As a dedicated cinephile, I’ve found myself captivated by Harper McLean (Asher Yasbincek) in “Heartbreak High.” Initially, he comes across as harsh towards Amerie Wadia (Ayesha Madon), but as the seasons unfold, it becomes clear that he harbors a softer side. This captivating Australian comedy-drama, which made its debut on Netflix in 2022, is a refreshing reboot of the original 1994 series. Nestled among the crowded landscape of Netflix’s comedy TV shows, “Heartbreak High” stands out with its sharp wit, raw realism, tackling of serious topics, and diverse cast. One of the series’ most intriguing characters, Harper, has experienced a significant transformation throughout the storyline.
Prior to the beginning of the series, Harper McLean was Amerie’s closest friend. However, a significant incident at a music festival a week before the show’s debut, titled “Map Bch”, led to their disagreement. This event is hinted at throughout season 1, but it isn’t until the finale that we fully understand the extent of their conflict. Despite her usual resilience, Harper is unusually hostile in season 1, making it challenging for viewers to connect with her. Even after her past is disclosed and she makes amends, it remains hard to feel compassion towards her.
Harper Treats Amerie Very Poorly In Heartbreak High
Season 1 Harper Is Nearly Irredeemable
Starting from the initial episode, Harper immediately emerges as the antagonist, both metaphorically and literally. In a heated argument regarding the creation of an “incest map,” a rough sketch depicting everyone’s romantic history at Hartley High, Harper physically attacks Amerie, delivering a punch strong enough to send her to the medical center with a bruised and bleeding face. Beyond the physical harm, Harper also causes emotional distress. She is entangled in not just one, but two love triangles that directly wound those she is expected to care for. Firstly, she secretly engages in a relationship with Dusty (Joshua Heuston), who has long been admired by Amerie.
In the subsequent events, despite Harper confessing about sleeping with him earlier and seeming to reconcile with Amerie, she once more gets involved with Dusty, even introducing another of Amerie’s admirers into the mix. Following her discovery that Dusty had been seeing Harper, Amerie becomes interested in Malakai (Thomas Weatherall). In the very next episode, Harper engages in a threesome with both Dusty and Malakai.
It’s really annoying to see scenes where she avoids accepting blame for her actions because it makes the entire storyline even more frustrating to follow. What’s most infuriating, though, is that Harper stubbornly refuses to explain why she abandoned her closest friend without a word. In the end, we discover in season 1’s finale that while Amerie was intoxicated and hooking up with Spider (Bryn Chapman Parish) after the music festival, Harper was actually defending herself from her father’s violence and narrowly escaped a sexual assault by Chook (Tom Wilson).
Harper attempted to rouse Amerie by tapping on her window as he sought a place to sleep that evening, but Amerie was so intoxicated and preoccupied that she failed to respond. It’s clear that Amerie’s behavior was not appropriate for a friend, especially given the amount she had consumed, yet she can hardly be blamed since she has no recollection of the incident. It would be unjust for Harper to continue to reproach Amerie for her actions when she was under the influence and lacked control over her own actions.
While Harper Is At Fault, She’s Also Had A Difficult Upbringing
Harper’s Father Is A Violent Menace
Harper may appear unappealing to many due to several factors, and it can be challenging to support her in “Heartbreak High.” Nevertheless, it’s essential to understand some reasons that warrant a bit of sympathy towards her. Harper’s background is marked by turmoil, as revealed when she ended up on the streets following the music festival. This predicament was caused by her father, Justin (Ben Oxenbould), who was extorting money from her, likely for drugs, and this isn’t apparently the first time, given her emotional response.
After leaving Chook and their threatening behavior, Harper seeks refuge at Amerie’s house but is denied entry. With no other option available, Harper returns home, only to encounter a violent attack from her own father, who was under the influence of meth. In self-defense, she stabs him with a knife. This incident marks an exceptionally harsh night for Harper, though it sadly reflects a pattern in her life. Her upbringing has been fraught with hardship, and while this doesn’t justify her actions, it is crucial to consider her background when trying to understand her behavior.
Asher Yasbincek’s Comments About Harper
Yasbincek Was Concerned With Harper’s Home Life
I wholeheartedly agree with Asher Yasbincek about the significant impact Harper’s personal life has on her character. It’s fascinating to see how her home environment shapes and defines her, as a movie buff always eager to delve deeper into characters’ lives.
During the start of our filming, I took extra care to be thoroughly knowledgeable and fully conscious about Harper’s situation. It was particularly fulfilling for me to work on scenes involving my father, as they presented the greatest challenge within the project.
In creating the character of Harper for season 1, Yasbincek drew inspiration from Harper’s real-life home situation. Many of Harper’s actions and interactions with Amerie are shaped by her complex relationship with her father, which is not only challenging but also potentially harmful. This relationship compels Harper to take up a knife as self-protection.
From my perspective as a fan, when I’m grappling with life-or-death struggles against my father, a physical altercation with a friend can seem relatively insignificant in comparison. In Harper’s eyes, their disagreement feels like a heated debate, while to Amerie, a punch delivered is met with the same emotions most people would experience: anger, hatred, and fear.
Harper Has Completely Changed Into A Protagonist In Heartbreak High Season 2
Heartbreak High Season 3 Should See Harper And Amerie As Good Of Friends As Ever
Following the events of season 1, Harper has made a significant turnaround. She and Amerie have reconciled, and with what Harper experienced last season in mind – Chook trying to sexually assault her and her father attacking her – Amerie is particularly watchful over her friend. In Heartbreak High’s second season, Harper finds herself dealing with the consequences of these traumatic events, making it understandable why she may have seemed unkind during the previous season.
In the gripping finale of Heartbreak High‘s second season, I found myself on the edge of my seat as Harper and Amerie were trapped within our burning school. By the time rescuers reached Harper, she was close to fainting due to smoke inhalation, a harrowing moment that solidified her role among the heroes of this captivating series once more. The production for Heartbreak High’s third season commenced in November 2024, and I can hardly wait to witness the deepening friendship between Harper and Amerie unfold on Netflix.
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2025-04-22 16:19