Heartbreak High ★★★★
After glowing reviews when this reboot of the ’90s series first dropped, the second season didn’t garner the same level of praise from critics. But audiences clearly still loved it. The series has been a massive global success for Netflix, reaching its top 10 shows in more than 40 countries, ranking in the top most-watched English-language shows worldwide, and winning a slew of awards. And, importantly for its target audience, it had huge engagement on TikTok. The trailer for this third and final season was even first released there.
After breaking new ground for diversity and representation in its first season, the second instalment stepped up the comedy, even as it touched on heavier issues. These final episodes feel like a mix of both.
The (outrageously fashionable) gang’s all here – Amerie (Ayesha Madon), Darren (James Majoos), Quinni (Chloé Hayden), Harper (Asher Yasbincek), Ca$h (Will McDonald), Missy (Sherry-Lee Watson), Spider (Bryn Chapman Parish) and Sasha (Gemma Chua-Tran). And Malakai (Thomas Weatherall, also credited as a writer on a few episodes) is also back from Geneva. Then there’s new student Taz (Kiwi actor Aki Munroe), who has come to live with her aunty, Hartley headmaster Woodsy (Rachel House). It’s not entirely clear why, but Taz has some kind of family trauma, and is a serious troublemaker.
As the students head towards graduation, anxiety is high. Quinni is vying for a veterinary science scholarship, until her interview (with a man who looks like a Nationals poster boy) is derailed. Darren is worrying about his acting career, until a withering comment from a drama teacher at a uni open day causes him to question his calling. Harper is struggling with studies in between having to hold two jobs to support herself. Missy has her sights set on a career as an athlete while Spider is happy to follow her wherever she goes. Even former eshay Ca$h has post-graduation plans: he’s set to do a tattooing apprenticeship; he’s only doing the HSC because his nan (veteran actor Maggie Dence) will “curb-stomp him” if he doesn’t.
But before then, there’s a serious drama that needs to be resolved. Things go awry after a prank involving revenge against Hartley High’s rival school and Amerie (the instigator) and her friends cover up their secret. This hangs over the group for the entire season, and – in classic Heartbreak fashion – encompasses issues of friendship, class, trauma and more.
While that plays out, there’s new romance, rekindled old romance, the requisite extraordinarily mature sex, impeccably applied eye make-up and even a cameo by rapper Genesis Owusu, whose music has featured in the cracking soundtracks to the previous two seasons.
While it’s still a mix of OTT drama and silliness (much like real teenage life), the zaniness is dialled down from last season … That is, aside from Hartley’s sensory room being briefly turned into a “rooting room”.
But even if these youths are annoyingly earnest – are 17-year-olds really having serious conversations about open relationships? – there’s no denying this reboot has been a well overdue landmark for diverse and contemporary representation of Australian teenage lives.
Heartbreak High’s final season is on Netflix now.
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