About a year ago, I opened Netflix and saw a trailer for Heartstopper– a modern love story featuring 2 teenage boys. Even though my best friend had recommended the series, I didn’t even bother watching the first episode- it seemed cheesy and boring. However, a few months later I was in a library and happened to come across the comics that the TV show is based on. I picked it up, and from the very first page, I was sucked into the world of Heartstopper. And as much as I love the series, I can’t help but wonder where it all started. I did some digging and I can confidently say I am now even more of a fan than I was before.
In 2014 an English, gender fluid author by the name of Alice Oseman published a book titled Solitaire. In this novel, the readers meet Tori Spring, her brother Charlie Spring, and their friends and family. Throughout the book, Charlie and his boyfriend, Nick Nelson, appear as supporting characters. According to an article written by Netflix, Alice kept thinking about the couple and decided to write their backstory.
In 2016, Oseman created different social media profiles on sites like WebToon. They posted weekly mini comics that showed how Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring met and fell in love. Readers also learned more about Charlie’s mental illness and the bullying he faced after being accidentally outed by his best friend. Oseman was able to paint a beautiful picture of what it’s like to be young, gay and in love without the whole plot revolving around the character’s sexuality. I believe this is what makes Hearstopper so popular. Because of the response, Alice turned the mini comics into graphic novels and published them to be read as books. In 2022, Oseman worked with Netflix to bring the story of Nick and Charlie to life. They were able to create a beautiful adaptation of the story that fans love just as much as the comics (which is pretty rare).
Although the talented actors who play Nick and Charlie love their roles, they have not had it easy being in the spotlight. Kit Connor, who plays Nick Nelson in the TV series, was very heavily criticized for playing a bisexual character when some assumed he was straight. Connor (who was 18 at the time), posted a tweet to publicly announce that he is bisexual, and showed his frustration by stating “some of you missed the point of the show”. Joe Locke, who plays Charlie Spring, has been criticized for his looks, and people have made comments inferring that he was poorly casted (both statements I very much disagree with).
As of now, there will be two more volumes of the Heartstopper series, and at least one more season of the Heartstopper show. Fans of the show who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community believe that the representation and accuracy of Heartstopper is what makes it so special. For example, Nick Nelson has to continuously remind people that’s he’s not straight or gay, he’s, “bi, actually”. Bisexual fans have said that they love this iconic line, because it represents the consistent struggle of reminding people that bisexuality exists. Overall, I think I speak for many fans when I say thank you to Alice Oseman for giving fans the world of Nick and Charlie.