Heartstopper did the opposite of its name when it was first released, the show got fans' hearts racing with its wholesome and accurate love story. Since its release, the show has been praised for its depiction of queer love due to its move away from more serious topics. Nick and Charlie had fans gripped from the offset as their relationship developed onscreen and presented viewers with an innocent and sweet representation of love.
Whilst It's A Sin is a particularly vital bit of television, fans have praised Heartstopper for moving away from the trauma commonly presented in representations of the LGBTQ+ community with its replacement of an honest romance. Here are 10 TV shows that represent queer love stories like that of Nick and Charlie.
Never Have I Ever (2020-Present)
Never Have I Ever is a charming teen drama that avoids having a 'token' queer character and instead provides an inclusive cast that explores different sexual identities. Whilst the show includes a coming-out scene, it avoids making it the only important part of Fabiola's character and instead follows her as she delves into a relationship with Eve.
The series goes beyond Fabiola and Eves's story by introducing other queer characters who have fundamental roles within the show. However, it allows teens who may be exploring their own sexual identity, a space to see it play out onscreen. It captures the essence of a first same-sex relationship and finding one's feet whilst avoiding making it a commodity to the progression of the show, making it an important teen drama.
Trinkets (2019-2020)
Trinkets may focus solely on friendship, but in terms of showcasing queer love, it does a great job, especially in its representation with many of the queer characters being played by queer/non-binary actors. The show excels in its ability to showcase and encompass the LGBTQ+ community and introduces viewers to Elodie, who is fully confident in her sexuality.
The show fails to give viewers a coming-out scene for Elodie, which makes for a refreshing change. It allows the show more time to show her delve into new relationships, some good and some bad. The series captures the awkwardness that comes with teen relationships and presents them onscreen in a way that is synonymous with the relationships many viewers have encountered themselves. This makes it a refreshing yet relatable representation of queer love, similar to that of Heartstopper.
Greys Anatomy (2005-Present)
There were many couples Greys Anatomy should've explored further. There are also some that were and still are staples within it. The show has always been known for its high visibility and inclusivity of characters and storylines, with many of the characters entering into queer relationships, but Grey's Anatomy is another series that seeks to provide much more than a coming-out story.
Through relationships like Callie and Arizona to Schmitt and Nico, the show provided viewers with queer love that developed past just a token episode. It presented viewers with accurate depictions of love that had its fair share of unrelated trauma but ultimately highlighted exactly what queer love is: love. The show continues to give viewers an honest representation of LGBTQ+ love that has progressed into meaningful marriages or relationships whilst also celebrating what it means to be queer.
Pose (2018-2021)
Pose was one of the most groundbreaking series to hit viewers' TV sets. It continues to be a vital onscreen representation of different kinds of love, prompting the start of some important conversations. For many members of the LGBTQ+ community, the show highlighted key issues whilst simultaneously celebrating Black and Latino queer love that left viewers enamored with Pose.
The series is both vibrant and flamboyant in its visual style. This was complemented by the show's ability to showcase queer relationships in all forms. It showcases the highs and lows of love whilst also highlighting the need for mutual respect within a relationship. The series continues to be a great representative piece of TV that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community in a way that viewers have longed for a long time.
Sex Education (2019-Present)
From deeper topics to open and honest dialogue, there are many ways Sex Education is like Heartstopper. However, it is the show's representation of queer love that makes it such a positive watch. The series showcases queer love in a variety of ways, encompassing important parts of sexuality whilst also following couples as they develop further in their relationship.
The series targets a slightly older audience and acts as a learning tool for many. This includes the LGBTQ+ community due to its honest dialogue surrounding sex which is representative of all relationships and the universal problems people may face within them. This makes it a poignant, heartwarming, and informative representation of queer love.
Gentefied (2020-2021)
Gentefied is one show that is criminally underrated but contains so many powerful scenes regarding gentrification, identity, and sexuality. However, the show doesn't exactly tackle sexuality and provides viewers with scenes of trauma that are central to the character's queer journey. Instead, it gives fans the love story they want that is free from damage.
Ana and Yessika's love story is one of mutual support and understanding. This creates an onscreen couple that actively supports one another dreams and continues to be there in times of need. Whilst the pair call it quits, their story portrays a very real breakup where neither of them can quite move on. Eventually, they agree to stay in each other's lives, highlighting how true their relationship is to reality.
Ginny & Georgia (2021-Present)
There are many ways Ginny & Georgia does LGBTQ+ representation correctly, especially through Max's character and cleverly written dialogue that calls out tired stereotypes and gave viewers a main character that was already out. Max's open sexuality gave her story more room to progress and even created many important conversations surrounding the fetishization of sexuality.
In one scene, Max even pointed out that just because she was a lesbian, that didn't mean she was attracted to the 'only other lesbian' in school. The show provided viewers with a great queer love story that also called out stereotypes surrounding sexuality, including the fetishization of same-sex intimacy within a party setting, making it a powerful but heartwarming representation of queer love, similar to that of Heartstopper.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine challenged many outdated representations and instead replace them with more representative scenes of how far society has progressed, including suggestions about how it could progress further. The show does a great job of representing queer love by having two main characters whose storylines cover bisexuality and gay marriage beyond coming out.
The show explores both characters' relationships and dating history in depth which many fans felt excelled the typical representation of queer characters and the emphasis placed on coming out. Instead, the show sought to provide much more than that and did so by creating two queer characters with realistic love stories that spurred several seasons.
Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)
Schitt's Creek contains several romantic scenes that fans could watch again and again, but it is the relationship between David and Patrick. The show highlights different sexual identities through David, who identifies as pansexual and Patrick, who identifies as a gay man, whilst also normalizing their relationship throughout the whole series.
The series avoided presenting the pair as a 'gay' couple and instead represented the relationship as what it truly is: a loving one of mutual respect and love. David and Patrick were the onscreen representation of queer love that fans needed within modern society and continue to pave the way for more normalized and accurate same-sex love stories.
Modern Family (2009-2020)
Modern Family has occupied a firm place on fans' TV sets for over a decade until it finally came to an end in 2020, the series documents the reality of family life through comedy, drama, and many heartwarming scenes but the show's representation of queer love was a refreshing addition to the sitcom genre.
Cam and Mitchell were a welcomed family on the show and provided a fresh change to the onscreen American family by being representative of the modern family. It didn't question their relationship but rather provided a wholesome depiction of queer love as one of the main plotlines that remains a hit with viewers today due to the pair being so obviously in love with one another.