Heartstopper season 2 review: British teen romance recaptures lightning in a bottle

Heartstopper felt like a delightful anomaly in season one, a rare breezy four-hour watch in which it was impossible to stop grinning (or weeping joyfully—or both). Adapted by Alice Oseman from her graphic novels, it was wholesome and unencumbered despite weighty subject matter, making it emotionally soothing to witness Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick (Kit Connor) find their way to each other. With its trademark animated fluttering hearts, floating leaves, and flashing lights, Heartstopper bloomed into a winner—and became one of The A.V. Club’s best TV shows of 2022. So the big question is: Will season two, which premieres August 3, have that same magic?

Fear not, because the Netflix series recaptures lightning in a bottle. Yes, you will still smile from ear to ear during these stellar eight new episodes. (The show seriously has no right to be this gosh darn cute). Oseman’s source material, a giddy ensemble, and a commitment to tenderly displaying queer romances help Heartstopper stay in top form. The show enriches its characters’ love lives, personal histories, and internal insecurities. The issues, too, are decidedly mature here—the pressures of how and when to come out, eating disorders, family troubles—but handled with the same level of empathy. Which is all to say Heartstopper pretty much feels like the ray of sunshine we need right now.

In a winning move, the two leads are given sufficient time and space to evolve individually and as a newly minted couple. It’s a nice way for Locke and Connor to exhibit their lovely, undeniable chemistry and their own skills as actors. They excel at taking advantage of the constant pull between their characters. Just try not rooting for Charlie and Nick’s precious bond. (You can’t; it’s impossible.) Their relationship is still a secret from everyone except for a close-knit friend group and loved ones. It just means they get closer while navigating uncharted territory in class. But the longing is palpable, and that’s half the battle in a romantic comedy. The other half is writing.

Heartstopper embraces classic school and genre tropes, with prom, exams, exes, and overnight trips all part of the season-two fun. Yet the scripts commendably avoid clichés. A former flame isn’t a catalyst for Charlie and Nick to fight unnecessarily. Instead, it becomes a cathartic way to let go of the painful past together. Academic and familial baggage plays out across the season, concluding in a grounded, sensible way. Heartstopper isn’t over-the-top even if it features a big slumber party, teenage drinking, and a consequential game of truth or dare. These pivotal rites of passage for any YA series (and real-life teens, of course) are broached with a relatively fresh perspective.