There are many actors who are sweet in real life and play such hateful characters. Jack Gleason who plays Joffrey in Game of Thrones, for example. They play them so well that unfortunately they get some negative attention when they're out in public from idiots who don't understand what acting means. I sincerely hope this young actor doesn't experience that.
Well, there's a lot of controversial stuff going around re Bash but each to their own and everyone is entitled to their opinion. That's all that matters.
Yeah we have come a long way 20+ years ago where we were so stupid we didn't think ACTORS were good people if they played villains 😅 But then again with Jack Gleeson being so sweet he gives you a toothache and play a character like Joffrey.
Heartstopper is definitely way more filled with interesting therapy issues while also being so kind and wholesome than any of the other series you mentioned. I would put it first on your list, to be honest.
Agreed - Charlie has other problems stemming from past trauma and bullying, which is revealed more slowly throughout seasons 1 and 2. Each season is 8 half-hour episodes, so it's not a long binge. You won't regret it, in fact I can see you doing a more expansive video about the show as a result.
In season 2, the show delves into specific mental health issues Charlie has stemming from this "relationship" and other bullying. I would be VERY interested in your take on the show as a whole, but especially season 2.
Sebastian Croft seems like a chill guy in real life, and brilliantly makes Ben such a loathsome character. It's sadly realistic that Ben never has a change of heart, nor befriends his former victim.
'I want to punch him and its MY FACE' - Bash (Sebastian Croft) to Ben in this scene Yeah, a very chill guy irl, and clearly a very good actor as he makes me DESPISE Ben even more
@@trinaq yea i’m pretty sure you and i have the same exact taste in videos because i see you under like every single video i watch. or maybe you’ve just somehow seen every video on this platform.
@@noodlearg9745 Haha, that's possibly true. Compulsively commenting on nearly every UA-cam video in sight was a CoVid pastime, which evidently lasted long past that point! 😂
I love when something makes Jonathan so angry he drops the laptop and does a full circle before coming back and REAMING the offender with all his worth. 3:51 was the perfect reaction.
This is not just "a" wholesome show, it's literally THE most wholesome show out there right now. I highly recommend moving it up your watch list, I'm sure you'll absolutely love it. The way these characters (who are only 15/16 years old!) are able to communicate and build relationships, romantic or otherwise, is just wonderful.
@@TheBc99I LOVE that about it. I’m so sick of shows romanticizing and rewarding toxic behavior. It’s super frustrating, but Heartstopper has been a light in the dark.
@@Jay-Zechyeah, Alice has written a moment of miscommunication with Nick and Charlie in her novella Nick and Charlie... But that seems to be really the ONLY blip in their relationship... they are consistently shown communicating with each other in the comic and the TV show. It's so so goddamn refreshing because most TV shows thrive off of miscommunication and it's very frustrating to watch, in my opinion... I hate the miscommunication trope, personally. I'm really really glad that Heartstopper doesn't do it and it's only shown to happen one time within their relationship, from what Alice has shown us, anyway. In general, Nick and Charlie are absolutely AMAZING at communicating with each other openly and honestly.
@TheBc99 thanks for verbalising what I love about this show. Jono, I also recommend you move it up your watch list. It's a good show for the whole family too. I can only watch bridgerton after my little one has gone to bed, but my friend and I are both happy for our pre-schoolers to be around while we watch it.
What I love about this show is that it could so easily fall into the trope of "boyfriend fixes everything" where Nick "saves" Charlie, but it doesn't. In fact it actively resists that and calls it out in season 2 where Charlie wants everything to be perfect now he's with Nick, but he is still struggling with some things. What I love and what is more realistic about it is how Nick is simply there for him, creating a safe space for Charlie to be his full self and share his darker times, which allows Charlie to find the courage to face things, and stand up for himself more. It's still Charlie who does that work and makes those decisions, but with the healthy support of Nick. 🥰🥰🥰🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
spoiler warning if you havent read the comics: they touch on this even more in the comics, theres almost a whole chapter dedicated to how nick and charlie were growing too codependent on each other, with charlie relying on nick to be his therapist basically and nick was struggling with building close bonds with other people because all of his attention was focused on charlie. Then when nick goes on a vacation charlies mental health plummets and nicks is super worried the entire time. Nicks mum has a long good talk with him about co-dependency and how he cant solve everything and he shouldnt have to carry all of charlie struggles on himself, and that charlie needs to get help from someone more qualified than his 16 year old boyfriend. And this actually helps them build an even stronger realtionship than they already had. Its one of my favorite parts of the series because its a topic that is almost never seen anywhere in fictional romance but its so important to having a healthy relationship.
@@jraqnAs someone who hasn’t read the comics, that’s amazing. While having mental health issues is awful, being the “healthy” one in a relationship with someone you love but is extremely emotionally unhealthy and depends on you to take care of them is awful. You can’t ever have problems because then they’ll collapse, and they can’t grow because they’re so dependent on someone else for their mental health. Love this series
I would love to see Isaac’s journey discovering his asexuality or Tara and Darcy and being vulnerable in a relationship! There’s some great stuff all over the place in heartstopper ❤️❤️❤️🍂
I wish they expand on the disabled queer girl in the wheelchair. There isn't visibility of disabled LGBTQ+ people on TV shows. They exist and their stories need to be told.
4:06 i love how you point out that the cruel way people treat you is not a reflection of you or what you deserve but reflection of the person being cruel and their unhealthy mindsets and insecurities. Unfortunately Charlie really internalized a lot of Ben’s bullshit (and BS from other bullies) and carries it with him throughout the first 2 seasons at least
The part of this scene I always find most powerful is when Ben says “You’re clearly just scared of getting caught”-and when Charlie throws his projection back at him by saying “Why would I be scared of getting caught? Everyone in school already knows I’m gay”, we see Sebastian Croft give Ben a fleeting expression of absolute, abject terror.
Charlie's mental health is a very important part of Heartstopper. Season 2 is already a bit dark but it will become much worse in season 3. I absolutely recommend giving the show (and the comics that inspired it) a chance. Most of the time it's extremely wholesome but if you're paying attention, all along Charlie is struggling with many undiagnosed mental illnesses that will eventually become imposible to ignore. I relate sm to him as a character.
"I do want to watch this because it's so sweet!" Proceeds to watch the most un-sweet moment in the whole series. Oh no. Stoked that you did another one to Heartstopper! It's always special to get reactions from experts!
I love that you did this video. I was waiting for it and I didnt even know it. In Heartstopper, I loved how they didn't forgive Ben and Harry. In the show, they do call what Ben did to Charlie as sexual assault. But the truth is, there are way more things you need to react to, concerning Ben. I think it's really interesting that they tried to make it look like Ben was going to have a redemption arc and they dedicated a whole scene in which he did this apologetic speech only to have Charlie stand up to him one last time.
It feels real. Yes, it's great that Ben apologized. However that doesn't mean Charlie has to forgive him. Ben manipulated him, gas lit him, and sexually assaulted him. Treated him like dirt. Charlie was in his full right not to forgive him. Whether Ben meant his apology or not. I hope he did, but that doesn't mean he and Charlie can just magically become friends. Grow up Ben, surround yourself with people who won't make you feel as insecure and self loathing as you did before. Realize what you did to Charlie was wrong and become a better person.
@@Lulu_Loves_Sheep The phrase “to offer an apology” is just right. An apology is an offer, and like all others may be accepted or refused. Charlie is right to refuse this one, especially as he recognizes that, with his pleas for pity, Ben is trying to emotionally ambush Charlie into accepting. (“Ambush” is Charlie’s own word for it.)
@@gumbopie Indeed! Though I like to believe that Ben was looking for pity but also meant his apology at the same time. He feels awful and knows what he did was wrong, but he's afraid of feeling that way forever, so he turns to Charlie in his apology, hoping Charlie will make that awful feeling go away
Every time I see Ben on screen I out loud go “ahh! A demon!” Unfortunately he’s a very real depiction of how many self loathing closeted teenagers behave. He needs a support system and a good therapist. It’s very sad to see how much he hates himself and hurts others because of his toxic mindsets. I don’t think he realizes how damaging he is. I believe he can grow into a nicer adult but as far as his teenage years that we see he absolutely sucks
The creator, Alice Oseman, has said that she likes to think Ben became a better person later in life but that's not a story they're interested in telling
I implore you to watch this show. Charlie goes through ups and downs throughout the series and even more in season 2. Many will be able to relate to his story and hopefully seek the help they need
I would love to see you react to more Heartstopper! It's incredibly well shot and wholesome, and has a lot of great representation of identity and issues that teenagers go through.
