HEARTSTOPPER: WHOLESOME OR PROBLEMATIC?

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

Thank you to Zyro for sponsoring this video! Build a website like mine! Get an exclusive discount + 3 free months with the purchase of a yearly plan. Use code SAVY or click here: zyro.com/special/savywritesbooks

[@patiencekillz]

i am an imogen defender! she likes a boy, it’s OKAY. she had the guts to ask out her crush, that’s actually so brave?

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

YES! i related to imogen a lot. i was always the one like "hey wanna go out?" with no hesitation. i think people see confident teen girls as annoying

[@OberonOZ]

@@SAVYWRITESBOOKS also, I think there was a fair amount of pressure from "the lads" on her to ask Nick out. No doubt she wanted to, and she certainly seemed to have her own little crush on him, but Im not sure she would ever have done anything about it. It could quite easily have stayed a little fantasy crush :) I also thought her talking to Tara and Darcy - while a bit clueless - was also very on-brand for her. She was obviously insecure about it and was blowing their relationship up a bit so people would see why she was asking! I loved the way that Alice Oseman resolved her and Nick's relationship. Sometimes I think Nick is maybe a little too perfect, but his speech to Imogen in the park was just beautiful. Her response to Harry was an equally classy response to Nick laying himself bare to her emotionally. She let him off the hook beautifully and gave Harry and his mates nothing to come back at Nick for.

[@SketchLove]

I honestly didn't like imogen at first because I thought they were building her up to be an antagonist (the way she said she's an ally rubbed me the wrong way, her hanging out with harry, hell I honestly thought she faked her dog dying to get sympathy points, felt bad when I realized I was wrong) but when I realized she didn't have any ill intentions I realized I miss understood her character and felt relieved that she wasnt lying about being an ally.

[@purplekitten6637]

Normally I really like confident female characters who are upfront about who they are interested in but I feel that Imogen was too insistent and coming on too strong. It was clear that Nick wasn't interested and was uncomfortable with the advances.

[@gumbopie]

Imogen took no for an answer with grace and dignity, though it must have hurt to be rejected even as gently as Nick did it. And she ran cover for Nick when his bros predictably got nosy about their "date." She protected him, even though he had rejected her. I think that's impressive. She's a good one.

[@TinyGhosty]

Imogen also smiles when she sees Nick leave with Charlie during the finale! She handled being rejected with grace and was happy to see them happy!! What a mature queen.

[@onthemetro410]

Regarding people criticizing the show for being too tame: This is what happens when about 99% of shows aimed at teenagers are about the supernatural, superheros, or over sexualized addicts... They forget that, when you're a teenager, having a friend who has their first partner and now they kind of don't hang out with you as often is the equivalent of finding out your BFF is actually a vampire slayer. There's nothing wrong with a good high stakes drama aimed at the YA crowd, but regular high school life is high stakes enough as it is ... you don't always need to manufacture MORE drama.

[@charlie2.048]

Perfect take.

[@torquedawg1004]

This! As someone who’s around Charlie’s age, I tend to stick to content not exactly aimed at my demographic like kids cartoons and never really branched out to YA stuff because I feel like a lot of it relies on shock value and being as griddy as possible and as a teenager, I can say that my life is *nothing* like that. I get that those type of shows aren’t aiming for authenticity, but that just makes me resonate with those stories less. I can be easily gripped by good characters without it being some kind of supernatural end-of-the-world scenario. I also *love* stories that show the magic in the menial and I think Heartstopper perfectly shows the awkward giddiness you get when you hang out with people that you love, which (at the risk of sounding cheesy) I think is a magical feeling in itself.

[@karoliinalehtinen6701]

I think it's especially gross to demand that young actors, who are still teenagers, have the same sexual orientation as their characters, like so many people at that age haven't already discovered they are queer, or aren't ready to come out, or are still questioning their orientation and testing out different labels etc. Even more gross to go and demand them to explain their sexuality. People get a grip.

[@angelaholmes8888]

I totally agree with you 💯

[@shannonmitchell167]

Also, Kit has said he knows what his sexuality is and he's comfortable with it but it is private and doesn't feel like he owes the world an explanation. I said YES! People aka strangers are weird and possessive of actors and it's creepy AF.

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

i completely agree! i wasn't ready to come out until 24 even though i was very involved in lgbtq media/groups/etc

[@kdnu27]

The show is literally about taking one time to figure out sexuality, becoming comfortable with it, and coming out when ready. So people pressuring actors to reveal their sexuality didn't get the show's message at all. Not mentioning the fact that coming out to family and friends and to the whole world are entirely different things.

