Revisiting Heartstopper's Fat Representation

[@krose6451]

I was a little disapointed that the only fat main character was asexual given the stereotypes and just how slim and traditionally good looking the rest were. How much people love him has helped. The second season helped. Seeing people online jump to his defense when someone tries shaming the actor for his looks or size warmed my heart. Fat characters and characters who aren't part of a ship rather notoriously get less love and defending but Issac is loved and defended and that brings me joy. Thank you for bringing up the issues with the actor who plays Nick being bullied into coming out on terms that werent his own. It is sad how many people need to hear that they arent entitled to such information and hopefully learn better.

[@silversamantha]

Thank you Sara! I haven't seen the series yet part of this spoke volumes to me (from 14:00 on specifically, but also grateful for the perspective in the preceding 14 minutes). Good to see you again 😃💜

[@rangersking6699]

Hoping we get a lot more for Isaac’s development in his ace storyline in season 3, and just more attention to him overall. It kind of felt like they were dipping their toe in it compared to how far they could go. But they hit the baselines, so that’s good. I believe in Alice that they’ll make it bigger. The ace couple made a good video about it.

[@sabrinagranger5468]

Great point about distinguishing between a desexualized character (in a how where sexuality is a thing) vs an asexual identity. Also, I love the color coordination between the hair and the lipstick and the little love hearts!

[@katiew1490]

Isaac’s story really meant a lot to me. As someone who is ace, there were a lot of little things this season that made me cry every time I noticed them. Isaac asking about how it feels to have a crush, not relating to wanting to kiss someone, crying after kissing someone for the first time, wondering why it didn’t feel like how people describe it in books. And the big one: sitting there, not understanding what is going on and thinking something is wrong or broken with you. I do think they could have spent a little more time exploring his feelings before he is introduced to the other asexual character at the art show, but the episodes are 30 minutes long and there is only 8 of them so I’m happy with what we got and it made me cry several times. Its so rare to see ace characters, let alone have the discovery of asexuality so accurately depicted. I’m glad the show was able to address your own concerns about representation and I’m excited for the next season.

[@annaphallactic]

Definitely here for our adorable ace king Isaac and can't wait to see how his character continues to develop.

[@annas.8504]

Appreciated the distinction you drew of a character being de-sexualized vs a character having agency in exploring and understanding their own asexuality/aromanticism 💜💖 I personally do wish the show/more ppl in fandom also drew a clearer distinction btwn asexuality and aromanticism, bc while Isaac is both, there are plenty of aromantics who aren’t asexual, and plenty of asexuals who aren’t aromantic (shout-out to my fellow biromantic aces 😂💖💜💙♠️). I know Alice Oseman themself is aro/ace, which helps with Isaac’s portrayal, but I do desperately wish the assumption ISN’T that if you’re one, you are then the other 😅

[@yarnpenguin]

So happy to see you in my notifications today! I haven't watched the series yet, but I'm happy to see there's been improvement. As a fat ace, it's frustrating to see how often the "fat ace" trope can come up, but it's equally gratifying to see this is not a case of a desexualised fat body. re: the middle third of your video--I think my biggest trivial (that is: not life-and-death, few real-world consequences, etc) bugbears is the way that media criticism for the past decade or so has taken media analysis terminology that *means things* and stretched them beyond recognition and their original intended meaning. "Queerbaiting" is but one example, but also "plot hole" and "Mary Sue". This also plays into other words getting stretched beyond their original meaning, like "gaslighting" or "trigger". I can cope with language changing in its usage to an extent--ie, I've just given up on "literally" meaning both literal and metaphorical--but sometimes we come up with words to describe very specific phenomenon or experiences, and when we misuse them, it muddies the water and makes it hard to actually know for certain what a person is talking about. If they call something a "plot hole" do they mean "something that doesn't make sense" (the stretched, inaccurate meaning) or do they mean "an inconsistency or contradiction in the story laid out" (the original, accurate meaning). If they say "queerbaiting", do they mean "showrunners knowing they have an audience that enjoys the subtextual queer vibes between characters and play it up but never, ever intend to follow through", or do they mean "celebrity seems queer but won't say they are and I'm mad about it because I'm entitled to know for reasons"?

[@adammyers7383]

As an asexual, I was actually pretty disappointed by the ace rep in Issac. Not because it was bad, but because it was….fine. And Alice Oseman being aroace, and promising BIG ASEXUAL PLANS for season 2, makes it being simply “fine” is particularly disappointing. The disparity between the time and depth Nick discovering his bisexuality got compared to a guy just showing up and giving a Wikipedia description of the aroace experience was quite large. Also, it’s literally the only arc he’s gotten

[@Sara_TheFatCultureCritic]

You are a better judge of the ace rep than I could be. I am just so used to bad fat representation that I’m impressed by fine. The bar is that low.

[@krose6451]

Yes! Thank you for describing this so well. When watching the first season, knowing the kind of show it is and those behind the scenes, I watched thinking Issac was probably ace and it seemed to me that he and his friends were aware of it based on some of the dialog and how things were being handled. In the break between seasons 1 and 2 I heard there were rumors we would be getting comformation of Issac being aro/ace. When we saw him in a typical love intrest situation I thought "oh cool they are gonna use this to explore and represent." Because of my assumptions from season 1 thought we would get Issac explaining to James that he was ace then have it be a bit of a journey to him figuring out that he is a romantic as well. I dont know if that would have been a better jounrey than what we got, but its one I would have preferred. What we got instead seemed to focusmmuch more on the would they wont they showing a typical romantic storyline for pair (to almost seemingly make up for the fact they wouldnt be pairing him off) with very little focus on Issac himself. Something that really stood out to me is how everyone else gets to talk out what they are feeling and going through with other people btu Issac really doesnt. The closest we get his when he's letting James down. All the other friends get to articulate what they are feeling and be supported but the writers didnt give that to Issac. I think he's the only character we pretty regularly see truely alone with the others often texting or connecting in other ways if they are physically on there own.

