This subtle but meaningful change in Netflix’s 8-part show, derived from creator and writer Alice Oseman’s Tumblr-originated webcomics turned graphic novels, is indicative of the fresh breath of air that Heartstopper’s contemporary portrayal of LGBTQ+ youth brings to the genre.Īlready out and proud, Charlie (newcomer Joe Locke) instantly makes a nice change from the closeted narratives that dominate queer coming-of-age stories. It’s not the protagonist hesitantly spelling out G-A-Y, but the love interest. This familiar moment of self-questioning is present in Heartstopper, but not in the way we are used to. In the LGBTQ+ teen coming-of-age canon, a scene in which a closeted character googles “am i gay?” in the midst of a sexuality crisis has become a staple.
