Review: Heartstopper season 2 is TV at its most joyous

Heartstopper season 2 is a thoughtful exploration of love, acceptance, and joy that reminds us all why the wholesome Netflix series earned itself a place in so many of our hearts. 

Heartstopper was one of Netflix’s big hits of 2021. A surprise hit to some, perhaps, but the streamer’s little-show-that-could soared upon its arrival, taking the world by storm as viewers all over the globe fell in love Nick and Charlie’s love story.

The TV show’s charm lay in how beautifully – enthusiastically, even – it told that love story. It was a welcome, long-overdue positive representation of queer love, and a major step forward for everyone who just wants to see some happy LGBTQ+ love stories on-screen.

The show’s return for that long-awaited second season is upon us, and having seen Heartstopper season 2, I’m happy to report that you can expect more of the same (in all the right kinds of ways).

Heartstopper season 2 expands its horizons while maintaining its heart

The first season of Heartstopper could have worked as a short standalone look into Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson’s story, but honestly, it felt like it was just the opening chapter. Season 2 feels like a natural next step for the story, focusing on their happiness – the happiness they are ready to share with the world.

That presents Nick with the next phase of his coming out journey. He’s accepted his bisexuality and now he just needs to figure out when and how he wants to come out to those around him. Charlie, meanwhile, wants to support him as best he can, hoping that Nick can avoid going through what he went through when he was outed.

This is handled with extreme care by the show, highlighting the complexities of the notion of coming out and all the pressures that come with it. The pair’s struggle with that feels authentic, addressing the immense pressures that LGBTQ+ teenagers are still under when all they want to do is be happy. It’s an important story to tell and Heartstopper tells it in a very Heartstopper way. It’s wholesome to watch Nick and Charlie navigate this discussion as a couple, and that’s why we love this show.

Speaking of Nick and Charlie, it shouldn’t be possible to steal the show when you’re the leads of it, but there is something so remarkable about the performances that Joe Locke and Kit Connor deliver in Heartstopper season 2 that you just can’t help but be amazed by them.

The “golden retriever” nickname for Nick Nelson is a work of genius that continues to ring true here, because Connor continues to play him with that kind of energy. He’s so undeniably endearing in his performance throughout the whole season, committed to Nick’s emotional character journey in the same way that Nick is committed to Charlie. And there is one scene, in particular, in the back half of the season, in which he delivers what might just be the best performance of his career thus far.

It should come as no surprise to learn that Locke is equally as incredible, both throughout the season and in that particular scene. Charlie is such a light, and he effortlessly captures that, ensuring that audiences will once again root for him. His character journey is more tied to Nick’s this season, but that’s because he’s still holding back on telling his own complete story. Locke’s nuanced performance complements that arc well, subtly teasing us with the caverns of worry hiding behind Charlie’s cheery eyes.

The two young performers have such natural chemistry that all of their best work comes whenever they are together. But that’s taking nothing away from their other scenes, because they approach these characters with such commitment at all times, that every furrowed brow or gentle smile carries with it the realistic gravity of teenagers with the weight of the world on their shoulders. It might not be “weight of the world” stakes to everyone else, but it is to them, and that’s what makes Heartstopper so darn authentic.

But Nick and Charlie aren’t the only ones feeling their feelings in Heartstopper season 2. Tao and Elle begin to address the heart-eyes-shaped elephant in the room and wonder if they could finally go on that first date, while Tara and Darcy attempt to move into the next phase of their relationship. That phase involves honesty, which is again a running theme in the second season, as each character addresses questions that have been hanging over them or their relationships.

That’s one of the main reasons that season 2 works so well. It’s much more of an ensemble show this time around, capturing more aspects of the teenage experience in the process. We love these characters already, but to get to see them shine in a much greater capacity, it’s just wonderful. Isaac, in particular, is a character who gets some long overdue spotlight this season. And all of this comes together extremely well, thanks in no small part to the divine backdrop of the school trip to Paris.

Change was a big part of Heartstopper‘s first season and it’s still there in its second. It’s an ever-present theme of the season and it’s frightening. But it can also be beautiful, and that’s where this show thrives.

Heartstopper is the sum of its parts, and all of those parts are delightful. They are joyous, they are heartfelt, they are authentic, and they are queer. Season 2 steers the show in a more mature direction without ever losing any of innocence that makes it so special. It’s a masterclass in storytelling, and an utter joy to watch. Television doesn’t get more important than this.

Grade: A+

Heartstopper season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.