the opening scene was Nick remembering Charlie getting bullied the year prior and not doing anything about it because he didn't really know Charlie at the time, they talk about that more in the graphic novel but he feels guilty over not helping him

With Tao, I just think it's so important to remember he's 15 years old, and all these characters are between 14-16. As an adult it's easy to be like "Oh yeah well THIS is what you should do"; but Tao's only 15, and at 15, everything IS overdramatic and you ARE defensive of your friends in a very overdramatic way. Tao has a heart of gold basically, and everything he does is rooted in his love for his friends (like concern for Charlie hanging out with the sort of people who bullied him); it can be overbearing at times, but it comes from a good place.

17:21 Nick's "what? what's up" gets me EVERYTIME and I'm soooo glad your heart melted as well thank you 😭😭 like it's super nice to see that I'm not the only one haha

lol i was so invested i paused the show for like 15 minutes to read the message thread between nick and charlie and write it down. NICK I messaged you first!! I like talking to you Also I’m so booooored I have this geography project to do CHARLIE ew why did you pick geography gcse NICK Because I’m an idiot What did you pick?? CHARLIE music, latin, spanish, classics NICK You picked four??? Omg you are smart Also you can’t criticise me for having geography when you do LATIN CHARLIE okay okay true you can figure how to solve global warming while i learn a dead language NICK Seriously why Latin CHARLIE because it’s cool NICK Wow I am judging you so hard right now CHARLIE ffs i promise i’m cool actually NICK Nope you have been exposed as a NERD CHARLIE rude!!!!!!! NICK A cool nerd? CHARLIE that’s better NICK lmao

“My icy heart is melting” haha. Right there with you. Love this show 😊

I think it's easy to write Tao off as an overbearing friend, but I think he's just really afraid of Charlie getting hurt, especially considering everything that Charlie went through the past year - getting outed, being bullied by boys on the rugby team. Because of this Tao is probably just deeply mistrusting of Nick (since it's implied that although Nick never took part in the bullying, he never stood up for Charlie either). So Tao's fear of Charlie getting hurt doesn't just stem from the fact that he thinks Nick is straight and will never like Charlie back, but also because of Nick's position in the school hierarchy. As he says in episode 1, Nick and his friends are loud, popular jocks, while Charlie's friend group are "borderline outcasts".

I swear gays just attract eachother. Like all my mates are gay, before I even knew it, and we have the lovely token straight friend too

I think you're the only reactor I've seen that has tried to take the perspective of the audience out of the equation, and I love that! I mean yes, we're rooting for them, and we have access to more information than Charlie and his friends do and we want to move it along, lol. But if we think of it objectively, all they know is that Nick is friendly and considerate, and his friends may not even trust that it's genuine given how similar Nick and his crowd are to those who bullied Charlie. Alternatively, I've been lucky enough as a gay guy to have straight guy friends who have been "white knights" in difficult situations (whether it's an ear when I had boy trouble, or calling out homophobia), and have been platonically affectionate with me as friends (loads of hugs, loads of words of affirmation). Given MY experiences, I might not immediately think Nick isn't straight if I were just viewing Charlie's perspective, at least not simply based on his behaviour towards Charlie. So I can understand his friends trying to spare him that pain, though I agree with you, sometimes we gotta make those mistakes and feel that pain in order to learn, lol.

18:12 no its actually insane because same. i had this friend group 6 years back and everyone was “straight”. and then a few years in 3/5 of us came out one year after the other 😂

When you watch this episode, go to the scene where Charlie is at Nick's front door, and Nick's notices that Charlie has had a haircut. There is a beautiful little hint of Nick's slowly growing attraction to Charlie where when Charlie asked if it looked bad and Nick started off by saying "no, no you look" before changing it to "it looks great". Such a tiny moment, but it says so much.

