Heartstopper Season 2: Everything We Know So Far

When Heartstopper premiered on Netflix in April 2022, it was met with an onslaught of praise for depicting young, queer love through such a sweet and earnest lens. Based on a series of graphic novels by Alice Oseman, the teen rom-com chronicles the blossoming love story between Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke). The series has been lauded for its groundbreaking representation of LGBTQ+ youths, serving as a refreshing diversion from narratives that often relied on queer trauma and negative stereotypes. Heartstopper’s colorful world pays no mind to those tropes, as it focuses its energy on exploring themes of love, friendship, and sexuality.

The show has already been renewed for a second and third season, which means there will be plenty of time to watch Nick and Charlie’s romance grow and mature. Ahead of the Heartstopper Season 2 premiere, we’ve put together a handy guide to the new episodes.

Where did we leave off at the end of Heartstopper Season 1?

Season 1 provided Nick and Charlie with a happy ending, as the duo became an official couple. But that road to happiness wasn’t always the easiest, especially for Nick, who spent the season grappling with his identity.

The annual Truham-Higgs school sports day is the catalyst for the season’s resolutions. Charlie mends his friendship with Tao (William Gao), while also standing up to his former bully and ex-boyfriend Ben (Sebastian Croft) who threatened to out his relationship with Nick. Meanwhile, Elle (Yasmin Finney) reunites with Tao, and the duo spend the day avoiding sporting events together. They share a brief almost-kiss, which sets the stage for a potential romance in upcoming seasons.

During his big rugby match, Nick’s attention remains elsewhere. He’s desperately searching for Charlie in the stands, and ultimately decides to abandon the game and run off with Charlie when he sees him. It’s not the grandest of romantic gestures per se, but it’s a huge step for Nick, who finally holds Charlie’s hand in public. In the episode’s final moments, Nick and Charlie go on a seaside date, where they express their love for each other and discuss their upcoming plans. Nick decides to come out to his loved ones — starting with his mother, played by Olivia Colman — and embraces the start of his new journey.

What is Heartstopper Season 2 about?

Season 1 drew inspiration from Volumes 1 and 2 of the original graphic novels, and Season 2 will base its storylines off the material in Volume 3, Oseman confirmed to Tudum. That doesn’t mean viewers won’t be surprised watching the new season, as the writers plan to explore each character’s journey with greater depth.

“Season 2 is based on Volume 3, so we had a good foundation,” said Oseman. “But there’s not enough in the book to take a whole season of TV, so there had to be a lot of creation of new stuff.”

As per Netflix’s official description: “Nick and Charlie navigate their new relationship; Tara and Darcy face unforeseen challenges and Tao and Elle work out if they can ever be more than just friends. With exams on the horizon, a school trip to Paris and a prom to plan, the gang has a lot to juggle as they journey through the next stages of life, love and friendship.”

When will Heartstopper Season 2 premiere?

Season 2 will premiere on August 3, as the central duo revealed in this date announcement video. On June 18th, Netflix released the first scene from the Season 2 premiere, which is packed with some very lovey-dovey texting. The first trailer for Season 2 dropped on July 25 and offers a glimpse into Nick and Charlie’s new status as an official couple.

It’s not completely smooth sailing yet, as Nick is still in the closet about his bisexuality and struggling to find a good time to come out to the world after coming out to his family in Season 1. He and Charlie are dealing with these obstacles to their relationship in a mature way. Of course, they aren’t the only ones navigating the ups and downs of high school romance. Tao and Elle explore the rather delicate situation of going from best friends to something more, while Tara and Darcy face challenges in their own relationship. On top of that, Isaac appears to be getting a love interest as well. As the gang heads to Paris for a big school trip, it really does look like it’s going to be the season of love.

Who is in the cast of Heartstopper Season 2?

Alongside Connor and Locke, Netflix has confirmed that the entire main cast of Heartstopper will be returning for Season 2. This includes William Gao as Tao, Yasmin Finney as Elle, Tobie Donovan as Isaac, Corinna Brown as Tara, Kizzy Edgell as Darcy, Sebastian Croft as Ben, Rhea Norwood as Imogen, and Jenny Walser as Tori. And of course, viewers can expect to see Olivia Colman reprise her role as Nick’s mother, Sarah.

Season 2 is also welcoming several new faces into the mix, including Jack Barton as Nick’s older brother David; Nima Taleghani as new school teacher, Mr. Farouk; Bradley Riches as Truham student James McEwan; Thibault de Montalembert as Nick’s dad, Stephane; plus Bel Priestley and Ash Self as Naomi and Felix, who are described as “new friends of Elle.”

Heartstopper Season 1 is streaming on Netflix. Join the discussion about the show in our forums.

Dianna Shen is a TV Writer at Primetimer based in New York. Her work has been featured in Paste Magazine and Decider, among other outlets.