Trixie Mattel and Katya react to the new season of 'Heartstopper': 'I wish I had it'

In a new episode of their YouTube show I Like to Watch, drag queens Trixie Mattel and Katya react to season two of the Netflix series Heartstopper, which is based on a graphic novel series by author Alice Oseman.

The duo is known for their candid conversations about sex scenes in movies and shows — especially LGBTQ-focused storylines — and they praised the Netflix show’s depiction of the young LGBTQ relationships between characters, including the protagonists, Charlie (Joe Locke) and his crush Nick (Kit Connor).

Initially, Trixie and Katya joked about how the show seemed to depict teens who just wanted to “hold hands at the post office” instead of progressing their physical relationship as compared to many other teen romance dramas.

“I want it to be closer to real,” Trixie lamented after watching one scene.

“I think we’re advocating for more of a realistic approach to what is generally considered to be the truth,” Katya countered. “For every character so far, the story has sort of let them blossom at their own speed.”

After their initial assessment, however, Trixie and Katya noted that the show did portray many moments of reality and that, overall, Heartstopper helped shed light on the different ways relationships can progress, both physically and emotionally, especially in a situation where those involved are trying to figure out their sexuality.

For instance, they pointed out that they appreciated how the younger characters were open about not wanting to have sex, noting that early relationships could lead one person to feel coerced into having sex when they are not actually ready.

“Many people feel pressured to f***,” Katya noted.

“That’s very, like, our generation,” Trixie agreed, pointing out that the show seems to capture how Gen Z is fighting against that pressure.

Additionally, Heartstopper utilized the theme of teens not getting hot and heavy as a way to educate viewers on what being asexual can mean, and Katya admitted that watching the character describe their feelings was a “teachable moment” for her.

To identify as asexual means that the person does not experience any sexual feelings or desires toward other people. Asexuality is an umbrella term for this community, and even if someone has little to no interest in sex, it doesn’t mean they’re uninterested in relationships or forming meaningful connections.

The references to asexuality — and the clear efforts to educate viewers on the term and identity — may be deliberate, as Oseman, the author of the books the series is based on, identifies as asexual.

“The world is obsessed with sex and romance. And if you don’t have that, you feel like you haven’t achieved something that’s really important,” Oseman told The Guardian in 2022.

Mattel and Katya also discussed how the lack of sexual focus from a physical perspective also helped free up the show to address other themes, such as simply allowing queer teens to exist without trauma attached to their sexual orientation.

“Katya said it right, this show is retroactively healing to like 3 generations. Seeing these cute representations of teenagers being bi(!) and gay without them being alone, sad, abused or actively dying is something I missed out on a lot in the 2000s, let me tell you,” @drunkhyena remarked on the YouTube video.

Overall, Trixie and Katya’s final assessment of the show was that they wanted to see the teens on the show have accurate portrayals of what it means to be a queer teen navigating sexuality.

“This is wonderful for all you sophomores and juniors and seniors in high school,” said Katya at one point in the show. “I wish I had it when I was there.”

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