I watched it in one go and it was one of the best 4 hours of my life. no regrets.

i recently came across your channel when searching up “heartstopper reactions” (bcuz im obsessed with the show) you word everything perfectly, i have never seen a react channel put so much work into their videos, you explain and understand everything perfectly. keep up the good work!! cant wait to watch more of ur videos :))

This show has helped me so much. I’ve struggled coming to terms with my sexuality for years and I’ve doubted myself for many reasons. Seeing Nick go through that turmoil hit so close to home and it’s helped me see how I’ve been in this cycle of suppressing and avoiding out of fear and finally confirm for myself that I’m definitely not straight. I’m still not comfortable with labels but that’s okay. This show is absolutely phenomenal.

Due to my schedule reactions will be posted weekly every Sunday or Monday depending on if it gets copyrighted (we have been good so far thank god), expect episode 3 to be out this Sunday!

"you look so cuddly like that" & the way he said it must be the sweetest thing in recorded history don't mind me over here mopping up the tons of tears I've cried over the pure cuteness of this beautiful show seriously I've watched this 4 times already and I still get giggly about literally every scene ...damn, I think I lost my edge

I love Charlie’s sister she’s so bluntly honest 😂and such an observer 😭😂

I love your insights, pause as much as you want! And yeah in high school I was part of a group of six friends and it turned out only one of us is straight, our token straight friend

I need a season two ASAP!! Please Netflix don’t let me down again 🤞🏻

I never looked up "am I gay?" because I already knew the answer, lol! 🌈

Hey! Just wanted to comment as someone who has watched this show a million times lol, I think the first scene of this episode is so well done but misunderstood. It’s definitely a flashback, if you notice in the scene it says, “did you hear about that year 9 that’s gay?” and we know that Charlie is in year 10 now. I think you were right about Nick seeing it happening but not standing up for him. I think it’s a combination of guilt for just standing by as well as Nick being super nervous about possibly being gay himself, since this is the episode where we see him start to really question things 🙂 It always gets me because the way Charlie looks so helpless and vulnerable right at the camera, like he’s looking at Nick, and Nick is thinking how could I have just watched that happen and not done anything 😭

If episode 2 melted your heart, hold on tight because the rest of the episodes will make your heart explode 🥰🥰

Growing up in the 80's I did not have an internet to ask, "Am I gay?". Nor did any of my peers. We are all lucky to have the resources we have now. Isn't perfect but it's definitely different and much better. These stories are so very important for so many reasons to so many people. Queers and non-queers alike. Young and old. It is one of those culturally resonant stories that authentically shares an old plot with new protagonists and in the process refreshes it for everyone. Oh the innocence!!! My heart is so very touched and unfortunately that is a rather rare feat.

18:51 - The way Nick can't take his eyes off Charlie here is so warm and lovely. I have had moments like that, were I could not simply take my eyes off the guy I was with. No words needed here. It is all in the expression from Joe Locke and Kit Connor.

I'm so excited to see this show demolish your "icy heart" like a 50 tonne bulldozer 🤣

I haven't seen anyone comment on this, but when Nick is googling and the song "Why am I Like This" is playing, I found myself with tears streaming down my face. It viscerally transported me back to my early coming out like it just happened even though its been more than 30 years. This show is incredible at exposing unhealed wounds to be processed.

Young Royals (Wilhelm and Simon) gave me the exact feeling you talked about.

Congrats on your reaction! You don´t talk too much because you are giving very clever insight on all the subtleties this show is packed with. I´m not British and certainly not young but this show also melts my icy heart in more ways than one. Cheers.

No spoilers, but your heart will definitely be completely THAWED by the last episode ;)

The actor kit does so much acting with his facial expressions and body language.

Thank you! I was squeezing my Husbands hand and squealing during the hand holding part too. There are so many romantic moments like that in this show that I love. We are both men in their mid-50’s who wish we had a show like this when We were kids. I wouldn’t have felt so isolated. Became a new subscriber after watching your first two Hesrtstopper videos. Looking forward to exploring you channel. ☮️

No one ever mentions it, but when Nick answers the door and comments on Charlie's haircut, he starts to say "YOU look good" but catches himself and says "IT looks good." He doesn't want to reveal too much. That's such a nervous crush thing to say 😍

It's so great that young people have this positive show to inspire. As a teenager in the 80's I was at the very beginning of the representation journey. You are right about it being set in The UK. Makes it so much more meaningful to us Brits.

