Netflix has just dropped a mysterious teaser for its hit LGBTQ+ teen comedy-drama ‘Heartstopper’, promising a “surprise” for fans in the coming week. This teaser marks the one-year anniversary of the show’s release to critical acclaim. ‘Heartstopper’ is based on the beloved graphic novels and webcomic by British author Alice Oseman, and follows the story of two teens, Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson, who fall in love at an all-boys school and navigate sharing their relationship with family, friends and peers.
The teaser video features stars Joe Locke, Kit Connor, Yasmin Finney, and William Gao, who play the show’s characters Charlie, Nick, Elle, and Tao, respectively. In the clip, Tao dances before the scene from season one where Nick gives Charlie a birthday present is shown, with Charlie telling him “I said you didn’t have to get me anything”. This has left fans guessing what surprise Netflix has in store for them.
In May 2020, Netflix confirmed that ‘Heartstopper’ had been renewed for a second and third season, and the show’s iconic first kiss scene between Charlie and Nick is currently up for a BAFTA award for ‘Memorable Moment’. The show has garnered a whole host of industry accolades, including nine nominations and five wins at the first Children’s and Family Emmy Awards.
Fans have understandably gone into meltdown, with many taking to social media to express their excitement and speculation about what the surprise could be. While it remains unclear what the surprise could be, fans are hopeful that it will be an announcement related to the show’s LGBTQ+ themes.
Heartstopper has been praised for its portrayal of queer relationships, and the show has been credited with providing much-needed representation for LGBTQ+ teens. The anticipation for the show’s second season has been building since the wrap-up of filming in December last year, with author Alice Oseman promising that the next instalment will be “so magical”.
Heartstopper has become a phenomenon among Netflix viewers, and the show’s popularity has proven that there is a significant demand for queer representation in mainstream media. With this surprise announcement, the show’s creators and Netflix could be signalling their commitment to continuing to provide a platform for LGBTQ+ voices and stories.