Netflix’s Reboot of Australian teen drama Heartbreak High is the fifth most-watched English series on the platform in a week –  the streaming service announces that more than 33 million hours have been watched in total. And it will be back with a new season!

Netflix’s Australian teen drama Heartbreak High is becoming a huge success. It has been among the top 10 Netflix shows in Australia for five weeks. And in over 43 nations, including the United States and portions of Europe, Africa, and Asia, it makes the top 10.

It also goes viral on social media. The hashtag #heartbreakhigh has received over 300 million views on TikTok. And the topic “Heartbreak High” alone has received 200 million views on TikTok. Many global users upload their reactions to their favourite scenes, lines and the “fancams” as well.

Heartbreak High (2022) is a reboot inspired by the original series in 1994 first screened on Network Ten. But it focuses on a new story. While the 90s version’s cult following for its grim depiction of teen lives, the new one brings more ironic and sexual perspectives.

Harley High

It talks about the story of the people at the fictional Harley High. Amerie Wadia (Ayesha Madon) and Harper McLean (Asher Yasbincek) were BFFs since they were little, but the friendship changes all of a sudden after a music festival.

The next day, an “incest map” is founded on the wall of the school. The map is drawn by Amerie and Harper, with almost all of the students in the school. So the principal forces students to take a new sexual education course called the Sexual Literacy Tutorial.

Everyone knows Amerie is the author, but no one knows Harper is the co-author as well. At the same time, Harper still keeps ignoring Amerie. And another map is also founded under the table.

Amerie has to keep recalling the memory of the festival night and deals with new issues happening around her.

A Gen-Z Makeover

In contrast to the original series, the new one is more diverse regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation and disability. The reboot creator Hannah Carroll Chapman says “We’re giving this generation their own show”.

The fashion in Heartbreak high is worth noticing too. It is full of the 90s and Y2K styles such as grunge band t-shirts, streetwear and the Hockney dress.

And the clothing represents different characters’ characteristics. As it has been 20 years since the original aired, it perfectly reminds us of the good old days and also corresponds to the newest trends.

Just a month after this show becomes a worldwide sensation on Netflix, the streaming service has decided to renew it for a second season.

The success of Heartbreak High also got the attention of Australian society. The discussion of devoting a minimum amount of Government-imposed local content quotas and resources to produce Australian content on streaming services is rising.

Some people say Heartbreak High is like the Australian version of sex education. But for me, I think they talk about different topics and issues. Although, watching familiar scenery and shops appearing in a drama is a special experience.

Check out the teaser below!

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