With only 8 episodes, fans of Heartstopper have been binge-watching the series on repeat since its release in April 2022. Luckily for them, there's another LGTBQ+ teen show out there to stream that has a new season coming soon: Hulu's Love, Victor.
Not only are both series based on other media (a graphic novel and a hit movie adaptation, respectively), but they also offer fans a heartwarming and modern coming-of-age story. The similarities don't just begin and end with the main characters, though. Instead, both shows have similar minor characters and plots too. While it might be fun to watch the same show over and over, Hearstopper fans looking for something new should definitely check out Love, Victor.
Male Leads
Love, Victor begins with Victor, a teenage boy who is going through some major changes now that he's moved to a different state and is able to explore his sexuality. Similarly, Charlie is a teen boy who is also going through some major changes now that he is out at his school.
While both shows feature storylines about other characters, Charlie and Victor really are the eyes of their respective worlds. They also share several personality traits, like hating confrontation, and they both find it easier to bond with people through text messaging rather than face to face.
Characters Adjusting To New Schools
Since the Salazar family has just moved to Creekwood from Texas at the start of Love, Victor, it's no surprise that much of Pilar's season one arc centers around her finding her place at her new school. Similarly, Elle spends several early episodes of Heartstopper trying to find her place at the all-girls school she's transferred to.
While the shows might have the theme in common, they approached the topic differently. In Pilar's case, she doesn't want to make new friends because she didn't want to move; whereas Elle does want to fit in because this is a school she wants to be at.
Discovering Sexuality
As with most LGBTQ+ teen shows, a large portion of the story revolves around characters discovering and learning about their sexuality. In Love, Victor, the exploration falls on Victor, who begins to explore his sexuality as he befriends and dates Mia and later, Benji. In the case of Heartstopper, the discovery happens through Nick, who begins to realize he might be bisexual soon after he gets close with Charlie.
However, while Nick is largely accepted when he comes out as bisexual, Victor undergoes a much tougher coming out experience. It might not be as wholesome as Heartstopper, but Victor's experience is just as important for him and for fans of the series.
Texting Plays A Big Part
From Instagram messages to vibrant group chats, Love, Victor and Heartstopper both feature texting at the center of their respective shows. Not only does the texting tell audiences more about the characters, but it also makes the shows more authentic since most teens communicate solely through messages.
In Victor's case, he primarily communicates with his mentor Simon via Instagram messages getting advice on how to handle his relationship with Mia and feelings for Benji. Charlie bonds with Nick through Instagram messages and reports to his friends about his own feelings.
Protective Best Friends
Having an interesting lead character is important to all types of shows, but having a compelling and protective best friend character is essential for the success of teen shows. Thankfully, Tao and Felix are exactly that.
Felix is the first friend Victor makes in Creekwood and he immediately protects him by showing him the ropes at their high school. It's why Felix and Victor are one of the best Love,Victor duos. Similarly, Tao is Charlie's longtime friend who protects Charlie both emotionally and physically by waging war against Charlie's bullies. They also both support their friends' sexuality which is the most important thing of all.
LGBTQ+ Characters
Both Love, Victor, and Heartstopper represent a diverse and unique group of LGBTQ+ characters. In addition to Victor, Love, Victor features the confident, out-and-proud Benji and Simon, and Bram's eccentric group of college LGBTQ+ students. Heartstopper features Charlie and Nick plus the adorable Tara and Darcy, and the quick-witted Elle.
With so many LGTBQ+ players, no character feels like a trope or caricature, and instead, they offer authentic representation to young audiences. These sincere portrayals are what makes these shows so appealing to the young LGBTQ+ communities.
Secret Relationships With Secret Handholds
Since both Love, Victor and Heartstopper deal with characters who aren't ready to tell the world about their sexualities, their significant others have to find other ways to show affection in public. Oddly enough, both Nick and Charlie and Victor and Benji find ways to secretly hold hands.
In Love, Victor, Benji knows Victor isn't comfortable holding hands in public, so instead he'll clasp his hands together in front of Victor to show that he's thinking about him. Meanwhile, Charlie will occasionally touch his pinky with Nick's in public. But when they're feeling especially brave, they hold hands under their desk.
Mysterious Yet Supportive Sisters
While Charlie and Victor are the leads of their respective shows, there are also tons of interesting characters in their lives, including their sisters. Though they vary in birth order, Pilar and Tori both share a mysterious personality while still fiercely supporting their awkward brothers.
Pilar's inscrutable vibe manifests in teen angst since she's upset that she'd had to move away from all her friends. Despite her own teenage turmoil, she's there for Victor, especially when he wants to talk about his sexuality. While Tori is less involved in Charlie's life, she is always there to encourage Charlie to follow his heart when it comes to his feelings towards Nick.
Heavy Focus On Platonic & Romantic Love
Love comes in all shapes and sizes, and Hearstopper and Love, Victor both make this abundantly clear to their fans. People looking for a romantic type of love will find Charlie/Nick, Tara/Darcy, Victor/Benji, and Lake/Felix's stories the most interesting, as they deal with first love, tropes, and secret relationships.
However, both shows also showcase the importance of platonic love through the various friendship dynamics in the show. Both feature nontoxic male friendships with boys who aren't afraid to show each other affection. They also feature powerful female friendships that are supportive and fun instead of grounded in jealousy like some teen girl friendships on TV.
Set In High School
One of the most obvious similarities between Heartstopper and Love, Victor is that they both take place in high school. Victor attends the public high school Creekwood which is located in his Georgia suburb while Charlie attends an all-boys high school that requires its students to wear uniforms.
While the schools might be separated by an ocean, what goes on inside the walls is pretty much the same. Both Victor and Charlie attend classes, have lunch with friends, and participate in athletics while they're on their journeys of self-discovery.