I can’t wait to see a full heartstopper reaction from you. There’s so much to talk about. Especially now that season 2 has come out and there’s discussions of ***spoilers*** Self harm and disordered eating (Also they haven’t named it yet in the show, but if you’ve read the comics you know a lot of these things are symptoms of anxiety and OCD)
Yesss, do prioritise Heartstopper (in my opinion). You have no idea how sweet and wholesome it is until you start watching! I usually don’t like romance and I roll my eyes at all the clichés in Heartstopper (it has ALL of them to the point of it being funny) but the maturity, kindness and generosity of some characters got me addicted to the series. Soooo refreshing to have a whole series around healthy relationships with really minimal toxic drama! Well worth watching every episode - and I agree with everyone saying there’s plenty of mental health and relationships themes to discuss too.
JONO!!!! We need more safe spaces online for our LGBT+ friends and fam! This was WONDERFUL! My favorite reaction of yours thus far. Yes, please move this up your list bc there is SO MUCH to unpack!
Heartstopper is such a feel good show. As a straight person when I first watched Heatstopper I just thought it was such an addicting beautiful romantic story and I am a sucker for romance. Then I watched lgbtq+reactors and they made me realize how accurate this show is. I wish even more people watch it. About Ben, even if his motive for assaulting Charlie is different from a guy forcing himself on a girl the scenario is all too familiar. And that is something Heartstopper does really well. Showing universal issues even if the characters are queer and struggle with an extra set of problems.
This show is sooo good! If you haven’t already watched it I highly recommend it. The characters have lots of mature conversations with pretty good communication for teenagers. The way some characters express their feelings is such a great representation of healthy relationships!
Alice Oseman who wrote the graphic novels that Heartstopper is drawn from and also wrote the scripts for the television series is a genius. It would be well worth your while to watch the show (two seasons available now and a third to follow) even for your film channel. So many mental health issues covered and beautifully acted, directed and produced. Great music too. The whole cast is great but the two main actors, Joe Locke and Kit Connor are absolutely brilliant. And, just in passing, Kit was 18 at the filming of season 1 and Joe was 19!
The fact that the author is writing the show explains a lot why this show is so good and well written! You don't feel it's botched. I love it! Sad that it's so rare these days!
Kit was 16 during the production of season one actually, with him turning 17 shortly before filming. They were both 18 during the production of season 2.
I can’t recommend moving Heartstopper up your queue enough. It is such a special, unique and authentically queer show with genuine sweetness at its core. Season 2 just came out, and each season is under 4 hours total, so it’s a pretty quick watch.
I would love you to do a reacts raw on a montage of Tao. Lots of people misjudge him because he's so negative about Nick, but he's such a interesting character, and so complex.
The second season is so freaking good and Charlie and Nick’s relationship is the complete uno reverse of Charlie and Ben. The way they ask each other for consent, and respect each others boundaries is so beautiful! Definitely need to move it up on the list.
Ben absolutely committed sexual assault - and that’s addressed by Nick later in the show. Quote “I hate you, because you literally assaulted him.” Ben is an inexcusable character despite his obvious pain. Lovely video!
I'm a social worker who specializes in intimate partner violence, and I'm currently working on developing an LGBTQ+ youth educational curriculum that focuses on prevention of and responding to dating violence and bullying, and the opposite, demonstrating and modeling healthy relationships, healthy friendships, and healthy reaponses to conflict, using the episodes of Heartstopper as the framework for each program module. It is SUCH a perfect show for showcasing this sort of thing and learning from it. As a mental health professional myself, I cannot recommend it enough. And it's just such a beautifully written and acted series. I definitely recommend pushing it up on the to-watch list, like just from a mental health professional perspective. But also as a huge fan. (For perspective, for 20+ years, Buffy was my favorite TV show. Heartstopper now occupies that position.) It's a really wonderful series for so many reasons.
Heartstopper is going to be a great show for you to look at. It deals with a lot of mental health issues, from bullying to eating disorders to coming out to self-harm to both challenging and wonderful family and friend relationships. As well, of course, the relationship between Nick and Charlie, which is so beautiful and so healthy. I'm excited to see you cover more of this, and I really hope you bring it forward on your list! Heartstopper is a show I wish had existed when I was in high school (many years ago) and being bullied and in an abusive relationship myself. I resonate so much with Charlie.
yesss!!! there’s a scene in season 2 where charlie really stands up for himself to ben because, yep it’s possible, ben is worse in season 2 💀 but it is one of the most powerful scene i’ve ever watched and it brought tears to my eyes watching it
Charlie does have more mental health issues that they foreshadow and have you see throughout Season 1 and 2 they're subtle signs and foreshadowing but they're there if you pay attention they foreshadow all of his mental health struggles to lead up to this big event of a mental health journey for Charlie that gets worse rather then better in Season 3. Charlie has Anxiety, Depression, Eatting disorder ( Anorexia), and OCD and Trauma all from the bullying and from Ben. If you read Alice Osemans comics and her one book Solitiare whose about Tori Charlie's sister's Pov and it includes a scene ( Trigger Warning ⚠️) where Charlie relapses and self harms and it describes more in depth what Ben did to him. ❤ And Charlie also people pleases and cares about others more then himself because he feels like a burden and he doesnt want to be seen as a fragile mess. And he also developed body issues like body dismorohia because ( Trigger Warning ⚠️) he got insecure of his Self harm scars. ❤ And in season 3 when Charlie's mental health is in bad shape we can see how it affects and impacts Charlie but also we can see how Charlie's Mental health will impact others that care about him too like Nick and Tori. ❤
In this series, it appears as if Ben has some internalized homophobia he can't get past. I saw this a LOT in my growing up years. Boys and girls both who had feelings they didn't understand and acted out against the LGBT whether they were identified or not. This series has been very important to me. The simple fact that it is available is astounding to me. I never thought I would see it. For decades LGBT characters in movies were the "sissies" and then the comic foils, then the gay best friend. During the AIDS crisis it was many depressing movies where the LGBT character had to die at the end of the movie. Now movies and series have moved on from that. The movie TRICK, Schitt's creek, various soap opera characters and now the brits with HeartStopper. I may be a idealist, but I think things are getting better. Slow progress, but progress. I am hopeful. I would love to hear what you think of Red, White and Royal Blue, on Amazon, which drops this week. Thanks for your kind analysis. ❤🧡💛💚💙💜
Heartstopper is well worth the watch. The care with which it is written and the accuracy with which queer experience is represented is unmatched. The second season really explored trauma and the resulting mental health issues - definitely a great fit for your channel!
The topic of consent is handled very well throughout the series. I especially loved a scene in season 2 between 2 characters where one person consents to something verbally but the other person picks up on the fact that it wasn’t enthusiastic consent/the person seemed uncomfortable and so they stopped what they were doing and they had a conversation about it instead. I thought it was extremely well done and important for young viewers to see a model of how to approach these things in a healthy way where both people feel comfortable
If this doesn't make you want to binge heartstopper immediately, I don't know what will❤️. Please do more!! This show is heartwarming, healing and insightful into all aspects of the LGBTQ+ experience, Ben's included.
I love heartstopper you should watch the show! I suggest reacting to the character Issac and his character development in season 2- his sexuality/romantic attraction is explored in a great way. I'd also suggest looking at nick's relationship with his brother in season 2 and talk about homophobia/bi-erasure.
I love how casually and quickly you were able to summarize at 4:15 "to be that cruel to another person, usually implies the cruelty you carry around inside yourself, ABOUT yourself, and oftentimes you don't want to look at it, so you externalize it and put it on somebody else". That explains abusers so well and all the nonsensical ways they treat others so unbelievably cruely. My mother was my abuser my whole childhood in such a HUGE way, and eventually I realized her narcissistic rage was fueled by shame but it took till my 30's to learn that. Doesn't change anything really, but it somehow helps to understand it. Like Taylor Swift singing "I know that you see what you're doing to me" in "Tell Me Why" (and the whole title of the song) captures that experience of feeling so desperate to understand how a person can be this way.
