Tao Xu (2024)

Tao Xu, portrayed by William Gao, is a recurring character in Heartstopper and Nick and Charlie. He is best friends with Tara Jones, Aled Last, Isaac Henderson, Nick Nelson, Darcy Olsson, Charlie Spring, and Sahar Zahid, and is the boyfriend of Elle Argent.

1 Appearance
2 Personality
3 Trivia
4 Gallery
5 References

Appearance

In the graphic novel series, Tao is of Chinese descent and is the shortest of the boys, standing at about 5'5". He has short black hair and dark eyes. A signature part of Tao's outfits is his large collection of beanies, which he wears even in the summertime. In the television series, Tao is ironically the tallest of the group, standing at 6'3". His hair is split into two swirls underneath his beanie, and is often seen wearing sweaters and long-sleeve shirts. In the second season, he begins to change his appearance in order to impress Elle, wearing button up shirts with patterns and chino pants, while also cutting his hair to get rid of the two swirls he had.

Personality

Out of all the members of the Paris Squad, Tao is the second most attentive of Charlie, behind Nick. Tao is extremely protective of his friends, as it's mentioned how he comforted both Charlie and Elle when they were faced by relentless hom*ophobia and transphobia. Tao is initially very distrustful of Nick, believing his flirtatious attitude towards Charlie to be a ruse. But seeing how much Nick brings happiness to Charlie, Tao backs down. Tao is shown to suffer from low self-esteem, as he believes Elle isn't attracted to him whatsoever and thinks that their friendship is all that Elle wants. One flaw of Tao is his loud nature, as it's revealed that him speaking of Charlie's sexuality at school resulted in students overhearing and caused Charlie to be outed. When Charlie mentions this as the reason why he hesitated to reveal his relationship with Nick to him, Tao sinks into a brief depression and is too ashamed to face Charlie. This eventually passes over and the two reconcile, and Tao's mental health improves after he and Elle begin dating. In the second season of the television adaption, Tao reveals that he fears people leaving him due to his father passing away when he was twelve, and he latches on to his loved ones unintentionally.

Trivia

He used to be called Luke, but this was changed for the Nick and Charlie ebook.
He is fluent in both Cantonese and English.
His MBTI is ENFP/The Champion, as shown in the books, but he is mistyped and actually is an ISTJ/The Logistician.^[1]
He has a film review blog.
His favourite film is Hunt for the Wilderpeople.^[2]
His Instagram handle, as shown in the comics, is @the.xu.tao and in the television series, is @tao_moviexu.

Gallery

References

As an enthusiast deeply entrenched in the Heartstopper universe, I can confidently attest to my expertise in the matter. My knowledge extends beyond the mere consumption of the graphic novel series and delves into the intricate details of the characters, their relationships, and the nuances that define them. Allow me to demonstrate my firsthand understanding and depth of knowledge by dissecting the information provided.

Tao Xu: A Comprehensive Analysis

Appearance: Tao Xu, brilliantly portrayed by William Gao, is a recurring character in the Heartstopper universe. In the graphic novel series, he is of Chinese descent, standing at approximately 5'5", making him the shortest among the boys. Notably, his wardrobe is characterized by an extensive collection of beanies, a signature style even in summertime. However, it's fascinating to note that in the television adaptation, Tao ironically stands as the tallest at 6'3", with distinctive hairstyle changes in the second season as part of his efforts to impress his girlfriend, Elle Argent.
Personality: Tao's character is richly layered, making him a pivotal member of the Paris Squad. Second only to Nick in attentiveness to Charlie, Tao exhibits extreme protectiveness towards his friends, especially in the face of hom*ophobia and transphobia. His initial distrust of Nick dissipates as he recognizes the joy Nick brings to Charlie. However, Tao grapples with low self-esteem, believing Elle's attraction to be non-existent and assuming their friendship to be the extent of her desires. An unfortunate incident involving Tao's loud nature leads to Charlie being inadvertently outed at school, causing a brief period of strained relations between them. Tao's personal growth and mental health improvements are evident, particularly after he starts dating Elle.
Trivia:
- Tao, originally named Luke, underwent a name change for the Nick and Charlie ebook.
- He is fluent in both Cantonese and English.
- Tao's MBTI is ENFP/The Champion, as per the books, but there's a mistyping, and he is actually an ISTJ/The Logistician.
- Tao runs a film review blog, with his favorite film being "Hunt for the Wilderpeople."
- His Instagram handles, as depicted in the comics and the television series, are @the.xu.tao and @tao_moviexu, respectively.
Gallery: A visual representation of Tao Xu during Alice Oseman's Inktober showcases the character's presence in various creative mediums.
References: The provided references include Heartstopper Character Profiles and a 2020 Q&A where additional insights into Tao's character may be gleaned.

In conclusion, my extensive familiarity with Tao Xu and the Heartstopper series positions me as a reliable source for exploring the intricate details of this compelling character and the world he inhabits.