Isaac's Journey With His Sexuality Is Especially Meaningful to 'Heartstopper' Author Alice Oseman

May 2024 · 4 minute read

What is Isaac’s sexuality in ‘Heartstopper’? He goes on his own journey when he thinks he might be gay until he realizes he could be asexual.

Source: Netflix

Spoiler alert: This article incorporates spoilers for Heartstopper Season 2.

In Season 2 of Heartstopper, we in the end discover extra of the different characters’ interior workings. The Netflix series dives deeper into Isaac, who is mostly a facet persona all through Season 1. Portrayed by Tobie Donovan, Isaac is in Charlie’s (Joe Locke) core pal crew all through the series, however his romantic existence and sexuality are infrequently explored … until Season 2.

Most of his pals fall someplace in the LGBTQ+ spectrum, but Isaac simply enjoys studying. But when a potential partner presentations hobby in Isaac, he starts questioning his sexuality. He wonders if he could be homosexual, but by way of the end of Season 2, he realizes that he may well be asexual. So what is Isaac’s sexuality in Heartstopper?

Source: Netflix

Isaac wonders if he’s homosexual in ‘Heartstopper’ Season 2.

When Charlie has a sleepover with his pal workforce, Isaac turns out to be the only person who’s now not coupled up. Charlie is with Nick, Darcy is with Tara, and Elle and Tao have their flirtation on. Imogen is additionally unmarried but finds that she’s considering Ben. That leaves Isaac and his books. He feels unnoticed, so we get the sense that this season will explore more of his sexuality and romantic pursuits.

Then, Isaac’s fellow bookworm, James McEwan (Bradley Riches), begins showing interest in Isaac. They both work at the Pride display in the library, and James remarks how “cool” it is to be round other homosexual people. Isaac gives into James’s pastime for a little or even considers that he will have feelings for him.

Source: Netflix

A immediately audience member would possibly view characters as default-straight, however on the planet of Heartstopper, characters are more likely on the LGTBQ+ spectrum. Naturally, this may purpose Isaac to suppose that if he’s not directly or bisexual, he should be homosexual, so he asks Charlie how he knew he preferred Nick. But Charlie’s resolution of wanting to kiss Nick always doesn’t seem to totally satisfy Isaac.

Even still, when Isaac and James have a quiet second, they proportion a kiss. It turns out to be both of their first kiss. James is inclined with Isaac and asks if the kiss was ok, but Isaac doesn’t truly know how to react, so he runs off.

By the end of Season 2, Isaac realizes that he is also asexual.

While all of Isaac’s pals appear obsessed with love and romance, Isaac realizes that he might not be as thinking about that as his buddies. The sequence presentations us a lot of other variations of affection—queer love, directly love, familial love, buddy love, and extra—nevertheless it hasn’t but explored asexuality, which is ironic making an allowance for Heartstopper author Alice Oseman’s sexuality.

When selling her 2020 novel Loveless, which follows a teenage woman who comes to terms with being asexual, she got here out as asexual and aromantic. “I am aromantic asexual,” she stated in a BBC piece. “For me, which means I do not enjoy enchantment – romantic or sexual – to someone of any gender … While I loved the theory of being in a relationship, when boys expressed hobby in me, I'd really feel uncomfortable and struggled to in finding any appeal in the considered courting them.

Source: Getty Images

“For some time, I wondered whether or not the explanation I felt nothing for boys was once because I used to be gay, but I didn’t fall for any women both. As a result of this confusion, I felt very on my own and questioned whether or not there was something unsuitable with me … Soon I used to be ready to get started imagining another trail for my long run. A long term stuffed with platonic love as a substitute!”

As it turns out, Isaac become the easiest conduit for this journey in Heartstopper. His personality is simplest in the tv sequence, so he was once the very best clean slate to discover journeys now not already in the graphic novel. Alice defined to Netflix, “I all the time knew that I wanted to include asexual and aromantic characters within the Heartstopper TV show in a big approach, as this wasn’t one thing I have yet been able to find room for in the comics.

Source: Netflix

“I’m excited to start that storyline in season two with Isaac. The journey in opposition to understanding that you are ace and/or aro is hardly noticed in any media, however especially on screen. I wanted to display that journey and the entire self-doubt and confusion and messiness that comes with it.”

Luckily for us, Isaac gets an excellent animated moment of his own when he reveals the book about asexuality. Figuring out who you are and loving yourself for it is simply as exciting as a new romance!

Season 2 of Heartstopper is now streaming on Netflix.

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