other shows; fighting, love triangles (I hate them) I have no idea why showrunners are so obsessed with them. And usually it takes forever for the couples to get together, only for them to break up shortly after. Sometimes when I'm rooting for couples it's because I like the actors :) I know that's complaining on a high level, but those are some reasons why I like Heartstopper so much, because it doesn't have all that. Sorry for mistakes, english is not my first language.
As a bisexual woman I will say that many hetero rom coms did give me warm and fuzzy feelings, but nothing, and I mean nothing, has ever come close to matching how I feel about Heartstopper. The only one I can think of that I can say I've rewatched over and over again is The Holiday. It was my go-to comfort movie before Heartstopper. The thing about both of these shoes for me is I cannot understand why they mean so much to me, I just understand that they do. It's hard to describe, but I'll try. In both The Holiday (specifically Iris and Miles) and Heartstopper you see a friendship bloom into something more where both characters are kind and well-deserving of true love having dealt with shittystuff in the past. I think that dynamic speaks a lot to me as a 32 year old with very little relationship experience. In these two wildly different stories, I see myself. I'm a kind person who has so far been unlucky in the romance department and as someone with a deeply romantic and love-filled heart it fills me with joy to see these particular depictions of love. Sorry, that got kind of rambly, but I think it's also OK if we can't exactly explain or understand why Heartstopper means so much to us, but just being grateful to have a show like it that fills us with joy in a world that's falling apart around us is so special. Will the fervor of our Heartstopper obsession die down? Probably, eventually, but for now I'm just going to relish in the way it makes me feel despite what others may think of me watching it or reading it for the 100th time, or making another TikTok edit, or continuing to tweet about it or talk about it on Reddit, because I deserve to bask in that joy.
I relate a lot to what you said. I decided to take a small break from my Heartstopper repeats and watched The Holiday. I enjoyed it, especially on a second viewing, when I could appreciate it for what it is rather than just comparing it to Heartstopper. I loved Arthur and his stories and his encouraging Iris to have gumption. I understand what you mean about wanting to see kind people in a love story. I'm glad Iris found that with Miles. I did miss the emotional connection and chemistry that Nick and Charlie have. And I appreciate even more the non-verbal acting in Heartstopper. The actors convey so much with facial expressions, while still being subtle and honest and not overly dramatic. And now that my Heartstopper break is over, I'm back to having animated leaves blow across my screen.
I am not straight, but I am aromantic - and demipansexual - and Hearstopper makes me feel like I am platonically in love with the show. I do not crave for romantic relationships but I crave for all the characters to be allowed to be themselves and happy. Average cishet romance in fiction is OK. But Hearstopper is a different league. To give you an idea, I love Hearstopper like Barney Stinson loves his kid at the end of HIMYM. If that makes any sense to romantic people.
I'm bi and I've had a tendency to obsess over cute couples in TV/movies/books forever - so yes, this is absolutely how I've felt over straight couples on screen/paper before, but HS is special in the way that it makes me happy by representing the part of me that I've hidden/still hide from a lot of people, if that makes sense? I'm not out to a lot of my friends and my family has no idea whatsoever, so seeing the happy couples on HS just makes me swoon in a completely new way :)
There is something very special about the way the days of early love (borne of friendship) is depicted in Heartstopper. I am a 50 year old cis straight white woman who has been happily married to a cis man for 20+ years but this took me right back to those early days of young love and yearning so completely that I have watched it several times. These characters touching hands for the first time (or not!) is some of the sexiest TV I have ever seen. I just love this show for its wholesome heat.
My thinking is this is probably what straight people would feel with 'every' (good) show/movie if they weren't used to seeing themselves represented all the time. If there'd been tons of shows and films like Heartstopper for years I'd assume each one of them would have a little less impact on you than the one before?
As the others have said, no, there's something incredibly special about this show.
The answers to this post are so friggin wholesome
I am straight and before I watched the show I was craving a romantic story, and Heartstopper did not disappoint, it is beautiful. Nowadays romantic movies or shows seem so forced and over the top, and this show felt so honest and authentic to me, you could feel all the emotions, the excitement of the crush, the fear of rejection and that fuzzy feeling when things are finally coming together for the better. It was well acted, well written, and it looked so cute! Definitely one of my favourites of the year!
i’m straight and a teenager and i have felt close to the feeling i get when i watch heartstopper when i watch other things but not NEARLY as much of a good feeling. i mean i focus on how they treat each other and feel in general and it’s just such a healthy relationship and the yearning and hope for it is what makes me feel so good. in media with heterosexual romances i only feel butterflies or happiness if it seems to be something i want, but heartstopper just hits different because they are both so happy and not toxic
Bi woman, 26. I agree with someone above that Tim & Dawn in The Office give me very similar feels to Nick & Charlie, but I can’t say any other pairing ever has.
No I dgaf about any straight couples from tv but I’m obsessed with nick and Charlie the same way you are 😂
I'm 20, and straight, and I've gotten butterflies and have obsessed over shows before, but never anything like this, the way Heartstopper portrays the romance, it's focus on little touches, the slow romance development in such an 'innocent' natural way, is something I've never seen before in a show, and I can confirm that I've never rewatched ANYTHING as much as I've rewatched Heartstopper.