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17 Shows Like “Heartstopper” to Last You Until the Season 3 Fall Premiere
By Delia Curtis,
5 days ago
*Warning major season 2 spoilers ahead*
Nick, Charlie and the gang have won over my heart time and time again over the course of Heartstopper’s two seasons. The group of lovable teens is set to return for the series’ season three premiere come August, hopefully settling some major cliffhangers—like if Charlie decided to press send on *that* text to Nick. My hope is that an "I love you" is on the horizon for these two. (I'm squealing!! NBD.) Based on some things actor Kit Connor , who plays Nick, has said, I'm expecting things to be much steamier for Narlie in season three. I guess I'll just have to (patiently) wait and see. Until then, I went on a quest to find shows with a similar, wholesome spirit that encourage viewers to expand their minds and open their hearts—and of course, embrace the drama. So grab some popcorn and dig into these 17 heart-stopping shows.
Number of episodes: Season 1 (8 episodes), Season 2 (8 episodes)
Starring: Ayesha Madon, James Majoos, Chloe Hayden
Modeled after a series by the same name that ran for seven seasons, Heartbreak High ’s soft reboot heads Down Under to follow various teens from Hartley High School in a vignette style show. Main characters and best friends on the outs, Amerie and Harper, have painted a map of the student bodies’ sexual exploits–dubbed “the incest wall”–on a wall in a less populated section of the school’s grounds. When the wall is discovered by school administration and only one person takes the fall, everyone implicated on the infamous map ends up in a sex education class to teach them about respect, responsibility and safe sex (obvs!).
Played by a real-life set of twins Railey and Seazynn Gilliland, this teen drama portrays singers Tegan and Sara while they navigate high school and come to terms with their sexualities. Based on their memoir of the same name, High School, is a series that closely examines the relationship between two twin sisters whose identities nearly mirror each other. Taking place in the ‘90s, the girls explore the rave and grunge scenes as they come into their own as musicians, all the while coming out. It’s a can’t miss for any sapphic TV lover.
Starring: Sarah Catherine Hook, Imani Lewis, Elizabeth Mitchell
When a young vampire who’s just got her fangs falls in love with a descendant from one of the best monster hunter families to walk the planet, nothing bad could happen…right?! Juliette and Cal (Calliope for long) are from opposite worlds, yet roam the same earth. But when their individual destinies have them pitted against one another, will true love conquer all? Maybe…just maybe. Viewers follow as each girl comes into her own, either becoming a monster or fighting them all off, in a thrilling and funny sapphic drama.
Number of episodes: Season 1 (8 episodes), Season 2 (8 episodes), Season 3 (8 episodes), Season 4 (8 episodes)
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey
When your mother specializes in sexual wellness and therapy, it’s only natural that you start your own unauthorized, underground therapist’s office in your school’s abandoned bathrooms, right? Well, Otis “Sex Kid” Milburn does just that in this hilarious British dramedy. With his gay best friend Eric and outcast-turned-friend and crush Maeve, Otis begins to bring sexual awareness and education to a much-needed and horny population of 6th Form students in rural England. Full of interesting, informative and approachable plot lines involving sexuality, coming out, individuality, friendship, parents and relationships, Sex Education is one of my favorite shows on this list. (Truly, I’ve already rewatched it twice.)
Featuring one of this summer’s most notable pop singers, Reneé Rapp, Sex Lives of College Girls follows four very chaotic young women as they embark on their academic journey at a prestigious Vermont college. As suitemates, the quad explores their sex lives. Full of romantic relationships, sorority rushes, soccer games, anything-but-clothes parties and more, this Mindy Kaling-created gem is as charming as it is ridiculous. The shenanigans this gang gets up to are LOL-worthy and the experiences are as cringe as they are relatable (unfortunately).
This Catalan-language drama centers around seven members of a girls’ street hockey team as they vie for much-needed funding while the boys’ team reaps plenty of endowments. Even the president of the hockey club threatens to dissolve the team. But when a former star player with a troubled past, Anna (who also happens to be one of the current team members' sisters) returns to coach the girls, there’s hope. Each episode follows one member of the hockey team, exploring their individual lives. The series touches upon themes like women's rights and agency, pregnancy, abortion, sex, family relationships, ADHD, corruption, body image, team spirit, racism, teamwork, responsibility, sexuality and coming of age.
When Belly Conklin returns to "Cousin’s Beach" during her family's annual summer trip, she’s reunited with their family friends, the Fishers. And she looks different this time, sans her glasses from last year. But when both Fisher boys catch Belly’s eye, she’s caught in a love triangle she never saw coming. Culminating in one (maybe) perfect summer for our young protagonist, the season is filled with pool hangs, sweet dates and a whole lot of drama.
Number of episodes: Season 1 (10 episodes), Season 2 (10 episodes), Season 3 (10 episodes), Season 4 (10 episodes)
Starring: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Richa Moorjani, Jaren Lewison
Main character, Devi Vishwakumar, is a teenager recovering from severe trauma. Her father passed away suddenly and as a result, Devi’s body went into paralysis, preventing her from walking for three months. When Devi encounters her crush, she’s able to walk once more with an unprecedented recovery. After struggling socially during her freshman year, the series follows Devi and her friends as she tries to gain popularity over the course of the rest of her high school years. Talk about a comeback. Devi deals with parental estrangement, grief and loss, identity and personal growth. She’s far from perfect, making her relatable and interesting to watch. And what’s even more relatable and interesting is that the show is loosely based on the childhood of creator and executive producer Mindy Kaling.
