Hours after the release of Joe Locke’s Heartstopper season 3, the show pushes out Marvel’s Agatha All Along to steal the top series spot.

In a fiercely competitive streaming landscape where superhero franchises reign supreme, it is usually hard for other genres to beat Marvel films. However, it looks like the tables might be turning. Ever since Joe Locke’s Heartstopper took over the streaming giant in 2022, fans have been hooked on the heartwarming LGBTQ+ teen drama. Now with the third season having been released just earlier today, the series has proved to do better than the Disney+ series, Agatha All Along.

Joe Locke and Kit Connor in the trailer for Heartstopper 3 | Credits: Netflix

While Marvel’s impressive fan base and vast resources often guarantee immediate popularity for its series, Heartstopper has managed to captivate audiences by doing something entirely different: telling a deeply personal, character-driven story about love, identity, and self-acceptance.

Joe Locke’s Heartstopper reigns supreme over Agatha All Along

Just last month, Marvel’s Agatha All Along series debuted and got quite a bit of praise and hate from viewers. However, less than a month after its release, the show has garnered only an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes. But just hours after its release, Joe Locke’s Heartstopper season 3 has managed to secure a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The sudden switch reflects a shift in viewer preferences, signaling that audiences are not just seeking flashy superhero spectacles but are craving more intimate, emotionally resonant storytelling.

After all, the LGBTQ+ series stood out for its refreshing portrayal of young love and friendships. The show was based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novels and turned out to be quite a hit. So far, the series has centered around Locke’s Charlie Spring, a sensitive and openly gay high school student, and his budding romance with the seemingly straight rugby player, Nick Nelson, who is portrayed by Kit Connor.

With its authentic depiction of LGBTQ+ experiences and a hint of awkwardness, the show has carved a niche for itself in the broader genre of coming-of-age dramas. In fact, the success of the recent season has fans already questioning the plans for a potential 4th season.

Will Joe Locke’s Heartstopper get a season 4?

Just hours ago, Netflix’s Heartstopper season 3 wound up on the streaming platform and captivated the attention of fans immediately. With most fans bingeing all 8-episodes and seeing a more mature and darker side to Joe Locke and Kit Connor’s characters, everyone is already hyped up for another season. Although the streaming giant has not yet renewed the series, there’s no doubt that it will happen. However, the 4th season might end up being the series’ curtain call.

After all, with the first season being based on the first and second books by Alice Oseman, and the third season adapting volumes 4 and 5, the series’ fourth run could be its last. However, fans might have to wait a while for the season to be announced. With the author only being “50 pages in,” according to reports from The Guardian, it may take some time to be brought to life.

However, once the final volume of Oseman’s comic series wraps up, Netflix will surely rush their team to bring it to the platform. With the fourth season being the last time fans will see Joe Locke and Kit Connor play on-screen lovers, there is no doubt that the hype will only steadily increase.

Stream all three seasons of Heartstopper on Netflix and Agatha All Along on Disney+.