[@mysticdigital5936]

Queer actors should play queer characters. End of discussion.

[@tungstensmum1491]

“This show should be called HeartSTARTER because it made me feel alive again” - honestly me. I’ve watched the series twice this week and read all the books in one evening. And I can’t wait to watch it again. It gave me so many feels and I’m really having trouble processing why it hit me so strongly.

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

LOL yes!!

[@Grounded_Gravity]

I actually heard Kit Conner say in an interview that basically his coming out scene brought him back to his own in the past. He was pretty vague and distant with how he phrased it. To me it's pretty apparent that he's queer in some way and just doesn't wish to be super public about it yet. People REALLY need to back off. Also - I really dig your fiction reviews when they happen and find them refreshing! They're always welcome.

[@CraigUntlNytTym]

I don't think it's good to even speculate to any extent, at least outwardly.

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

thank you! and yeah i completely agree, people just need to let the dude be

[@elenadehaan6549]

he is public with it he even made a video on set where he said he was gay

[@ginacole4982]

Where is this interview?

[@82evene]

@@elenadehaan6549 I think that was actually Joe, at least I can't recall such a video of Kit. He made it rather clear he doesn't want to label himself. At last in public

[@zbcrazy]

Re the pressuring actors/authors to come out: It was confusing enough not even knowing what I was until I was 28, I can’t imagine the turmoil having strangers publicly speculating and demanding an answer at the same time! Especially after being raised Catholic, I didn’t even have vocabulary for my experience. “Straight? Ehh that doesn’t feel right. Lesbian? Nah, I like looking at girls but I also like looking at men. Bi? I could see myself falling in love regardless of gender, but thinking about anything physical makes me feel kinda gross. How can I like AND not like everyone equally? I want to want what everyone else does, but I’ve never even felt the things they all describe you’re supposed to feel??”

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

yeah it's wild to have strangers publicly speculate. people just need to respect him when he doesnt wanna talk about it

[@chimaxx]

Thanks. I was glad that your “problematic” issues had more to do with the external commentary than the series itself. I’m an old gay man who adored the series. I was glad that the production sought outa trans actor to play Elle and that they talked about making it a safe and inclusive place on both sides of the camera. I suspected that Joe Locke probably was actually gay, but I never sought the info out; your comment confirmed that for me. I didn’t and don’t care about how close the actors were to their characters beyond that. All I cared about was how authentic they came across on screen. And especially Kit Connor. Nick has the most emotionally complex evolution of any character in these eight episodes, and his face was a map of those complex emotions moment to moment. All the young actors were good, but he was astonishing. And poor Imogene. I felt sorry for her. She didn’t know all we knew about Nick and she was acting on the things she thought she knew about him and the sweet goodness of his personality we all could see in him. Yes, her “I’m not homophobic. I’m an ally” declaration in the lunchroom was awkward and I’ll-timed-but Darcy’s takedown of her would likely make her rethink when she deploys those words and when she should actually show that through her actions. She could well become a strong defender of these characters as the story develops. Certainly, the defensive shield she puts around Nick the day after their non-date makes her someone he will be able to confide in in the future. I’m a man in my 60s and I’ve become unexpectedly emotionally connected to this series in the couple of weeks since watching it. It gives me such joy though real tears. Yes, I wish such stories had been around in the 1970s when I could have used them, but I am so overjoyed that this now exists. Thank you for this review.

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

aww thank you so much for your comment!! i love seeing how newer media can resonate with other generations. i'm probably slightly older than the target audience of the show as well, since i'm almost 30, and the show is mostly targeted at teens, but honestly it felt a lot more reminiscent of my teen experience than a lot of other YA media. i thought the actors were fantastic too! t

[@OberonOZ]

@@SAVYWRITESBOOKS Im almost the same age as Steve Maxey, and this series has resonated very deeply with me. I have watched it now 4 times and read the webcomics and the first book (the others are on their way). There are so many great things about this show, the actors feel so believable and true to life. Partly I know its because theyre not your age Savy and just playing 15! But its also because they are so real. Isaac, Tao and Elle are beautifully portrayed and brilliantly written. Charlie and Nick just break my heart with love. Watching Nick's development is amazing. When he spontaneously hugs Charlie for the first time and then Charlie ultimately hugs him back, the look on Nick's face as he realises what is happening and he just has to leave is so wonderfully done. Kit Connor and Joe Locke should be SO proud of themselves and their work in this show. I think that it is partly helped by the casting of mostly queer actors so their lived experiences really inform their performance, but I definitely feel that the actors should have complete freedom (and freedom from pressure) to express their sexuality/gender identity in ways they feel comfortable. On a more personal note, I loved this review and will watch others with interest! :) All the best all the way from Australia :)

