Heartstopper reminds us of the power of little things.

Synopsis: In this coming-of-age series, teenagers Charlie and Nick discover that they are more than just friends and must deal with the difficulties of school and love life.

Nick Nelson is the rugby star, Charlie Spring is the only openly gay boy at the boys' school they both attend. When they become a pair in one of the classes, a friendship quickly forms, and they discover a great affinity. It doesn't take long for Charlie to feel a strong crush on Nick, but assumes the boy is straight; Nick begins, little by little, to feel doubts about whether what he feels for Charlie is just friendship. When it becomes clear that the relationship has evolved into another type of feeling, the two need to understand the best way to stay together, especially when coming out of the closet can be such a difficult and private process.

As for the protagonists, who are Kit Connor (Nick) and Joe Locke (Charlie)? The chemistry between them exists and is there. Kit Connor has such a sweet demeanor that he even reminded me of Rupert Grint's Ron in the first Harry Potter films. The frown, the awkward face, the crooked smile... these mannerisms that he has in common with Ron made me feel even more sympathetic towards Kit's interpretation. Nick is my favorite character in Heartstopper. Joe Locke also fit perfectly into the role of Charlie, mainly to be able to convey the very different nuances that the character feels, he is left aside by a trash boy who is ashamed of him, suffers bullying, has his heart broken while thinking that Nick is straight, feels like a weight in the lives of the people around him... there are several elements that bring complexity to the character. But besides the more delicate and sad aspects, so to speak, he also has a charming look, an awkward smile, a way of teasing Nick that is so cute that you find yourself smiling just looking at it.

The series hits the nail on the head by giving space to the dilemmas of secondary characters who are part of Charlie's group of friends. Tao, for example: Charlie's best friend is a much more one-dimensional character in the comic (and not very charismatic, by the way). In the series, he has some annoying attitudes involving jealousy towards Charlie, but overall the viewer is able to understand his motives and sympathize more with him. He is a true lion defending his friends, and fears that Charlie will suffer the bullying he suffered – which is why he is so resistant to his approach to Nick. In addition to Tao, their best friend, Elle, is another one who stands out: the young woman is a trans girl who recently moved to the girls' school opposite the boys' school, which she left. She is afraid of being alone and has difficulty fitting in, until she meets Tara and Darcy, a lesbian couple who take Elle in and create a very beautiful bond with her. This duo is actually super relevant for Nick to have the courage to be honest about how he feels, and the series got it right once again by giving more dimension to both of them: Tara doesn't regret coming out, but she faces hate comments on Instagram and this shakes her feelings. Therefore, the entire process of gaining self-confidence and becoming empowered becomes even more beautiful in the series.

There are few substantial changes to the plot, none of which impact the story to the point of distorting what we read. Furthermore, the script is clever in providing clues about aspects that were worked on in the comic. Heartstopper is one of the most faithful adaptations I've ever seen in my life! There are scenes that are exactly the same as those on the page, including iconic lines that I couldn't believe I was seeing on screen. There are small details that readers can immediately notice in the series: Nick and Charlie's room is the same as in the comics, Charie's white All Star and Nick's Vans are always there, and even Tao's omnipresent wool hat has not been forgotten.

In addition to telling a beautiful love story, Heartstopper is a series that gives space not only to gay representation, but also to bisexual, lesbian and trans representation – which tend to be less portrayed in the media. In general, she works with great sensitivity on the process of discovering herself as non-heterosexual. As Nick tries to understand his feelings, the viewer feels his heart sink with the fear he feels, especially when faced with news about homophobia. At the same time, Alice Oseman's plot (whether in the comic or in the series) is not focused on prioritizing the possible pain that involves identifying as part of a minority, but rather on flourishing from this and discovering oneself as someone worthy of all the love that anyone deserves. Charlie's character represents this process well: if at first he struggles to fit into spaces that weren't dedicated to him, over time he realizes (and is helped by Nick's love) that he shouldn't accept crumbs and has the right to claim the space he deserves. Heartstopper's representation is wonderful and essential, being a series that touches our hearts and our affectionate memories by showing the cutest side of adolescence with a much-needed perspective.