History Series / Heartstopper2022

The series follows teenagers Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and Nick Nelson (Creator/KitConnor) who meet and become friends on the first day of term at Truham Grammar School for Boys. Charlie, having been outed as gay the previous year, soon develops a crush on Nick. Charlie's friends Tao (William Gao), Elle (Yasmin Finney) and Isaac (Tobie Donovan) are worried this crush will lead to him getting hurt but are nonetheless supportive. But things might not be as black-and-white as that, because Nick starts to question whether he likes Charlie as just a friend, or something much more...

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: Downplayed with Charlie, who is already a NiceGuy to begin with. In the series though, he blames himself for [[spoiler:Nick's fight with Harry Greene, even considering breaking up with Nick to keep him out of trouble]]. By contrast, comic!Charlie [[KickTheSonOfABitch wished he could have seen it]].

* VoiceOnlyCameo: Creator/StephenFry provides the voice of Headmaster Barnes, who can be heard making announcements over the tannoy.

* BeautifulDreamer: Nick realises he may have less than platonic feelings for Charlie when he ends up watching him sleep and resists the urge to hold his hand.

* BreakHisHeartToSaveHim: [[spoiler: Charlie tells the rugby boys that Nick isn't his type and he'd never fancy him. Although it's to protect Nick who is still in the closet, the exchange obviously crushes both of them.]]
** [[spoiler: Charlie later tries to end their relationship so Nick can get his old life back following several fights with Harry. Thankfully, Nick makes it clear that he doesn't want to be saved or go back to his friends.]]

** Meanwhile Nick deals with going from popular rugby king to increasingly isolated, confused, and losing most of his friends. [[spoiler: However in doing so he finds genuine friends, stops burying his true self, and ends up with Charlie.]]

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Nick's first proper scene has him going out of his way to talk to Charlie, doing his maths homework on the way to class but refusing help because he needs to learn, and turning a pen smudge on Charlie's hand into a smiley face - establishing him as sweet, goofy, determined to figure things out for himself, and someone who brings happiness into Charlie's life.

** Nick and Tara had theirs with each other when they were 13.
** [[spoiler: Charlie and Nick have their first kiss at Harry's birthday party.]]

** In season two [[spoiler: Tao and Elle]] have theirs in the Louvre on their class trip to Paris, with the dialogue implying that they are each other's first.
** [[spoiler: James]] kisses [[spoiler: Isaac]], saying that he's never kissed anyone before. [[spoiler: It's not received well by Isaac, due to the fact he is asexual/aromantic]].

* {{Foil}}: Ben Hope and Tara Jones's personalities and journeys in dealing with their respective sexualities contrast and complement [[spoiler: Nick and his realization that he is bisexual]].
** Tara is a step ahead of [[spoiler: Nick]], having already realized she is LGBTQ+ and is in a relationship with Darcy. Like [[spoiler: Nick]] she has a partner who was more confident about their sexual orientation, and whose friendship prompted her to realise she was queer. She comes out earlier than [[spoiler: Nick]] and has to contend with the negative talk about her and her lesbian identity from people at her school.

* GoodParents: Sarah Nelson is deeply loving and understanding of Nick, notices how much he cares about Charlie, and offers advice on dating and friendship problems. [[spoiler: When Nick comes out to her, she immediately pulls him into a hug and affirms that she loves him.]]

* HoldingHands: Multiple times between Nick and Charlie. Nick realises his feelings after Charlie takes his hands during drum practice, they secretly hold hands under the table and at the cinema after getting together, and [[spoiler:Nick grabs Charlie's hand in front of everyone in the finale.]]

* IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHim: Tao delivers a warning to Nick at the bowling alley, believing him to be messing around with Charlie.

** Season two has James's incompatible a crush on [[spoiler:Isaac,]] who likes James just fine and attempts to reciprocate his crush but is unable to because he is [[spoiler: asexual/aromantic.]]

** Imogen has a habit of assuming heterosexuality especially when talking with girls.
** when Nick's rugby teammates try to apologize to him for the incident at the movie theater, the moment is kinda ruined by one of them calling Nick and Charlie "best friends".

** Ben as well, who sexually assaults Charlie by forcefully kissing him after Charlie makes it clear he doesn't want to date Ben anymore. He also goes out of his way to hurt Charlie's feelings after being rejected, calling Charlie a desperate loser who nobody will ever love.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Tao. He may be moody, blunt, and possessive of his friends but deep down cherishes them all and will go to bat for them against anybody that tries to hurt them, physically or verbally.
* {{Montages}}: Charlie has a TrainingMontage where he practices tackling after he joins the rugby team. More importantly, the season finale features a FallingInLoveMontage between [[spoiler: Nick and Charlie]].
* LastHetRomance: Nick and Tara's kiss when they were 13 contributed to Tara realising she was a lesbian. Subverted from Nick's side, as he genuinely did have a crush on her - which later helps him figure out he's bisexual and likes both guys and girls.