[@sr7046]

To summarize: Heartstopper isn't problematic, some of the fan community is just a little toxic

[@TRexRAWWR1]

After my girlfriend made me watch it I've had hearstopper brain rot for days. We even colour coded our outfits at one point to be yellow and blue

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

OMG adorable

[@TRexRAWWR1]

@@SAVYWRITESBOOKS Thank you!! She subscribed sfter this review :))

[@stephenkeoughan4994]

Good comment/thought re. the male bisexual character. I also like that it was not all about sex...this can be shown to 10 yr olds, teens, all ages. Also agree with the comments re Imogen. She mentions she is an ally when talking to Tara and I'm pretty sure she figured out Nick after his convo with her.

[@mlee_wood3778]

My 12 yr old niece recommended the show to me and I absolutely loved it. I ended up watching it in one day and buying the books

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

YESSS! i loved it

[@GXTripple3]

Comic/book spoilers here: It’s funny to me that people complain about the lack of drama and/or sex because Alice doesn’t actually shy away from that she just writes about it in a realistic and positive way. Later on we see Charlie’s mental health take a serious decline but it’s still written from the perspective of things being able to get better. Alice doesn’t glamorise eating disorders, anorexia or ocd. Another thing is that currently in the comics Nick and Charlie have been talking about going further together however Alice has already stated she won’t out explicit sex scenes in and she’s also writing it in a way that goes into Charlie’s body image issues and how that affects his relationship with Nick. That was a long rant sorry😅 I’m just tired of people acting like the series isn’t good because there’s no drama therefore it’s “not realistic” of anything I think it’s far more realistic compared to a lot of these other shows we have and I like that it takes a more positive outlook on life even when things get dark.

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

I completely agree! The show and comic both feel honest to the uncertainty of the teen experience rather that romanticizing and dramatizing things for the sake of the story

[@jamessule]

I absolutely fell for the video title. The problematic people being the small element of the Fandom who miss the point, seems about standard:D

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

lol that's how i felt. i've seen LOTS of arguments about this show on twitter though, so i thought i'd throw in my thoughts about it

[@zarahjames_]

Okay, so I kinda stalled watching this show for ages because I wasn't really watching much of anything in the past year, but had to stay home today and rest and finally started watching (and binging it) and I loved it so much. It makes me so happy to see this group of people grow into themselves, learn to navigate complications and just figuring stuff out.

[@KnightofEkron]

You're definitely right about the oversexualization and you're right about the outing, folks definitely need to stop.

[@pharmtec24]

I was super afraid to click this video because I love Heartstopper. I’m caught up on the web comic and I binged the show in one day. I was so afraid you were going to be critical. Praise Heartstopper in all its bubblegum perfection.

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

YES!!! i loved it so much. the "problematic" elements were mostly just the arguments i saw on twitter... but it's twitter, man

[@chinacetacean]

Your discussions of the 2 problematic topics were spot on. Thank you for a view that would make society a better place. No antagonizing speech helps

[@carlyhope]

I frankly don't understand the push for actors to only play to their sexuality/gender expression. I fully support it on a personal decision level - if it's the person's decision for their career. But as a rule imposed on what role can any given person play from the outside, it's a big no-no from me. If nothing else it's extremely limiting for especially the queer actors and also none of no one's business. I think it's way more important to have queer creators involved in queer stories than the sexuality of the actors playing out these stories.

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

i agree. i think it makes sense if you want to use that as an extra selling point, like "this show features an lgbtq cast too!" that's awesome. but it shouldn't be a requirement, because that leads to people pressuing others to come out

[@showmoke]

Yes, I agree. Being a bit cynical about it, one could argue that an actor who plays the part of a murderer should only be given the part if he/she is a murderer in real life! That's a stretch of course to press home a point, but you know what I mean! 😊

[@robbinova]

Heartstopper is honestly one of the best webcomics I’ve read and I always rave about it because it is such a great representation of how teens develop and find their way especially with Nick I think his journey was beautifully told. Loved the TV show as well and think they were pretty faithful to the source material which is understandable since the author was the writer. I hope there is a season two.

