While watching Heartstopper, it’s hard not to get swept up in the serendipitous rose-colored romances between Nick and Charlie and Elle and Tao. There’s so much love — so much innocent passion that always peaks with kisses and cuddles. It’s downright adorable, and they steal the spotlight (rightfully so). However, several supporting players have managed to snag our attention in tandem: those shining at the periphery, working to keep these lovestruck young ins happy. Supporting characters who are there to guide, nurture, or simply stand tall beside our primary protagonists. So, here are our favorite minor characters in Heartstopper — who we’ve fallen in love with despite their very limited screen time.
Spoiler Warning for Season 2 of ‘Heartstopper’
3. Sarah Nelson (Olivia Colman)
Nick Nelson’s mother epitomizes the soft-spoken yet proud maternal figure. She supports her son unconditionally from the moment he comes out to her. She’s there with open arms and tears falling down her face — not because she’s disappointed, but because she is relieved and oh-so-happy that her son felt comfortable sharing this with her.
She may not be loud or forceful, but she is strong-willed in the face of ignorance, which just so happens to come from her biphobic son, David. She will not allow David to make Nick feel like he’s anything less than perfect just the way he is. She will not allow David to make Nick uncomfortable in his own home. David is a bully and an attention-seeking jerk who does not deserve a place at the table. Sarah will not write him off, as he is her son, but she will reprimand him and ensure he knows that he is wrong. He is not the person with the power in their household. She is.
2. Youseff Farouq (Nima Taleghani)
Mr. Farouq is a no-nonsense, strict teacher who is one of the two guardians on the Paris trip. Just when the kids are having a bit too much fun — right as they begin to forget that this is a school-sponsored, education-oriented get-away — he’s there with a stern and loud proclamation to set them back on track. The way he contrasts the show’s otherwise effervescent atmosphere gives his character quite the comedic flair via juxtaposition. Happiness is for home — not Paris!
Mr. Farouq may be stern, but he is not heartless. It’s clear that his authoritative nature comes from a place of ensuring student safety and rule adherence, as his partner-in-crime, Nathan Ajayi (Fisayo Akinade) is the good cop to his bad cop — the laid-back to his straight-laced. Yet, it is around Nathan that Youseff becomes more bashful. More giddy. He is attracted to Nathan, and the two boast a slow-blossoming romance in the second season that is utterly adorable. What seemingly starts as a one-night stand becomes something more when Nathan suggests a “real date.”
Mr.Farouk 😭#Heartstopper #HeartstopperS2 pic.twitter.com/SaMrTv8LO6
— SAHYL✾🍂☮️🅴 (@Sahil_Budhiya) August 3, 2023
Nathan brings out the softer side of Youseff. He brings out Youseff’s sequestered sympathy for adolescent shenanigans (which was always lurking beneath the surface, ready to surge once sparked). He even leads Youseff to look the other way when one of the students is so clearly vomiting due to alcohol intoxication…not food poisoning. Youseff isn’t “uncool,” he’s merely a bit “Betty by the Book,” and a bit regretful that he did not have the same joyful queer adolescence. He’s happy for these kids, but there’s a ping of jealousy and yearning for what will never be in the complicated mix. Youseff is that prototypical strict teacher with a heart of gold. He’s the one who you may be a little afraid of, but who you know you can count on in a crisis.
Tori Spring (Jenny Walser)
What would this post be without mentioning the gloriously introverted and pessimistic Tori, who will defend her brother from the mountaintops with fervor? She keeps to herself, and she enjoys her peaceful existence— detached from the madness of school-aged social structures. Uttering lines like “I treasure my alone time” with a stoic expression indicative of self-contentment, we all wish to be as at ease with who we are as Tori is. Yet, despite her quiet nature, threaten or insult Charlie, and she will come for you. That quietness will slip to the ground, and she will take on an impending stature and vocal dominance. Quiet does not mean she is shy or afraid. Rather, it means that when she speaks you better believe she has something worth listening to.
Remember when she tells Nick, “Look after him or you die,” without the slightest degree of jest? It’s because she’s not kidding, and we believe her. Or, how about when she puts that wretched human David in his place, telling him, “You are a pathetic little man. Talk about my brother like that again, and I’ll end you.” Tori even threatens David at the dinner table as he begins to force his brother to come out to his father. She is there to protect Charlie (and, by proxy, Nick) from experiencing heartache as a result of those unworthy to influence his emotions. She wants to do nothing more than ensure Charlie’s bliss.
When Charlie smiles at Nick, Tori looks on from afar with a smirk suggestive of sisterly appreciation. We’re not crying; you’re crying! These moments show just how sensitive Tori is. She is merely selective of about who she lets in, and Charlie is one of the few lucky enough to hold a place in Tori’s heart. She is so lovable, and the writers ensure that her introversion is not a negative quality, but merely an aspect of her identity. Her introversion does not influence how much she can love or how capable she is of carrying social interactions with complex dynamics (which is refreshing when it comes to TV and movie depictions of such characters). Introversion is often depicted in negative and stereotypical lights, so seeing a positive representation of the quiet girl clad in black is a much-needed change of pace.
Tori is full of love. She may be full of doubt, and she may tend toward cynicism, but she cares a great deal. She somehow manages to hold onto hope when it comes to Charlie, and she will work to ensure that he remains hopeful – even if andwhen she ventures into skepticism. With barely any screen time in season 2, Tori becomes the older sister we all want in our lives.
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