Something I love about Heartstopper is that what Ben does here is actually adressed as assault. I feel like other shows would point at it as something bad, but never really put a name to it, because in the eyes of a lot of people assault can only be sexual. It's so refreshing to see it discussed as what it actually is, and in a mainstream show too.
There is so much in Heartstopper that could be therapized, don't even get us started! You may as well do a video on it on the Cinema Therapy channel at this point, especially with season 2 out. Season 2 reallllyyyy touches on some heavy subjects.
Absolutely agree, would be a great fit for cinema therapy! The combination of mental health and the comic book cinematography and editing elements, sure it's not a "movie" as such but at about 4 hrs each they could just treat each season as one particularly long film. 💗
Haven't watched Heartstopper, but I've read it (haven't read it in a couple months, I got distracted lol), and it's amazing. If the show is even half as good it's well worth the watch
It’s a very good adaptation. I adore the comics and the show. Alice oseman is the writer for the comics and the show and Alice clearly put their whole heart and soul into adapting it faithfully
You need to do the season 2 confrontation after his apology because he went even harder on the gaslighting/manipulation but Charlie stood up for himself very well
You need to see Season 02 - BEN is super AWFUL in this. He takes Imogen as his "token girlfriend" and treats her like garbage and she calls him out on it during the Paris Trip, the blasts him in front of everyone at dinner, and breaks up with him, and she noticed and called him out on his obsession with Charlie. He calls her a "bitch" and even Harry (the bully) berates Ben for calling a girl that. This series is a goldmine for a therapist like you in human behavior! The final scene where Ben confronts Charlie and Charlie calls him out on everything he did to hurt him, is GOLD. Additionally, Ben has a back and forth with Nick blaming Nick for taking Charlie away from him... this leans on the assault video clip you just showed in Season 01. Thanks for reviewing Hearstopper 01, hope you jump onto Heartstopper Seasons 01 and 02, its only 4 hours long for each season, and absolutely WORTH IT. You have no idea how many LGBTQIA+ fans are out there who could use your insight and thoughts on this - your way of reviewing this information was comforting and genuine. I really appreciated this. I myself am gay and unfortunately have suffered from trauma and survivor's guilt for over 35 years after my boyfriend was murdered (and I was close to being left for dead) in 1987 in a homophobic attack. It was the height of the AIDS Pandemic years and gays were hunted and beaten to death by homophobes during that time. Heartstopper pulled me out of a very dark place in my life, and I had somehow blocked out everything about my lost love. And all that we were, because the memories broke my heart. Heartstopper S01E03 slammed me into a reality I never imagined I had literally "forgotten", my boyfriend was 14 and I 15 when we met and had our first kiss in 1977. It was in my hayloft in our barn (I'm a farmboy/horseman) and he was a dancer (ballet), he came to a piano recital I was giving, as I wanted to be a concert pianist one day. I invited him to meet my horses and we sat up in the hayloft and just talked, and we had a very similar conversation to that of Charlie and Nick in that particular episode at Harry's Birthday Party in the empty ballroom. The electricity of that first gentle kiss, and how it was portrayed, broke me, and a flood of memories of my lost love came flooding back. Heartstopper broke many more barriers in my life, and as a result, I began writing about our past, and still maneuver around the loss, but less so now thanks to Heartstopper and Alice Oseman's insight and beautiful stories. Just wanted to share it with you. The night of the attack we had been in town celebrating my scholarship to Juilliard, and his getting a role in the Nutcracker in NYC as the Prince, we were in a jubilatory high that night walking home and were jumped and beaten with steel poles and baseball bats by 3 boys. My hands were broken, my skull cracked, and my boyfriend jumped in front of a steel pole that was meant as a death blow for me. The beatings ended his life while protecting me. They realized he was dead and ran away leaving me for dead on the ground. To make matters worse, it was 1987, the AIDS hysteria was rampant, and his Catholic conservative families refused to accept that their son was a homosexual, they refused to take his body, or to have him buried, and in front of my mother told her "if you want to bury that fa**ot, I'll sign the paperwork so you can't throw him into a river or whatever." My mother was shocked and when I heard it, I begged my mother to let me bury him in my "wife's plot" which we had in our family grave plot area where all my family was to be buried. She heard my plea and agreed, so he lies over my intended plot, next to my Father, Grandmother, and Great Aunts, and now my Mother is there too. This subject is too intense for a light show like Heartstopper to cover. But not irrelevant - since Transgender people are being subsequently hunted and murdered by the extreme-right and Republican Party on the state level at the moment. So much hate is geared towards the LGBTQIA+ community worldwide, and that is a mental stress factor I believe hasn't changed all that much in 35 years. Heartstopper is going to review the bullying Charlie has mentioned but hasn't really shared with anyone (see comments from Tao to Nick in Season 02). There is a lot to be covered, including Charlie's eating disorders, cutting, and self-loathing/self-worthlessness, which Charlie reveals at the end of Season 02 to Nick. I think the story is BRILLIANT, and as I said before, a GOLDMINE for you to look at and respond to. Maybe you might consider a play-by-play review of the high points of the series from your point of view as a Therapist! Once again - thanks for this and hope my sharing of my own traumatic experiences resonates with you as well. Maybe in the near future, I will contact you through your website and we can talk about it. I had moved from the USA to safety in Germany where I had been stationed in the early 80s, and was safe from homophobia and had help to recover from my injuries and get therapy as well. I spent my time here as an advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and worked to get same-sex marriage passed into law here. Old boomers like me are still relevant and have our stories too. Greetings from Berlin, Germany, Antonio
Idk if this is a thing you do but I would definitely vote for a full reaction to the series. There is a LOT of interesting mental health things for you to react to. I think it would be fascinating to hear your thoughts on it.
You and Alan should review this show. The cinematography is stunning and it handles some issues that you could look at. Truly a fantastic show and a fantastic video. Thank you ❤
Definitely move it up the watch list. It's one of the best shows I've ever watched. Nick and Charlie have such a healthy relationship, it's really beautiful.
I'm fairly sure Ben is bi, not gay. Random detail, please continue 😂 Also, the line "its not what they're like at their best, it's what they're like at their worst" is POWERFUL omg. I'm telling everyone.
Just because a guy has a girlfriend does not mean he is bi. The taboo of being gay is still strong in some circles and a person like Ben would want to be accepted by those idiot guys so he would have a "girlfriend" to fool them . This is more common than you think.
I love his reaction to "it's not like anyone else is going to go out with you" 😂 ben really is a character you can only hat, a bottom of the barrel type guy. I would love for him to react to their last conversation in season 2 because i was celebrating it A LOT
Heartstopper is the healthiest representation of a tv relationship I’ve ever seen and I’m so glad it’s there for teens who so often have terrible relationships to idolize
At 4:27 when he says “I don’t hate Ben,” I knew he would be circling back on that opinion when he saw the SA. I really appreciate this reaction and I can’t wait to see more from you about this wonderful show ❤
please please please watch Ben and Charlie's confrontation in episode 7 (I think??) of season 2. Thank you so much for this reaction, I think people often skirt around calling something sexual assault when it *is* sexual assault, so it feels really validating to hear you say that ❤️
I would love to see you react to the show (both seasons, if possible). There’s so much to discuss regarding mental health and relationships. I’d love if it moved up your list. ❤
I am with everyone else on this one. YOU MUST WATCH HEARTSTOPPER!!! it is a really beautiful and wholesome show, and has a lot to delve into. I know you are no expert on the LGBTQ+ community, so it may be uncomfortable for you to confidently comment on the quality of the uniquely queer relationships and struggles but there is so much I'd love to see reacted to especially in season 2.
Definitely recommend watching the series because its great and i love how they try and represent the many facades that exist in our community. Unfortunately there are also a lot of Ben types that exist in varying degrees in our community as well.
