One of Netflix’s most streamed series is back with its third season. “Heartstopper,” which first aired in 2022, has captured the hearts of many viewers. “Heartstopper” is a coming-of-age romantic comedy about a group of queer teens navigating love, identity and friendship. Because of this, many teens find the show to be relatable and comforting.
“Heartstopper” started as a webcomic on Tapas and Tumblr, written and illustrated by Alice Oseman. Oseman initially crowdfunded the first graphic novel adaptation of her webcomic with her fanbase helping raise enough money for the book in less than two hours. Executive Producer Patrick Walters discovered the webcomic and believed it would be perfect for an on-screen adaptation. Oseman agreed, and together they successfully pitched the show to Netflix.
In the first season of “Heartstopper,” the show introduces 15-year-old Charlie Spring, who develops a friendship and later develops a crush on a rugby player named Nick Nelson. The season explores themes of homophobia and the importance of friendship and community in overcoming these challenges. Charlie and his friends experience struggles many teens can relate to, causing viewers to enjoy the heartfelt and genuine representation of LGBTQ+ youth.
The second season carries fans on a journey through the lives of the side characters, exploring their relationships and struggles with identity. The characters dealt with experiences like coming out and the varied emotions and reactions that could be expected from family and friends. Mental health, self-acceptance and family became central themes in this season.
On Sept. 2, 2024, Netflix HQ released the “Heartstopper” official podcast on YouTube, allowing fans to engage with the cast and prepare for the upcoming season. The podcast was meant to be a bridge between seasons, giving fans some insight on the recording and making of the show and teasing what's to come in the highly anticipated third season. Previews and teasers have hinted that the new season will deal with many mature and complex topics.
Season three of “Heartstopper” will explore themes and personal challenges such as eating disorders as well as characters aging and using stronger language. Some characters’ storylines will focus on dealing with difficult situations, including homophobic parents and being kicked out of their homes. These heavier subjects differ from the heartfelt and lighthearted tones in the earlier seasons of the show. Fans of the show can also look forward to new characters being introduced in season three of the series. The season is expected to be more bold and intense, allowing it to grow with its original teen target audience.
The shift to darker and more mature themes in season three has received mixed reactions among “Heartstopper” fans. Some viewers feel that the change from the initial wholesome and romantic theme is too sudden and unnecessary. These fans feel like the simplicity of the wholesome and feel-good themes brought the charm to the show. On the other hand, many fans believe that the change in themes is appropriate, given the characters’ development and the reality of getting older. They see these complex issues as a necessary change, making the series more relatable and realistic as it explores serious topics that many teens face.
Whether fans are drawn to the heartfelt romance in the series or the realistic representation of LGBTQ youth, the “Heartstopper” fandom continues to grow. The show has high ratings for the previous seasons. “Heartstopper” has received high ratings for its prior seasons with a 4.9 out of 5 average on Google, a 98% score on rotten tomatoes and an 8.6/10 on IMDb. For those who are interested in watching, “Heartstopper” is available to stream on Netflix. The new season is set to release on Oct. 3, 2024, and promises to be an emotional and thought-provoking addition to the series.