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

i hope to see a season 2 also! i want more of the dogs! :) haha

[@lilaboxx]

I think the changes made in comparison to the books made sense and I'm glad that the show works so well. It really made me so happy 🥺🥺

[@nicnacsnonsense]

I am so happy for you that you got some of the explicit bisexual representation hat you want! And I also really appreciate you taking the moment to call out implicit/undefined representation as also being valuable. Tbh, I actually prefer explicit representation too, but I have friends, especially other members of the a-spec community, who really value representation that is implicit or otherwise somewhat open-ended, and it sucks when I see the stuff that's important to them get dismissed as not "real" representation. So kudos to you for continuing to be a lovely person in that regard. With regards to Imogen, I have definitely seen fandom get vicious about someone they perceive as trying to get in the way of their preferred ship many times before regardless of the genders of the characters involved. However, it does seem to happen more frequently/intensely if the interloper if a woman or nonwhite. So I would guess the hatred of her isn't all down to misogyny, but it's almost certainly a part of it.

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

absolutely!! thanks! i love seeing a wide range of representation -- the more diversity the better imo.

[@cuartemi6582]

I read the comic a Bit ago so I’m not caught up and didn’t remember a lot of it, but watching the Netflix adaptation was So much what it was like for me and my partner in high school and it was just very! Very cool to see that on screen.

[@jamesjackson8292]

I have never been more nervous to watch a video lol. Since it came out I have watched the show twelve times through and read the web comic from beginning to end probably five times. It has basically been my grieving process to get through a death In the family and other drama. May as well start with Imogen, I never had any big issues with her especially past episode five. There were a few times she said said a few cringe things but it can be chalked up to her having a crush. I still crack up with what she said to Tara and Darcy every time I hear it. The fact the show was so committed to diversity down to explicitly putting in the casting notice that Elle was required to be played by a trans woman of colour is amazing. Same with keeping everyone the same race as in the comic was also important, other than a few quibbles about how charlie is supposed to be from Spain. Yes the show and comic may be a bit fluffy they are able to bring In triggers and bring them to light for those going through them.

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

12 times through?!?! AMAZING! i'm considering getting the autumn leaves as a tattoo

[@jamesjackson8292]

@@SAVYWRITESBOOKS just hit 20 times lol.

[@stayslaying2415]

THANK YOU!!! all of the hate i’ve seen of imogene reeks of misogyny. sooo many men are so quick to call her a bitch when she literally hasn’t done anything. i personally thought she was funny it was confusing that people didn’t like her. she just seemed like a confident, lighthearted person

[@noname-ur4gr]

My friend recommended me that show and I've already seen it two times in the past week and have started watching it for the 3rd time today... 😅 I love it 🥺

[@tungstensmum1491]

Hard same

[@bertwesler1181]

The thing I loved most about this story is that Nick fell in love with Charlies Softness of Heart and his Knd and Gentle Nature. And not his genitals. I pray they never do a sex scene. I am afraid to watch any more of the story because it meant so much to me and I pray it does not become tawdry or defiled in anyway.

[@mindajane]

I have not read the books but the show was so good and so sweet! It's the kind of thing that would've been a massive help to me when I was a teenager! I loved so many of the characters and had no issue with Imogen at all. I know a lot of people who are gay/lesbian/bi/queer feel gay/lesbian/bi/queer characters should be played by gay/lesbian/bi/queer actors and actresses and I get it. But I also struggle with this for a completely selfish biased reason. The TV couple that finally gave me the courage and what not to accept my sexuality was a lesbian/gay woman and a woman who hadn't labeled her sexuality who were played by a straight actress and an actress who also hasn't labeled her sexuality(but she has said she's attracted to men and women). This couple had this impact on lots of women, especially interestingly the gay/lesbian character played by the straight actress. I know some would say well a gay actress playing that part might have had the same effect and who knows perhaps but I'll also argue that's not exactly how it works. Regardless of their sexualities, these actresses had amazing chemistry and they fit their characters so perfectly and if you change the actress that is going to change and it's not going to hit the same. So I feel conflicted by the whole idea that only LGB actors and actresses should play LGB characters(I think trans characters are a little different). I get it completely and yet I also think if we start limiting casting on the characters are we possibly limiting who will be reached by them? I don't know. Also as you brought up demanding people who are actors or authors or whatever reveal their sexuality is not okay and in this case when you are talking about teenagers that's even more true! Sexuality is something that is personal and should be up to the individual person to decide what and when they share about their sexuality.

