Heartstopper creator Alice Oseman reveals there were signs of pivotal Charlie Spring season 2 storyline in season 1 episodes

Warning: spoilers ahead for Heartstopper season 2.

The release of season 2 has , reuniting them with their favourite characters as they mature and go through new experiences in their school life, friendships and romantic relationships.

In the second season, the show delves into more relatable topics that affect people in real life on a daily basis, some of a very serious nature, including , homophobia, eating disorders, friction within families and bullying.

While speaking to Metro.co.uk, the show’s creator opened up on the storylines that were introduced in the latest episodes, including the discovery that Charlie Spring () suffers from an eating disorder.

The writer and illustrator explained that if viewers were to go back and watch season one again, then they might realise that there were signs pointing towards what was going on behind the scenes with Charlie.

‘I think when people watch season two, if they then go back to season one, they’ll see a lot of hints of what’s to come, particularly with Charlie’s eating disorder,’ she said.

‘There are a lot of hints of that in season one, because that is the story that I always wanted to tell with these characters.’

One fan found the depiction of Charlie’s eating disorder ‘so brilliantly done’, because ‘they showed how it’s not something that just happens one day and gets resolved in an instant because it doesn’t’, they said on Twitter.

Another wrote after watching season two: ‘Charlie’s eating disorder is quite well represented, I knew how to identify myself and I didn’t stop crying in the episode.’

‘Talking more in depth about Charlie’s eating disorder is so important and I’m so glad that it’s being done,’ someone else shared.

During our conversation with Alice, the writer stressed how a ‘big part’ of Heartstopper for her is ‘showing a diverse range of experiences, particularly for queer teens’.

This especially pertained to Isaac (Tobie Donovan) exploring the possibility that he could be asexual.

‘The asexuality storyline was so important and exciting to me because that is something that is hardly ever seen on TV or in films,’ she said.

‘I felt like Heartstopper really is kind of the perfect place to tell an asexual coming out story.

‘I think I’ve seen a few asexual characters on TV, but I’ve never seen a main character have a journey of figuring out that that’s who they are that takes place across an entire season. So I’m so excited for that to be a part of season two.’

One individual who hailed the representation of that particular storyline tweeted: ‘The amount of asexual (and especially aromantic) rep in media is so criminally low, so Heartstopper bringing some more awareness to these identities through Isaac is just so refreshing.’

Someone else who found Isaac’s journey moving wrote: ‘I couldn’t stop crying at every Isaac scene in Heartstopper, there’s just never any asexual representation anywhere and to have it in a show like this for young people is so important.’

Heartstopper is available to watch on Netflix.