Yes, I think you should seriously consider moving heartstopper up the list. Of the other shows you mentioned ahead of it, Bridgerton season 2 does have some interesting mental health / relationship/ family aspects but it's not even close to heartstopper. I'd say heartstopper although very different (plotwise and vibe) to Ted Lasso, sits in the same corner of my heart. It has that wholesome heartwarming vibe. The core characters that we're rooting for are so lovable and kind and supportive to each other. Nick & Charlie's communication skills and the care they take with their relationship is definitely idealised but that's part of its charm. They're a really wonderful example of how we should treat each other, and they're not without their flaws, they make mistakes, they're kids, but they're just so damn likeable. There's some people who feel it's too idyllic and therefore doesn't accurately portray growing up LGBTQ+ but that's a purposeful choice on the shows part. It deals with a number of big issues including bullying, homophobia and as you saw in this scene, sexual assault. But it treats it's audience with care, you can enjoy the sweet gay moments without waiting for the trauma hammer to drop and make everything shit. Season 2 gets slightly saucier but is still very PG. Season 1 is super super innocent though, euphoria this is not. Again that was a purposeful choice, as most LGBTQ programs and movies are geared towards adults, the creator said she wanted something that kids who are just starting to question their sexuality can watch, something that families can watch together. Season 1 is that I reckon, I watched it with my 10 year old, he wasn't very interested as it was boring lovey stuff but I could comfortably have it on around him and it did prompt a few really valuable discussions and questions from him, and it was just great to have a family friendly show where diversity in orientation and the gender spectrum is represented and embraced. The characters are only 14-15 and they act like it. Sure there are some young teens living large out there in the real world but I think this is probably more relatable to most kids just starting high school and feeling their first romantic crush. Many LGBTQ viewers have expressed feeling a sense of grief after watching heartstopper thinking about how different their experience might have been had a show like this been around. It's just a beautiful story, beautifully portrayed. You'll love it
you should see ben's scenes in season 2! especially his last conversation with charlie and the way nick repeatedly calls him out prior to that. also generally i feel like there is so much interesting important stuff in heartstopper for a therapist to tackle! like darcy's home life, for example.
I wanted to suggest either you or you with Alan discuss Ben and other themes in Heartstopper :D I think it needs to be clarified more that Bens behaviour stems from queerphobic parents/peers/society. He wouldnt be such an a-hole if being queer wasnt so difficult in our society. Even today. Additional themes I'd suggest from Heartstopper: 1. "I'm bi, actually" (running theme throughout Nicks life and all bisexuals reality) 2. Consent (what we saw just now and Nick + Charlie in Paris (2. season) where Nick says yes but Charlie stoppes because the yes didn't sound very sure)
Great dissection 🎉 You 💯 need to move this show up in your que!!! As a bisexual, this show/graphic novel is near and dear for this representation that is SO underrepresented and misunderstood ❤ it is a joyful, wholesome show that I’m about to binge AGAIN 😂 I’m obsessed 😂
Just in case enough people aren't saying it, please react to more Heartstopper!! There's so many different areas to discuss. I feel like the relationships in the show (romantic and otherwise) are an incredibly welcome departure from most of the other teen shows out there right now. Dr. Carthy is doing a great reaction series on his channel about the mental health aspects of the show but it would also be nice to hear specifically from a couples and family counselor when it comes to the interpersonal relationships between the characters.
This show is what got me to accept I'm bisexual, it's heartbreaking I don't know when or if I could ever come out to my parents because they are homophobic, but regardless this show is so very wholesome, Ill love it so much.
Love this breakdown thank you ❤ Heartstopper has some deep stuff beneath the fluffy puppy love. (YEAH! More badass gays/bis/trans guys and gals/ etc… !!!)
Ben sucks and he continues to do so, after s2 people started deceloping sympathy for him but tbh, i see that not being straight is a struggle, however it does not excuse sxual assault and like,, charlie audibly told him to stop and tried to get away and he didnt give a fuck so i really dont care for him💀
I love how you react! I love Heartstopper Season 1 and 2 and I can't wait for Season 3 and possible Season 4 ( maybe). I love this show. ❤❤❤❤❤❤ And, the clips you reacted to is in Season 1. And Ben is Bisexual. A closeted Bisexual. YESSSS Team Charlie 🙂 And if it weren't for Nick coming to Charlie's rescue I couldn't imagine what would happen. Also, I love the portrayal of Men being Sexually Assaulted because most Men stay silent ( and so do girls too) but its more common in Men, and not enough awareness or representation is towards Men for the issue of Sexual Assault because its more of a " Girls Thing" and happena to "Girls" but Sexual Assault can happen to All Genders and I'm happy they showed that in the show.❤
love that vid. one little criticm. say queer character, that doesn´t define the sexualaty so specific. ben and nick arent gay in this show and to say they are gay erase the fact that ther is so much more
Season 2 just dropped. You NEED to watch this show, I’m sure you will find many more scenes worth analyzing. Heart stopper is wholesome but still deals with heavy topics. This show is so special because it’s so great at balancing the heavier subjects with the happier moments of the show. Not to mention lots of healthy communication between Charlie and nick!
I don't think anyone would be too upset about a Heartstopper show (season 1 and 2) reaction being bumped up on your list! It's an incredible show with excellent examples to pull from!
You shoukd Heartstopper wy up on your watchlist - it's just sooo good and sooo cute. and you can even watch both seasons in one day - because they are pretty short (8 episodes per season - around 30mins long). Charlie and Nick. 💚
absolutely move it up your watch list not only does it show some of the best communication between characters i've ever seen in fiction, it also does a great job of handling trauma and mental illness especially in season 2 and i would love to see your reactions to some of the season 2 scenes
3:51 My reactions whenever someone says something homophobic or transphobic to my friends. And then says “why should you care? You’re straight!” Fr, HEARTSTOPPER is suuuuch a cute show! I absolutely adored it and would love to see your reaction soon!
I love how everyone collectively hates Ben but loves the actor with a whole heart
Sebastian is so sweet 🥹🩷
Even Sebastian himself. There's a clip with him saying something along the lines "I want to punch him. And it's my face.""
There are many actors who are sweet in real life and play such hateful characters. Jack Gleason who plays Joffrey in Game of Thrones, for example. They play them so well that unfortunately they get some negative attention when they're out in public from idiots who don't understand what acting means. I sincerely hope this young actor doesn't experience that.
Well, there's a lot of controversial stuff going around re Bash but each to their own and everyone is entitled to their opinion. That's all that matters.
Yeah we have come a long way 20+ years ago where we were so stupid we didn't think ACTORS were good people if they played villains 😅
But then again with Jack Gleeson being so sweet he gives you a toothache and play a character like Joffrey.
“You know what we need more of in teen romantic dramas? Badass gays” PERIOD!
lmfao not relating to this but i heard badass gays and im fighting the urge to not recommend a certain ginger queen
He's bi, actually.
@@alexmartens6453 niice
@@alexmartens6453 “We’ll I’m bi actually, but yeah”
Nick is bi though....... same as me 😕
Heartstopper is definitely way more filled with interesting therapy issues while also being so kind and wholesome than any of the other series you mentioned. I would put it first on your list, to be honest.
100%! Bump this one up way higher on your list, Jonathan!
I second this
THIS!
100%
Agreed - Charlie has other problems stemming from past trauma and bullying, which is revealed more slowly throughout seasons 1 and 2. Each season is 8 half-hour episodes, so it's not a long binge. You won't regret it, in fact I can see you doing a more expansive video about the show as a result.
In season 2, the show delves into specific mental health issues Charlie has stemming from this "relationship" and other bullying. I would be VERY interested in your take on the show as a whole, but especially season 2.
Yeah, I would like to see him revist this video after watching Season 2.
The final Ben confrontation of season 2 especially.
Yeah i would really like that too!
Agreed!
Yeah, that'd be awesome
Sebastian Croft seems like a chill guy in real life, and brilliantly makes Ben such a loathsome character. It's sadly realistic that Ben never has a change of heart, nor befriends his former victim.
'I want to punch him and its MY FACE' - Bash (Sebastian Croft) to Ben in this scene
Yeah, a very chill guy irl, and clearly a very good actor as he makes me DESPISE Ben even more
hello again trina
@@noodlearg9745 Great minds certainly think alike, right?! 😁
@@trinaq yea i’m pretty sure you and i have the same exact taste in videos because i see you under like every single video i watch. or maybe you’ve just somehow seen every video on this platform.