[@iwilitu6591]

it is such a good adaptation because Alice wrote every single episode of the show herself. Really goes to show the go creator should always be super involved imo

[@andrewschreiber112]

I really enjoyed your analysis of this show/book series, and I COMPLETELY agree with you about the misogyny directed toward Imogen. I actually really felt for Imogen, as it was clear that Nick wasn't into her, in spite of her obvious interest in him, and then when he comes clean with her, she handles it with incredible maturity and grace. The cherry on top was the look on her face as she saw Nick lead Charlie off the field. Rhea Norwood, who plays Imogen, did a really great job of showing the complex emotions she was feeling, which seemed to be mostly happiness for them, and a confirmation of what she likely suspected all along. I hope we get more of her in the coming seasons. I also really want to get more about Isaac, whom I find just such an endearing character. Of course, I REALLY want to see the Tao-Elle relationship blossom as well. It is such an interesting dynamic, as you point out, that they find themselves trying to navigate and understand how their relationship is changing now that she's transitioned.

[@natgl11]

the webcomic has been my source of serotonin for years and I'm so happy with the netflix adaptation! I think it's nice to have a queer show that isn't over sexualised and full of traumatic experiences. we deserve to have heartwarming stories. being queer in our society isn't easy for many reasons, but that doesn't mean that we can't find happiness too. heartstopper doesn't shy away from some of these darker topics, but they aren't the focal point. friendship and love are, and that's what I love about it. also, thank you for talking about how weird it is for these shows about teenagers to be so overly sexual!!! as a teen I used to love them because they felt so exciting and dramatic, but as an adult I look back and.... yikes. the only show (or at least the only one that comes to mind right now) that has teenagers being explicitly sexual that I can get behind is sex education. the actors don't look 30 and the point of the show (and those scenes) isn't to sexualise teenagers for the voyeuristic pleasure of the viewer, who is often an adult. the scenes don't feel gratuitous, they fulfill a role in the plot and the development of the characters. teenagers having sex is a reality and I think that reflecting that in media isn't wrong. what sits wrong with me is the way many shows (like euphoria) do it, where the point seems to be to fulfill adults' fantasies on teenagers (which is disturbing to say the least) rather than to just reflect reality. do we actually need to see explicit scenes of underage characters (even if the actors are 25) to know they had sex? nope. then why do it? that's what feels icky to me. I won't go into it because that would be a tangent, but it's also not good for teenagers to only see adults as their supposed representation onscreen either. it's a breeding ground for body image issues to say the least. sorry for the somewhat off-topic rant hahah if anyone wants to watch video essays on this, I think either Mina Le or Shanspeare have touched on these subjects (or maybe both of them? idk my memory is bad).

[@detectivedaffodil437]

I loved Imogen because she had so much confidence. I love the squeal she gives after she tells Nick her feelings. I also felt she didn't make Nick her whole world, she just felt Nick would be a good addition to her world her a good addition to his.

[@cjschreiber3779]

I think it’s interesting (in a sad way) the in the thing with Imogene, Imogene gets hated on by the fandom for asking Nick out. She did nothing wrong! The way she asked him out was kind of pressuring, but she’s a teen who fell for her friend. Nick (as much as I love him) arguably did do something wrong in that he and Charlie were starting something, and he was agreeing to publicly date someone else. Nick comes out sympathetic because they do the wrong thing in the end, but it’s weird that almost all the hate gets directed at Imogene and almost not at all at Nick.

[@GopherCakeStuff]

Her character should be praised for liking one of the few decent guys in their friend group tbh. Not many teenagers have as much sense

[@mujiescomedy279]

I think peoples issue with her isn’t that she liked nick but that before she asked him out she was antagonising anyone who might have had a crush on him and trying to make everyone think they were dating already, which wasn’t fair on nick. But she did redeem herself imo

[@shannonmitchell167]

I really hate the way this fandom aligns Imogen with Harry and Ben. She isn't the villain. She is a 16(?) year old girl who has a crush on her friend she's know for at least four years. If her crime is liking Nick, who she assumes is straight than Charlie is guilty of it as well. Nick is the sweetest guy but in a way he was made too perfect in that you can't call out his flaws. I.E: him saying yes to a date is leading Imogen on and making her think he had some kind of romantic feelings for her. She was kind and understanding of him bc I thinks she understood what he was trying to say to her on that bench and she covered for him by saying they agreed they're better off friends.

