{"id":2048847,"date":"2026-07-17T07:00:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T04:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2048847"},"modified":"2026-07-17T07:00:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T04:00:23","slug":"heartstopper-forever-review-a-chaotic-goodbye-to-netflixs-wholesome-teens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2048847","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Heartstopper Forever\u2019 review: a chaotic goodbye to Netflix\u2019s wholesome teens"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Heartstopper-Forever.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-3332206\" class=\"post-3332206 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_71 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Heartstopper-Forever-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"Heartstopper Forever review\" title=\"Heartstopper Forever\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Joe Locke and Kit Connor in &#8216;Heartstopper Forever&#8217;. CREDIT: Netflix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_72\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_73  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_75  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>Reviews<\/span><span>Film Reviews<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_77 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_77\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">\u2018Heartstopper Forever\u2019 review: a chaotic goodbye to Netflix\u2019s wholesome teens<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_78 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_78\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>There&#8217;s no fourth season, so this queer coming-of-age romcom bows out with a two-hour special instead<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_review_overall tdi_79 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_79\">\n<table class=\"td-review td-fix-index\">\n<tr class=\"td-review-footer rate_stars\">\n<td class=\"td-review-score\">\n<div class=\"td-review-overall\">\n<div class=\"td-review-final-score\">3<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_80 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_80\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Nick Levine<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_81 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-07-17T08:00:23+01:00\">17th July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_82\" class=\"tdc-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_83  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p><strong class=\"dropcap big-read-dropcap\">S<\/strong>ince it premiered in 2022, the success of <i>Heartstopper<\/i> has been genuinely heartwarming. This winsome teen drama never set out to be hip and edgy like <i>Skins<\/i> or <i>Euphoria<\/i>, but it still supplied a healthy dose of LGBTQ+ representation. As it followed the blossoming romance between outwardly confident rugby jock Nick (Kit Connor) and nervy but determined Charlie (Joe Locke), it offered a comforting vision of British high school life \u2013 one where being gay or bisexual is an obstacle, but not insurmountable.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: The best films of 2026\u2026 so far!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Essentially, Nick and Charlie always got by with a little help from their friends, who learned about their own sexual and gender identities along the way. How many shows have one asexual character, let alone two? In its third and most recent season, which arrived on Netflix in 2024, <i>Heartstopper<\/i> even managed to shed some of its early tweeness by drilling into Nick and Charlie\u2019s decision to become sexually active<b>. <\/b>Locke also shone during a standout episode in which Charlie receives treatment for an eating disorder.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>Though the show\u2019s writer-creator Alice Oseman initially planned for a fourth season, it was announced in April 2025 that <i>Heartstopper w<\/i>ould instead conclude with a feature-length film. Was Netflix reluctant to commission more episodes \u2013 all too believable, given the streamer\u2019s track record \u2013 or were its breakout stars just too busy? Either way, fans were relieved that this beloved show would be getting a proper farewell.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Heartstopper Forever | Official Trailer | Netflix\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/locuQ-skySE?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>Sadly, it\u2019s a pretty patchy one. Adapted by Oseman from her own webcomic and graphic novel series, <i>Heartstopper<\/i> suited an episodic format \u2013 its charm lay in intimacy, not grand gestures. By contrast, this film feels diluted and curiously driftless. For much of its two-hour runtime, it\u2019s overly focused on Charlie and Nick\u2019s relationship difficulties, which are exacerbated as university beckons for one of them. Though<i> Heartstopper: Forever<\/i> never tries to out-steam <i>Heated Rivalry<\/i> \u2013 which would be pretty jarring, admittedly \u2013 the sex scenes are much less squeamish than before.<\/p>\n<p>For long stretches, <i>Heartstopper\u2019<\/i>s supporting characters barely get a look-in. The show\u2019s second couple, chatty Tao (William Gao, also one-half of sibling indie duo Wasia Project) and arty Elle (Yasmin Finney), only enjoy a glimmer of closure in the epilogue. Earlier in the film, Elle reminds Charlie about the parlous state of trans rights in 2026, but this well-intentioned moment feels shoehorned in \u2013 Elle has to tell us about the difficulties she faces as a young trans woman because this film doesn\u2019t find time to explore them.<\/p>\n<p>Thankfully, <i>Heartstopper<\/i>\u2018s prevailing sweetness carries it to the finish. Along the way, there\u2019s a touching subplot involving Charlie\u2019s plan to launch a school \u201cPride club\u201d, which allows gay teacher Mr Ajayi (Fisayo Akinade) to deliver a quietly stirring message about queer disobedience. And as ever, oblivious Imogen (Rhea Norwood) supplies the funniest moments. When she reconnects with Nick, whom she once had a huge crush on, she skips the small talk and says without an ounce of self-consciousness: \u201cI never got to tell you I\u2019m a lesbian.\u201d<b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>Still, if <i>Heartstopper Forever <\/i>isn\u2019t a flawless farewell, it\u2019s at least a fitting one. Saying goodbye to your teenage mates isn\u2019t meant to be easy, and this film recognises that growing up can mean growing apart. That it does so without denying fans a happy ending feels like one last big-hearted hurrah.