Omg when you said "I don't think there is one gay person out there that has not typed that question" FELTTTTT because like that's SO true !!

Also, I LOVE the long videos! Most of the reaction videos I see is like 15 mins long which is quite honestly boring a little bit

I can't wait for you to see the rest of the series. Your icy heart will not only have defrosted but will be warmed. I'm glad to see a series that's not American. I'm Australian but I find the British shows far more relateable and the acting is just perfect. Having reactions from an adorable man with the cutest accent just makes my day. When I

18:12 literally we were 10 people in my school friend group, some with who I had been friends with since we were 4 y/o. When we were graduating we all went to the beach and one night we just started coming out to eachother. Turns out ONLY TWO were straight (and funny enough it was the two girls the whole school thought were dating in secret lol). I really don't know why it never came as a topic before, but we were such a queer group without knowing (it's been four years, we're still very tight)

Me Binging a show multiple times and watching Multiple reactors and reading the graphic novels repeatedly... This show is whats keeping me going as my husband is dealing with cancer.

17:28 - The most reassuring, warm and comforting smile/laugh you could ever get comes from Nick here. So reassuring and warm.

You seem like such a genuinely good person! Your reaction makes watching the episodes even more fun

What a great comment from Harry at 7:25 - 100% correct about putting distance

I absolutely love your reaction! Thank you for celebrating the beauty of it being British. I also love how you don't hold back your non-stop comments and questions throughout. Feels like you're speaking my thoughts!

In the comics nicks he regrets not helping Charlie at the time when he was being bullied last term only because he didn't know him at the time

Watching reactions to this series is so fascinating. I’ve seen a few reactors who were like “no gay person has ever googled ‘am i gay’ because we just know from birth” and I’m like honey please speak for yourself. Everyone’s experiences are so vastly different from each other and I just love watching this innocent lovely story. It should be called “Heartwarmer” instead.

I cannot wait to see you react to the rest of the season! You’re going to love it, promise.

Honestly, the fact that my current friendship group (sorta?) is literally just: a queer guy, a sapphic person (me) and the (probably) straight ally. (Genuinely though it was like: ‘“Everyone thought I was in love with her but I wasn’t because, well, I’m gay.” “That is so funny, because I actually *did* like her because I’m gay.”’)

In terms of dating how long a period of time this first season of Heartstopper takes place, just go back to episode one and you will see on Charlie's phone in his first ever scene that the day is Monday January 4th and they are returning from their Christmas holidays. Apparently the whole of season one takes place between January and June, so six months apparently.

Funny enough i haven't searched "Am i gay", bc my parents had full control of my search history and i was aware that they would be able to see it and i was scared they would be mad. But thankfully they are supportive. ❤️

Sick at home - so my plan for today is to binge through all your Heartstopper reactions. I've been obsessed with the show for (only) a month now & your reactions are really wholesome - especially enjoy a British person reacting to the show :) Thaaanks!

that's such a great point about how representation goes far beyond just being gay, how it includes where you're from, how you were raised, etc. - and how there's so much room for more LGBT stories to encompass more of those experiences.

Rewatching these reaction series and absolutely loving your analysis and commentary! Thank you so much🥰

This show is the most cozy thing ever

Your comment at 23 mins of “he’s never actually questioned” makes all the sense. Went through a situation similar to this show between a guy and I and when we did have the courage to tell each other how we felt, he said, “you’re the only guy who has made me feel like this.” His mom was a B and she said she’d disown him. :/ He repressed and I could only move on. Love that this show represents something similar to someone who truly questioning and discovering feelings that they’d never thought of.

Woah, someone who didnt judge Tao and try to understand his side of perspective? I love your reactions

The author of the comics has said that they live in a fictional town in Kent

What I love about British shows is that they get the ages right or at least get it very close, cos in America the actors are like 25 or 30 yr olds but playing 16 yr olds

Jim Luippold 1 second ago May 20` -----Netflix just announced that Heartstopper was just renewed for Seasons 2 and 3!!!! Yahoo!!!!!!!

i bought the graphic novel today after binging the whole series. I have only ever loved a film or series like this since Love simon. Loved the reaction as well!

