Last April, Netflix’s adaptation of Alice Oseman’s popular LGBTQ webcomic, Heartstopper, took the world by storm. In a teen drama landscape full of sex, drugs, and murder, Heartstopper stood out among its peers as a sweet, feel-good coming-of-age series chronicling the love story of two teenage boys. Yes, there’s drama and teen angst, but Heartstopper Season 1 wisely chose to center the love story instead of the trauma that populates many stories that feature LGBTQ characters.

The second season continues this while deepening the character development of our leads, Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke), and expands the stories of their supporting cast. In Season 2, Heartstopper becomes a fully realized world.

Previously On Heartstopper…

Season one of Heartstopper adapted elements from the first two volumes of the webcomic. Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) is a quiet, anxious teenager navigating school as an openly gay teenager. After being forcibly outed a year before the show starts, Charlie faces bullying daily from his classmates. One of them, Ben Hope (Sebastian Croft), has struck up a secret relationship with Charlie but verbally and emotionally abuses him at the slightest inconvenience. When Charlie meets Nick (Kit Connor), he instantly develops a crush, but Nick is straight as far as he knows.

As it turns out, Nick can’t deny his growing feelings and attraction to Charlie. Watching the romance between the lead characters blossom is just as adorable on the show as in the comic. The show sells the growing relationship between Charlie and Nick due to the chemistry between Locke and Connor. Not only do they perfectly embody these characters, but you can’t help but smile every time the two are on screen together.

You can read my full thoughts on season 1 here.

Heartstopper Season 2

The second season picks up soon after the end of season one. Charlie and Nick are officially boyfriends, and many of their close friends and family members are aware and supportive. Nick has realized that he’s bisexual and struggles with how and when to tell people about his sexual orientation and relationship with Charlie. He must also contend with the arrival of his vindictive older brother, David (Jack Barton), and face the truth about his largely absent father.

Charlie is on top of the world. His toxic dynamic with Ben is behind him, and he and Nick are completely infatuated with each other. His paradise begins to fray at the edges when it becomes clear that his new relationship is starting to interfere with his schoolwork. His parents aren’t happy and forbid him from seeing Nick until he catches up in his classes. As the season progresses, it is apparent that Charlie’s past trauma has left lasting scars that he must face before moving forward.

Charlie and Nick’s friends are contending with their issues as well. Tao (William Gao) and Elle (Yasmin Finney) continue to explore the possibility of becoming more than just friends. Tara (Corinna Brown) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) are on the verge of exchanging that monumental four-letter word but contend with parental disapproval and homophobia.

The show even begins to expand on the characters of Imogen (Rhea Norwood) and Isaac (Tobie Donovan). Imogen was Nick’s doomed love interest in the first season; she finds herself in a relationship with Ben during the new season and is puzzled by his behavior toward Charlie and Nick. Isaac’s storyline sees him catch the eye of the gang’s classmate, James (Bradley Riches). Still, he comes to a realization about himself that changes his perspective on the relationships around him and whether or not he can see himself in one.  I’ll say right now that I look forward to what I hope is the continued exploration of Isaac’s story in the next season. His character has a unique perspective that is criminally underrepresented in media.

The World of Heartstopper Expands

One of the main strengths of the show’s second season is that the world seems more rounded and lived in. The cast has fully settled into their roles, and the supporting characters develop significantly. Yes, Charlie and Nick are still our leads, but I was more invested in Tao and Elle’s storyline at one point and desperate to see how it would resolve itself. I wanted to know what was happening with Darcy’s home life and how Tara would support her. Darcy’s secrets and evasiveness cause Tara to question their relationship, and Brown brings so much vulnerability and believability to this storyline. Edgell’s portrayal of the fun-loving Darcy, desperately trying to hide her pain, is so well done.

Donovan portrays Isaac as a more realized person on the cusp of a significant discovery about himself. He doesn’t view relationships and love as his friends do, and Donovan aptly portrays the internal struggle Isaac deals with over the season.

Connor’s portrayal of Nick is also elevated this season as Nick deals with his bullying from his older brother and the fact that his father isn’t very involved in their lives.

I can’t emphasize enough that all of these actors bring their A-game this season. If I had to pick MVPs of the season, it would be William Goa and Yasmin Finney. Toa’s characterization in season one was that he was very protective and hostile towards anyone threatening his friends. We get so much vulnerability and softness from the character this season that you can’t help but love him if you didn’t already.

Watching Finney portray Elle’s growth in herself and her art is also lovely. Elle finds a sense of community beyond her friends from school and fully embraces who she is. Finney brings such subtle confidence and strength to the role that it’s empowering to watch.

The story’s world also expands as we watch the gang gallivant across Paris, go to prom, and attend bonfire parties. There’s twice as much joy, friendship, and love this season.

Looking Ahead To Season 3

There’s a big Charlie storyline brewing for the next season. The show has carefully laid the groundwork for this since the debut installment, and it’s stated plainly during this run. Those familiar with the webcomic will know precisely what storyline I’m talking about, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the show addresses it. It will also be interesting to see how Nick navigates the situation.

The season also leaves Tao and Elle, Tara and Darcy, and the character of Isaac and Imogen all in interesting situations that are rife for exploration next season.

Jenny Walser, as Tori Spring, continues to be underutilized, in my opinion. For those who don’t know, Heartstopper is a spin-off of show creator and executive producer Alice Oseman’s debut novel, Solitaire. Tori Spring is the protagonist of that story. I hope the show can utilize her beyond her supportive big sister role and make her a more realized character within the Heartstopper story.

The young adults aren’t the only ones finding love this season. Fisayo Akinade returns as the supportive Mr. Ajayi, and Nima Taleghani joins the cast as the aggressive and blunt Mr. Farouk. Without spoiling too much for those who haven’t read the webcomic, the characters find romance themselves.

Heartstopper is a shining example of how a show’s second season should deepen the character development, immersion and elevate the material to the next level. The show’s world becomes fully realized throughout this season. Fans of the first season will love it.

Heartstopper Season 2 streams on Netflix beginning August 3, 2023. Catch up on the comic over on Webtoons.