Heartstopper season 2 spoilers observe.
Heartstopper star Sebastian Croft has confirmed that he has exited the Netflix sequence as Ben Hope.
The character has been a central a part of the present’s storyline, having beforehand been concerned in a poisonous relationship with Charlie Spring (Joe Locke).
Within the newly-released second season, Ben’s arc ends with him revealing to Charlie that he will likely be leaving Truham, and apologises to him for his previous behaviour.
Associated: How Heartstopper‘s Ben dodged the redemption arc pitfall
Nevertheless, Charlie would not let him off the hook, detailing how his poisonous behaviour has affected him, and Croft has expressed gladness that his “extremely sophisticated” character wasn’t given a easy redemptive conclusion.
“[Creator] Alice [Oseman] and I each felt strongly about him not having a redemption arc,” he advised Tudum. “It’s a very lovely approach of getting these two individuals who have been via rather a lot – and Ben’s been horrible to Charlie – to have that dialog and discover it on a deeper degree than I felt like we bought to do in Season 1.”
Ben’s storyline ends with him exterior the Lambert queer artwork present, the character rejecting an animated rainbow ocean doodle showing on display.
Associated: Heartstopper creator Alice Oseman teases season 2 scene that wasn’t within the books
“I actually needed Ben to have a Heartstopper second in a roundabout way,” Croft defined. “I see this lovely world of Heartstopper after which Ben who can’t be welcomed in… I really feel like a number of individuals would join with that feeling of being scared to change into a part of the group and the place you slot in.”
Talking about giving Ben an even bigger position than within the authentic comics, Oseman mentioned they needed to “broaden and increase the story”.
“As Season 2 begins to unpack the trauma that Charlie carries with him as a consequence of his poisonous relationship with Ben and the bullying he has confronted previously, I felt Ben’s presence was essential to correctly deal with these matters,” the creator defined.
Oseman added that it will have been “needlessly merciless” for Charlie to supply Ben “any type of redemption arc on-screen”.
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“Significantly because the aftershocks of Ben’s manipulation are nonetheless inflicting Charlie ache,” the author mentioned. “Ben can change into a greater particular person, however Charlie shouldn’t need to witness that, endorse it, or provide any forgiveness. And so he received’t.”
Oseman additionally praised their “unbelievable pal” Croft, saying: “He took on presumably the hardest position within the present and executed it with such intelligence and willpower.”
The present creator added: “We have been in fixed debate about discovering the road between Ben being unrealistically demonic and too sympathetic.
“I really feel we discovered that line and I’m so proud and honored that Sebastian has been part of Heartstopper. I do know that he’ll go on to do unbelievable issues, and I will likely be cheering from the sidelines all the way in which.”
Heartstopper seasons 1-2 are streaming now on Netflix.