The part where you talked about lgbtq+ people being drawn to each other and you explaining your friend group made me think. My best friend of 13+ years is Bi and I’m pan. We met in kindergarten and both came out to each other the same day. Made me laugh when you mentioned that part 😂😂

Appreciate your advice and insightful comments. They are amazing! 👍

I love love love love love this show. It's so sweet and pure and I love these boys so much! (this from a 30+ married mom...I want to shield them from the world lol!)

when you mentioned the 3/6 ppl in ur friend group wete gay that just reminds me that basically everyone in my friend group is lgbtq and it’s so funny 😭 (SPOILERS) also this shows rly been amazing for me. seeing elle in the show being played by a trans actress is amazing since i’m a trans guy and i’ve never seen any representation like that before. it’s also struck a chord with me since i basically have the personality of charlie but nick and i are technically going through the same thing. nick is mostly scared of coming out due to what his “friends” would think of him and he’s just not ready and is afraid to show affection to charlie when he’s in public with him. it’s perfectly understandable but it’s also shown me that i shouldn’t be scared to come out as trans even if i don’t rly look like a guy yet. i hope other people who watch this show enjoy it since it’s so good and wholesome. i applaud netflix for putting something like this on their streaming service so that younger lgbtq kids can watch it and get the representation they deserve.

Best show ever! The hugs are everything!

I dont think i ever did the am i gay test,i was just chilling at 13 and went,oh shit im in love with this dude

OMG!!! I was dead inside til I watched this show.

😂I've definitely done the "supress and suffer" thing

YESSS!! I’ve been so excited for you to post this

love that you mentioned skam! i get the same with being so attached to this show in a way that i haven’t been in a while

I wish I had this show when I was growing up. My experience with my first boyfriend was toxic af. We were bestfriends but we started to like each other more. We were both bi and confused and both had gfs as we fell into our relationship. It didn't last long. He's married now lol

I had a steady male group of friends from 4/5th grade onward. Around 8th grade I started hanging out with them less as I began coming out to myself and feared homophobia from that group. Years later only 1/5 of us is straight. I’m still pretty close with one of them as I helped him through his own coming out process. Wild that it happened to you too!

At 12:05 you just have to suspend reality and go with the flow. This snow scene is of course very unreal, as it rarely snows like this in Britain. However, it is never ever to do with the snow, it is the bonding between Nick and Charlie that is important. Reality can take a break, and we can just enjoy this cute bonding between them.

i’ve been waiting for this!!!!😭🍂

I love all your comments in between! ❤️

Lol your question, I have never questioned my sexuality and I have never had to come out to my family. They just always knew and didn't force me into any standards. I wished others could have had my family as well. ❤️❤️

It was explained in the novel Tao is the one that accidentally outed Charlie. He was talking about it and someone overheard that started the rumors

You'll understand the Nick and Tara thing next episode, don't worry :) I agree with you about binging....I love it...but now it's over and I have to wait lol

Well, no wonder that your heart can’t take this cuteness overload sometimes. It’s a heartstopper after all 🐶🍂🌈💕 love the show so much, it’s painful to wait for your reaction on this so long, they’re so good! Looking forward to ep3

The way you reacted waste literally me when I watched the show😭❤ this show is just what everyone needed, it's absolutely beautiful❤❤❤

oh my gosh that thing about unknowling befriending / surrounding yourself with other queer people in highschool and THEN later in life realizing that you were all queer the whole time is so fuckin funny lmaoo I've pretty much done the same thing jkdjjfkf

As a pansexual female, never have I ever watched something this CUTE that made me smile, even when I've cried 3 times already that day. It doesent matter if I've seen it 5 times already, it's my calm down method. Seeing the characters bonding just really melts my heart. It really feels like I'm standing inside of the screen in the episode. I can't wait when they release season 2 and 3 next year.

I am obsessed with this show and also your reactions!

