The Aussie teen drama has dropped its third and final series, and it’s more queer than ever
BY HONOR WOLSTENCROFT, IMAGES BY NETFLIX
Recent statistics show that Gen Z are having less sex. Gen Z are drinking less. Gen Z are one-dimensional lazy robots obsessed with social media and never leave the house.
In line with these stats and stereotypes, on-screen Gen Z representation is typically inaccurate, spine-tinglingly cringe-worthy, and from the perspective of older generations. They paint them as having their heads constantly buried in their phones, flood their dialogue with online buzzwords, and usually cast a 35-year-old actor to portray them.
Yet Netflix’s Heartbreak High feels like a shift for Gen Z representation. The show has just dropped its third series, with the potty-mouthed Aussie teen gang getting entangled in ridiculous, raunchy, but real situations for the final time. But it’s the show’s approach to queerness that feels the most representative and reflective of Gen Z’s spirit.
Queer stories are integral to Heartbreak High, and queer characters, such as Missy, Darren and Malakai, are at the forefront of the show, with their sexualities being rarely met with judgment. The heterosexual characters embrace their LGBTQIA+ peers, and being queer at Hartley High is the norm.
The reboot of the 90s teen drama that first aired in 2022 follows the 17-year-old heroine, Amerie (Ayesha Madon), through her turbulent time at high school. Navigating love triangles, friendship fallouts and a tarnished reputation, Amerie is guided by her two close friends, Darren (James Majoos) and Quinni (Chloe Hayden).
Darren, who is non-binary, has a rich storyline in the latest season, which depicts their polyamorous relationship with the asexual ex-eshay drug dealer, Ca$h. Their humour and spirit warm the show, without reducing them to being the token “sassy” queer person of colour that visual media often feeds on.
The vibrancy of Quinni, an autistic lesbian, defies the previous onscreen representation of neurodivergent identities, often presented as white, straight males. Quinni’s experience as an autistic teenager who experiences sensory overloads often feels alienated by her neurotypical partners. Chloe Hayden, who plays Quinni, is autistic herself, and the queer relationships that Quinni lives through are imperfect, just as they are in real life.
Season three also introduces Taz (Aki Munroe), the headteacher’s niece, who faced abandonment from her parents and is now on the scene to cause havoc in the school. Taz forms a relationship with Sasha (Gemma Chua-Tran), the school’s superficial vice president, and later, Quinni. Despite Taz being a controversial character with her troublemaker ways, her introduction to the show is the best form of visibility across the three seasons.
Taz’s sexuality is never up for debate, nor is her character ever required to come out. Her sexuality is a minor part of her character and goes unspoken, the same way that heterosexual characters are presented.
The normalisation of queerness within Heartbreak High is the most impactful and reflective form of visibility. Queer characters and their stories are not treated as special or tragic, or presented in a way that feels like writers are simply trying to tick off diversity boxes. They’re shown to live mundane lives like any other teenager, whilst their sexualities are usually the least interesting thing about them.
Fan reactions online have showered the show with praise, reflecting the real impact that positive queer visibility and representation can have on audiences. One Reddit user (@6_62607004) said: “Malakai’s character in particular really resonated with me in lots of ways, and I’ve never seen anyone like him before.”
If you’re looking for a new series to binge that feels authentic to the queer Gen Z experience, Heartbreak High is an essential. It’s groundbreaking in its presentation of multiple underrepresented sexualities that rarely feature on our screens, and film and TV writers could learn a thing or two from the show.
You can watch all three series of Heartbreak High on Netflix.
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