@@noodlearg9745 Haha, that's possibly true. Compulsively commenting on nearly every UA-cam video in sight was a CoVid pastime, which evidently lasted long past that point! 😂
You must watch this show asap. And your review of when Ben “apologizes” to Charlie is a must. There is so much to unpack there.
I thought that was what this video would be about! I agree it was a great moment where Charlie stood up for himself, I was so proud of him!
@@misscrackwood me too GOD he was so amazing in that scene
I love when something makes Jonathan so angry he drops the laptop and does a full circle before coming back and REAMING the offender with all his worth. 3:51 was the perfect reaction.
This was literally me watching the show 😭
I STARTED DYING AT THAT PART 😂
This is not just "a" wholesome show, it's literally THE most wholesome show out there right now. I highly recommend moving it up your watch list, I'm sure you'll absolutely love it. The way these characters (who are only 15/16 years old!) are able to communicate and build relationships, romantic or otherwise, is just wonderful.
It's a show that romanticises healthy boundaries where most shows do the opposite.
100% agreed, Heartstopper is amazing
@@TheBc99I LOVE that about it. I’m so sick of shows romanticizing and rewarding toxic behavior. It’s super frustrating, but Heartstopper has been a light in the dark.
@@Jay-Zechyeah, Alice has written a moment of miscommunication with Nick and Charlie in her novella Nick and Charlie... But that seems to be really the ONLY blip in their relationship... they are consistently shown communicating with each other in the comic and the TV show. It's so so goddamn refreshing because most TV shows thrive off of miscommunication and it's very frustrating to watch, in my opinion... I hate the miscommunication trope, personally. I'm really really glad that Heartstopper doesn't do it and it's only shown to happen one time within their relationship, from what Alice has shown us, anyway. In general, Nick and Charlie are absolutely AMAZING at communicating with each other openly and honestly.
@TheBc99 thanks for verbalising what I love about this show.
Jono, I also recommend you move it up your watch list. It's a good show for the whole family too. I can only watch bridgerton after my little one has gone to bed, but my friend and I are both happy for our pre-schoolers to be around while we watch it.
What I love about this show is that it could so easily fall into the trope of "boyfriend fixes everything" where Nick "saves" Charlie, but it doesn't. In fact it actively resists that and calls it out in season 2 where Charlie wants everything to be perfect now he's with Nick, but he is still struggling with some things. What I love and what is more realistic about it is how Nick is simply there for him, creating a safe space for Charlie to be his full self and share his darker times, which allows Charlie to find the courage to face things, and stand up for himself more. It's still Charlie who does that work and makes those decisions, but with the healthy support of Nick. 🥰🥰🥰🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
spoiler warning if you havent read the comics:
they touch on this even more in the comics, theres almost a whole chapter dedicated to how nick and charlie were growing too codependent on each other, with charlie relying on nick to be his therapist basically and nick was struggling with building close bonds with other people because all of his attention was focused on charlie. Then when nick goes on a vacation charlies mental health plummets and nicks is super worried the entire time. Nicks mum has a long good talk with him about co-dependency and how he cant solve everything and he shouldnt have to carry all of charlie struggles on himself, and that charlie needs to get help from someone more qualified than his 16 year old boyfriend. And this actually helps them build an even stronger realtionship than they already had. Its one of my favorite parts of the series because its a topic that is almost never seen anywhere in fictional romance but its so important to having a healthy relationship.
Nick's mum is the MVP
Well said
@@jraqnAs someone who hasn’t read the comics, that’s amazing. While having mental health issues is awful, being the “healthy” one in a relationship with someone you love but is extremely emotionally unhealthy and depends on you to take care of them is awful. You can’t ever have problems because then they’ll collapse, and they can’t grow because they’re so dependent on someone else for their mental health. Love this series
I would love to see Isaac’s journey discovering his asexuality or Tara and Darcy and being vulnerable in a relationship! There’s some great stuff all over the place in heartstopper ❤️❤️❤️🍂
Isaac's scene at the art show was possibly my favourite of the season!
I wish they expand on the disabled queer girl in the wheelchair.
There isn't visibility of disabled LGBTQ+ people on TV shows. They exist and their stories need to be told.
@@miguelmonteiro7942 absolutely. Hopefully they'll show us more of her next season, when we see more of Elle doing her art.
@@miguelmonteiro7942Felix from Elles art school right? I think they're nonbinary! I heard their pronouns and my heart did a little dance hehe
@@Robins_tea Yes future Elle's colleague at art school.
4:06 i love how you point out that the cruel way people treat you is not a reflection of you or what you deserve but reflection of the person being cruel and their unhealthy mindsets and insecurities.
Unfortunately Charlie really internalized a lot of Ben’s bullshit (and BS from other bullies) and carries it with him throughout the first 2 seasons at least
The part of this scene I always find most powerful is when Ben says “You’re clearly just scared of getting caught”-and when Charlie throws his projection back at him by saying “Why would I be scared of getting caught? Everyone in school already knows I’m gay”, we see Sebastian Croft give Ben a fleeting expression of absolute, abject terror.
Charlie's mental health is a very important part of Heartstopper. Season 2 is already a bit dark but it will become much worse in season 3. I absolutely recommend giving the show (and the comics that inspired it) a chance. Most of the time it's extremely wholesome but if you're paying attention, all along Charlie is struggling with many undiagnosed mental illnesses that will eventually become imposible to ignore. I relate sm to him as a character.
"I do want to watch this because it's so sweet!" Proceeds to watch the most un-sweet moment in the whole series. Oh no.
Stoked that you did another one to Heartstopper! It's always special to get reactions from experts!
I love that you did this video. I was waiting for it and I didnt even know it. In Heartstopper, I loved how they didn't forgive Ben and Harry. In the show, they do call what Ben did to Charlie as sexual assault. But the truth is, there are way more things you need to react to, concerning Ben. I think it's really interesting that they tried to make it look like Ben was going to have a redemption arc and they dedicated a whole scene in which he did this apologetic speech only to have Charlie stand up to him one last time.
I love that scene so much!
It feels real. Yes, it's great that Ben apologized. However that doesn't mean Charlie has to forgive him. Ben manipulated him, gas lit him, and sexually assaulted him. Treated him like dirt. Charlie was in his full right not to forgive him. Whether Ben meant his apology or not. I hope he did, but that doesn't mean he and Charlie can just magically become friends.
Grow up Ben, surround yourself with people who won't make you feel as insecure and self loathing as you did before. Realize what you did to Charlie was wrong and become a better person.
@@Lulu_Loves_Sheep Amen!
@@Lulu_Loves_Sheep The phrase “to offer an apology” is just right. An apology is an offer, and like all others may be accepted or refused. Charlie is right to refuse this one, especially as he recognizes that, with his pleas for pity, Ben is trying to emotionally ambush Charlie into accepting. (“Ambush” is Charlie’s own word for it.)
@@gumbopie Indeed! Though I like to believe that Ben was looking for pity but also meant his apology at the same time. He feels awful and knows what he did was wrong, but he's afraid of feeling that way forever, so he turns to Charlie in his apology, hoping Charlie will make that awful feeling go away
Every time I see Ben on screen I out loud go “ahh! A demon!”
Unfortunately he’s a very real depiction of how many self loathing closeted teenagers behave. He needs a support system and a good therapist. It’s very sad to see how much he hates himself and hurts others because of his toxic mindsets. I don’t think he realizes how damaging he is. I believe he can grow into a nicer adult but as far as his teenage years that we see he absolutely sucks
Unfortunately, it's not just teens who are like that...
The creator, Alice Oseman, has said that she likes to think Ben became a better person later in life but that's not a story they're interested in telling
He’s definitely the type to be a homophobic closeted Republican 😭 or a pick-me gay
I implore you to watch this show. Charlie goes through ups and downs throughout the series and even more in season 2. Many will be able to relate to his story and hopefully seek the help they need
I would love to see you react to more Heartstopper! It's incredibly well shot and wholesome, and has a lot of great representation of identity and issues that teenagers go through.
