It’s difficult not to be touched by the wholesome British LGBTQ+ teen drama Heartstopper that recently premiered on Netflix on April 22. Based on the beloved YA graphic novel of the same name by Alice Oseman, Heartstopper tells the story of a recently outed social outcast named Charlie (Joe Locke) on his path towards finding love with one of his school’s rugby players, Nick (Kit Connor), who’s apparently straight. The Netflix series was highly anticipated by fans of Oseman’s novel series, and, immediately, audiences were hooked on and hopeful for Charlie and Nick’s innocent love story.
In addition to Charlie and Nick’s story, Heartstopper presents multiple teenage-related issues in an incredible diverse manner, with the stories of a lesbian couple (Corinna Brown and Kizzy Edgell), a trans girl’s experience in her first year at an all-girls school (Yasmin Finney), and their relationships with each other and their school peers. While Netflix has not yet officially anounced a season two, audiences needn’t worry; here are 5 shows like Heartstopper to watch next.
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5 Young Royals
Netflix
As a young adult drama, the Swedish series Young Royals has everything to win over fans of Heartstopper. The Netflix original series brings big twists and also touches on the lives of young LGBTQ+ characters. Indeed, Young Royals follows the plot of Prince Wilhelm (Edvin Ryding), who begins a relationship with classmate Simon (Omar Rudberg) at the prestigious Hillerska boarding school. There, the young man breaks free from his confined life and experiences for the first time the freedom to make his own decisions. With a new perspective on life, Wilhelm receives unexpected news and discovers that he is next in line to the throne. Considering his new relationships with his colleagues and, more importantly, with Simon, Wilhelm must decide between love and duty.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
4 Never Have I Ever
Never Have I Ever shows the life of Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), the daughter of a couple who moved to the United States from India before she was born. Devi has two goals: to become a popular girl and be loved by everyone during high school, and to get a boyfriend. Besides her journey, audiences also follow the path of her friends Fabiola (Lee Rodriguez) and Eleanor (Ramona Young), two girls who also share the experiences of being on the verge of exploring love and sexuality. Of course, things don’t always go the way they plan. Never Have I Ever was inspired by the adolescence of Mindy Kaling, who serves as the creator of the series. Diversity is one of the central points of the plot, as well as the goal behind the camera.
3 Sex Education
Sex Education follows a young virgin, Otis Thompson (Asa Butterfield), who lives with his mother, a sex therapist (Gillian Anderson). Despite never having had sex, his mother’s expertise makes Otis an expert on the subject, being consulted by his colleagues with doubts about their own sexuality. As such, Otis teams up with a savvy friend Maeve (Emma Mckey) to create an “underground clinic” that gives sex education to teenagers. Laurie Nunn was the one who created the premise for the show. The Netflix series is a great take on young adults’ relations and the numerous possibilities regarding sexual orientations, as well as how they tend to flourish during teenage years.
2 We Are Who We Are
Sky Studios
We Are Who We Are is directed by Luca Guadagnino, who gained greater notoriety for the success of his film Call Me by Your Name. The first episode of the series presents Fraser’s (Jack Dylan Grazer) point of view. The second tells the same story, but through the eyes of Caitlin (Jordan Kristine Seamón). With painted nails, bleached hair, and stylish clothes, Fraser leaves New York and goes to live with his mother, Commander Sara Wilson (Chloë Sevigny), at an American military base in the Veneto region of Italy. Sara’s wife (Alice Braga) also accompanies her. Fraser has never kissed anyone, doesn’t even know if he likes boys or girls, and is not well received by the youth group. What’s more, he is only noticed by Caitlin, who finds in him the same insecurities and dissatisfactions she holds for herself. There are several topics covered: relationships, coming-of-age, the discovery of sexuality, Islamic fundamentalism and, above all, the desires and frustrations of gender-fluid adolescents.
1 Love, Victor
Hulu
Love, Victor is a TV series spinoff of the film Love, Simon, which, in turn, is based on Becky Albertalli’s YA novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. In the series, the titular Victor (Michael Cimino) sets out on a journey of discovering his own sexuality after enrolling in Creekwood High School, the same school where Simon (Nick Robinson) studied in the movie. In a similar format to the movie, Victor exchanges messages with the now-graduated Simon, seeking advice about his own struggles. Rachel Hilson, Anthony Turpel, Bebe Wood, Mason Gooding, and George Sear complete the cast of the series, written by the duo Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger (This is Us). The first two seasons are available on Hulu.
