The most successful way to adapt a written piece is to have the author on board. This is only one of the many reasons why Netflix’s latest release, Heartstopper, is indeed winning hearts all over. Author Alice Oseman has been quite hands-on, developing the show and serving as a writer for all eight episodes.
So, it’s no surprise that fans may find that the Heartstopper comics have literally come to life! Both narratively and visually, the show follows the comics quite loyally and fans will notice it through most scenes.
But here are a few iconic moments I’ve cherrypicked that truly top the list:
1The Pen Explosion
So, Charlie and Nick are assigned to be desk-mates in the same form room (the US equivalent of this is your homeroom). But it’s their little, often funny interactions with each other that get them closer. One of the most iconic ones brought to life is Nick’s fountain pen exploding, staining the entirety of his palms.
2Charlie Is an Excellent Runner
Charlie is an ace sprinter in the comics as well, which definitely catches Nick’s attention. Nick first plays his interest off as trying to recruit Charlie into his rugby team, but we all know he’s actually admiring him from afar.
Once again, their dynamics while playing sports is one of the avenues through which their feelings blossom.
3Tori’s “Older Sister Magic”
One of my favorite things in the show is how Tori just randomly pops up behind Charlie, sipping her glass of water coolly and offering sibling insights. In the comics, Tori rightly attributes this uncanny ability to her “Older Sister Magic.”
Family, both born-into and found, is a big element of Heartstopper. So while we’re missing one Spring sibling in the show, Tori’s presence on the screen is always a delight.
4Nick Tells Ben to Back Off
Nick may be big and fluffy, but he has also used his stature several times in the comics to tell bullies off. The most important one is interrupting (putting it kindly) when Ben tries to force himself on Charlie.
On very similar lines, the show also recreates the physical fight Nick gets into when his classmates make homophobic jokes at the cinema. I’m not saying violence is the answer, but it does show that these instances affected Nick to the extent of him breaking out of his usually calm, sweet self.
5Sliding into Charlie’s DMs
Charlie gets totally flustered when Nick witnesses the Ben debacle. So, he definitely does not expect Nick to go on a rampage of DMs asking him if he is alright. Scared of double texting? Nope, our mate Nick here has just slid into Charlie’s DMs with multiple texts and no fear.
Many, many panels in the comics are dedicated to Nick and Charlie’s texts (they are Gen-Z after all!), so it’s lovely to see the show staying true to that.
6Snow Day
This is the first time that Nick has invited Charlie round to his house—the start of them being inseparable and spending most days at each other’s home. What’s more romantic than witnessing the first snow together? Add Nick’s adorable dog Nellie to that mix and you have the perfect impromptu date.
I won’t blame Nick for constantly looking at their Snow Day pictures, because those scenes were shot so beautifully. We need the show to release those selfies and photos in HD, stat!
7Nick’s Gay Panic
The narrative slowly builds up to Nick realizing he might have feelings for Charlie. The clues are right there, as he watches Pirates of the Caribbean, unable to decide who he is more attracted to—Keira Knightley or Orlando Bloom.
(Apparently, the movie is responsible for many people discovering their bisexuality in real life!)
It’s wonderful to see Nick take the time to gather his feelings, research, and come to understanding himself. While the comics resolve this a little quicker, I like that the show gave it a little more screen time.
It all results in Nick deciding he doesn’t want to “come out” as such but shares his truth with his mum (played by Olivia Colman, no less!) in a truly heartwarming scene.
8The First Kiss
Charlie and Nick have been tiptoeing around their feelings for quite a while now, especially because Charlie still doesn’t know if Nick is queer or even considers him a potential love interest.
So he does the cheeky thing by asking him which “girl” specifically he has a crush on. We hold our breath as Nick playfully reprimands him for assuming it is a girl.
They inch closer, reciting dialogues word for word from the comics, and voila—we get our first Narlie kiss. You don’t even need fireworks!
I also cannot go by without mentioning how the show does absolute justice to another iconic kiss scene:
9The Beach Date
This is the first “official” date that Nick and Charlie go on as a couple. We get the train ride, the photo booth, and the beach scene straight out of the comics.
(Did you by any chance spot Alice Oseman’s cameo here?)
The show does deal with quite a few stressful storylines, like Ben’s manipulation, the bullying, Tao’s misunderstanding with Charlie, etc. It would be cruel if Heartstopper dangled a cliffhanger at the end, just to bait in another season. Thankfully, the show does not do this.
Getting those arcs resolved and ending the season on this beachy note is just the right amount of fluff we need.
About Heartstopper
Heartstopper is an upcoming British coming-of-age streaming television series developed for Netflix based on the webcomic and graphic novel of the same name by Alice Oseman. Created and written by Oseman, the series is directed by Euros Lyn and executive produced by Patrick Walters.
The series stars Joe Locke, Kit Connor, Yasmin Finney, William Gao, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, Cormac Hyde-Corrin, Sebastian Croft, Tobie Donovan, and Rhea Norwood.
The story follows a British secondary school athlete student Charlie who, after meeting the rugby-fan Nick, becomes immediately infatuated. The series will show their budding romance, as well as Charlie’s close friend group as they all work to discover themselves and their identity, supporting each other along the way.
No Comments on Iconic Moments That the Heartstopper TV Show Adapted from the Comics