Heartstopper returns for a second season, more mature and romantic than ever

By Tom Soares

Summer is about to get even better and more romantic with the release of Heartstopper season 2 this upcoming August.

Created by Alice Oseman, Heartstopper the streaming series is based on a four-volume award-winning graphic novel written and illustrated by Oseman herself, and directed by Welsh filmmaker Euros Lyn, best known for his work in Doctor Who and Black Mirror. 

The eight-episode series just about conquered the world when it debuted on Netflix last year, with its sweet and charming LBGTQ+ teenage love story centered on the characters Charlie Springs (Joe Locke) and Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), two British students at the fictional Truham Grammar School for boys, who fall head-over-heels for each other at the beginning of the new school year. 

Now in its second season, Heartstopper returns to the streaming giant this August not only stronger than ever but more mature, ready to tackle some crucial issues in the lives of modern teenagers.

Heartstopper season 2 picks up right where the previous season ended, with Nick and Charlie returning to their frantic school routine, and ready to celebrate Nick’s coming out to his mother Sarah (Olivia Colman). The extra room to breathe and enjoy their romance is obviously a welcomed change, however not everything will be as easy as it seems for the couple, as high school exams approach and stricter dating rules threaten to keep the boys away from each other. On top of all that, Nick is still struggling to find the right time to come out to Imogen (Rhea Norwood), and his rugby peers.

The stakes are also higher for Charlie’s and Nick’s group of friends. Tao (William Gao) and Elle (Yasmin Finney) continue unsure on if and how they should take their relationship to the next level, while Tara (Corinna Brown) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) hit a rough patch on their romance, and Isaac (Tobie Donovan) is forced out of his bubble to question his place in all of this.

Right from the start fans of the series will notice that much of the visual elements that made Heartstopper season 1 one of the most charming shows on streaming - the doodlings, the soft color palette, the animated title cards, etc. - are back. The show also brings a fantastic, brand-new soundtrack, with music by American singer/songwriter mxmtoon, South-African musician Baby Queen and many others.