Heartstopper's Coming Out Scene Feels So Damn Real

thegamer.com:

This article contains spoilers for season one of Heartstopper

Heartstopper is one of the only things on my TikTok feed right now. Netflix’s adaptation of Alice Oseman’s graphic novel series is a big hit with queer audiences, drawing in people from across the spectrum with its honest and heartwarming story of gay romance. It touches on identity, acceptance, bullying, love, loss, and so much more across its eight episodes in a way that feels refreshingly true to life.

While the show is filled with memorable moments spread across its ensemble cast of characters, one that stood out to me in the original webcomic and even more so in the adaptation is Nick Nelson coming to terms with his sexuality. While his character arc is lined with a generous helping of angst when it comes to leaving his straightness behind, it never feels overwhelming, not once negating the exuberance of realising you’re attracted to the same sex and embracing the feelings that come with such a realisation.

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Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson getting together in a traditional capacity doesn’t happen until the final episode, with the couple escaping to the seaside to cuddle on the beach and literally scream out their love to one another as the tide comes in. It’s sickeningly adorable, but also a testament to how far Nick has come as a character. He’s the star rugby player, his upbringing giving him a societal perspective that has seen him surrounded by rough lads, bullies, and those who are subject to a privilege that means they can afford to look down on those beneath them. He’s also straight by association, because there’s no way a person who plays sport can possibly be the slightest bit