[@lyndonwesthaven6623]

I remember being really interested to hear that it was by an asexual author. I'm ace/aro and tend to connect with romances mostly by how the characters work towards common goals, or change each other, while staying pretty agnostic on when or how there's sex. I didn't mesh with Heartstopper at all, so it was kind of fun to reflect that Oseman clearly had a totally different perspective on it.

[@SeifellAlmancht]

I think this is only the beginning of Issac's journey though? At no point did I think it implied that his personal journey has come to an end. The show was renewed for 2 seasons after the first season so they were able to plan storylines across 2 seasons as apposed to only 1.

[@tanithlow8435]

I felt that Isaac still wasn't allowed enough space to establish his character - except for books and discover his aro-asexuality, I don't think he has traits and that's quite disappointing, especially because it makes what they did alright less impactful. To be frank, it felt that the writers don't quite know who isaac is, so they just have him on screen more without it providing adequate characterisation

[@juls_krsslr7908]

I wasn't interested in watching Heartstopper (I read two volumes of the comic) but now I think I will. I'm a middle aged asexual person and I have never seen a teen show with an asexual character. I'm not sure I've seen _any_ TV show with an explicitly ace character. I'm glad the people making this show seem to be open to criticism and have made improvements.

[@isabeldb7043]

Hey! I know, as an aroace, the lack of representation can be disheartening. Todd in Bojack Horseman on Netflix is also explicitly ace and I think it's handled wonderfully. Also a great show overall. There's an ace character in Sex Education, but, in a show about sex, they really just mention it once and push they character aside forever. Which is really disappointing, especially when they showed the capacity to write well-developed queer relationships.

[@tanithlow8435]

If i interpret it correctly, ca$h in heartbreak high is also on the asexual spectrum. As an allo person, I don't have the best insight to that though so feel free to correct me :)

[@ThatsMyUsborneBook]

The creator/writer of the show/graphic novels is themselves aroace and has implied that the sister Tori is on the aroace spectrum too. They wrote three novels where the asexual character was the main character - two of them part of the Heartsopper universe and one of them is featured in the show Heartstopper as Isaac is discovering his sexuality. So it was always their intent to include this character's characteristic in the show.

[@meander112]

The people united will never be defeated! ✊

[@Ancusohm]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this show. I'd heard the show mentioned a few times, but I didn't know much about it. I really appreciate your insight.

[@sophiaruizuvalle2523]

There's a theory going around that theyre foreshadowing a relationship between Imogen and Sahar, so they could focus on them next season

[@tanithlow8435]

Interesting! I think that the character deserved so much more characterisation and I was quite disappointed- but I see your reasoning and appreciate your perspective :)

[@Sara_TheFatCultureCritic]

Admittedly I am grading on a very steep curve.

[@doubled7302]

I really appreciate your nuanced and thorough commentary. I look forward to more videos, subscribed!

[@amelythemoon2462]

Children are people. Very difficult concept for some

[@lenini056]

I wonder if you can do an analysis on Wall E and the human passengers on board who are all fat.

[@bogumibogda3299]

Have they listened to your critiques, do nit think so.😊 But as someone who's worked years with teens, I've observed that overweight kids have a bit different pace when it comes to accepting their body shape not being celebrated in pop culture, thus they reach romance stage later and more timidly. The show pictures it brilliantly.

[@Sara_TheFatCultureCritic]

Again if that’s not actually made present on screen then it isn’t representation it’s you reading the text through your experience. That’s it a bad thing, it’s great actually, but I was critiquing the text. When I say I think they listened to the critique I didn’t mean me, I was far from the only person saying this.

[@bogumibogda3299]

I do not think s1 portrayed Isaak as a funny fat friend. 1. He clearly was a side character then as the story was Nick-Charlie focused. So there was much needed time for build-up AND a green light for s2. 2. Even with so little screen time he seems the most observant of the gang. 3 It is at times barely noticeable as he's 'not only' fat, but predominantly introvert. 4. Most importantly, his body shape is non-issue, no bullying, calling names. It may seem very little, but trust me, that's far from what plus-size kids typically experience.

[@Sara_TheFatCultureCritic]

Oh I remember what it was like as a fat kid, but I want better for the new generation. That’s the point of critique like this; not that what they did was bad, but how it can be better.

[@gamewrit0058]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@minim3494]

I feel the show was representative. Kids in british schools aren't generally overweight imo. Maybe it's different in America (sorry if I'm assuming where you're from wrong). But in school here for example...there's usually only one or two people noticbly overweight in a class of about 20 or 30. I suppose you could argue that making the only chunky character not have romantic interests...and not explaining its because he is asexual isn't ideal. But tbh I think that is reading too much into it. And obviously they got round to explaining it. Also...tbf...I like that they use genuinely young and normal looking people. Instead of shows that have 20+ year olds posing as highschoolers.

[@Sara_TheFatCultureCritic]

The word is fat. "overweight" implies that there is an ideal weight for all people, and there is not. Using childish euphemisms infantilizes fat people and tells us you think there's something wrong with just saying what we are. It's clear from your comment that you have internalized bias against fat people that you should consider addressing because we are normal looking people. I'm Canadian btw and have lived in the UK before, we exist there, we exist everywhere.