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

yeah that's how i felt too! imogen did a few things that were "kinda cringe," but that's just being a teenager .... we're all kinda cringe as teens LOL

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

@@shannonmitchell167 YES!!! Harry and Ben are disgusting bullies. And Ben's actions toward charlie bordered on SA at one point. so the fact that people would compare a teen girl "getting in the way of the ship" with the violent actions of Ben & Harry did feel misogynistic

[@finchblue7322]

I'm a gay man, who is very biased towards mlm relationships, and I am an Imogen lover. And Imogen defender. If Imogen has no fans, then I am dead. She did nothing wrong! She asked a boy out, and accepted the eventual rejection. In fact, I was more worried that Nick was leading this poor girl on than I was that she would "get in the way of my mlm ship" More Imogen content in the later seasons. She and Nick are great friends!

[@lanaholic3015]

It's so great that the new generation gets the representation they need, I never had that. In my childhood and teenage years there was only glee

[@angelaholmes8888]

I was surprised to see Olivia Coleman in the show she's really good 😃😊 I also enjoyed seeing nick come out to his mother and friends 🏳️‍🌈

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

the scene with his mom was SO SWEET

[@juliastrawn2113]

As a bi ace, I LOVED how wholesome the show was, because I don't get to see a lot of queer shows that let their characters be happy.

[@viktorkurious3340]

I think the situation with Twitter and all the gross commentary people have put towards the actors and certain characters in the show, also goes to show how people didn't really understand what Alice Oseman and the Producers of this tv series was trying to convey and reveal. especially in some of her other works where she does go into detail the ramifications and harmful things fandom culture does to the actual person behind the screen (I was born for this and Radio Silence). I think sometimes viewers view actors and people who portray fictional character as some sort version of fictional as well, ignoring and forgetting the fact that they are also real with feelings and a complexity that we as viewers also have on the show. Expecting different things for them just because they're in this world that seems so unattainable to us sets up unrealistic and harmful standards.

[@lilaboxx]

Honestly in the beginning I didn't love Imogen because I was scared that her being interested in Nick would end up being overly dramatic but I do like her as a character now. She was a bit annoying in the beginning but she grew as a person and I hope she'll get a happy ending in the end ^^

[@TwirlGirl2197]

I agree with you on the Euphoria comment about feeling weird about characters that are minors but played by adults having nudity and sex scenes. If these characters were played by an actor that is the same age as the character those kinds of scenes would be literal crimes (CSAM) and while I think its ok to have teen characters talk about sex, I don’t think its ok for it to be portrayed because of how much is skirts the hard line in the sand that are child pornography laws.

[@Ericaaaaaaaaaa]

For more queer (pirate!) joy, check out "Our Flag Means Death"! 🏴‍☠️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

[@pratfallpratt8998]

Love all your thoughts on this, maybe bc they're pretty much identical to mine lol. I read that the creators, especially Alice, set out to make the show in a way that would assure it wouldn't get age restricted so that younger teens and older kids would still be able to watch it, which I think is super smart and extremely important for kids that age to have media they don't have to watch in secret. On the actors sexuality, it's not only pretty invasive and gross, but goes against the message of the frickin show! Nick's struggle is to come to terms with his sexuality while under the microscope of being the popular rugby star, and as we see in the show it's such a tough thing to go through, I don't get why "fans" are trying to put the actor thru the same thing. He's also the only one of the main cast with extensive screen credits, he's been acting for like over 10 years already, so I assume that it's a shrewd but smart career choice to keep his personal identity private as much as he can so that he doesn't get pigeonholed into only straight or only queer roles. Plus, if u watch the making of videos u see that they put a ton of effort into having as much queer talent as possible on that set. If Alice and the rest of the very queer creative team chose Kit to play such an important character, even if he's straight (which, again, we shouldn't be assuming) then we should respect their decision. And given how spectacular and believable his performance is, they definitely made the right choice.

[@tropezando]

I haven't watched the show, but I'm a huge fan of the comic and I emphatically suggest everyone read the comics and check out the related books as well!

[@noahisntanartist]

Kit Conner was forced to come out because people were upset that he was “straight”

[@zenithquasar9623]

Also, people can’t separate fictional characters from the actors they are portrayed by!

[@kaylaknoxxx4834]

Bloop! Thank you for sharing sorry I missed the premier!

