Get ready to dive back into the gentle, poignant world of Heartstopper! On August 3, Netflix uploaded to its SVOD platform season 2 of the series adapted from the graphic novels of illustrator Alice Oseman, who herself contributes to the script. The series follows the journey of two teenagers, Nick and Charlie, students at Truham Grammar School, who develop a deep and sincere friendship before falling madly in love with each other. This LGBTQIA+ series, with its delicate and accurate tone, tackles crucial subjects such as identity, love and coming out with finesse and sensitivity.
Casting-wise, it's business as usual, with Joe Locke (Agatha: Coven of Chaos...) and Kit Connor(Rocketman, Ready Player One, His Dark Materials: Crossroads of the Worlds, A Plague Tale: Requiem...) as Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson, as well as Yasmin Finney (Elle Argent), William Gao (Tao Xu), Corinna Brown (Tara Jones), Kizzy Edgell (Darcy Olsson), Tobie Donovan (Isaac Henderson), Stephen Fry (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Bones....) as the principal of Truham Grammar School (voice-over) and Olivia Coleman (La Favorite, Secret Invasion...) as Sarah Nelson, Nick's mother. The cast is further strengthened by the arrival of Thibault De Montalembert (Dix pour Cent...) as Stéphane Fournier, Nick's French father.
A Second Season takes us to the heart of a poignant dilemma: how do you formalize a relationship between boys, not only to their loved ones and families, but also to the outside world? Nick, 16, newly aware of his bisexuality, is perceived as heterosexual by those around him, while 15-year-old Charlie's homosexuality is already known.
The latter, having been the victim of harassment in the past, is determined to protect Nick from such torment. As their love continues to blossom out of sight, the question of coming out becomes a source of tension for the couple, particularly for Nick, torn between his love for Charlie and the fear of judgment from others. As a bonus, a school trip to Paris is in store for our two protagonists, promising unforgettable, romantic moments in the City of Light!
Our verdict on Heartstopper Season 2:
Here's a series that's good for you! Heartstopper is undeniably a favorite, and season 2 only reinforces this feeling... And on several counts: starting with the storytelling. Deeper and more accomplished than season 1, this new batch of episodes retains the freshness and structure of the first season's episodes (one episode, one aspect of the evolution of the love relationship), while being much more dynamic and rhythmic. It's well done without being overdone, and the light touches of humor subtly scattered throughout the story add a breath of fresh air to the whole. It's solidly constructed, and the story holds together from start to finish, despite the somewhat abrupt change of scenery of the trip to Paris. A parenthesis that allows the narrative to take a breather while continuing without a hitch.
The story is particularly apt in its approach to the unease Nick feels at every step he takes in affirming his sexual orientation, first with his mother (in season 1), then with his group of friends, his classmates and then his father, who shows little interest in his son. In terms of casting, season 2 confirms the chemistry between the actors, particularly between the lead duo, Joe Locke and Kit Connor, who are as endearing and fair in their interpretation as ever, particularly anchored in reality.
As for the soundtrack, there's a fine selection of tracks to support the story, including, for the "French" part, Hervé, Christine and the Queens and Louane. A series that leads us to reflect on what love is: a feeling - true love in its purest form - above all else, and above all any consideration of gender or sexual orientation. Love transcends, and that's all. Love doesn't distinguish between genders, it touches and carries you away, and that's perhaps the most important message of the series. The last five to ten minutes of season 2 are heartbreaking, bringing tears to our eyes (and the music has a lot to do with it). THE series that's good for the soul, not to be missed!
Already renewed for a third season, Heartstopper has not finished making our hearts beat faster. So, shall we succumb?
