Heartstopper (2022)

What the critics said

Critics found the warmth hard to argue with. Rotten Tomatoes consensus praised the first series for its charm, the second for its performances, and the third for letting the characters grow. The praise was specific. Alice Oseman’s writing balanced honesty with optimism, presenting queer teenage life with unusual tenderness. Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian called the first series "possibly the loveliest show on TV." Angie Han of The Hollywood Reporter noted its strength in treating honesty and self-definition.

Not everyone was convinced by the sweetness. Nicholson later described the first series as "wholesome to the point of retro." Nick Hilton of The Independent found the second overly sanitised and "not very well executed," though still watchable. The consensus, even among the reserved, held that the warmth and sensitivity remained intact.