* LoveDodecahedron: In the first half of the season, reaching its peak in episode 3 and 4. [[spoiler: Imogen likes Nick, who everyone thinks is still into his former crush Tara, but she's secretly dating Darcy, and Nick has actually fallen for Charlie, who feels the same but is being pursued by his ex Ben. Whew.]]

* NowLetMeCarryYou: [[spoiler: Charlie spends Season 2 taking care of Nick, including protecting him from Harry, helping him study for exams, comforting him about his Dad and brother, and supporting him through coming out. The season ends with Nick saying it's his turn to look after Charlie and encourages him to open up about his eating disorder and trauma from bullying.]]
* OneGenderSchool: Truham Grammar School for Boys and Harvey Greene Grammar School for Girls (abbreviated to Higgs), natch. Both schools are within close distance of each other, as Tori and Charlie take the same bus and Elle expectantly looks out into the walking crowd for Tao.

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: When [[spoiler: Charlie admits to thinking everyone would be better off if he didn't exist]], the normally emotionless and sarcastic Tori has visible tears in her eyes [[BigBrotherInstinct and immediately hugs him.]]

* PaintingTheMedium: In scenes of heightened emotion or romantic tension between characters, animated objects appear in the frame like leaves blowing, snow falling, pulsing hearts or electric sparks.

* TheQuietOne: Isaac. He doesn't say much, aside from [[TheGadfly cheeky attempts]] at egging on Charlie's crushes with straight boys, and is always seen with a [[{{Bookworm}} book in his hand]].

** Nick gives several to [[spoiler: Harry for being a homophobic bully, including one ''on his birthday.'']]

* SarcasticConfession: When one of the rugby boys teases Nick and asks if he was the one who gave Charlie a hickey, Nick retorts "What if I did? Are you jealous?

** Nick, Charlie, Darcy and Tara for Elle/Tao and plot to set them up. Extended in the second season because EveryoneCanSeeIt, even Tao's extended family being noted as shippers.

** When Charlie suddenly has a hickey on the paris trip, it soon becomes a topic of gossip among the classmates outside the friend group, with many suspecting newly out James.
** Tao's mom had been just waiting for him to finally admit he liked Elle romantically.

* ThousandYardStare: Nick in the episode 3 opening after realising his feelings for Charlie and spending the night wondering if he's gay.

--> '''Nick''': "I'm just so angry at myself for not seeing that all my friends ''suck''."

* UnknownRival: [[spoiler: Charlie is this to poor Imogen ''twice.'' In Season One, she asks out Nick who is already secretly dating Charlie. In Season Two she moves on with Ben...who is Charlie's ex and still obsessing over him.]]

* YouAreWorthHell: Downplayed as they are just ordinary high schoolers, but [[spoiler: Nick makes it clear that Charlie is worth every bit of trouble and loss of popularity.]]

* ThePromPlot: The second season finale has the Year 11 prom as a focal point. [[spoiler:It's Nick and Charlie's first public event together, Isaac comes to terms with his sexuality, and Darcy is nowhere to be found.]]

* TheBigDamnKiss: Unsurprisingly happens in the episode titled "Kiss." [[spoiler: Charlie and Nick]]'s first kiss happens at Harry's 16th birthday party.
* BigSisterInstinct: As Charlie's older sister, Tori is naturally wary of Nick and his intentions. She always makes sure to support Charlie (though not without some choice, snarky comments) and hugs him after [[spoiler: assuring him that Nick and Tao getting into fights with Harry is not his fault]].

* BiWildered: Everyone is quick to assume that Nick is straight, with even Elle saying that he's "the straightest person I've ever seen." Things change when Nick grows closer to Charlie and [[spoiler:they kiss at Harry's birthday party]], which causes him a great amount of confusion. He spends the remainder of the season questioning his sexuality and [[spoiler:even after getting together with Charlie is hesitant to put a label on it.]] This is rectified in the season finale [[spoiler:after he and Charlie become boyfriends and he explicitly settles on coming out as bisexual]].

* BullyHunter: Tao is fiercely protective of Charlie, Elle and his other friends, and defends them against Harry and the other boys.

