There’s a lot to love in season two of HEARTSTOPPER, but sadly, there isn’t enough to give me butterflies as I had for weeks after watching the first season. Many shows have a sophomore slump only to come back stronger in season three (see THE OTHER TWO). I hope that when this hit, inclusive show returns, it will be good enough to say, “I love you,” too again.
What does work tremendously in season two is how each character has the right things to say to each other in their most challenging moments. And these lessons seen by young actors that actually look like high school kids should serve as an adolescent “how-to” playbook. Some of the best moments this season do just that. From Charlie and Nick supporting one another, Charlie facing his bully, and the biggest swoon-worthy story of season two – Elle and Tao’s “will they, or won’t they relationship.”
While those character arcs should satisfy most audiences, the Paris three episodes had more fluff than substance and sadly weighed down the series. Rather than focus on the events back at home, we get several subplots with supporting characters that we don’t care about as much (the teachers!) instead of focusing on the core characters audiences fell in love with. In addition, the show strangely decided on unjustified longer run times. These creative choices mirrored the disappointing changes of TED LASSO’s final season.
Even with those minor quibbles, HEARTSTOPPER still had me full of tears. The group of accepting friends the show depicts was what I longed for in high school but never found. As a parent today, HEARTSTOPPER gives me hope that there’s a group of accepting friends for kids, no matter who you are. My son would be so lucky to land friends like the characters in HEARTSTOPPER.
HEARTSTOPPER is available on Netflix. 🦋
