Heartstopper: Honesty As Conflict

[@sadfaery]

What you're saying about how this show models healthy communication is exactly what I've been saying about it since it first came out, and I've been working on developing a curriculum for LGBTQ+ youth using this show to teach about healthy relationship skills and friendship skills and primary prevention of dating violence and bullying (two very different things).

[@anony-missy]

It’s such a breath of fresh air when characters are actually allowed to do the thing you’re screaming at the screen for them to do. Heartstopper allows the characters to have flaws and screw up in their interpersonal relationships in realistic ways (eg Nick accepting the date with Imogen, Tao’s overprotectiveness, Charlie not telling Tao about Nick etc.), but then it lets them actually make up and make it right rather than digging themselves into deeper and deeper holes. I am so grateful for that.

[@floppsymoppsy5969]

"Cringe may be cringe, but cringe gets sh*t done!" Best advice of the century everyone! Listen up and open your ear holes.

[@travelbridges3513]

So, I am a new subscriber who admires and agrees with your take on Heartstopper S1 here. May I put in an encouraging word for a follow-up video on S2? I will honestly be checking back here quite a bit and will schedule time to watch it and break out a special snack like nachos or something to accompany my viewing when you publish it. Just so you know what goes on out here when someone's opinion is enthusiastically anticipated. Wait, I am sure you do this for other creators' work from time to time yourself. So you know. Yeah!

[@adrianneceleste5995]

As a fan of both the Graphic Novels and this show, this video is great analysis for how the use of realism and good communication can create a great form of media to learn from. Can't wait when season 2 comes out next month and I don't want to spoil you but there will be more broader materials that will be covered from the source material to the future seasons.

[@believer773]

I'm a certified old gay that always has avoided most gay media for the last 30 yrs because....trauma. My daughter had me watch Heartstopper and these sweet boys and their story literally healed parts of my gay youth soul.

[@lotrdeana17]

I love this! Thank you! Will you be doing season 2?

[@Aeolusdallas]

I've been trying to pin down for months but made this show feel so special yours is the best explanation I have heard to date

[@stephaniel2850]

I'm really late to this video since I was super late on the Heartstopper train in general, but just had to comment because I literally couldn't agree more with pretty much every single point you made! Obviously nothing can be for everyone and that's fine, everyone's entitled to their opinions, but it does irritate me quite a bit when people dismiss Heartstopper as "soooo cringe" and/or nothing but fluff. Because I genuinely find it to be very beautifully written and SO refreshing for all the reasons you went through, and the tenderness and positivity with which the story is framed is a deliberate *choice* , not a symptom of it having no substance! I honestly find it really impressive the way Alice Oseman managed to write characters that could pretty easily have crossed the line into being presented as SO perfect that it would feel offputting, but yet they never do cross that line. Particularly with Nick, he's so impressive with his communication skills and persisting through difficult conversations that it could be easy for him to come across as "unrealistically perfect", but really he's not. He's an absolute sweetheart and IS very emotionally mature, but he definitely does still make mistakes and feels very human. He, and most of the other characters, just happen to be very GOOD humans, and it makes me sad that that's considered "unrealistic". I genuinely think that so much of the "it's so cringe" reaction is just people not being able to handle as much sincerity as the show gives us. We're so used to everything being couched in so much irony and cynicism these days that some people see kids being honest and sincere and kind with each other, and modeling healthy relationships even through rough times, and their reaction is "ewww this is too cheesy!"

[@showmoke]

Great review - possibly one of the best ever for this show! Regarding your comments about the subtle hints of any reference to or showing of any sexual encounters by the protagonists, we are clearly made aware that Charlie and Nick HAVE been having it off so to speak as Nick quite clearly states in the final episode on the beach scene (and I quote): 'isn't that already established the last 10 times that we made out?' It can't be made much clearer than that!

[@asherikamichaela8425]

Well, tbf, they haven't gone any further than kissing. This fact was made explicitly clear while they're in Paris in the second season. It's noted in the books that they still haven't until near the end of the fifth volume around the time that Nick is uni hunting. Their friends had made certain assumptions, but he outright states that their first time wasn't until a few weeks prior to the conversation where it comes up, and it hadn't even gotten to the point of penetration. That's when Elle and Tara drag him to the pharmacy for "essentials" as a sort of very embarrassing (for Nick) rite of passage. Essentials they do, in fact, Nick and Charlie end up using once Nick gets back from the tour at the end of the book. They're nowhere near that point in the show yet. 😄

[@aspenrookcole7520]

Literally my new favorite KZbinr.

[@colinwinterbottomphotograp9000]

Thanks for insightful comments. I’ve always hated the Manufactured Miscommunication Trope!! (I wanted to love Broadchurch given it’s rave reviews, but it built entirely on one character after another ‘biting their tongue’ until their lives were ruined…) Any thoughts on Young Royals, Aaron?

[@tocotronicon]

The fact that they don't drag out a simple miscomunication for 10 episodes is so refreshing tbh🤣and not seeing anything more raunchy than a kiss on a teen show is also nice. Sorry, but i don't need nick looking at pornhub and rubbing one out, thanks i'm good. Now i can't wait for august, and season 2💗💗💗

[@RoryBecktar]

Aaron makes another banger of a video! I am not surprised! Also I love the take that tao is a redeemed villain you've convinced me

[@NerdsofaFeatherOfficial]

34:05 WAIT, AARON, DON'T HAVE THAT OPAQUE WHITE LIQUID IN A WINE GLASS AND HOLD IT UP PROUDLY, AARON!

[@AaronLockman]

The contents of that wineglass are a matter between me and the Lord

[@broddybounce]

Watched the first minute of your vid ... and my intended act of quickly moving on, well, your approach and content, I couldn't help but rubberneck. Well done, my friend - you've definitely hit on some excellent points, some of which I knew but hadn't made sense of, and some I hadn't even thought of (or repressed?) - and all done with your lovely wink and a nod. Again, well done.

[@tallactordude]

Truly an excellent analysis of this show. I like some of those other shows that trade on the misunderstanding trope, but you’re right on the nose in saying that the lack of that trope is one of the things that sets Heartstopper apart. And that lack allows it to do things that the other shows can’t do.

[@concentricemily]

Thanks for this video! I have shared with my other friends who love Heartstopper

[@hlaurino]

Great video and analysis

[@moi1151]

Wait till you learn about the Thai BL’s… you’ll be all-consumed as they’re NOTHING like anything on TV in the western world: TharnType, 2Gether, Moonlight Chicken, Not Me Series, Together With You, I told Sunset about you… omg. They will make you cry.

[@piper998877]

Great job. About the "sex thing," I always felt shows like "Euphoria" with all the sex, drugs, and dysfunctional relationships is way more unrealistic than the "Heartstopper" crew. I also think they portray Nick as more pansexual or even asexual than bisexual. After all, he's been changing clothes with rugby lads for at least two years, and seemingly none of them caught his eye. Finally, I simply think that some motivations--especially seen in the novels--were cut due to budget, time, or reorganization.