[@Aalisrocklist]

Awww I missed the premiere! You share one of my concerns, I can't watch stuff where adults play teens having sex. It disgusts me. AND it looks ridiculous on screen!! I feel you have given your blessing to watch this show, I might give it a try :)

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

me too! i'm glad i'm not alone in that. definitely check it out! i loved it

[@charlie2.048]

On the topic of actors playing LGBTQ+ characters, I feel like the only time it is actually vital that the actor actually share the identity is when we are talking about trans characters. Based mostly on the history of trans people not being allowed space in media at all. And Heartstopper did this perfectly with Elle.

[@edenwinter9055]

Still have one of the best intros on YT

[@angelaholmes8888]

I haven't read the books but I did watch the tv show I really enjoyed it from beginning to end I hope the show gets renewed for a second season 😍😘🥰🤩🙂

[@the_gstaad_girl]

About to do some stuff in the house while listening, but I just have to comment on the fantastic lighting behind you 👏👏

[@bennienthejet89]

Oooooo can’t wait to check this out!

[@FalkaRiannon]

The "the show is too tame" argument really gets to me because the author and showrunner is aro/ace. And we really don't need allos telling us that we should add more sex anywhere. I'm sure Alice is used enough to it to handle it but it still sucks even just as an ace person in the periphery hearing stuff like that.

[@bertwesler1181]

Yeah, I was 22 when I came out.

[@gaellelalonde]

I feel like a lot of the series about teenagers lately (Sex Education, The End of the Fucking World, Euphoria,etc) are actually made for adults, whereas this one I feel would be great for teenagers. I really enjoyed it, but as a 38 year old woman, it felt a little young for me. I thought I would love to show it to my son who's 10 year old in a few years! I really really enjoyed Young Royals, I think that one would be great for teens and adults as well.

[@hill7052]

You're amazon links arent working

[@charlie87star34]

Oh I was so nervous so I read the comments before even watching lol but it seems it’s more people watching the show not the content that’s an issue! This show was so sweet and cute and made me so happy! My biggest gripe tbh was I appreciated the warning for the strobe lights in the one episode but didn’t feel they were necessary (they made that whole section impossible for me to watch so luckily my husband could narrate for me) like I felt like it didn’t need to be there for the story and nothing would have been lost without the flashing lights it just would have been safer for people like me and honestly I feel like a lot of people just don’t like strobe lights outside of certain situations (maybe that’s my own bias?)

[@racheldoxey8728]

I know this video is older but I also wanted to add that Darcy is played by someone whose pronouns are they/them and I keep seeing people refer to her as she/her . Also Alice Oseman felt they were forced to come out as Asexual/Aromatic after solitaire came out.

[@dianaortiz1150]

Great review🥰

[@cutiepiemania45]

Heartstopper is so freaking wholesome and I love it for that. Even the tough topics in the comics are handled with care which makes it easier to read. I think people erase bisexual men's attraction to women possibly b/c society views women as sex objects, but also, in my view, b/c attraction to men is seen as a default in a society that values men over other genders. Also one gender attraction is less disruptive to people's mind apparently. The Imogen thing is definitely misogyny. They were careful w/her character and some fans are still behaving badly towards her character. The actor who plays Ben jokingly talks about how he hates his character so it helps curb overzealous fans, but he's not getting any of that animosity (not that he should be) and his character his quite an awful person.

[@rach0147]

Loved your review was so scared you were going to hate on the show I love , but agreed with what you said , just one thing pretty sure Alice goes by they/them pronouns 😊

[@sowhatchajen2846]

You should watch our flag means death. It’s great.

[@maggiehatton6881]

Nice shirt, ur so cute

[@nicoled82]

I absolutely 100% agree that people need to leave all the actors alone re their identities (and relationships - there's a lot going around asking if Joe and Bash are together, too), but that having been said, I think it was probably exacerbated by an article that said "each casting call was restricted to the exact sexual identity and ethnicity of the characters" - I assume that was, well, an assumption and not something based in fact (I've since tried to find a copy - the closest I've found is the call for Charlie/Darcy/Tao/Elle/Isaac, but not Nick or Tara - and that does NOT say anything of the sort. Though it does note that they want to ensure that members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies feel inspired to audition, along with being very clear that it would be a safe space/set.

[@AnnekeOosterink]

Yeah, that sounds like the writer of that article made an assumption there, or completely misinterpreted what Oseman has said about casting. I know they said something about casting as many people from the lgbtqia+ community as possible, and trying to at find a trans girl of colour to play Elle, but there are actors who are part of the lgbtqia+ community, that doesn't mean they have the exact same identity as the character they're playing.

[@nicoled82]

@@AnnekeOosterink Agreed. I just wonder if some people read that and ran with it without actually digging deeper/looking at other sources.

