Heartbreak High: Does the Netflix Reboot Live Up to the Original?
When it comes to revisiting beloved television shows, the question always arises: how much should a remake honour its source material, and how much should it forge its own path? Netflix’s Heartbreak High reboot certainly attempts the latter, boasting a vibrant energy and a charming, youthful cast. However, it struggles to recapture the raw authenticity and compelling drama that defined the original series.
A Nostalgic Look Back at the 90s Original
The original Heartbreak High, which captivated audiences throughout the 1990s, possessed a remarkable sense of realism. Its gritty aesthetic and near-verité style perfectly complemented the genuine experiences of its diverse cast – a groundbreaking achievement for its time, well before diversity became a central focus in popular culture. The show didn’t shy away from difficult topics, presenting them with a fearlessness rarely seen on television.
The Reboot: Polished but Lacking Depth
In contrast, the new series feels polished and somewhat sanitized. While it tackles important issues facing today’s youth – including abortion, mental health, gender identity, bullying, and racial tensions – it lacks the courage and unflinching honesty of its predecessor. The writing often feels pat, and the tone leans towards the jokey, diminishing the impact of the serious themes it explores.
Season 3: A Final Year Filled with Drama
The third and final season unfolds during the students’ last year of high school, kicking off with a classic “muck-up day” prank – a tradition for Australian students involving mischievous antics. However, even this scene feels somewhat contrived, with an outlandish scenario involving students from a rival school storming Hartley High in minimal attire, reminiscent of the visually striking, yet chaotic, energy of Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers. Learn more about Spring Breakers.
A Forced Mystery and Intertwined Relationships
A central mystery throughout the season revolves around an incident at a carnival, where a theme park ride left an employee in a coma. The writers treat this as a major plot point, creating a pseudo-whodunnit that feels somewhat forced and serves primarily to raise the stakes. Meanwhile, the series continues to explore the complex relationships between characters like Amerie (Ayesha Madon) and Malakai (Thomas Weatherall), Spider (Bryn Chapman Parish) and Missy (Sherry-Lee Watson), and the individual pursuits of Darren (James Majoos) and Harper (Asher Yasbincek).
Comparing to Other Teen Dramas
Creator Hannah Carroll Chapman seemingly aimed for a show akin to Sex Education, which successfully balances humour and drama while addressing sensitive topics with sincerity. Similarly, the Australian series Bump also excels in this regard. However, Heartbreak High falls short, relying on contrived emotional moments and a colourful, yet ultimately superficial, directorial style (led by Jessie Oldfield, Adam Murfet, Tig Terera, and Nina Buxton).
Show, Don’t Tell: A Missed Opportunity
The series frequently resorts to telling rather than showing, exemplified by an opening montage where Amerie reflects on her high school experience while INXS’s “Never Tear Us Apart” plays in the background. This exemplifies a reliance on overdetermined writing, violating the fundamental principle of “show, don’t tell.” The concluding message – “Giving someone a second chance is giving yourself one” – feels equally heavy-handed, reinforcing a sentiment that was already evident.
Heartbreak High seasons 1-3 are currently available on Netflix.
