Heartstopper, Netflix's adaptation of Alice Oseman's LGBTQ+ young adult graphic novels, has concluded after six books, three television seasons and a film-length finale, Heartstopper Forever. Widely praised as one of television's most wholesome shows, it turned stars Kit Connor and Joe Locke into household names and became a cultural touchstone for queer viewers of all ages, offering younger audiences representation many older LGBTQ+ people never had growing up under laws such as Section 28. Writer Alim Kheraj argues its end feels particularly poignant given the current climate of rollbacks to queer and trans rights.

The books have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, including around 1.3 million in the UK, and the Netflix series has drawn tens of millions of views since its 2022 debut. Despite its gentle, "syrupy" reputation, the show tackled serious issues, including hostile media treatment of trans people through the character Elle (played by Yasmin Finney), who in earlier seasons faced a hostile radio interview and, in the finale, references the UK ban on hormone blockers for young trans people and the broader rollback of trans rights.