Heartstopper Season 1 & 2 Timeline Explained: How Much Time Passed on the Show?
The major milestones in Charlie/Nick's relationship and when they happened.
Heartstopper Season 2 was a gripping watch that fully immersed viewers in the love stories of Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson and their friends and schoolmates. The season was so entertaining and emotional that many viewers got lost in the timeline of everything that was happening on screen.
How much time has passed between the start of the show and the Season 2 finale? How long have Charlie and Nick been together? When did the trip to Paris and the prom take place? If you're among those asking these questions, don't worry, we're here to explain.
The most convenient way to view the Heartstopper timeline is through key points in the Charlie/Nick relationship.
S1E1 January 4: First Meeting
The show begins when Charlie and Nick meet for the first time in the new form. The date is not long after New Year's, January 4th. Since it's a Monday, many fans have theorized that the year must be 2021.
However, none of the students are wearing masks, which would be impossible in a COVID-ridden British school. Furthermore, creator Alice Oseman wrote on her website that her story doesn't take place in a specific year, but in the abstract present. And that is probably the best approach for all viewers.
S1E3 March 20: First Kiss
We know that the first kiss between Charlie and Nick happened during Harry Greene's 16th birthday party, which was on March 20th. It is either this date or the day after when Nick arrives on Charlie's doorstep and they share a stunning rain kiss that the boys consider the beginning of their relationship.
S1E5 April 27: Charlie's Birthday
Charlie and Nick's relationship progresses when they admit their feelings for each other on the day of Charlie's 15th birthday party, April 27.
S2E1 May 20 or 21: 2-Month Anniversary
At the beginning of Season 2, Charlie gives Nick the Cadbury chocolate as a gift for their 2-month anniversary. It is the day after the beach date and Nick's coming out to his mother, which happened in the Season 1 finale. This means only one day passes between seasons in the Heartstopper universe.
S2E4-6 June 30-July 2: Trip to Paris
The main characters and their schoolmates go on an exciting three-day trip to Paris after the school year ends. Judging by the dates on Charlie/Nick's phones, the trip takes place between June 30 and July 2.
S2E8 July 11: Prom
In case you were wondering how it is that the prom in Heartstopper takes place after the trip to Paris and so far into the summer, well, in the UK, students don't get out of school for the summer until July, so they usually have the prom around the middle of summer and then are off until early September. So the July 11 prom sounds more than plausible.
Since this is the date of the Season 2 finale, we can calculate that a little over six months have passed during the first two seasons of Heartstopper. How much has changed in such a short period of time! Right?