Heartstopper Is Different Because It Takes Pleasure Seriously

Heartstopper is different because it takes pleasure seriously

Two characters from Hearstopper, Nick and Charlie, are shown in dim light, Charlie holding Nick's face. They are clearly about to kiss.

Since I watched Heartstopper, I've been trying to figure out what about it made it feel so different from other stories similar to it. When you just describe the plot of it, it sounds like something straight (har har) out of Glee or Sex Education or Elite or SKAM or Skins or Degrassi, or...you get my point.

But it felt so different to me, and I realized yesterday what it was. Hearstopper takes the pleasures of queer romance and eroticism as seriously as it takes the pains of it. By which I mean, it gives an incredible amount of screen time to the excitement of it, the thrill of it, the visceral good feelings of it. Pleasure drives Heartstopper, in a way that is still incredibly unusual in mainstream queer media.

In most other stories like this, the pain and the angst and the ambivalence and the negative social ramifications of the premise take up like 90-95% of the screen time. The pleasure aspect typically exists as minimally as possible to catalyze all the negative or difficult parts that are the 'real' story. And while Heartstopper doesn't shy away from those things, it gives a roughly equal amount of narrative and screen time to the two leads getting a lot of pleasure out of their relationship, too. The amount of time the show invests in showing Nick and Charlie enjoying each other romantically -- throughout the story, not just at the very end -- is just absolutely decadent (and I mean that 100% positively).

The first kiss is a perfect example. In any other TV version of this story, the boys would have kissed that first time for less than 2 seconds, and then IMMEDIATELY been interrupted by the other boys. Instead, Heartstopper lets them kiss once, take a breath, and then have a second, very extended kiss enhanced by animated embellishments designed to emphasize just how incredibly enjoyable this is for them...before finally disrupting it again with Plot™.

And the amazing thing is, from a pure narrative standpoint, you don't need the second kiss. It's completely unnecessary to the plot. You could completely eliminate it and the plot would hold together exactly the same. The second kiss is there exclusively to emphasize the intense pleasure of this experience for them. That's all it does.

Heartstopper is serious about foregrounding pleasure, and how important pleasure is in all of this. Which frankly, is a thing you usually only ever see in romance novels and fanfic.

***

One of the reasons I was hesitant to watch this show initially is because I have limited tolerance for coming out stories that are so focused on the unappealing parts of the experience. It's not that those things don't MATTER. But there is such a cultural allergy to making the pleasures of the experience a serious focus, particularly (yes I'm going to say it) the sexual pleasures of it.

Hearstopper, blissfully, refuses to shy away from pleasure, and from making it important.

It's not just that my tolerance for queer pain in media is limited (although admittedly that's true). I also grow so weary of popular culture treating queerness as mostly a political identity upon which we simply moralize about tolerance, and engage in self congratulatory yarns about ~being yourself~ and loving yourself. It's not that I think any of those things is BAD. But a) I've seen that story many times before and b) there's an ENORMOUS piece of this experience that we're still mostly skirting around the edges of because we're still very chickenshit about it, to be perfectly frank.

We, as a culture, are still scared as fuck to really say, very bluntly: queerness feels fucking good.

In the midst of this, Heartstopper does something wondrous. It says to the audience, in no uncertain terms: Queerness feels fucking good...so, let's spend some time actually talking about THAT for a while.

More Posts from Wtfismygender and Others

8 years ago

Soon

The early morning breeze swept around Remus as he found himself back at the cemetery in Godric’s Hollow, he held a small flat stone along with an old picture. He had dark circles under his eyes from the stress of the upcoming war but he knew he needed to do this before things got worse.

Remus sat himself down in front of James and Lily’s grave, feeling lonelier and emptier now than ever. He slowly picked up the flat stone he had brought, written across the top

Here lies the memory of Padfoot

Beloved friend, brother, and godfather

Remus dragged his thumb across the letters, tear drops splattering on the small stone before he placed it in the middle of James and Lily’s own.

