‘Heartstopper’ Creator Alice Oseman Has Some “Healing” To Do Thanks To The Show

TV Series UK

2023-08-24
11:14

Heartstopper creator Alice Oseman has realized she has some “healing” to do from her upbringing thanks to her journey with the hit Netflix series.

In an interview with The Irish News, Oseman, 28, reflected on her youth which was not filled with the colorful and joyful experiences present in her book or the Netflix adaptation.

“Seeing how Heartstopper [help] so many queer teens is special and magical but has also helped me see that I’ve got some healing of my own to do,” she said.

‘Heartstopper’ gained praise for its positive representation of the queer experience which Oseman claimed comes from her exploring “realistic contemporary issues with a hopeful and optimistic lens.”

Oseman continued to say that what people like about ‘Heartstopper’ is that it feels like the problems could be real, but with the “comfort and knowledge” that things will be okay ultimately and “no matter what someone might be going through, there are always pockets of joy to be had.”

She remarked that it was “particularly comforting” to the queer community, saying ‘Heartstopper’ caters to what people want to see: their struggles accurately represented in the media and content that makes them feel “hopeful, comforted, and happy.”

Oseman was awarded Person of the Year at Attitude 101 in February this year. At the time, she shared how the show would not shy away from sensitive subjects in the new season. She noted that people would think the show is “sweet” but it also tackles dark things such as mental health issues, transphobia, homophobia, bullying, and sexual assault.

“If you read the comics, you know what’s coming, but there’s new stuff and surprises,” Oseman said.

‘Heartstopper’ seasons one and two are available on Netflix now.

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