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In its two seasons, Heartstopper has found acclaim as an uplifting story of young love and friendship, along with an authentic portrayal of queer themes. Based on a graphic novel series by Alice Oseman, the Netflix coming-of-age teen drama is on the cusp of premiering its third season in October.
The plot follows the friendship and evolving romance between Joe Locke’s Charlie Spring and Kit Connor’s Nick Nelson. Charlie's high-spirited persona contrasts with as well as complements the latter rugby player’s cheerful demeanor, making way for a heartwarming on-screen chemistry. With this backdrop, the show has gained acclaim for handling self-discovery, acceptance, teenage relationships and their complexities without artificial sugar-coating.
Meanwhile, the second season ended on a cliffhanger of sorts. From Nick coming out to his father to him beginning to understand Charlie’s mental struggles and from prom night celebrations to relationship struggles for other characters, season three has a lot to unravel.
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Seven shows that fall along with Netflix’s Heartstopper
Ahead of Heartstopper airing its third season’s pilot in less than two weeks, there are still days to account for.
Viewers can take to thinking endlessly about how Nick may support Charlie in the forthcoming chapter. Moreover, one can also ponder about their future aspirations, university life, new character arcs and dynamics, but this is one task better left to the showrunners.
Fans of Heartstopper can rather tune into any or even all the below listed seven recommendations. Curated from fans’ opinions and in no particular order, these shows also center on themes of teenage love, queer challenges, heartbreaks and overall, make up for a wholesome feel-good watch.
1) Young Royals (2021) - Netflix
While Heartstopper takes a more light-hearted approach, Young Royals dives into a more dramatic and mature exploration of love and identity. Although both carry an emotional storyline, with meaningful LGBTQ+ themes, the latter also tackles serious issues of societal pressures and class divides.
Running for three seasons, the Swedish teen drama revolves around Prince Wilhelm of Sweden as he adjusts to a new way of life at a boarding school. Soon after, he meets a scholarship student, Simon Eriksson, and the duo hit it off.
However, the struggle between the Prince’s duties and his personal desires, as well as Simon’s modest upbringing contrasting his royal upbringing, form a strong and intriguing storyline.
2) Elite (2018) - Netflix
Like Heartstopper, Elite is a character-driven story. Running for eight seasons, with the last wrapping up in mid-2024, the show follows the lives of students from different socioeconomic backgrounds in a fictional elite high school.
The central plot involves clashes between different class groups, murders, corruption, power abuse, romances and jealousy. Characters struggling with their identities and orientations form another running subplot amid the intrigue of the murder mystery.
Friendships, betrayals, crimes, and queer and mental health issues both align and separate Elite from Heartstopper, especially for Elite's mature tone.
3) We Are Who We Are (2020) - HBO max
Consisting of one season of eight episodes, We Are Who We Are follows two American teenagers, Fraser Wilson and Caitlin “Harper” Poythress, navigating adolescence in a fictional US military base in Italy.
From learning to live on an isolated base to learning each other’s deepest secrets, the duo forms an evolving relationship that also involves several supporting characters. Thereafter, from breakups with other partners, family tensions, closeness and emotional separation, the show packs it all.
Like Heartstopper, the coming-of-age drama explores teenage love and accurate depictions of queer relationship struggles. Moreover, it also inspires self-acceptance and feel-good vibes in viewers.
4) Never Have I Ever (2020) - Netflix
Following the life of an Indian-American teenager, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s Devi Vishwakumar, Never Have I Ever may not have the outright queer themes of Heartstopper, but it leaves no stones unturned in exploring teenage romance and coming-of-age storylines.
Love triangles, heartbreaks, culture clashes, loss of family members and other adolescent challenges take center stage in this show. Moreover, its plot also strikes a balance between humor and seriousness, leading to a profound emotional impact.
Airing its final episode in 2023, its four seasons carry viewers through Devi’s lens and leave them as she concludes her high school journey.
5) Love, Victor (2020) - Disney+, Hulu
With 28 episodes spread across three seasons, Love, Victor follows a half-Puerto Rican, half-Colombian-American high school student Victor Salazar and his complexities.
The story sees him attempting to fit into his school life and forming friendships in the first season. Towards the second, Victor comes out and is also in a relationship with Benji. However, he soon also forms a romantic attachment with another friend of his, Rahim. Meanwhile, the reactions of his friends and family dominate the plot.
The eight-episode third season has him choose between Benji or Rahim and explores his future options after high school, an emotional roller-coaster along the lines of the upcoming Heartstopper season three.
6) XO, Kitty (2023) - Netflix
While Heartstopper dives more into LBTQ+ themes and the supportive aspects of friendship and young love, XO, Kitty offers a broader exploration of cultural identity, heartbreaks and family dynamics. Yet, at their core, the two character-driven storylines remain rooted around the complexities of teenage life.
In its one season of 10 episodes, Xo Kitty follows Anna Cathcart as Kitty Covey, who moves abroad to South Korea to be with her long-distance boyfriend, Dae. However, the move also had a deep meaning for her, as she chose to attend the very school where her late mother studied.
Connecting with her family’s past, evolving feelings and relationships, friendships and understanding the world form the core of this show, which depicts teenagers’ everyday challenges.
7) Atypical (2017) - Netflix
Like Heartstopper, Atypical has found acclaim in audience reviews as a series that offers an emotional viewing experience. Moreover, the exploration of identity, love and adolescence with heartfelt comedy touches make the latter a unique coming-of-age genre series.
The plot follows an autistic 18-year-old teen, Sam Gardner, on his quest to find love and gain confidence. Navigating through high school, he also faces unique challenges from his family, including an over-protective mother.
From developing a crush on his therapist to its fallout and from settling on a potential one to gaining independence, supporting characters and their romantic side quests also contribute to the storyline, adding depth and maturity.
Heartstopper will air its third season on October 3, 2024. In the meantime, the aforementioned seven shows should supply similar themes of teenage romance and complexities of life to get viewers right in the mood for the premiere.
