Heartbreak High
Heartbreak High
Now Showing

Heartbreak High

7.2
Yr 2022
Rt 48m
Status Ended
Drama
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

A fresh look at Hartley High over 20 years on. With her new friends - outsiders Quinni and Darren - Amerie must repair her reputation, while navigating love, sex, and heartbreak.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 85 /100

Critics broadly praised the 2022 reboot of Heartbreak High as a vibrant, addictive teen drama that successfully updates the classic Australian series for modern audiences. Reviewers highlighted its compelling character arcs, engaging storylines, and thoughtful representation of diverse identities, with several outlets declaring it a standout entry in contemporary high school television.

The cast received widespread commendation for their performances, bringing charm, energy, and emotional depth to the screen—particularly James Majoos in the role of Darren. Critics also applauded the series for its self-awareness, non-tokenistic approach to diversity, and nuanced portrayal of friendship breakups.

While reception was overwhelmingly positive, a few reviewers pointed to minor drawbacks, such as dialogue that occasionally felt forced or out-of-touch with authentic teenage speech. Outlets also noted that the show contains explicit content, making parental guidance advisable for younger audiences.

“In fact, it might be the new gold standard for the genre.”

“delivers a potent mix of nostalgia and contemporary relevance”

“Heartbreak High gets an A+ in addictive Aussie television, hot as fuck characters and non-tonkenistic diversity.”

“crafted an interesting narrative with compelling characters in a setting that does not get the coverage that it should”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Netflix
US • UK • CA
Netflix Standard with Ads
US • CA • UK
Why fans love it

This reboot of the Australian classic trades the earnest moralizing of typical teen dramas for a messy and unflinching portrayal of modern adolescence. It centers the experiences of outsiders by weaving together storylines involving neurodivergent characters, non-binary identities, and the complexities of navigating racism within a high school setting. The show avoids sentimentality, instead focusing on the sharp edges of social survival and the friction of forming an identity in real time.

Chloé Hayden stands out as a focal point for this tonal shift, anchoring the narrative in a grounded reality that feels both specific and urgent. By giving space to transsexuality and queer relationships without framing them as mere plot devices, the series creates a lived-in environment that feels earned. The result is a sharp, often cynical look at the fallout of teenage reputations and the relentless pressure to define oneself before those labels are permanently carved into the walls of Hartley High.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 14
Longest run 24 eps
Ayesha Madon
Ayesha Madon
as Amerie Wadia
24 episodes
James Majoos
James Majoos
as Darren Rivers
24 episodes
Brodie Townsend
Brodie Townsend
as Anthony 'Ant' Vaughn
24 episodes
Chloé Hayden
Chloé Hayden
as Quinn 'Quinni' Gallagher-Jones
24 episodes
Thomas Weatherall
Thomas Weatherall
as Malakai Mitchell
24 episodes
Asher Yasbincek
Asher Yasbincek
as Harper McLean
24 episodes
Sherry-Lee Watson
Sherry-Lee Watson
as Missy Beckett
24 episodes
Gemma Chua-Tran
Gemma Chua-Tran
as Sasha So
24 episodes
Show 67 more
Will McDonald as Douglas 'Ca$h' Piggott 24 episodes Bryn Chapman Parish as Spencer 'Spider' White 24 episodes Rachel House as Woodsy 24 episodes Chika Ikogwe as Jojo Obah 24 episodes Sam Rechner as Rowan Callaghan 8 episodes George Simitzis as Punter 8 episodes Kartanya Maynard as Zoe Clarke 8 episodes Josh Heuston as Dustin 'Dusty' Reid 12 episodes Scott Major as Peter Rivers 4 episodes Ben Oxenbould as Justin 5 episodes Justin Smith as Jim 3 episodes Sandy Sharma as Huma 6 episodes Adorah Oloapu as Nurse Carol 4 episodes Tom Wilson as Chook 11 episodes Kye McMaster as Tilla 8 episodes Ari McCarthy as Jayden 8 episodes Shaye Hutchings as Jacob 2 episodes Bolude Watson as Anne 2 episodes Justin Cotta as Bobby 1 episode Fay Du Chateau as Meredith 2 episodes Shane Emmett as Andrew 1 episode Monique Kalmar as NSW Premier 1 episode Alex Champion De Crespigny as Private School Boy 1 episode Jet Robinson as School Kid 1 episode Neil Parikh as Customer 1 episode Will Hickey as Painter 1 episode Rudra Mehta as Naseem 3 episodes Shivadhya Mehta as Yasmin 4 episodes Karelina Clarke as 12-Year-Old Harper 1 episode Mahika Swamy as 12- Year-Old Amerie 1 episode Indiana Jewel Clarke as 6-Year-Old-Harper 1 episode Molly Moriarty as Felicity 1 episode Cora Henderson as Student 8 episodes Shayan Murray as Student 2 episodes Brad Heffernan as Ian 1 episode Joel Maguire as Young Man 1 episode Esther Williamson as Leah 1 episode Helen Hailu as Waiter 1 episode Leo Barkhatov as Bag Kid 1 episode Maggie Dence as Nan 12 episodes Stephen Hunter as Coach Arkell 3 episodes Malaki Williams as Travis 3 episodes Aidan Gillett as Cop #1 2 episodes Jemilla Harvey as Map Girl 2 episodes Kobie Dee as Jai 3 episodes Johnny Nasser as Imran 2 episodes Miranda Daughtry as Maureen 2 episodes Isabella Gutierrez as Chaka Cardenes 4 episodes Angus Sampson as Voss 7 episodes Trystan Go as Felix 9 episodes Jude Hyland as Jett 5 episodes Natascha Borg as Mrs. Vaughn 3 episodes Peter Carroll as Roger 2 episodes Kylie Bracknell as Therese 4 episodes Damian Hempstead as Basketball Bro 2 episodes William McKenna as Sebastian 5 episodes Robbi Morgan as Artie 3 episodes Ioane Sa'ula as Noah 8 episodes Ben Turland as Liam 7 episodes Jono Watts as Clancy 3 episodes Alex Ballesteros as Derek 2 episodes Blazey Best as Jackie 5 episodes Gary Clemenston as Cam 2 episodes Amelie Kronberger as Support 2 episodes Akinehi Munroe as Taz 7 episodes Ivar Kants as Principal McMahon 3 episodes Damien Strouthos as Detective 2 episodes
Keyword Cloud

Keywords

transsexuality sydney, australia australia high school racism lgbt reboot teen drama indigenous australians autistic asexuality queer non-binary hilarious
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
September 14, 2022
Status
Ended
Episode Runtime
48 minutes
Origin
AU
TMDB Votes
176