Heartstopper (2022) Review: First Love Without Cynicism

Is Heartstopper worth watching?

Yes. Heartstopper is a tender, funny and generous coming-of-age romance that treats a queer teenage love story with the joy and seriousness it deserves, and it is easy to see why it became a comfort watch for so many. Joe Locke and Kit Connor have a lovely, natural chemistry, and Alice Oseman’s writing captures the awkwardness of first love without mocking it. The reservation is that its gentleness is deliberate: conflict is often resolved quickly, and viewers who prefer messier, darker teen drama may find its world a little too kind.

What is Heartstopper about?

Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) is a thoughtful, anxious student at a British boys’ grammar school who has already been through a hard time since coming out. When he is seated next to Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), a popular, good-natured rugby player in the year above, an unlikely friendship begins, and Charlie quickly finds himself falling for someone he assumes could never feel the same. Around them is a close circle of friends, played by William Gao, Yasmin Finney, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, Tobie Donovan and others, each dealing with their own questions of identity and belonging.

Heartstopper was created and written by Alice Oseman, adapting her own webcomic and graphic novels, and it is a British drama in English made for Netflix. This review covers the complete series: three seasons, 24 episodes in all, released between 2022 and 2024, with Netflix planning a feature film to close the story.

Softness as a statement

Heartstopper’s most radical choice is its tone. For decades, stories about gay teenagers were dominated by shame, bullying and tragedy. This series acknowledges those realities, but it refuses to be defined by them. Instead, it lingers on the small, electric details of a crush: a shared glance, a text message rewritten a dozen times, the thrill of being chosen. Short episodes of around half an hour keep the rhythm light, and the visual flourishes borrowed from the comics, animated leaves and sparks drifting across the screen, make feelings visible in a way that suits the source.

Oseman’s writing is especially good at uncertainty. Nick’s slow realisation about his own feelings is handled with patience rather than as a single dramatic revelation, and the series treats bisexuality and questioning with rare care.

A young cast who feel like real friends

Joe Locke makes Charlie’s anxiety and hope feel real without turning him into a victim, and Kit Connor gives Nick a warmth and confusion that are genuinely touching. Their scenes together have an easy intimacy that carries the whole show. The ensemble is just as important: Yasmin Finney brings quiet strength, and the group’s friendships, arguments and loyalty give the series a broader view of adolescence than a single romance could. Olivia Colman’s brief, warm appearances as Nick’s mother are a bonus.

Where the sweetness wears thin

The same gentleness that makes Heartstopper special also limits it. Villains are thinly drawn, some subplots are resolved almost as soon as they begin, and the supporting characters’ stories sometimes feel sketched rather than explored. Later seasons take on heavier subjects, including mental health and eating disorders, and while these are handled responsibly, the shift in tone can feel abrupt against the show’s buoyant style. The dialogue also occasionally tips into message-giving.

Who should watch Heartstopper?

It is ideal for teenagers and young adults, LGBTQ+ viewers looking for a story that centres joy, and anyone in the mood for comfort television. At three short seasons, it is an easy binge. It is broadly suitable for younger teens, though it features homophobic bullying, and later seasons deal with self-harm, anxiety and disordered eating, which some families may want to discuss.

Two British follow-ups:

• Derry Girls, a louder, funnier portrait of teenage friendship with just as much affection for its characters.
• Adolescence as a far darker counterpoint, a hard-hitting look at the pressures British teenagers face today.

The verdict

Heartstopper is a gentle triumph, a teen romance that finds drama in kindness and makes a joyful queer love story feel both ordinary and extraordinary. Its softness occasionally smooths over complexity, but its warmth, performances and emotional honesty make it one of the most rewatchable British dramas of recent years.

Rating: 4.5/5