4 Reasons to Drop Everything and Watch “Heartstopper”
By Christine Siamanta Kinori
In just a few weeks, Heartstopper has stopped us all, with its heartwarming coming of age romance between Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring. Here are 4 reasons you need to drop everything and watch the show.
The Cute Animation
Although this may seem like the typical boy meets boy love story, Heartstopper has a unique way of portraying these heart-fluttering moments between the characters. In the spirit of the Webtoon the story is based off, there are tiny, animated stars and lightning bolts that occasionally appear across the screen during different interactions. According to the director of the show, Euros Lyn, they added the graphics because they wanted to elevate the emotion and the intensity of those moments, give them another quality, and narrate something that’s happening within the minds of the characters. That was a great idea and viewers can relate because they remember what those moments were like for them.
Nick’s Coming-Out Arc
It took Nick a while to realize his feelings for Charlie and act on them. Charlie has been out for a long time, but Nick has just started defining his sexuality and what that means to him. The show wonderfully portrays the coming-out arc. Nick is scared but he doesn’t run away from his feelings- instead he asks questions and tries to find answers. Throughout his journey, Charlie is supportive and is willing to give him his time to figure things out. He doesn’t push him to come out or begrudge him. They openly talk to each other about their fears, deal with homophobia and embark on the journey together. It was also so endearing to see how Nick comes out to his mom when he is ready.
Charlie’s Support System
It was refreshing to see that Charlie has sturdy support from Nick and a circle of friends. Even though Nick is discovering his sexuality, he is still there for Charlie, and he is focused on getting closer to him and ready to defend him against bullies. Charlie’s friends have his back and will come to his defense even when it means putting themselves on the bully’s radar. They worry about his new relationship and are protective of him. I like that they stood up and fought back. It was satisfying seeing them take their power back. He also has an openly gay teacher who allows him to stay in his art classroom during lunch break when it all gets overwhelming.
Leaning into Nostalgia
As we watch Charlie and Nick feel like their hearts are about to burst just by sitting so close to each other, we can’t help but remember our own adolescence. Do you remember your first crushes, first kisses, first flings, and the first time you held hands? The good old days when we were 16 and we agonized over every swoon-worthy milestone in our relationships.
If you are looking for a feel-good LGBTQ+ show to watch, you should make time to watch this sweet, heartwarming teen romance.
About the Author:
Christine Siamanta Kinori grew up in a little village in Kenya known as Loitoktok near the border of Kenya and Tanzania. All she wanted to do when she grew up was to explore the world. Her curiosity led her to join Nairobi University to pursue a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. She later got a job with an amazing travel magazine Nomad Africa which gave her the opportunity to explore Africa. She also writes for numerous travel websites about Africa and tries to create a new narrative in the media about our aesthetic continent.
Christine claims to have somewhat unhealthy addiction to TV and reading, as it is a fun way to keep herself occupied during the long journeys for her travel writing. She is also a believer of letting people be their beautiful selves. To her, love is love and it is the greatest gift we have as humans.
