Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring spend so much time together, it’s easy to forget they are not in the same year at school! But, well, Nick is in his final year of school in Heartstopper season 3, so he must make some big decisions about his future, including what university he’d like to attend. Charlie, meanwhile, must confront some tough truths about the mental health problems he is grappling with.
The first episode of Heartstopper season 3 starts with a cute sequence of Charlie (Joe Locke) practicing how he would say “I love you” to Nick (Kit Connor) for the first time. “Honestly, I am surprised you haven’t said it already,” his sister Tori (Jenny Walser) exclaims, echoing what the rest of us are thinking. And over Charlie’s worries that Nick might not say it back, his sister reminds him how Nick is literally “obsessed” with him. Charlie and his friends have over three weeks before the new school term starts, so they all gather for a fun day at the beach, where he plans to say the “L” word to his boyfriend.
Also Read: 7 Books Featured in Heartstopper Season 3
Just like the previous season, Heartstopper continues to focus on not just Nick and Charlie but also the personal lives of their close friends. Elle Argent (Yasmin Finney) is off to her dream art school, so boyfriend Tao Xu (William Gao) ensures their vacation together is the most romantic ever. Darcy (Kizzy Edgel) and Tara Jones (Corinna Brown) are living together since Darcy ran away from home, but Tara feels the need for space and is also extremely stressed about going to university. Among all the loved-up couples, bibliophile Isaac (Tobie Donovan) begins to feel like a third wheel instead of a valued friend, and struggles with his own asexual-aromantic identity.
There’s a delicate balance between teen romance and all the different kinds of anxieties each protagonist faces in Heartstopper. Kit Connor is still very much the golden-retriever heartthrob of the show as Nick Nelson, the tough rugby lad with the kindest heart. Nick attempts to help Charlie face his eating problem and gets the adults to intervene so that they can provide Charlie with the right kind of tools to cope with his problems. Joe Locke, of course, makes you root for Charlie’s well-being, and his on-screen chemistry with Kit Connor is as endearing as ever, deserving of the little heart and firework animations that fill the screen whenever sparks fly between the two.
“Sometimes, people need more support than one person can give,” Nick’s aunt Diane (Hayley Atwell) tells him when he expresses helplessness over not being able to do much for Charlie. And that’s the biggest theme of Heartstopper season 3 – it takes a strong supportive community for individuals to thrive, and one cannot just place the burden of “healing” or “fixing” them on one person. Charlie and his friends learn that their platonic love for each other is just as important as the bond they share with their romantic partners.
This season also spotlights Charlie and Tori’s close sibling relationship and how much his sister looks out for him. Unlike the first season of Heartstopper, where Tori was a comical, weird wallflower who didn’t speak much, she is a lot more visible and likable this season as the protective older sister. From serious, emotional episodes that will make you cry, to light-hearted celebratory events, the season is a easy roller-coaster ride.
If you’ve already seen the first two seasons of Heartstopper, then I don’t think I need to write about how joyous, fun, and visually engaging the screenplay is. Elle’s wardrobe stood out this season; most of her outfits are very cute and stylish, and Yasmin Finney pulls them off like a model. The background music and songs featured throughout the eight episodes are either familiar hits or the kind of tracks you’d want to look up on the internet.
Overall, Heartstopper season 3 is yet another binge-worthy edition of the rainbow romance show that celebrates love, friendship, and queer identities.
Watch the show on Netflix.
Also Read: Nobody Wants This Review – The RomCom We Need (Short Audio Version below)