I have never asked Google if I am gay. Sadly, when I was going through what Nick and Charlie are going through - the internet didn't exist! I am heading towards 50, but this is one of the greatest stories I have ever seen. I just wish I had found my Nick when I was 15 - perhaps my life wouldn't have been so single

the show is called Heartstopper for a reason Harry haha also it's me!!! I have never taken an "am I gay" quiz because I knew I was queer since I was 7. I just knew and never give any second thoughts about it

To reference what you were saying around the 11th minute mark about not seeing many british tv shows, have you ever watched In The Flesh? It's a British show about a gay zombie haha. It's a bit old and unfortunately it was canceled so it ends a bit in the middle of the plot, but what was done was so good! They touched on such interesting topics about how society treats minorities and how families deal with finding out their kids are minorities (because of sexuality or disabilities) It also talks about mental health from what I remember. I've never seen anyone react to it and I love it so much it's such an underrated show, you don't even have to react to it but I do recommend watching it. I do warn you it's a bit more gloomy than heartstopper though haha! Hope you are having a nice day!

RE: You feeling weird about seeing familiar houses etc on TV because you're used to American shows... I had that same thing with Young Royals. I'm Finnish but it was so weird seeing food brands etc that we have at home and the Lucia day celebration etc on Netflix. It's funny to realize that American things seem so normal on TV until you see stuff you recognize from your actual life.

"If you're out there let me know, 'cause you're a rare *Quacking* breed" Me: "Welp, here I am."

23:31 me😅 I just happened to read whole lgbtq+ Wikipedia page few years before I started questioning myself. Though I’m pan and had a long way to this label. So at 25 I can say that maybe I am still a little bit confused and figuring out myself

no i related so much with what you said about lgbtq people being drawn to each other. it has happened to me many times. Even most of my friends from elementary school (i'm American) are lgbtq plus now. It's crazy how we find each other!!

In the graphic novels, instead of Gay Panic, Charlie's screen has the NASA logo with GAY written instead of NASA. Unfortunately NASA wouldn't allow them to use the logo for the series, apparently...

I'm a bisexual man and I think I never searched the "am I gay?" Kinda question. I always knew I felt something for girls but whenever I talked to my friends they said things like "ew, I'd never kiss a boy" and I was like "what? Why not?" Years later I realized I also liked men because one of my friends came out to me and Talking to him I discovered that felt the same way. After a lot of experiences I can proudly say I'm bisexual and looks like a I'm also a rare breed of gay men 😜

I can honestly tell you that I am one of the few that didn’t have to google weather I was gay or not. I knew at a very early age. I also made sure not to lead any girls on as too confuse them or me. Coming out at age 20 was the hardest & best things I’ve ever done. Love your reactions & this show! 😍

I didn’t type out the question but I did ask myself it😂

Certified lesbian who somehow never Googled "am I gay" before. It's even crazier that i never searched it bc didn't realize I was gay till I was 18. Comphet mixed with religious trauma is a hell of a drug

23:06 I haven't, honest to god, never in my life do I remember typing "am I gay" kinda thing.

The opening scene is Nick looking at the Instagram picture from the year earlier when he (Charlie) was being bullied in the locker room

Loved the clarity in your commentary. I gained insights I would otherwise not have realized. Thanks.

nick looking at pictures of Charlie was so cute

Absolutely LOVE your reaction than compared to some of the other ones I've watched. Very good commentary and the advice bits were so nice and we'll worded!!💜

I never looked up if I was gay after being attracted to the opposite sex. see I realized I wasn't straight in my mid teens (I'm pan), from an episode of a show. When saw the scene of the character where I was like "I want to make out with your face", I knew about the Queer community. like there was no one (friend/family) who was out at that point. But I was already going to a mental health center for years(for other reasons). The center I was going to had a very strong tie to a Queer focused center. So I intently thought about asking my counselor about it. I never even thought about google. Until 2 years after I come out (at this point I had just come out as not straight I didn't know my label yet), a friend of my come out as gay, and said he figured it out through google.

Outstanding reaction. 👏👏. Love all your comments between the clips. Very informative and insightful. Looking forward to your continued reactions to the remaining episodes.

You’re reactions are everything! I’m subbing now!