Starring: Sophia Lillis, Wyatt Oleff, Kathleen Rose Perkins
A young closeted queer girl with an unrequited crush on her best friend is dealing with everything from high school social awkwardness to family and friends—and oh, and did we mention her budding super powers too? An angsty and comedic drama, you know you’re in for a ride when the teaser trailer shows the main character running down suburban streets in a bloody dress Carrie White-style with her voiceover declaring, “Dear Diary, go f**k yourself.” Super powers aside, the show is grounded by real-world problems like uncontrollable adolescent rage, parental loss and super cringy dates.
What better way to connect with your roots and cope with the loss of a parent than to attend the boarding school where said parent used to go? Katherine "Kitty" Song-Covey, younger sister of Lara Jean Song-Covey from the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before franchise, has her own spin-off in this international drama. Kitty has a long-distance boyfriend who she’s never met, and he just so happens to go to the Korean Independent School of Seoul, dubbed KISS (the one her mom went to, remember?) When Kitty shows up on the first day of classes to find out her boyfriend has another girlfriend, and that other girlfriend may be hiding something, chaos ensues. Full of humor, romance and a whole lot of miscommunication, XO, Kitty is a heartwarming tale that reminds me of the charm of Nick and Charlie’s rollercoaster of a love story.
Starring: Jahi Di'Allo Winston, Peyton Kennedy, Patch Darragh, Sydney Sweeney
Everything does suck when you grow up in a town literally called Boring, Oregon (it’s actually a real place!). Members of the A/V club and theater department at Boring High School are outcasted and exist at the bottom of the high school food chain. But as the A/V group decides to make a movie and the theater kids attempt to put on a play, romances, bullying, anxiety and rumors of queerness circle our main character Kate and everything threatens to come crashing down. And wouldn’t that just suck? The show also features a very young Sydney Sweeney as the main character’s potential love interest (!!).
Life can be quite challenging when your older brother, heir to the throne, passes away and you’re thrust into the spotlight. It’s even more challenging when you’re just trying to blend in with everyone at your new boarding school. Plus, you’re falling for another boy despite needing to eventually produce an heir for the throne. Ugh. With the shows’ series tagline being, “Ruthless Royalty, Forbidden Love, Dirty Secrets, Vicious Loyalty, Cruel Betrayal and Loving Friendship,” viewers are in for a *wild* ride aboard this translated Swedish drama.
After a prestigious (and mostly white) U.K. boarding school makes the news because of their students' assault of a homeless man, the school tries to save face with a PR stunt by opening its doors to underprivileged scholarship students (all of whom are people of color). The show follows five teens—Jaheim, Leah, Femi, Omar and Toby—who all specialize in different subjects and extracurricular activities, as they attempt to navigate racism, dismantle discriminatory traditions and make space for themselves at a school that would rather not have them attend in the first place. Full of humor, intellect and many learning opportunities, Boarders tells the tale of shining in the face of adversity.
Number of episodes: Season 1 (10 episodes), Season 2 (10 episodes), Season 3 (8 episodes)
Starring: Michael Cimino, Rachel Hilson, Anthony Turpel, Bebe Wood, Mason Gooding
Set in the same universe as the feature film, Love, Simon , this heartwarming dramedy follows Victor, a young half-Puerto Rican, half-Colombian-American high schooler as he struggles with and explores his sexuality while facing problems at home. As Victor adjusts to his new city and school, he faces all manner of challenges and he reaches out to familiar-faced Simon to help him through all of the things threatening to weigh him down. Through the three seasons, viewers get to witness Victor’s failures and triumphs as he begins to understand himself and his personal identity.
Number of episodes: Season 1 (8 episodes), Season 2 (10 episodes), Season 3 (10 episodes), Season 4 (10 episodes)
Starring: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Keir Gilchrist, Michael Rapaport, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Nik Dodani
Atypical follows main character Sam Gardner and his younger sister Casey. Sam is autistic and hellbent on getting a girlfriend. He’s kind, intelligent and just a little bit obsessed with Antarctica. He works at the local tech store with his raunchy and unabashedly loyal best friend Zahid. Meanwhile, Casey’s a budding track star and discovering her bisexuality whilst exploring passions separate from helping to care for Sam. She’s protective of her brother, throwing out punchy one liners and never misses an opportunity to pull Sam’s chain. When routines and expectations surrounding Sam’s life aspirations change and he embarks on a quest to find love, the whole family–parents included–goes on a wild journey of self-discovery. The series follows the two siblings and their parents as they all traverse new paths.
Number of episodes: Season 1 (6 episodes), Season 2 (7 episodes), Season 3 (3 episodes)
Starring: Sharon Rooney, Jodie Comer, Jordan Murphy
Though this show debuted back in 2013, its themes and plot lines are still relevant today. My Mad Fat Diary , follows the life of 16-year-old Rae Earle. She’s just gone back to school after spending four months in a psychiatric ward, though everyone was under the impression that Rae had been living in France, unaware of her mental health or body image issues. The show follows Rae as she tries to immerse herself back into school and reconnect with her best friend without revealing her previous whereabouts or conditions, not to mention impressing her bestie’s new besties that she made while Rae was away.
Elodie, Tabitha and Moe, three teens from the same high school meet in the most unlikely of places: Shoplifters Anonymous. The girls come from various backgrounds and their propensities toward the five-finger discount all stem from different traumas they’ve each endured. Watch as the girls learn about each other, support one another through difficult situations and ultimately figure themselves out. With or without stealing things in the process…
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