I can’t wait to see a full heartstopper reaction from you. There’s so much to talk about. Especially now that season 2 has come out and there’s discussions of
***spoilers***
Self harm and disordered eating (Also they haven’t named it yet in the show, but if you’ve read the comics you know a lot of these things are symptoms of anxiety and OCD)
Yesss, do prioritise Heartstopper (in my opinion). You have no idea how sweet and wholesome it is until you start watching!
I usually don’t like romance and I roll my eyes at all the clichés in Heartstopper (it has ALL of them to the point of it being funny) but the maturity, kindness and generosity of some characters got me addicted to the series. Soooo refreshing to have a whole series around healthy relationships with really minimal toxic drama! Well worth watching every episode - and I agree with everyone saying there’s plenty of mental health and relationships themes to discuss too.
I laughed at the “no! No Ben, No!” Like scolding a dog 😂😂😂
"I know I said I didn't hate Ben..."
"..."
The silence was so real
JONO!!!! We need more safe spaces online for our LGBT+ friends and fam! This was WONDERFUL! My favorite reaction of yours thus far. Yes, please move this up your list bc there is SO MUCH to unpack!
Heartstopper is such a feel good show. As a straight person when I first watched Heatstopper I just thought it was such an addicting beautiful romantic story and I am a sucker for romance. Then I watched lgbtq+reactors and they made me realize how accurate this show is. I wish even more people watch it. About Ben, even if his motive for assaulting Charlie is different from a guy forcing himself on a girl the scenario is all too familiar. And that is something Heartstopper does really well. Showing universal issues even if the characters are queer and struggle with an extra set of problems.
This show is sooo good! If you haven’t already watched it I highly recommend it. The characters have lots of mature conversations with pretty good communication for teenagers. The way some characters express their feelings is such a great representation of healthy relationships!
You know its bad when a licenced therapist has to do a "holy shit" step back from the monitor
Alice Oseman who wrote the graphic novels that Heartstopper is drawn from and also wrote the scripts for the television series is a genius. It would be well worth your while to watch the show (two seasons available now and a third to follow) even for your film channel. So many mental health issues covered and beautifully acted, directed and produced. Great music too. The whole cast is great but the two main actors, Joe Locke and Kit Connor are absolutely brilliant. And, just in passing, Kit was 18 at the filming of season 1 and Joe was 19!
The fact that the author is writing the show explains a lot why this show is so good and well written! You don't feel it's botched. I love it! Sad that it's so rare these days!
Kit was 16 during the production of season one actually, with him turning 17 shortly before filming. They were both 18 during the production of season 2.
@@oneish7454 Good catch!
3:48 - 4:03 that walk away with the double finger wag 😂😂😂
“NMm mm. NMm MmmmmNO! NO BEN!”
Exactly!
I can’t recommend moving Heartstopper up your queue enough. It is such a special, unique and authentically queer show with genuine sweetness at its core. Season 2 just came out, and each season is under 4 hours total, so it’s a pretty quick watch.
I would love you to do a reacts raw on a montage of Tao. Lots of people misjudge him because he's so negative about Nick, but he's such a interesting character, and so complex.
8:42 “maybe I need to move it up my watchlist” yay!!! I hope you do.
The second season is so freaking good and Charlie and Nick’s relationship is the complete uno reverse of Charlie and Ben. The way they ask each other for consent, and respect each others boundaries is so beautiful! Definitely need to move it up on the list.
Ben absolutely committed sexual assault - and that’s addressed by Nick later in the show. Quote “I hate you, because you literally assaulted him.” Ben is an inexcusable character despite his obvious pain. Lovely video!
I'm a social worker who specializes in intimate partner violence, and I'm currently working on developing an LGBTQ+ youth educational curriculum that focuses on prevention of and responding to dating violence and bullying, and the opposite, demonstrating and modeling healthy relationships, healthy friendships, and healthy reaponses to conflict, using the episodes of Heartstopper as the framework for each program module. It is SUCH a perfect show for showcasing this sort of thing and learning from it. As a mental health professional myself, I cannot recommend it enough. And it's just such a beautifully written and acted series. I definitely recommend pushing it up on the to-watch list, like just from a mental health professional perspective. But also as a huge fan. (For perspective, for 20+ years, Buffy was my favorite TV show. Heartstopper now occupies that position.) It's a really wonderful series for so many reasons.
Nick's bi, actually.
XD
Oh my god, I love this guy. Every reaction he had was perfect. Every analogy, genius. Beautiful.
Heartstopper is going to be a great show for you to look at. It deals with a lot of mental health issues, from bullying to eating disorders to coming out to self-harm to both challenging and wonderful family and friend relationships. As well, of course, the relationship between Nick and Charlie, which is so beautiful and so healthy. I'm excited to see you cover more of this, and I really hope you bring it forward on your list! Heartstopper is a show I wish had existed when I was in high school (many years ago) and being bullied and in an abusive relationship myself. I resonate so much with Charlie.
yesss!!! there’s a scene in season 2 where charlie really stands up for himself to ben because, yep it’s possible, ben is worse in season 2 💀 but it is one of the most powerful scene i’ve ever watched and it brought tears to my eyes watching it
Charlie does have more mental health issues that they foreshadow and have you see throughout Season 1 and 2 they're subtle signs and foreshadowing but they're there if you pay attention they foreshadow all of his mental health struggles to lead up to this big event of a mental health journey for Charlie that gets worse rather then better in Season 3. Charlie has Anxiety, Depression, Eatting disorder ( Anorexia), and OCD and Trauma all from the bullying and from Ben. If you read Alice Osemans comics and her one book Solitiare whose about Tori Charlie's sister's Pov and it includes a scene ( Trigger Warning ⚠️) where Charlie relapses and self harms and it describes more in depth what Ben did to him. ❤ And Charlie also people pleases and cares about others more then himself because he feels like a burden and he doesnt want to be seen as a fragile mess. And he also developed body issues like body dismorohia because ( Trigger Warning ⚠️) he got insecure of his Self harm scars. ❤ And in season 3 when Charlie's mental health is in bad shape we can see how it affects and impacts Charlie but also we can see how Charlie's Mental health will impact others that care about him too like Nick and Tori. ❤
HEARTSTOPPER IS AMAZING
In this series, it appears as if Ben has some internalized homophobia he can't get past. I saw this a LOT in my growing up years. Boys and girls both who had feelings they didn't understand and acted out against the LGBT whether they were identified or not. This series has been very important to me. The simple fact that it is available is astounding to me. I never thought I would see it. For decades LGBT characters in movies were the "sissies" and then the comic foils, then the gay best friend. During the AIDS crisis it was many depressing movies where the LGBT character had to die at the end of the movie. Now movies and series have moved on from that. The movie TRICK, Schitt's creek, various soap opera characters and now the brits with HeartStopper. I may be a idealist, but I think things are getting better. Slow progress, but progress. I am hopeful. I would love to hear what you think of Red, White and Royal Blue, on Amazon, which drops this week. Thanks for your kind analysis. ❤🧡💛💚💙💜
Heartstopper is well worth the watch. The care with which it is written and the accuracy with which queer experience is represented is unmatched. The second season really explored trauma and the resulting mental health issues - definitely a great fit for your channel!
The topic of consent is handled very well throughout the series. I especially loved a scene in season 2 between 2 characters where one person consents to something verbally but the other person picks up on the fact that it wasn’t enthusiastic consent/the person seemed uncomfortable and so they stopped what they were doing and they had a conversation about it instead. I thought it was extremely well done and important for young viewers to see a model of how to approach these things in a healthy way where both people feel comfortable
If this doesn't make you want to binge heartstopper immediately, I don't know what will❤️. Please do more!! This show is heartwarming, healing and insightful into all aspects of the LGBTQ+ experience, Ben's included.
I love heartstopper you should watch the show! I suggest reacting to the character Issac and his character development in season 2- his sexuality/romantic attraction is explored in a great way. I'd also suggest looking at nick's relationship with his brother in season 2 and talk about homophobia/bi-erasure.