“Thought pads should be with you two” Remus muttered, picking up the picture on his lap he looked down at it and laughed quietly at the five of them across it

“You expect me take this picture but none of you are cooperating” Marlene grumbled as she tried ordering the boys and Lily around

“Blame Potter, we would have had this picture hours ago if he hadn’t insisted on fixing his hair” Lily muttered “It doesn’t just look like this lily, it’s artistically messy” She mimicked her boyfriend’s voice while James grumbled on about Lily being a horribly rude girlfriend

“It’s not only you two, it’s also Sirius and Remus who have been snogging in the corner for the past fucking fifteen minutes!” Marlene yelled causing the two mentioned to break apart from each other

“He started it!” “He started it!” They both yelled out at the same time

“Will you all just fucking get over here and do something or else I’m leaving” Marlene warned

“Alright McKinnon, don’t get your knickers in a twist” Sirius teased, yelping when Marlene flicked him across the forehead

James stood in the front with his right arm slung over Peter’s shoulder and his left arm around Lily’s waist, Remus was beside Lily teasingly leaning his arm on top of her head before she pinched him

“Where’s Black? I’m taking this photo in ten seconds whether he’s in it or not!” Marlene barked, her forefinger hovering over the shutter

Seconds before she pressed the button Sirius came running behind James, jumping on his back he leaned over to press a kiss to Remus’s cheek as the shutter went off. The impact of Sirius’s jump caused James to tumble over pulling Peter and Lily along with him as Sirius pulled Remus down with him.

They found themselves all laughing loudly sprawled across each other on the floor, elbows and knees digging into place they did not belong

“Someone’s elbow is on my crotch”

“Do you want the picture taken again or not?” Marlene groaned

They all crowded around her looking at the picture before quickly agreeing it was perfect 

That day passed over Remus like it was yesterday, their seventh year together. Remus looked back up from the picture to James, Lily and Sirius

“Marlene was not happy with us that day” Remus chuckled

“I wanted to leave this here to remind us all of the good days you know” Remus’s voice was trembling slightly, his hand shaking as he placed the photo below Sirius’s stone

“Because now everything is gone, you’re all gone” Remus mumbled, tears streaking his cheeks “The second war is here and I’m afraid I won’t make it” His vision was blurring from the amount of tears now leaving his eyes

“Tonks is pregnant, I’m going to be a dad” Remus couldn’t help but laugh

“Can you believe it? Me a dad, I can’t though because I’m a fucking monster” Remus sobbed out

“God I can already hear you guys all yelling at me now for saying that, but what if I hurt him? I know you’ll say I won’t but I could. I’m trying though” Remus promised, wiping his face with the back of his hands.

“One thing I needed to leave with you though pads” Remus muttered quietly, pulling a necklace chain from his pocket with a silver ring looped through it

Remus shrieked as Sirius tried carrying him bridal style towards the black lake  

“You idiot, you’re going to drop me because you’re tiny” Remus laughed so hard tears filled his eyes

“I am not tiny” Sirius huffed, placing Remus on the ground again

“Not tiny?” Remus asked while looking down at the smaller boy in front of him “So tiny”

“I brought you out here for a reason” Sirius groaned

“Please tell me it’s not because you want to shag-” Sirius cut Remus off by dropping down to one knee “Oh”

“I’m not proposing yet, more pre proposing” Sirius chuckled before looking back up at Remus who was looking down at him with fond written across his face

“Moons, I love you so much. You’re the brightness to my darkness, I want to ask you if you’ll marry me in a few years. After we win this war” Sirius finished, holding up the necklace with the silver ring on it

“Will you marry me one day?” Sirius asked

“Yes, I will always want to marry you, my tiny future Sirius Lupin” Remus grinned as Sirius wrapped the necklace around his neck, the silver ring dangling across his collarbones. 

