The summer before I went to college, my Netflix account recommended a television show: “Heartbreak High” — a silly little Australian teen drama painted in pastels and Pinterest board-worthy outfits. On a whim, I decided to start it, and after the first episode, I was in love. I was determined to finish it before I moved in for my first-year and finished both seasons just in time. 

This summer, I decided to go back and rewatch it, missing the drama and insanely attractive cast of the show, and I realized how much the themes of the show had an impact on me.

The show follows the highs, but mostly lows, of Amerie Wadia, a high schooler who mapped out the hookups going on at her school, which resulted in her and her classmates having to attend an extra course called Sexual Literacy Tutorial (SLTs) — affectionately called SLUTS. TAmerie has to deal with the social consequences and new animosity from her childhood best friend, all while navigating boy drama — as all high school dramas need.

I love Amerie Wadia, and I love that she is objectively not a good person. Amerie is selfish, mean, judgmental, insecure, inconsiderate and cares too much about what others think — just like every other teenager. This is one of the things that “Heartbreak High” captured perfectly: what it is like to be a teenager and young adult. However, Amerie is by no means a bad person. She is loyal, outgoing and eager to fix her mistakes and grow from them. Throughout the show, Amerie’s past mistakes, and the mistakes she actively makes, catch up to her. She is forced to deal with the consequences, but with some very deserved crash-outs, she owns up to them and works hard to make amends and accepts the consequences. The show emphasizes the idea that no one is a bad person for making mistakes, and once you realize you made one, to own up to the consequences, apologize and grow from the experience. “Heartbreak High” also emphasizes that everyone is capable of growth; it just sometimes takes a lot of patience and understanding because no one can be simply boiled down to a bad person. (Except for Chook (Tom Wilson). Chook is just simply a  horrible person.)

The show also shows what healthy friendships should be. As a result of Amerie’s map, she loses the rest of her friends, leaving her alone and a social pariah. However, she finds close friends in Darren (James Majoos) and Quinni (Chloé Hayden), who stand by her despite their own names being involved in the map scandal. Darren, Quinni and Amerie’s friendship is one based on forgiveness and support and stands to be a healthy example of what friendship should be. In season two, especially, the group is tested when each person starts dealing with their own respective problems and struggles to see eye-to-eye like they once did, resulting in a brief breakup to take some time apart. However, despite any brief disagreements, the time apart helps each of them to learn and come to an understanding with each other, bringing them closer together. Out of all the friendships in the show, Harper (Asher Yasbincek) and Amerie really show what true friendship is. Despite any animosity and pain inflicted towards each other in ways only teenage girls can do, they make amends and continue to protect each other in their own ways.

While the characters’ dynamics with each other create the main plot of the show, the ideas covered in SLT class are given a generous amount of screen time as well. The show wraps up genuine sexual education like sending explicit images, toxic relationships, sexism in self-defense classes and healthy communication in a way that feels genuine and casual. The show also criticizes traditional sexual education and demonstrates a more nuanced approach that does not simply rely on fear but rather on genuine education.

“Heartbreak High” changed the way I viewed relationships. Watching this show right before my first-year felt like a sign that I wish I had recognized earlier. A lot of the themes in the show really resonated with me after a rough first-year, and rewatching “Heartbreak High” as a comfort show helped these ideas to really sink in. Everyone makes mistakes, and real friends can forgive and support you in becoming a better person. The show really does an amazing job of hammering that point home, as almost every character becomes more redeemable by the end of season two. Including the themes of friendship, the show’s sexual education aspects play like a background tape, but I love it because the show makes it accessible and educational in a way that feels genuine and covers important topics. 

For me, “Heartbreak High” is a must-watch because the themes of the show are important for everyone to hear, and best of all, wrapped up in pastels, Australian accents and a gorgeous cast.