Critics are a little split over the final chapter in the Heartstopper story, which debuted on Friday morning.

Rather than a fourth season of the popular teen drama, Heartstopper Forever takes the form of a feature-length film, marking one last outing for Kit Connor and Joe Locke as boyfriends Nick and Charlie.

While critics are pretty much in agreement that those who’ve been loyal followers of  Heartstopper’s first three seasons will find the movie to be a satisfying end, most have lamented that its focus on Nick and Charlie’s relationship means the wider cast has been sidelined.

Meanwhile, there’s some contention over whether or not the film allows its characters to mature convincingly, with some suggesting that the “wholesome” nature of the central couple’s relationship holds Heartstopper Forever back.

Here’s a selection of what critics have had to say about Heartstopper Forever so far…

The Telegraph (4/5) 

“Heartstopper’s 90-minute finale of nice kids being (mostly) nice to each other could have had me reaching for my phone. Instead, I settled back like a proud parent to enjoy the cast navigate their final year of school and their evolving relationships […] LGBTQ+ children and their families need a little hope and happiness right now. Heartstopper delivers that with pretty, pastel bows on.”

Radio Times (4/5) 

“From the off, [author Alice Oseman] signposts that Charlie and Nick are in a different stage of life to when we last saw them […] Up until now, the show has rarely interrogated the stability of their romance, but these confrontations are also a showcase of how Locke and Connor have matured as performers […] Alas, the shorter length versus a full eight-episode season means that there are fewer scenes to share out among Heartstopper’s swelling ensemble.”