Clicking on the familiar Netflix icon this Saturday, I was pleasantly surprised to see a new title, Heartstopper. Pastel colors and a cute title were all that were needed to draw me in. With no clue I was in for a four-hour binging session, I started the first episode.

The new series encompasses eight delightful episodes, each about 25 minutes long and follows the story of 15-year-old Charlie, a sophomore in high school, who is still recovering from the bullying he endured his freshman year after coming out as gay to his all-boys private school when he meets Nick, the seemingly straight star of the rugby team Charlie immediately has a crush on. Taking place in a small town in England, the series follows the ups and downs of Nick’s journey to find out who he is and what his place is as well as both him and Charlie discovering if their friendship could be something more. The two main characters are supported by many friends as well, each coping with their own problems. Elle is a trans girl who recently moved to an all-girls school, where she meets Tara and Darcy, who also play important parts in the show. 

Personally, I think Heartstopper is a great series, and critics agree. In just four days, the show has already gotten a 100% Tomatometer score and a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes (as of now). While the plot, based on Alice Oseman’s 3-part graphic novel series, is both adorable and uplifting, it never gets boring. I found myself not being able to, nor wanting to, stop clicking Netflix’s inviting ‘Next episode’ button. 

Another admirable aspect of Heartstopper is that, unlike Euphoria or Riverdale, none of the actors playing teen parts were in their thirties. The teenagers in Heartstopper are acted out by actual teens, with all the realistic imperfections teenagers normally have. 

Lastly, I think the diversity shown in the characters is a great feature. Transgender, gay, and lesbian people, along with many of the struggles society forces them to deal with, were portrayed in the series, bringing awareness to many of the flaws in our society and hopefully influencing people to be more accepting of our differences.

Heartstopper is a refreshing reminder of what love truly is and is a wholesome show I would recommend for anyone to watch.