When Heartstopper’s Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) watches his friend Tara (Corinna Brown) publicly kiss her girlfriend Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) for the first time, something LGBT happens. As CHVRCHES’ “Clearest Blue” blares in the background, Nick watches, and a mix of emotions — mostly awe, happiness and a sudden sense of certainty — plays out on his face. He’s covered in blue, purple and pink light. Then he abruptly leaves to find Charlie (Joe Locke).

As many, many, many fans have noticed, Nick seems to come to the conclusion that he’s ready (or more ready) to accept his feelings for Charlie after he’s quite literally lit up in the colors of the bisexual pride flag. According to the creative team behind the show, this is completely intentional. “I remember telling Diana [Olifirova], our amazing cinematographer, ‘If you can just bathe Nick in the colors of the bisexual flag as much as possible, that would be really appreciated,’” executive producer Patrick Walters tells Tudum. “And, by gosh, she really rose to that challenge. Those colors are everywhere.”

Behind The Making Of 'Heartstopper'

Among many other things, Heartstopper is about celebrating queer joy in all its forms — and so much of Nick’s story is about figuring out and coming to celebrate his own identity. The lighting is a cute hint at Nick’s epiphany about his sexuality, but Walters adds that it’s much more than that. 

“When you see that, you kind of lean in, hopefully, and you’re getting all the goosebumps [from] the passion and the performances that are on the screen, but you’re also getting these little signifiers,” Walters continues. “It’s like, ‘Hey, this is for you. This isn’t just the story of other people. See yourself in this; be happy; be joyful.’ And that’s really, really important, because we want people to have joy when they’re watching it and feel included.”

If you’re in need of some more bi joy (and maybe a little splash of bi panic), Heartstopper is streaming now.