[@H1ST0RYWriter]

In an ideal world where everyone is treated equally, everyone has a right to their identity & privacy. We do not live in that world. The demand that the actor be allowed the role along with his privacy actually hurts LGBTQ+ causes & queer people. Actors willingly place themselves in the public eye & ask the audience to believe the actor is representing an experience. Asking people to not question the actor whether that queer representation is authentic is wholly unreasonable. We no longer tolerate majority representation of other minority experiences, e.g., blackface. If the actor values privacy above all else, he shouldn't accept the queer role. Not b/c he can't adequately perform the role, but in acknowledgement that his profession does not treat queer actors equally. The sad reality we do live in shows us that famously out male actors rarely get cast in straight roles. There's a whole slate of gay actors whose careers have actually dimensioned since coming out. Worse still, the reception of a gay male playing straight is not equal. Straight actors playing queer are darlings of the awards shows & whole fandoms develop worshipping the likes of Elio, or Ennis, etc., propelling their straight actors' careers forward as they become more marketable. (The sad state of gay fans simping for ostensibly straight males is a whole other discussion - but certainly alive and well as seen in the disproportionate fan love dedicated to Kit & the online insults lobbed at Joe). Meanwhile, queer actors have their straight performances reduced to whether their sexuality was believable, instead of the whole performance being presented. Until the inqueality in casting and reception can be appropriately resolved, straight or privacy-minded actors should simply not accept queer roles.

[@eekabear14]

I was hoping you would comment more on some of the bullying. The bully character felt so unrealistic as did all the kids behind him that would just be like ohhhhhhhhh every time anyone did anything. Is the entire rugby team homophobic?? My kid is queer and was so very triggered by some of these scenes and commented that the graphic novels were way more happy feel good vibes. It's almost like they created that third act conflict just for the hell of it and it would have been great without it. Plus it just makes Nick look bad with how many times he doesn't ditch his friends.

[@jprodriguez7130]

This vid is clickbait, mostly over-the-top self-promotion, lite (yes, not, 'light') on content.

[@fluffbowl]

Yeah, no. I expect more. As The Ace Couple here on yt said, the show is mostly "two boys kissing". Now, I'm not saying that the show was bad. In fact, I think it's good! But I definitely expect more. The two potentially ace characters might as well not have existed in this first season. I think it's disingenuous to say that the show's all about building a friendship group and exploring one's sexuality. I'd rather say that it's about exploring one's sexuality against the background of a friendship group. While I'm totally in favor of a show that doesn't sexualize its teenagers to hell and back, I don't think Heartstopper simply replacing the centrality of sex with the centrality of romance is all that great. As an aro ace viewer, and seeing that Oseman is also aro ace (!), I find the amanormativity of Heartstopper very disappointing. And it's kinda telling that the "two boys kissing" work of Oseman's was adapted over her other works. (Also, I find it sad that the lesbian couple is less explored than the mlm couple, but that is unfortunately very on theme!!!!). As a result of the show's amanormativity, Tori and Isaac do not have any sense of interiority and take a backseat to the allosexual and alloromantic characters. The gall of having the "token straight" character Tao be completely heartbroken by his queer friends prioritizing their romantic/sexual relationships over their friendship with him!! When that's an actual fear of aro ace people who live in a society that promotes romantic/sexual relationships over other types of relationships!!!

[@ChronoBio]

To be fair, at this point of the web-comic/graphic novel Darcy and Tara were just in two(?) scenes and Aled (Isaac’s counterpart) barely had a couple of lines. While it would always be good to get even more Tara & Darcy, they did add a lot of story to their relationship. Tori has her own novel, Solitaire, which was Oseman’s debut. Heartstopper’s central story is the backstory of the Nick and Charlie relationship built out of them being Solitaire side characters. It would be nice to see Loveless or Radio Silence adapted, because aro and ace visibility is rare and it’d be great to see it centered. No one has to like Heartstopper, but it can only be what it’s designed to be.

[@chronically_bqueenb]

This isn’t diversified one bit. Being gay isn’t being diverse; having a physically disabled person who is gay might be more applicable

[@Katie.Spradling]

Amazing review!! I agree with every single point, especially how refreshing it is that the characters are not over sexualized and that the story centers on queer joy over queer trauma. This show made me so immensely happy, I'm current on my third watch through. Can't get enough 🥰💖🥲

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

YES!!! the queer joy was so WONDERFUL. it made me excited to write queer fiction again