Saying “Hi to Heartstopper Season 3
Spoilers ahead!
I officially joined the Heartstopper fandom on December 31st, 2022, when I read the Volume 1 graphic novel I had gotten from the library. I’d heard about the Netflix show and the comics but just hadn’t had the chance to get around to watching or reading them. Once I picked up that book and devoured it in less than thirty minutes, however, everything changed. And everything truly changed when I binge-watched the show the next day. It thoroughly kept my attention, and I found myself, for the first time after finishing a TV show, genuinely sad when it ended. I felt like I knew the characters. I felt like I had been there the whole time, a part of the Paris Squad. It fundamentally changed something in me, and I kicked myself for not getting into the fandom sooner. From then on, it became almost like a part of my personality––a lingering obsession I couldn’t, and never wanted to, shake.
For those of you who aren’t too familiar with Heartstopper or need a refresher, it essentially follows Charlie Spring, a high-strung, deeply caring, excellent student, and his blooming relationship with Nick Nelson, a popular rugby player with a heart of gold. The story follows them on their journey, from meeting on the first day of the spring term to each realizing they have feelings for the other––a particularly important revelation to Nick, who for the first time realizes he’s bisexual. While they settle into official “boyfriend” status in Season 2, Season 3 is anchored in the later stage of their relationship, where they have truly become comfortable with each other and learn about one another in a deeper way than ever before.
Right off the bat, I could see just how much the cast’s acting improved. Not that it wasn’t already excellent, especially considering so many in the cast were industry newcomers. But this felt like a whole other level––especially for Joe Locke, who plays Charlie with so much genuine care and love. Again, he already was, but perhaps it was a mixture of the kind of material that was being worked with along with having more experience under his belt, having been part of other projects since the previous season––check out this Ribbon article about his latest project, Marvel’s Agatha All Along. Kit Connor’s portrayal of Nick was exactly what I expected: beautiful, real, and pure. Literal perfection. Put them together, these two are quite simply a force to be reckoned with. Their chemistry this season is off the charts and mesmerizing––simply unforgettable.
The rest of the cast also shines in their own ways, as they deal with their own struggles both in their relationships and as individuals. Darcy (Kizzy Edgall) has quite the character arc this season––with the support of their friend group, they experiment with their gender identity, eventually coming out as non-binary. Tara (Corinna Brown) struggles with anxiety about her future, which hit really close to home for me and undoubtedly other viewers. To see the uncertainty of where––if––you to go to college and what you want to do with your life was so refreshing in a world where, on the surface, it seems everyone has their lives planned from a young age. Isaac (Tobie Donovan) is a favorite of mine, bursting with warmth, honesty, and personality––a nice departure from Season 1, where he was just kind of…there a lot of the time (though I loved him and related to his love of books). His asexuality and aromanticism, briefly explored in Season 2, is further explored here. Him just being who he is is groundbreaking––when did we last see an openly aro-ace character actually talking about his experience with our romance-obsessed world?
We see various conversations had around important topics this season. For one, we learn more about Elle’s (Yasmin Finney) experience being a trans woman––from dysphoria to being politicized just for who she inherently is, which was so important to see represented on screen. Imogen (Rhea Norwood) comes to terms with the fact that she may not be the straight ally she once thought she was due to compulsory heterosexuality and peer pressure. Tori (Jenny Walser, who I was very happy to see get more screen time this season) displays such genuine love and concern for her brother Charlie in a simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking performance. The territory this season manages to cover without anything feeling unnatural or forced is genuinely impressive and thoroughly captivating.
Charlie’s mental health is the focus of this season, and fortunately, it isn’t glazed over. While much of the details are toned back for TV––it could have been a lot darker than it was––his struggles and turmoil are painfully and, by what I’ve heard from others who have lived through similar experiences, truthfully depicted. We also see how these struggles affected Nick, who has long been considered the “strong” one by many in the fandom. He’s a perfect golden retriever who wants the absolute best for everyone he cares about. But this season, we see him in a different light. He struggles. He suffers. He’s human. He needs Charlie just as much as Charlie needs him. The subject of codependency––how obsessed with your partner should be considered too obsessed?––comes into play throughout this season, and it’s interesting to examine through the characters’ lenses.
As Charlie slowly makes improvements towards recovery later in the season––I appreciated how the show acknowledged that there’s no such thing as a total “cure” for Charlie’s issues, but rather a way to lessen and manage them––discussions around sex and intimacy become a focus. As the audience, we’re growing up with these characters, and it’s only appropriate for this season to deal with serious topics. It adds a layer to the various romances on the show that works well with the mature shift in tone. The way they portray sex is tender, gentle, and special, which is so important for younger audiences to see. It should feel right. It should feel good. The animations were a gorgeous touch to these scenes––the neon pink illustrations are gorgeous and perfectly capture what the characters are feeling––the joy, the anxiety, the longing, the needing.
Heartstopper’s animations never disappoint––all of this source material is from a comic, after all, and they add a whimsical touch that can’t be replaced. The soundtrack also never misses; I think it’s wonderful how so many songs are from relatively unknown, often queer artists. I’ve personally discovered several musicians and songs I never would have without the show. Of course, it’s also a delight to recognize a song you already know. “Blue” by Billie Eilish was a particular highlight for me, especially the way it was used, as well as “My Vine” by the Wasia Project because, well, every time the band’s songs are used in Heartstopper, I cry. A lot.
The cinematography is particularly striking this season. With a new director, Andy Newberry, replacing Euros Lynn, who’d been the director for the previous two seasons, I was a bit hesitant about whether the show’s style would change and be jolting. But it isn’t––instead, it’s magical. The same yellowish filter from last season is used this time, but I noticed some contrasts that helped to tell the story. While the world is golden and beautiful as Nick and Charlie kiss, it’s not so shiny during their toughest moments. There are new ways the camera was used this season. I noticed, for instance, that there were longer takes, letting the scenes take the time they needed––a particular moment caught my attention due to how the camera doesn’t cut, but instead glides, lingers, as the characters take time to breathe. We breathe with them.
I could go on for at least 5,000 more words about Season 3––perhaps that version of this article will have to stay in my drafts for now––but that illustrates just how much this show is. It’s love––of all shapes and sizes. It’s joy. It’s beauty. It’s passion. It’s pain. But most importantly, it’s hopeful. Always hopeful. That’s why so many gravitate towards this show. We know that in the end, everything will be okay.
Quite simply, this show has changed me and how I view the world. It has made me feel things I never thought a work of fiction could make me feel. It has made me laugh, smile, cry, weep. It has opened my eyes to so much and educated me on so many issues. It has left me breathless. Speechless. But ever since December 31st, it has never left me. And it never will.
Thank you, Alice Oseman. Thank you, Heartstopper.
All images credited to Netflix.
