The first season of Heartbreak High was loved by millions of people around the world. Aussie actor Sam Rechner was one of them, which made it a bit difficult for him when he was cast in the second season as new Hartley High student Rowan Callaghan.
“I became a fan of the other actors,” he tells TV WEEK, “so I had to get over that feeling before shooting.”
(Image: Netflix)
Heartbreak High’s second season kicks off at the start of term two. Rowan, who’s from Dubbo in country NSW, turns up wearing a vest. The principal, Woodsy (Rachel House), decides to help him settle in by pairing him up with Malakai (Thomas Weatherall). The pair hit it off immediately.
“I’m a heterosexual male, and to do intimacy in general can be kind of intimidating,” Sam, 22, admits. “But to do it with a partner you wouldn’t explore with off camera was nerve-racking. But also super-exciting.”
So where does that leave Amerie (Ayesha Madon), who’s still attracted to Malakai? She’s appointed herself Harper’s (Asher Yasbincek) bodyguard – who may need one, with someone leaving a dead ibis lying on her bag. Quinni (Chloé Hayden) makes it her new life purpose to discover the identity of Bird Psycho.
(Image: Netflix)
As for Darren (James Majoos), he’s preoccupied with Ca$h (Will McDonald), who’s currently behind bars.
Meanwhile, the SLT class has new members: Zoe Clarke (Kartanya Maynard) and her gang of Puriteens. But they’re on a collision course with a group of boys led by sports teacher Timothy Voss (Angus Sampson). He believes Hartley High has become a “woke snowflake nightmare”. The groups face off in a footy game, where Missy (Sherry-Lee Watson) makes a big impression.
Sam, who played AFL and rugby growing up, says it was nice to film a scene that showed his love of sport.
“That was my first passion, to play professional rugby – until I had some head injuries,” he explains.
Having made his movie debut in Steven Spielberg’s 2022 coming-of-age drama The Fabelmans, Sam is now based in Los Angeles, but stays connected with the Heartbreak High cast.
“Brodie [Townsend, who plays Ant], I saw just the other day in LA,” he says. “It was a very meaningful experience to shoot that second season, so I’m looking forward to staying in touch and getting back and seeing everyone again.”
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