* BystanderSyndrome: Discussed when Charlie says not all of the rugby boys are like [[{{TheBully}} Harry]] and Nick points out that even if they are nice they still didn't speak out against Harry's behaviour.
** Nick himself feels guilty for being around his friends for so long and not realising how cruel they are. At one point he imagines watching Charlie's bullying, and not being able to reach him or do anything.
* CastFullOfGay: The major cast is almost entirely on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, consisting of Charlie (gay), Nick ([[spoiler: bisexual]]), Tara and Darcy (lesbians), Elle (a transgender girl) and Isaac ([[spoiler:asexual and aromantic]]) with Tao and Imogen as the straight minority. The second season also introduces a number of queer recurring students like James, Sahar, Naomi and Felix, and [[spoiler:hints that Imogen isn't straight either]].
** Even the relevant teachers are all queer: Mr. Ajayi is gay, as is Mr. Farouk. Coach Singh is also revealed to be a lesbian, mentioning a wife she met at university.
* TheCameo: Creator/StephenFry provides the voice of Headmaster Barnes, who can be heard making announcements over the tannoy.
* ClassTrip: Season two (from episodes 4 to 6) has the main characters go on a class trip to [[GayParee Paris]] as part of their French language studies class.

* CanonForeigner: Charlie's friend Isaac and Nick's friend Imogen did not exist in the comic and were created solely for the show.

* ComingOutStory: Tara officially comes out as a lesbian on Instagram and adjusts to the gossip and hate speech that arises at school soon afterward. [[spoiler: Nick isn't quite as ready to publicly come out as bisexual, but does tell everyone in his and Charlie's close friend group as well as his mum]].
* TheDeterminator: Charlie. Despite everything he goes through he ''will'' keep pushing through.
* DistressedDude: Charlie when Ben sexually assaults him after school. Luckily, Nick arrived to throw Ben off Charlie.
* DomesticAbuse: Ben is emotionally and verbally abusive to Charlie during their secret relationship, ignoring his feelings, gaslighting him, and mocking him in public. When Charlie ends things between them he moves to physical and sexual assault. Much of [[spoiler: Nick]] and Charlie's relationship focuses on Charlie dealing with his insecurities and how differently [[spoiler: Nick]] acts.
** [[spoiler: He treats Imogen in a similar manner after they get together in Season 2 - preying on her loneliness, ignoring her, and talking down to her. Thanks to Nick, Charlie and Elle's advice, Imogen is able to end things before they get worse.]]

* DemotedToExtra: Nick's rugby friends Sai, Christian and Otis/Omar (Otis in the webcomic, Omar in the physical books). In the webcomic, they have more of a presence, not going along with Harry's bullying of Charlie and being supportive of Nick once they figure out he's in a relationship with Charlie. By contrast, while they are present in the show, they blend into the rugby team a lot more, and are shown looking uncomfortable with Harry's bullying but don't object to it, and barely have screentime or lines.

* EasilyOverheardConversation: Nick overhears Charlie and Tao arguing in the arcade bathroom about his and Charlie's friendship. Nick is worried that Charlie [[spoiler: would accidentally out him]] to Tao but doesn't.

* GrandRomanticGesture: [[spoiler: In the final episode, Nick abandons the school's rugby match to run off with Charlie.]]

* HateSink: Harry has very few, if ''any'' redeeming qualities. He's smug, obnoxious, and delights in putting others down and passing it off as "banter".

* HoldingHands: Multiple times between Nick and Charlie. Nick realises his feelings after Charlie takes his hands during drum practice, they secretly hold hands under the table and at the cinema after getting together, and [[spoiler: Nick grabs Charlie's hand in front of everyone in the finale.]]

* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: Each episode has a OneWordTitle, much like the chapter names from the source comic.
** Episode 6 of season 2 subverts this, entitled "Truth/Dare."

* ImagineSpot: Charlie has a brief one where he imagines Nick coming out as gay and confessing his love to him, complete with the screen turning pink and cherry blossom petals falling all around. Nick in reality asks Charlie to join the rugby team.
** Darker examples of this include Charlie imagining Nick rejecting him, and Nick imagining the bullying Charlie suffered the year prior.
* IncompatibleOrientation: Elle cryptically explains that there's no way Tara would like Nick back, as she's keeping Tara's secret about being a lesbian.
** Season two has a variation of this trope with James who has a crush on [[spoiler: Isaac]]. [[spoiler: Isaac]] likes James just fine and attempts to reciprocate his crush but is unable to because he is [[spoiler: asexual/aromantic]].
* InterruptedIntimacy: a PG version of this is done twice.

* IronicName: Ben's last name is Hope, which is the last word you'd use to describe his abusive DomesticAbuser characterisation.
* ItsAllMyFault: Charlie has the tendency to believe this and feels guilty for situations where he was clearly the victim, including [[spoiler: Tao defending him against Harry and Nick choosing to ditch his unhealthy friend group.]]
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: [[spoiler: Charlie tries to break up with Nick because he believes he'd be better off without him. Nick refuses to let him do it and establishes that Charlie is what makes him happy.]]
* {{Jerkass}}: Harry Greene - an aggressive, homophobic, and transphobic bully who makes a point of annoying and belittling almost everyone he comes across.