I love how casually and quickly you were able to summarize at 4:15 "to be that cruel to another person, usually implies the cruelty you carry around inside yourself, ABOUT yourself, and oftentimes you don't want to look at it, so you externalize it and put it on somebody else". That explains abusers so well and all the nonsensical ways they treat others so unbelievably cruely. My mother was my abuser my whole childhood in such a HUGE way, and eventually I realized her narcissistic rage was fueled by shame but it took till my 30's to learn that. Doesn't change anything really, but it somehow helps to understand it.
Like Taylor Swift singing "I know that you see what you're doing to me" in "Tell Me Why" (and the whole title of the song) captures that experience of feeling so desperate to understand how a person can be this way.
OH MY GOSH HEARTSTOPPER YES
OMG there is so much heartstopper stuff that you can react to. Would actually love that
Something I love about Heartstopper is that what Ben does here is actually adressed as assault. I feel like other shows would point at it as something bad, but never really put a name to it, because in the eyes of a lot of people assault can only be sexual. It's so refreshing to see it discussed as what it actually is, and in a mainstream show too.
There is so much in Heartstopper that could be therapized, don't even get us started! You may as well do a video on it on the Cinema Therapy channel at this point, especially with season 2 out. Season 2 reallllyyyy touches on some heavy subjects.
Absolutely agree, would be a great fit for cinema therapy! The combination of mental health and the comic book cinematography and editing elements, sure it's not a "movie" as such but at about 4 hrs each they could just treat each season as one particularly long film. 💗
Haven't watched Heartstopper, but I've read it (haven't read it in a couple months, I got distracted lol), and it's amazing. If the show is even half as good it's well worth the watch
It’s a very good adaptation. I adore the comics and the show. Alice oseman is the writer for the comics and the show and Alice clearly put their whole heart and soul into adapting it faithfully
You need to do the season 2 confrontation after his apology because he went even harder on the gaslighting/manipulation but Charlie stood up for himself very well
You need to see Season 02 - BEN is super AWFUL in this. He takes Imogen as his "token girlfriend" and treats her like garbage and she calls him out on it during the Paris Trip, the blasts him in front of everyone at dinner, and breaks up with him, and she noticed and called him out on his obsession with Charlie. He calls her a "bitch" and even Harry (the bully) berates Ben for calling a girl that. This series is a goldmine for a therapist like you in human behavior! The final scene where Ben confronts Charlie and Charlie calls him out on everything he did to hurt him, is GOLD.
Additionally, Ben has a back and forth with Nick blaming Nick for taking Charlie away from him... this leans on the assault video clip you just showed in Season 01.
Thanks for reviewing Hearstopper 01, hope you jump onto Heartstopper Seasons 01 and 02, its only 4 hours long for each season, and absolutely WORTH IT. You have no idea how many LGBTQIA+ fans are out there who could use your insight and thoughts on this - your way of reviewing this information was comforting and genuine. I really appreciated this.
I myself am gay and unfortunately have suffered from trauma and survivor's guilt for over 35 years after my boyfriend was murdered (and I was close to being left for dead) in 1987 in a homophobic attack. It was the height of the AIDS Pandemic years and gays were hunted and beaten to death by homophobes during that time. Heartstopper pulled me out of a very dark place in my life, and I had somehow blocked out everything about my lost love. And all that we were, because the memories broke my heart. Heartstopper S01E03 slammed me into a reality I never imagined I had literally "forgotten", my boyfriend was 14 and I 15 when we met and had our first kiss in 1977. It was in my hayloft in our barn (I'm a farmboy/horseman) and he was a dancer (ballet), he came to a piano recital I was giving, as I wanted to be a concert pianist one day. I invited him to meet my horses and we sat up in the hayloft and just talked, and we had a very similar conversation to that of Charlie and Nick in that particular episode at Harry's Birthday Party in the empty ballroom. The electricity of that first gentle kiss, and how it was portrayed, broke me, and a flood of memories of my lost love came flooding back. Heartstopper broke many more barriers in my life, and as a result, I began writing about our past, and still maneuver around the loss, but less so now thanks to Heartstopper and Alice Oseman's insight and beautiful stories. Just wanted to share it with you. The night of the attack we had been in town celebrating my scholarship to Juilliard, and his getting a role in the Nutcracker in NYC as the Prince, we were in a jubilatory high that night walking home and were jumped and beaten with steel poles and baseball bats by 3 boys. My hands were broken, my skull cracked, and my boyfriend jumped in front of a steel pole that was meant as a death blow for me. The beatings ended his life while protecting me. They realized he was dead and ran away leaving me for dead on the ground. To make matters worse, it was 1987, the AIDS hysteria was rampant, and his Catholic conservative families refused to accept that their son was a homosexual, they refused to take his body, or to have him buried, and in front of my mother told her "if you want to bury that fa**ot, I'll sign the paperwork so you can't throw him into a river or whatever." My mother was shocked and when I heard it, I begged my mother to let me bury him in my "wife's plot" which we had in our family grave plot area where all my family was to be buried. She heard my plea and agreed, so he lies over my intended plot, next to my Father, Grandmother, and Great Aunts, and now my Mother is there too. This subject is too intense for a light show like Heartstopper to cover. But not irrelevant - since Transgender people are being subsequently hunted and murdered by the extreme-right and Republican Party on the state level at the moment. So much hate is geared towards the LGBTQIA+ community worldwide, and that is a mental stress factor I believe hasn't changed all that much in 35 years. Heartstopper is going to review the bullying Charlie has mentioned but hasn't really shared with anyone (see comments from Tao to Nick in Season 02). There is a lot to be covered, including Charlie's eating disorders, cutting, and self-loathing/self-worthlessness, which Charlie reveals at the end of Season 02 to Nick. I think the story is BRILLIANT, and as I said before, a GOLDMINE for you to look at and respond to. Maybe you might consider a play-by-play review of the high points of the series from your point of view as a Therapist! Once again - thanks for this and hope my sharing of my own traumatic experiences resonates with you as well. Maybe in the near future, I will contact you through your website and we can talk about it. I had moved from the USA to safety in Germany where I had been stationed in the early 80s, and was safe from homophobia and had help to recover from my injuries and get therapy as well. I spent my time here as an advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and worked to get same-sex marriage passed into law here. Old boomers like me are still relevant and have our stories too. Greetings from Berlin, Germany, Antonio
❤
Idk if this is a thing you do but I would definitely vote for a full reaction to the series. There is a LOT of interesting mental health things for you to react to. I think it would be fascinating to hear your thoughts on it.
Agreed! I would love a full Heartstopper reaction series
You and Alan should review this show. The cinematography is stunning and it handles some issues that you could look at. Truly a fantastic show and a fantastic video. Thank you ❤
Definitely move it up the watch list. It's one of the best shows I've ever watched. Nick and Charlie have such a healthy relationship, it's really beautiful.
I'm fairly sure Ben is bi, not gay. Random detail, please continue 😂 Also, the line "its not what they're like at their best, it's what they're like at their worst" is POWERFUL omg. I'm telling everyone.
What Ben does is what many gay men do . Just because a guy has a girlfriend does not mean he is bi. Ben is a closet case gay and the worst kind.
Just because a guy has a girlfriend does not mean he is bi. The taboo of being gay is still strong in some circles and a person like Ben would want to be accepted by those idiot guys so he would have a "girlfriend" to fool them . This is more common than you think.
Season 2 broke me😭😭😭😭
You should move it to Nr 1 on your watchlist! It's the BEST show and you can watch it over and over again
As someone who over-apologizes for everything, I needed to hear what Jono had to say. Thank you
I love his reaction to "it's not like anyone else is going to go out with you" 😂 ben really is a character you can only hat, a bottom of the barrel type guy. I would love for him to react to their last conversation in season 2 because i was celebrating it A LOT
Heartstopper is the healthiest representation of a tv relationship I’ve ever seen and I’m so glad it’s there for teens who so often have terrible relationships to idolize
A quote about Ben from Sebastian Croft, the actor who plays Ben: "I want to punch him, and it's my face."
At 4:27 when he says “I don’t hate Ben,” I knew he would be circling back on that opinion when he saw the SA.
