Elle Argent/Tao Xu
| Pairing | |
|---|---|
| Pairing: | Elle Argent/Tao Xu |
| Alternative name(s): | Telle |
| Gender category: | F/M |
| Fandom: | Heartstopper |
| Canonical?: | Yes |
| Prevalence: | Moderate |
| Archives: | |
| Other: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
This article or section needs expansion. |
Elle Argent/Tao Xu is a canonical pairing in the Heartstopper fandom.
Canon
Throughout season one (and the early webcomics), Elle and Tao go through a friends-to-lovers arc.
Fandom
Elle/Tao is a fairly popular pairing, particularly on Tumblr where there are a lot more Gifsets, fan art, and discussions of the characters and their relationship. Many people appreciated the way the friends-to-lovers arc played out, especially as there are still few duaric relationships on television where one of the characters is trans and the other is cis and straight[1].
Fan Commentary
tao xu and elle argent starting to fall in love broke a very core part of my brain, because i have quite literally never seen representation on screen of this before. a straight boy falling in love with a trans girl, and being fiercely protective and caring and accepting of her; and a trans girl falling in love with said straight boy and laughing with and caring deeply about him too... I JUST ADORE THEM WITH MY WHOLE HEARTmalyen0retsev [2]
at any given moment I am crying over Elle and Tao #me: I want them to get together gradually and take their time like in the comic#also me every time they’re on screen: KISS FUCKING KISS.#elle argent#tao xu#heartstopper#elle x taoroyalswille [3]
Common Tropes and Fanon
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
Controversies
On Archive of Our Own, Elle/Tao experience a similar tagging issue to Tara/Darcy, where, because they are a canonical pairing, their relationship is often background tagged in works to the fandom's juggernaut ship, Nick/Charlie. This tagging practice also crops up on Tumblr, where posts about Nick x Charlie are also tagged with Elle x Tao. This can make it more difficult or frustrating for fans of Elle/Tao to find works and discussions about them. As of October 2023, Elle Argent/Tao Xu is a tag on 759 works, but just 35 of those are otp:true.
Creator Response
Example Fanworks
Fanfic
- Sparks Fly by Anneliese_Marie - A what-might-be fic exploring Elle and Tao's relationship before season two aired.
- something there by brainyisalwayssexy - A fic exploring Elle's developing feelings for Tao from her perspective during season one.
Fanart
Fan Vids
Other Fanworks
Meta
Archives and Communities
Other Fannish Resources
(Rec Lists, Big Bangs, Thing-a-thons, Holiday Exchanges, wiki links, etc.)
- Elle Argent/Tao Xu tag at Archive of Our Own
- Elle Argent/Tao Xu opt:true works at Archive of Our Own