<\/p>\n<div class=\"game-review-verdict\">\n<h2>Details<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Director:<\/strong> Wash Westmoreland<\/li>\n<li><strong>Starring:<\/strong> Kit Connor, Joe Locke, Yasmin Finney<\/li>\n<li><strong>Release date:<\/strong> July 17 (on Netflix)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Heartstopper<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_88\" class=\"tdc-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_89  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_93  vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_95  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_97 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>More Stories<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_98 td-pb-border-top td_module_flex_1--card td_module_flex_1--card--highlight td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_98\">\n<div id=\"tdi_98\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Lauren Laverne reveals blood and bone marrow disorder diagnosis<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">41 per cent of people in the UK haven\u2019t listened to a full album in a year, poll shows<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Reading Festival applies for licence to become four-day event with music on the Thursday night too<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Garbage\u2019s Shirley Manson apologises to Mel C for calling Spice Girls \u201cabhorrent\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Film News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">\u2018Kpop Demon Hunters\u2019 is still one of Netflix\u2019s most watched films, nearly one year on<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Gojira drummer Mario pulls out of US tour due to \u201cvisa issues\u201d \u2013 replaced with man named Luigi<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_99\" class=\"tdc-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_100  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_102  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_104 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p><strong class=\"dropcap big-read-dropcap\">S<\/strong>ince it premiered in 2022, the success of <i>Heartstopper<\/i> has been genuinely heartwarming. This winsome teen drama never set out to be hip and edgy like <i>Skins<\/i> or <i>Euphoria<\/i>, but it still supplied a healthy dose of LGBTQ+ representation. As it followed the blossoming romance between outwardly confident rugby jock Nick (Kit Connor) and nervy but determined Charlie (Joe Locke), it offered a comforting vision of British high school life \u2013 one where being gay or bisexual is an obstacle, but not insurmountable.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: The best films of 2026\u2026 so far!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Essentially, Nick and Charlie always got by with a little help from their friends, who learned about their own sexual and gender identities along the way. How many shows have one asexual character, let alone two? In its third and most recent season, which arrived on Netflix in 2024, <i>Heartstopper<\/i> even managed to shed some of its early tweeness by drilling into Nick and Charlie\u2019s decision to become sexually active<b>. <\/b>Locke also shone during a standout episode in which Charlie receives treatment for an eating disorder.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>Though the show\u2019s writer-creator Alice Oseman initially planned for a fourth season, it was announced in April 2025 that <i>Heartstopper w<\/i>ould instead conclude with a feature-length film. Was Netflix reluctant to commission more episodes \u2013 all too believable, given the streamer\u2019s track record \u2013 or were its breakout stars just too busy? Either way, fans were relieved that this beloved show would be getting a proper farewell.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Heartstopper Forever | Official Trailer | Netflix\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/locuQ-skySE?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>Sadly, it\u2019s a pretty patchy one. Adapted by Oseman from her own webcomic and graphic novel series, <i>Heartstopper<\/i> suited an episodic format \u2013 its charm lay in intimacy, not grand gestures. By contrast, this film feels diluted and curiously driftless. For much of its two-hour runtime, it\u2019s overly focused on Charlie and Nick\u2019s relationship difficulties, which are exacerbated as university beckons for one of them. Though<i> Heartstopper: Forever<\/i> never tries to out-steam <i>Heated Rivalry<\/i> \u2013 which would be pretty jarring, admittedly \u2013 the sex scenes are much less squeamish than before.<\/p>\n<p>For long stretches, <i>Heartstopper\u2019<\/i>s supporting characters barely get a look-in. The show\u2019s second couple, chatty Tao (William Gao, also one-half of sibling indie duo Wasia Project) and arty Elle (Yasmin Finney), only enjoy a glimmer of closure in the epilogue. Earlier in the film, Elle reminds Charlie about the parlous state of trans rights in 2026, but this well-intentioned moment feels shoehorned in \u2013 Elle has to tell us about the difficulties she faces as a young trans woman because this film doesn\u2019t find time to explore them.<\/p>\n<p>Thankfully, <i>Heartstopper<\/i>\u2018s prevailing sweetness carries it to the finish. Along the way, there\u2019s a touching subplot involving Charlie\u2019s plan to launch a school \u201cPride club\u201d, which allows gay teacher Mr Ajayi (Fisayo Akinade) to deliver a quietly stirring message about queer disobedience. And as ever, oblivious Imogen (Rhea Norwood) supplies the funniest moments. When she reconnects with Nick, whom she once had a huge crush on, she skips the small talk and says without an ounce of self-consciousness: \u201cI never got to tell you I\u2019m a lesbian.\u201d<b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>Still, if <i>Heartstopper Forever <\/i>isn\u2019t a flawless farewell, it\u2019s at least a fitting one. Saying goodbye to your teenage mates isn\u2019t meant to be easy, and this film recognises that growing up can mean growing apart. That it does so without denying fans a happy ending feels like one last big-hearted hurrah.<\/p>\n<div class=\"game-review-verdict\">\n<h2>Details<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Director:<\/strong> Wash Westmoreland<\/li>\n<li><strong>Starring:<\/strong> Kit Connor, Joe Locke, Yasmin Finney<\/li>\n<li><strong>Release date:<\/strong> July 17 (on Netflix)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/reviews\/film-reviews\/heartstopper-forever-review-joe-locke-kit-connor-netflix-3957343&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Heartstopper-Forever.jpg&#8221;] Joe Locke and Kit Connor in &#8216;Heartstopper Forever&#8217;. CREDIT: Netflix ReviewsFilm Reviews \u2018Heartstopper Forever\u2019 review: a chaotic goodbye to Netflix\u2019s wholesome teens There&#8217;s no fourth season, so this queer coming-of-age romcom bows out with a two-hour special instead 3 By Nick Levine 17th July 2026 Since it premiered in 2022, the success [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2048847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2048847","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2048847"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2048847\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2048847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2048847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2048847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}