Nick and Charlie's love story may be coming to an end on TV, but it lives on in the minds of their fans. Samuel Dore/NetflixDespite the success of shows like “Heated Rivalry” and “Euphoria,” seeing queer people on screen is still rare. Only 9.3% of characters on American TV screens were identified as LGBTQ+ in the 2024-25 season. Around 41% of those characters are not scheduled to return for subsequent seasons, sounding alarms among those in the LGBTQ+ community about the drop in representation during a period of political uncertainty.Despite media networks’ and streamers’ unsteady support for queer characters on TV, a few series have broken through the mainstream to demonstrate the impact that rich, explicitly queer-focused stories can have on viewers. One of them, “Heartstopper,” has been particularly touching for fans.“Heartstopper” has been praised for its positive depiction of queer love, pushing back against tropes like “bury your gays” and trauma porn that sensationalize the suffering and death of LGBTQ+ characters. This breakout success for queer joy in media returns for its final chapter on July 17, 2026, as “Heartstopper Forever,” the feature-length conclusion to the three-season Netflix show. It started with a ‘Hi.’ Adapted from Alice Oseman’s webcomic and graphic novel series, “Heartstopper” follows the love story of Charlie, a gay boy who has a history of being bullied for his sexuality, and Nick, a popular jock who slowly discovers his bisexuality throughout the first season. Their friends support them through the challenges of young love, and many make their own self-discoveries about gender and sexuality along the way.“Heartstopper” has been called the young adult version of “Heated Rivalry,” a hit show about the unexpected chemistry and steamy romance between two rival male hockey players. Instead of explicit sex scenes, “Heartstopper” has primarily built anticipation toward hand-holding and first kisses.But while the main characters of “Heartstopper” are teenagers, the show’s fans span every age and identity. “Heartstopper” has meant a lot to many people, including us – two professors in sociology and English and queer sisters who share a love of young adult media. So, over the past two years we have interviewed more than 50 “Heartstopper” fans, ages 18 to 74, seeking to understand the impact the show has had on fans and on the media more broadly.What we’ve found is that “Heartstopper,” and other joyful queer stories like it, can be a pivotal source of healing, community and hope for the future.No one’s 20s and 30s look the same. You might be saving for a mortgage or just struggling to pay rent. You could be swiping dating apps, or trying to understand childcare. No matter your current challenges, our Quarter Life series has articles to share in the group chat, or just to remind you that you’re not alone.Read more from Quarter Life:Heated Rivalry shows how queer joy can disrupt hockey’s culture of masculinityChildhood experiences of LGBTQ+ stigma can harm romantic relationships decades later – psychologists explain how to reconnect with yourself and your partnerWhat you should know about coming out as LGBTQ+ in your 20s and 30sReimagining queer youthScholars have long argued that people connect emotionally to the stories they see on the screen. Plenty of the adult fans we talked to – whose names we’ve changed to protect their privacy – related to seeing a story like Charlie and Nick’s, even years after their own adolescent experiences. Many saw the “Heartstopper” story as a bittersweet one. They imagined what their lives could have been like had they grown up in the time, place and world of “Heartstopper,” a phenomenon researchers call wishful reprocessing.Nova, a 56-year-old bisexual woman, told us she saw herself in the show as “the me that I wish I would have been at that time.” As a dark-skinned Black girl growing up in the United States, she didn’t have the space to explore her sexuality the way characters on the show did. She described “Heartstopper” as almost a way of healing her childhood trauma – imagining an alternative version of her own coming-of-age story. Reconsidering personal historyWe found many fans’ relationship to the show was heavily influenced by where and when they grew up. They reflected not just on what their lives could have been like if they had been in the “Heartstopper” universe, but also on how their lives differed from Nick’s and Charlie’s because they grew up in a time and place not yet influenced by same-sex marriage or mainstream queer television shows. Matthew, a 60-year-old white man, described himself as “damaged by (his) youth” growing up in a highly religious small town that made being gay seem impossible. The AIDS epidemic began in his late teens, and he became terrified of the disease and the vile discourse that came with it. Today, he remains largely disconnected from an in-person queer community. But “Heartstopper” has given Matthew hope. He now advertises his love for the franchise on his dating profiles, and he describes the nights he watches the show as a way to incorporate a bit of “healing” and “gay-friendly acceptance” into his life for a couple of hours. ‘Heartstopper’ showcases the beauty of supportive friendships. Samuel Dore/Netflix The sense of hope that watching “Heartstopper” brings is something Julian, a 74-year-old gay white Hispanic man, emphasized. He says he tries not to “what-if” himself when comparing his experience with the acceptance he sees on screen. He is effusive about how grateful he is for his children and grandchildren who are in his life only because he lived as a straight man when he was younger and came out later in life.Today, Julian rewatches “Heartstopper” constantly. By his estimate he’s at over 100 reruns of all three seasons. He describes the show as a balm after a bad day or discouraging political developments. “I will put on ‘Heartstopper’ just to lift my spirits. As crazy or as stupid as that sounds, it does something to my soul.” The show has helped him bond with his granddaughter, and he recommends it widely across his social network whenever he can.Queer community on screenPart of what adult fans like about “Heartstopper” is the queer community it brings to the screen. Throughout the story, Nick and Charlie cobble together a diverse and supportive group of friends, whose stories the viewer also follows. Researchers often highlight how seeing your identities represented on screen can help you imagine your own place in the world. For some, that on-screen community became a stand-in for in-person queer community when they couldn’t find what they needed at the time. When Megan, a 29-year-old white lesbian, lost touch with her queer running group, she told us “watching the show became … my community temporarily while I’m in search of it in real life too.” Numerous fans shared how feeling seen through “Heartstopper” helped them embrace their own identities. Jack, a 34-year-old white trans man, said the show gave him a “holy shit” moment. Despite knowing for years that he identified as a man, Jack still presented as feminine in everyday life. He turned to “Heartstopper” for the first time after giving birth and experiencing severe postpartum depression. Something shifted within him. Watching Charlie and Nick made him realize that he could be masculine and still be with his husband. “I’ve just been living as me, and it’s been awesome,” he said.Queer joy“Heartstopper” fans have felt embraced by queer representation that celebrates a wide range of LGBTQ+ identities. It’s the enchanting hopefulness and emotional care of “Heartstopper” that strike a chord for many adult fans. ‘Heartstopper’ inspired some viewers to find friendship and community. Frazao Studio Latino/E+ via Getty Images Many people in the queer community have withstood trauma, and depicting those experiences in stories is important for a diverse and honest queer representation. But “Heartstopper” makes an intentional choice to begin its story right after the worst of those events have happened to its characters. Its positive portrayal of coming of age as queer people, where characters find support during self-discovery and queer love is celebrated, has been groundbreaking for many fans.“Heartstopper” isn’t just a sappy fantasy for young queer people today. Optimistic queer stories allow queer folks across the world to envision what community could look like and inspire them to find it in their own backyards.The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.