Summary
Alice Oseman carefully crafts a brilliant second season that raises the stakes by allowing new characters to thrive.
This review of the Netflix series Heartstopper Season 2 does not contain spoilers.
Charlie and Nick’s love story continues in the second season of Heartstopper. The popular Netflix series was created by Alice Oseman, who also wrote the webcomic and graphic novel the series is based on, bringing us back into the world with the latest season based on the third book of the series.
Heartstopper Season 2 review and plot summary
Season 2 of Heartstopper follows Charlie and Nick as they navigate their new relationship. Also, Tao and Elle figure out if they can be more than just friends.
The season begins with Charlie and Nick in the puppy love stage of their relationship. The nonstop texting, showing up at each other’s houses, and consistent wanting to be in each other’s arms — they’re attached at the hip. Of course, the relationship faces many obstacles, including Nick’s battle with coming out, Charlie’s parents putting their foot down after his struggles in school, and school standing in the way of them seeing one another.
READ: Is Lambert School of Art a real school? Heartstopper Explained
Alice Oseman built this simplistic world filled with the weight of conflict that packs such an emotional punch. It’s hard not to be engulfed in the worldbuilding of these characters struggling to find themselves while fighting off an unaccepting world. On the surface, you have two incredibly written characters, Charlie and Nick, that are easy to attach yourself to and what they are facing. But what we see in Season 2 is the exploration of more characters which makes your investment even more rewarding.
Two of those characters were Elle and Tao, who we met in season one, but at the end of the season, we saw the two almost kiss. Of course, being best friends and in this friend circle, the idea of being something more was scary for both. Oseman explores the struggles of love in friendships beautifully and poignantly. Yasmin Finney and William Gao were my two MVPs this season as they both did a great job with the added screen time and dialogue.
Heading into Heartstopper Season 2, there were concerns about Diana Olifirova not returning as cinematographer on the series. I can easily put to bed the notion that the series would take a step back as Simona Susnea captured that same magic that Olifirova did in Season 2. In a series that battles so many tones, Susnea’s color palette is breathtaking and, dare I say, award-worthy.
Is Heartstopper Season 2 good or bad?
Let me put it simply: Heartstopper is brilliant. Alice Oseman raised the stakes by allowing other characters to blossom while never losing sight of Charlie and Nick. Few shows have tackled the world of acceptance with the LQBTQ+ community better than what Oseman has done with this series. Every layer of this show is filled with passion and love.
Is Heartstopper Season 2 worth watching?
Fans of Heartstopper will be delighted to know that season two is as good as season one.
Joe Locke and Kit Connor bring their A game within these characters but be prepared to fall further in love with Yasmin Finney and William Gao as Elle and Tao.
What did you think of Heartstopper Season 2? Comment below.
You can watch this series with a subscription to Netflix.