Remus placed the necklace and ring on top of Sirius’s stone

“I never got rid of it, now this is to show you I will never stop loving you. You were my star”

—-

“I’ll see you guys again one day”

With one final look to his friends Remus left, not knowing he would see them sooner than thought.

3 years ago

ALSO can we please talk about the look of pure joy and relief on nick’s face when he saw tara and darcy kissing at the party. I think that every other gay/bi person I’ve ever met has had that same experience of seeing two people of the same gender kiss for the first time and just thinking “holy shit it’s not just me” and I just… it was so well acted and it honestly took my breath away a little bit.

1 year ago

remus and regulus

regulus: I mean, if you're asking me do I love Potter the answer is yes but I just- I don't think its normal to want to kill you're boyfriend, you know?

Remus: oh yeah, no it definately is normal

Regulus: really

Remus: sure, everyone has that time once a month or so when they just feel the distinct urge to source a dagger and violently murder their significant other

Regulus: you're sure?

Remus: yeah totally, Lilly has threatened all of her girlfriend with an axe at least once

Regulus: phew! Thats a relief.

Remus: you know one time i stabbed sirius in the hand with a sharpened quill in class

Regulus:...what

Remus: what

4 years ago
I See The Bad Moon A-rising 🐺

I see the bad moon a-rising 🐺

3 years ago

If you're reading this...

go write three sentences on your current writing project.

1 year ago

James: Do you think we’re soulmates in every universe?

Regulus: I definitely strangled you in one

James:

Regulus:

Regulus: To death. Not in the other way.

3 years ago

Hi.

I wrote my first fic for the drarry fandom.

It is going to be a very long one. It is a time travel rewrite. Very Au and slow burn.

Draco is transported into the past, into his 11 year old body. But he isn't only carrying mental scars from the war he went through, but his body shows his battles he fought. How will he handle all that knowledge of the future?

I'm excited and would love if you could give it a go

Travels Throught Time

Here is a little excerpt of the first chapter:

With a sign he stands up and opens the door. And sure enough he stands in the hallways of Malfoy Manor. Something is still off, didn't mother just take all of the portraits down. But all around he was greeted with old Malfoy Lords and Lady's.

He walks over to the bathroom, this one at least was just how he remembers it. Over at the sink he turns the water on and splashed his face, he needs to get rid of that nagging feeling at the back of his head. He cups water in his hands and drinks a few sips.

His eyes travel to the mirror over the sink and he screams.

He screams until hands shake him and brake eye contact between him and his reflection.

Read more on AO3 - Travels Throught Time

The first nine chapters are already posted.


Tags
3 years ago

New chapter <3

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 11/? Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter, Sirius Black/Remus Lupin, Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley, Luna Lovegood/Ginny Weasley Characters: Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Luna Lovegood, Ginny Weasley, Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa Black Malfoy, Tom Riddle | Voldemort, Bellatrix Black Lestrange Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Time Travel, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Retelling, Werewolf Draco Malfoy, Werewolf Remus Lupin, Pack Family, Gryffindor Draco Malfoy, Trans Ron Weasley, Coming Out, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Panic Attacks, Mental Health Issues, LGBTQ Character, Black Hermione Granger Summary:

Draco wakes in old familiar surroundings, but has no memory of how it happend. He wakes in his childhood room in his 11 year old body, but even as it seems like he traveled back in time his body is not unmarked of the war he went through. Old scars remain on his skin. How will he handle this new challenge? Will he fall into old habits and keep history repeating itself or does he step in and take destiny in his own hand.

I plan this to be very long and spanning over all years of the war. And very slow burn.

1 year ago

James: "I just tried making a reservation at the library."

Lily: "You don't need a reserv-"

James: "But I couldn't get one."

Remus, already knows what's coming: "Please shut up."

James: "It was fully...."

Marlene, softly: "Don't."

James: "Booked."

Remus, Lily and Marlene:

Sirius: *cackling*

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Trip to Wonderland

they/them in the middle of a gender crises 🏳️‍🌈

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