* {{Lovable Alpha Bitch}}: Imogen.

* MeaningfulName: Charlie's surname is Spring - the season of regrowth and hope following harder times.

* RomanticFalseLead: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] with Imogen. The show makes it clear that Nick, [[spoiler: despite being bisexual]], has no interest in Imogen and is only romantically interested in [[spoiler: Charlie]]. Nick only agrees to a date with Imogen because she asked in front of all of their friends and he didn't want to hurt her feelings and because her dog recently died. [[spoiler: He quickly shuts it down after Charlie's birthday party, politely explaining to her he doesn't like her the same way]].

* RunningGag: Tori startling Charlie whenever she [[StealthHiBye silently enters a scene]].

* SecretRelationship: Multiple examples of this trope:

** A downplayed example occurs with Tara and Darcy, whose relationship is initially a secret but they eventually come to a point where they don't feel like hiding it any longer.

** Nick, Charlie, Darcy and Tara for Elle/Tao and plot to set them up.

*** It’s a small moment, but in the last episode when Nick leads Charlie into the school building, Imogen gives the two a small smile.

* TooUnhappyToBeHungry: Charlie sometimes, once leading him to turn down Tori's offer of pizza.
** Takes a darker turn in Season 2 as it is revealed that Charlie [[spoiler: has an eating disorder due in large part to the bullying he suffered.]]
* TrueCompanions: Tao, Charlie, Elle and Isaac have been friends for years and supported each other through teenage struggles and insecurities. This contrasts with Nick's friends, especially [[{{JerkJock}} Harry]], who Nick realises he never fitted in with. [[spoiler: By the end of the season, Charlie's original group has extended to include Nick, Tara and Darcy as well. In Season 2, they even get a proper nickname as "The Paris Gang" and add in Sahar and possibly Imogen.]]

* CastFullOfGay: The major cast is almost entirely on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, consisting of Charlie (gay), Nick ([[spoiler: bisexual]]), Tara and Darcy (lesbian), Elle (a transgender girl) and Isaac ([[spoiler:asexual and aromantic]]) with Tao and Imogen as the straight minority. The second season also introduces a number of queer recurring students like James, Sahar, Naomi and Felix.

** [[spoiler: He treats Imogen in a similar manner after they get together in Season 2, including preying on her loneliness, ignoring her in public, and talking down to her. Thanks to Nick, Charlie and Elle's support, Imogen is able to end things before they get worse.]]

* TrueCompanions: Tao, Charlie, Elle and Isaac have been friends for years and supported each other through teenage struggles and insecurities. This contrasts with Nick's friends, especially [[{{JerkJock}} Harry]], who Nick realises he never fitted in with. [[spoiler: By the end of the season, Charlie's original group has extended to include Nick, Tara and Darcy as well.]]

** Meanwhile with Ben, he repeatedly harasses and corners Charlie so he can apologize for the assault he committed in season one and end things on good terms before [[spoiler: he leaves Truham next year]], culminating in him ambushing Charlie at Elle's art show. His reformation is not received well with good reason: he never properly ''apologizes'' to Charlie for sexually assaulting him, instead [[NeverMyFault repeatedly blaming him]] for not giving Ben enough time to figure out his sexuality. Despite his sincere regret and desire to change he doesn't actually put in the work to atone nor is self-aware enough to recognize how much he hurt Charlie, instead deflecting and blaming everyone else around him, which is why Charlie wishes him well but refuses forgive him or accept his apology.

* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: Each episode has a OneWordTitle, much like the chapter names from the source comic.

The first season was released on Netflix on April 22, 2022. On May 20, it was renewed for two more seasons.

** Elle walks into a classroom to see Tara and Darcy holding hands, to which Darcy [[NotWhatItLookLike claims she's admiring how soft Tara's hands are]]. This also counts as the official RelationshipReveal.

* Interrupted Intimacy: a PG version of this is done twice.
** Elle walks into a classroom to see Tara and Darcy holding hands, to which Darcy [[{{NotWhatItLookLike}} claims she's admiring how soft Tara's hands are]]. This also counts as the official RelationshipReveal.

The series follows teenagers Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) who meet and become friends on the first day of term at Truham Grammar School for Boys. Charlie, having been outed as gay the previous year, soon develops a crush on Nick. Charlie's friends Tao (William Gao), Elle (Yasmin Finney) and Isaac (Tobie Donovan) are worried this crush will lead to him getting hurt but are nonetheless supportive. But things might not be as black-and-white as that, because Nick starts to question whether he likes Charlie as just a friend, or something much more...

* OneOfTheGuys: Imogen regularly hangs out with Nick and his all-guy group of friends before school, and has known Nick since Year 7.