Heartstopper - Hopeful Queer Love | Video Essay 

This show has inspired a lot of open and honest conversations between me and my mum since I made her watch it with me. I am an aroace trans man and my mum actually started questioning her sexuality as she said she's dated girls in the past and I asked if she might be bi. We've also had a lot of conversations about me being trans, what that's like for me and such. This show has had a very positive impact on my life, even if it is only small.

wonderful video essay, truly! i completely agree that heartstopper is so different and so much more light-hearted than other lgbtq hits like call me by your name and brokeback mountain etc. for me it was a really different experience but i loved it so much! 💕

As a younger queer person who came out as a teen in the mid 2010s ive never related more to any queer self realization story as i did to nicks (n thats saying a lot bc i watched wayyyy too many queer shows/movies as a teen) n the key reason was bc his story wasnt drenched in self hatred nor super clear n quick in his discovery i was already comfortable w the idea of being queer by the time i started questioning but that didnt make it any less confusing to try n figure out or incredibly mentally damaging to suddenly find myself closeted n struggling to come out n i felt like nicks story reflected that a lot also i will always appreciate stories of characters fully thinking they were straight n suddenly realizing that might not be the case bc that was me n the first time i ever saw that was in alex strangelove which didnt come out until a few yrs after i had already come out n i feel like a lot of queer realization stories r of ppl actively repressing their sexualities n being in denial but i had no doubt in my mind that i was straight before i started questioning n i think its a much more common experience than ppl would assume based on how little it gets shown in media

Brilliantly done, wow! Heartstopper does feel like a beautifully rendered and kind gift from wonderfully talented humans like Alice Oseman, Euros Lyn, and the intimate and heartfelt performances of this lovely cast - most especially Joe Locke and Kit Connor. And this positive type of visibility for LGBTQIA+ characters (whose entire identity is not defined by sexuality or gender, so-called "representation") in a globally viewed Netflix show does seem quite significant. Thanks for putting together this thoughtful video essay on Heartstopper, a kind and loving bright spot of fiction depicting very real human experiences with a touch of hope. 🍂 ....and btw "Queer Sphere" was an excellent expression! ❤, k

you said it all, really, in the first sentence. "This is a story about love." ❤️❤️❤️

i love this show 😭 consuming any and all content i can find about so thanks

So well thought out and beautifully expressed! You have a gift for this. Hope to see and hear more from you.✨🌟

As a queer man.... wow. ;Brilliant perspective that reflects mine. Sometimes simplicity and non-sexual perspectives elevate our messages to audiences that would otherwise dismiss us. But, somehow, it also speaks to us in such a visceral way that, while showing a sanitized world we may not have experienced, still has enough reality and hopefullness....that somehow...penetrates the cynicism and hate of the real world....and what we have actually lived. It speaks to 13 yr olds as well as my age....65....because it gives us hope in a reality that is hopeful and optimistic, but accurate enough to connect. Yeah, this is an idealized show....but the emotions it brings about for many queers is special....and because it is what it is, I've convinced straight friends to watch it....and. They seem to understand me a bit more from this show's narrative and execution. Win-win lol

Makes me feel at home, with Doctor Who references, being a Sea Devil fan and all.

So very sweet.

this show inspired my optimism and allowed me to be honest with my peers at 25, which is embarrassing this late in my life, but honestly was an real tangible problem for me

We don’t call it queer love, just love

What a fantastic review and analysis of my favorite piece of media to date. Heartstopper is the first piece of media that showed the world I wanted to exist when I was younger. Back then I had Mr. Humphries in AYBS reruns on PBS, Ricky in My So Called Life, and Pedro from Real World:San Francisco. They were important in their moment, but they weren’t steeped in Hopeful Queer Love. Pedro’s partner lost him as the last episode aired, despite all the joy they put into the world.

Excellent review. Very well done. Loved how you incorporated the songs from the incredible soundtrack.

Good essay. When you have time, take a look at Young Royals also on Netflix.

I like the term 'queer sphere.'

Fantastic essay. Really insightful!

beautifully done! I only wish this was longer

Such a lovely review! Nice points

Great video, with some insightful views. Just one point, I, like everyone assumed on first watching and even reading the graphic novels that Charlie is the main character. However, there is an interview I saw [on RU-vid] with Alice Oseman where the author states that it's actually not Charlie's story, but Nick's. Once I saw that I re-watched the entire series and felt that it has even more depth and layers when seeing everything from Nick's perspective rather than Charlie's. Also, the two little animated birds that fly off are peachfaces, most commonly known as lovebirds. So once you know that it makes it even cuter.

Great review.

Matthew, I think I have a crush on You 😍

I loved this series! My favorite scene was probably whenNick was coming out to his mom

Lovely. ❤️

Excellent commentary. Thanks.

Could you make a video essay about the comic too?

I love this video and now I have a crush on you. 😍

Please do use the phrase "queer sphere" again. It's catchy. 🙂 Great essay, by the way.

Loved the video! What's up with the subtitles though? Occasionally they include whole sentences that didn't make it into the final spoken cut.

What SSN @10:35?

Like the video... not too happy with the fact that the music is 1000 decibels louder than the talking though.