Oseman’s creative vision bleeds through the Heartstopper series in every beat of its heart through Lyn’s expertise in the field of filmmaking. Nick and Charlie have electrifying chemistry that completely normalizes LGBTQ relationships their yearning doesn’t seem forced nor exaggerated for even a split second, which makes their romantic feelings for one another no less valid than if they were a male and female couple. There are some timely cutaways that draw attention to shoes, hands and objects to portray an important piece of information, even if it seems irrelevant it could suggest a feeling, a longing, or visualize the “close but yet so far” dynamic that frustrates audiences just as much as the characters.Įvidently, Lyn worked closely with Connor and Locke prior to filming. At such an impressionable age, Nick and Charlie are under a lot of pressure to discover themselves, and Lyn chooses some tight close-ups to convey strong emotions and evoke sympathy in the viewers. In particular, the cinematography feels immersive and experimental, which fits perfectly, given the overarching themes. Euros Lyn ( Doctor Who, Sherlock) deserves to be singled out for special praise, given that his direction truly shines. Throughout the series, Charlie is openly gay but suffers a lot of backlash from fellow students at his all-boys grammar high school, Truham. Starring Kit Connor ( Rocketman) as Nick and Joe Locke in his debut television role as Charlie, Heartstopper explores sexuality, gender and romance and it does so with a certain sensitivity toward LGBTQ+ related issues such as bullying, rejection and oppression. See-Saw Films acquired the rights to Heartstopper in July 2019 and Netflix greenlit a live-action adaptation, which premiered on April 22, 2022, with eight episodes.

After launching a Kickstarter campaign, Oseman earned enough funding and following to self-publish the remaining volumes.

Written as a love letter to LGBTQ+ youth, Oseman’s series was initially published on Tumblr and gained significant traction. Four years ago, Alice Oseman published her brainchild, the LGBTQ+ webcomic series Heartstopper, a touching coming-of-age story that follows Nick and Charlie, two students who meet unexpectedly and fall in love.

Heartstopper comic