I really appreciate this reaction and I can’t wait to see more from you about this wonderful show ❤
please please please watch Ben and Charlie's confrontation in episode 7 (I think??) of season 2. Thank you so much for this reaction, I think people often skirt around calling something sexual assault when it *is* sexual assault, so it feels really validating to hear you say that ❤️
3:58 the “no, no, NO BEN 🫵, NO” is so funny to me😂
Nick's not a badass gay. He's bisexual actually, so.
I would love to see you react to the show (both seasons, if possible). There’s so much to discuss regarding mental health and relationships. I’d love if it moved up your list. ❤
What kind of help does Ben need to understand what he is doing to Charlie?
I am with everyone else on this one. YOU MUST WATCH HEARTSTOPPER!!! it is a really beautiful and wholesome show, and has a lot to delve into. I know you are no expert on the LGBTQ+ community, so it may be uncomfortable for you to confidently comment on the quality of the uniquely queer relationships and struggles but there is so much I'd love to see reacted to especially in season 2.
Definitely recommend watching the series because its great and i love how they try and represent the many facades that exist in our community. Unfortunately there are also a lot of Ben types that exist in varying degrees in our community as well.
Also, The Wire was a relatively unknown series, but I have two words for you "gay assassin." Michael Kenneth Williams was phenomenal
Yes, I think you should seriously consider moving heartstopper up the list. Of the other shows you mentioned ahead of it, Bridgerton season 2 does have some interesting mental health / relationship/ family aspects but it's not even close to heartstopper.
I'd say heartstopper although very different (plotwise and vibe) to Ted Lasso, sits in the same corner of my heart. It has that wholesome heartwarming vibe.
The core characters that we're rooting for are so lovable and kind and supportive to each other. Nick & Charlie's communication skills and the care they take with their relationship is definitely idealised but that's part of its charm.
They're a really wonderful example of how we should treat each other, and they're not without their flaws, they make mistakes, they're kids, but they're just so damn likeable.
There's some people who feel it's too idyllic and therefore doesn't accurately portray growing up LGBTQ+ but that's a purposeful choice on the shows part.
It deals with a number of big issues including bullying, homophobia and as you saw in this scene, sexual assault. But it treats it's audience with care, you can enjoy the sweet gay moments without waiting for the trauma hammer to drop and make everything shit.
Season 2 gets slightly saucier but is still very PG. Season 1 is super super innocent though, euphoria this is not. Again that was a purposeful choice, as most LGBTQ programs and movies are geared towards adults, the creator said she wanted something that kids who are just starting to question their sexuality can watch, something that families can watch together. Season 1 is that I reckon, I watched it with my 10 year old, he wasn't very interested as it was boring lovey stuff but I could comfortably have it on around him and it did prompt a few really valuable discussions and questions from him, and it was just great to have a family friendly show where diversity in orientation and the gender spectrum is represented and embraced.
The characters are only 14-15 and they act like it. Sure there are some young teens living large out there in the real world but I think this is probably more relatable to most kids just starting high school and feeling their first romantic crush. Many LGBTQ viewers have expressed feeling a sense of grief after watching heartstopper thinking about how different their experience might have been had a show like this been around.
It's just a beautiful story, beautifully portrayed. You'll love it
Having to walk away from the laptop screen because Ben Hope made you so mad is such a mood 😂
you should see ben's scenes in season 2! especially his last conversation with charlie and the way nick repeatedly calls him out prior to that.
also generally i feel like there is so much interesting important stuff in heartstopper for a therapist to tackle! like darcy's home life, for example.
OMG HEARTSTOPPER I WAS GONNA ASK FOR THIS!!!!!!!!
Nick is the biggest cinnamon roll ever. He's so sweet. Anyone, male or female, would be extremely lucky to have him as their boyfriend.
I wanted to suggest either you or you with Alan discuss Ben and other themes in Heartstopper :D
I think it needs to be clarified more that Bens behaviour stems from queerphobic parents/peers/society. He wouldnt be such an a-hole if being queer wasnt so difficult in our society. Even today.
Additional themes I'd suggest from Heartstopper:
1. "I'm bi, actually" (running theme throughout Nicks life and all bisexuals reality)
2. Consent (what we saw just now and Nick + Charlie in Paris (2. season) where Nick says yes but Charlie stoppes because the yes didn't sound very sure)
Great dissection 🎉 You 💯 need to move this show up in your que!!! As a bisexual, this show/graphic novel is near and dear for this representation that is SO underrepresented and misunderstood ❤ it is a joyful, wholesome show that I’m about to binge AGAIN 😂 I’m obsessed 😂
Just in case enough people aren't saying it, please react to more Heartstopper!! There's so many different areas to discuss. I feel like the relationships in the show (romantic and otherwise) are an incredibly welcome departure from most of the other teen shows out there right now. Dr. Carthy is doing a great reaction series on his channel about the mental health aspects of the show but it would also be nice to hear specifically from a couples and family counselor when it comes to the interpersonal relationships between the characters.
This show is what got me to accept I'm bisexual, it's heartbreaking I don't know when or if I could ever come out to my parents because they are homophobic, but regardless this show is so very wholesome, Ill love it so much.
Please watch the show!! It’s soo wholesome and S2 just came out ❤
one of the things i love about heartstopper is how healthy the communication is in the show
Love this breakdown thank you ❤ Heartstopper has some deep stuff beneath the fluffy puppy love. (YEAH! More badass gays/bis/trans guys and gals/ etc… !!!)
Just saying but a Cinema Therapy Heartstopper video or videos would be brilliant
Ben sucks and he continues to do so, after s2 people started deceloping sympathy for him but tbh, i see that not being straight is a struggle, however it does not excuse sxual assault and like,, charlie audibly told him to stop and tried to get away and he didnt give a fuck so i really dont care for him💀
JONO I’ve been waiting for your heartstopper reactions! I’m HYPED
I love how you react! I love Heartstopper Season 1 and 2 and I can't wait for Season 3 and possible Season 4 ( maybe). I love this show. ❤❤❤❤❤❤ And, the clips you reacted to is in Season 1. And Ben is Bisexual. A closeted Bisexual. YESSSS Team Charlie 🙂 And if it weren't for Nick coming to Charlie's rescue I couldn't imagine what would happen. Also, I love the portrayal of Men being Sexually Assaulted because most Men stay silent ( and so do girls too) but its more common in Men, and not enough awareness or representation is towards Men for the issue of Sexual Assault because its more of a " Girls Thing" and happena to "Girls" but Sexual Assault can happen to All Genders and I'm happy they showed that in the show.❤
love that vid. one little criticm. say queer character, that doesn´t define the sexualaty so specific. ben and nick arent gay in this show and to say they are gay erase the fact that ther is so much more
You should definitely do a video about it on cinema therapy when season 3 coms out, that’s when mental health becomes a very central part of the show
Season 2 just dropped. You NEED to watch this show, I’m sure you will find many more scenes worth analyzing. Heart stopper is wholesome but still deals with heavy topics. This show is so special because it’s so great at balancing the heavier subjects with the happier moments of the show. Not to mention lots of healthy communication between Charlie and nick!
At 6:50 “What we need more of (…) are badass gays. Go Nick!”
My mind: He’s bi, actually.
😊
I don't think anyone would be too upset about a Heartstopper show (season 1 and 2) reaction being bumped up on your list! It's an incredible show with excellent examples to pull from!
You shoukd Heartstopper wy up on your watchlist - it's just sooo good and sooo cute. and you can even watch both seasons in one day - because they are pretty short (8 episodes per season - around 30mins long). Charlie and Nick. 💚
6:55 Nick is bi, actually 😌
absolutely move it up your watch list not only does it show some of the best communication between characters i've ever seen in fiction, it also does a great job of handling trauma and mental illness especially in season 2 and i would love to see your reactions to some of the season 2 scenes
I've never seen Jono react like that when Ben says "Well, it's not like anyone else is gonna want to go out with you" and I'm HERE FOR IT 👏
I’m begging you to let this show skip your list and go straight to the top it’s such a fast watch and it’s SO GOOD
Please move Heartstopper up your watchlist a little. Please believe us, you will NOT regret it!
3:51
My reactions whenever someone says something homophobic or transphobic to my friends.
And then says “why should you care? You’re straight!”
Fr, HEARTSTOPPER is suuuuch a cute show! I absolutely adored it and would love to see your reaction soon!
Nick is bi, actually