Based on the webcomic turned graphic novel by Alice Oseman, the new series chronicles the blossoming romance between schoolboys Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and Nick Nelson (Kit Connor).<\/p>\n
Oseman has been heavily involved in shepherding her creation from the page to live-action, ensuring that this new version of the story remains faithful to her massively popular books.<\/p>\n
That said, some changes along the way were inevitable, with the writer admitting that her story needed a touch more drama in order for it to make a compelling television show.<\/p>
\u201cSome things that are in a comic just don\u2019t work for TV,\u201d she told RadioTimes.com<\/a> and other press. \u201cLike Heartstopper, the comics, is a very low-stakes story. Problems are resolved pretty much immediately, which isn\u2019t normally how TV works, so we had to add a bit more drama \u2013 a bit more angst \u2013 into the show.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Much of this comes from the character of Nick, who is uncertain of his sexuality at the start of the series and is confronted by some scary questions as his feelings for Charlie begin to develop.<\/p>\n Oseman continued: \u201cI think the main thing that we changed was probably slowing down Nick\u2019s journey of self-acceptance. I think, in the comics, Nick has a bit of a crisis but then he\u2019s kind of OK. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut in the show, we\u2019ve really spread that out a bit more and given him more time to come to terms with himself, and because of that there is a bit more drama and angst in episodes 4 and 5.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n You can purchase Heartstopper volumes 1-4 now, on Amazon<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n An obvious change that longtime Heartstopper readers will notice right away is the complete omission of Aled Last; one of Charlie\u2019s closest friends in the graphic novels.<\/p>\n Oseman made this decision as she wanted a supporting character whose story could conceivably go anywhere, but Aled is somewhat tied down in continuity as a main protagonist in 2016 novel Radio Silence.<\/p>\n Therefore, in the Netflix series, he is swapped out for an original character named Isaac (played by Tobie Donovan), who fulfils a similar role in the first season but could develop in unexpected ways moving forward.<\/p>\n There is another new addition in the form of Imogen (Rhea Norwood), a schoolgirl with a crush on Nick, who was created as part of the aforementioned push to add more tension to the story.<\/p>\n Oseman recalled: \u201cI wanted Nick to have a friend who wasn\u2019t one of the lads. We knew we needed a bit more drama and angst in the story and Imogen is kind of the one who brings the drama in the mid-season.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n She added: \u201cI\u2019ve really fallen in love with these characters and I think they really fit the world of Heartstopper.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n As we mentioned in our Heartstopper review<\/a>, the Netflix series is aimed firmly at a young audience, with Oseman disclosing that she actively aimed to reach those below the target age group of her graphic novels.<\/p>\n \u201cThe comics are definitely YA [young adult] \u2013 mid-teens, older teens \u2013 but [with] the show, we wanted it to be accessible to young teens and tweens, which is why there\u2019s no swearing, for example,\u201d she revealed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe really just wanted it to be accessible for as many people as possible. But particularly in our minds were the young viewers who are like 11 or 12, and they will be able to sit and watch that show safely.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In spite of these changes, Heartstopper remains a faithful translation of the source material overall, even incorporating design elements that honour the show\u2019s comic book origins \u2013 most notably, whimsical animations that appear in pivotal scenes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve worked really hard to portray the aesthetic of Heartstopper,\u201d said Oseman. \u201cIn the comics, in moments of high emotion, you\u2019ve got leaves or flowers, and we\u2019ve kind of taken that for the show and done even more with it.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEven other stuff, like the transitions sometimes look like comic panels\u2026 I think it\u2019s great. I think it gives it such a distinct and unique and magical aesthetic, which really suits the tone of the show.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n As for her favourite moment in the first season, Oseman admits that her answer changes regularly, but ultimately decides on the first kiss between Charlie and Nick.<\/p>\n \u201cI really love the original scene in the graphic novels, it\u2019s one of my favourites that I\u2019m the most proud of, and then it\u2019s so true to that in the show. It\u2019s so accurate to the comics right down to the expressions and gestures.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Heartstopper volumes 1-4 are available for\u00a0purchase on Amazon<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Heartstopper is available to stream on Netflix from Friday 22nd April 2022. Check out more of our Drama<\/a> coverage or visit our TV Guide<\/a> to see what\u2019s on tonight.<\/strong><\/p>\n The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now \u2013\u00a0subscribe now<\/a>\u00a0to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, l<\/strong>isten to the\u00a0Radio Times podcast<\/a> with Jane Garvey.<\/strong><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n By David Craig Published: Thursday, 21 April 2022 at 12:00 am While avid readers have been burned many times before by screen adaptations that don\u2019t do justice to the source material, they can rest assured that Netflix\u2018s Heartstopper is one of the good ones. Based on the webcomic turned graphic novel by Alice Oseman, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":14229,"template":"","categories":[1,5],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/04\/how-is-heartstopper-on-netflix-different-to-the-graphic-novel.jpg",620,413,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/04\/how-is-heartstopper-on-netflix-different-to-the-graphic-novel-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/04\/how-is-heartstopper-on-netflix-different-to-the-graphic-novel-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/04\/how-is-heartstopper-on-netflix-different-to-the-graphic-novel.jpg",620,413,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/04\/how-is-heartstopper-on-netflix-different-to-the-graphic-novel.jpg",620,413,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/04\/how-is-heartstopper-on-netflix-different-to-the-graphic-novel.jpg",620,413,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/04\/how-is-heartstopper-on-netflix-different-to-the-graphic-novel.jpg",620,413,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By David Craig Published: Thursday, 21 April 2022 at 12:00 am While avid readers have been burned many times before by screen adaptations that don\u2019t do justice to the source material, they can rest assured that Netflix\u2018s Heartstopper is one of the good ones. 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