Heartstopper, the hit Netflix show based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novel series, has garnered continuous support and become a fan favorite since its release in 2022. The show’s first season received a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the following two seasons have
continued to receive praise from critics and fans alike. One of the main reasons Heartstopper gained popularity was its portrayal of diverse topics not commonly discussed in mainstream media, such as the treatment of LGBTQ+ teens, and their journey through
understanding their identity. Other topics addressed in the series include romantic high school relationship dynamics, parent-child relationships, eating disorders, mental health conditions, retaining friendships through changes in your life, and recovery from a toxic relationship.
Ana Niiler ‘28 feels the show has helped many people feel seen and open up about their life experiences. “I think Heartstopper impacts lots of people, mainly people who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, because of the representation,” says Niiler. “I think that is also why it is special to me and many others as well. There actually aren’t or weren’t that many media that showed decently realistic LGBTQ+ representation without using lots of stereotypes, normally the hurtful ones. Heartstopper also represents people with mental illnesses, which is really important for everyone.”
Instead of a fourth season, the show will be getting a feature film based on the yet-to-be-released sixth graphic novel and Alice Oseman’s novella, Nick and Charlie. It will have the same primary cast and will continue where season three left off, so it will show
how Nick and Charlie’s relationship develops as Nick prepares to leave for University. Fans have had mixed reactions to the announcement of a movie instead of a final season. “I think it may affect the story a bit more because you can’t fit as much into the story in a movie than a [season]” says Niller. If you do the math, all three Heartstopper seasons had eight thirty-minute episodes, bringing each season to four hours long, whereas the average movie ranges between two and three and a half hours long. This means we would be getting less content in the movie format. Ella Morton ‘25, feels that if the storytelling remains as it has been, it will continue to be a hit. “Good storytelling is often traded for spectacle these days. Returning to well-written short [stories] is a step in the
right direction,” says Morton. “I hope the filmmakers stick with how the screenwriters have been writing each character.”
While some fans continue to vie for more content, a strong writer knows when a story must naturally come to an end, despite how the audience could react. Fans like Morton ‘25 believe that, all in all, a slightly shorter conclusion is better than no conclusion at all to
this breakthrough series. Nick and Charlie deserve the end of their love story to be told.
