On Friday, Netflix releases the highly-anticipated adaptation of Heartstopper.
When Heartstopper begins, we are introduced to Charlie Spring (Joe Locke), a Year 10 student at Truham Boys School. His friend group consists of obligatory straight friend Tao (William Gao), trans friend Elle (Yasmin Finney), and the quiet Isaac (Tobie Donovan).
On the first day of school, he’s sat next to Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), a 16-year-old Year 11 rugby player who is assumed to be straight. They strike up a friendship and Nick invites him to join the rugby team. As their friendship deepens, Nick begins to question his own sexuality and finding who he is.
Meanwhile Charlie, who thinks he’s just fallen for the straight guy, has been having secret library rendezvous with Ben Hope (Sebastian Croft).
As the series unfolds, we also see Elle settling into her new all-girls school, having transferred after enduring transphobia at Truham. Luckily, she finds the company of Tara (Corinna Brown) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell), who help her realise that she might have feelings for Teo, who is himself struggling with the breaking of their friendship group.
Throughout the 8 episodes of the first season, writer Alice Oseman, who penned and illustrated the graphic novels, brings her characters to life on a journey from page to screen that fans of the books will really enjoy. The first season of this coming-of-age story deals with topics such as first crushes, sexuality, and dealing with the tricky period of adolescence where growing up requires change.
The casting is absolutely sublime with every actor shining in their roles, but it’s of course Joe Locke and Kit Connor who deliver the story that fans have come to see and their onscreen chemistry is undeniable.
Heartstopper is the best teen show of the year and is a faultless adaptation that truly will make your heart stop.
5 Stars.
Heartstopper premieres Friday on Netflix
