“Heartstopper” once again took its audience by storm with its outstanding storytelling and positive representation with the release of its third season. For those who have not yet seen the hit Netflix original show or read the best selling comic book series of the same name, “Heartstopper” follows the love story between Nick and Charlie, two British teenagers attending an all boys grammar school. Although the show may center around Nick and Charlie, it also succeeds at developing a group of well rounded and interesting characters that all contribute to a beautiful story.
“Heartstopper” season three follows Nick, Charlie and their group of friends on their respective yet interconnected journeys of self-discovery, dealing with more mature and serious topics than previously featured in the first two seasons. Topics such as sexuality, gender identity, mental health issues, eating disorders, sex and navigating relationships are all present. The creators are able to handle these storylines with such thought and care, ensuring that each of the characters are seen and heard in what they are experiencing.
Nick and Charlie have been through a lot in the previous seasons but nothing compared to this one. Throughout the first and second seasons, there were hints that something bigger was going on with Charlie and his relationship with food, but it was not until last season’s trip to Paris that we realized its severity. This season dives deep into Charlie’s mental health issues and how Nick, Tori and Charlie all handle it and try to get him help. Along with managing Charlie’s eating disorder and other mental health issues, Nick and Charlie are also figuring out the depth of their relationship by showcasing its highs and lows, eventually leading to them discovering the right moment to say the “L word” and exploring the idea of having sex.
Although the third season still mainly focuses on Nick and Charlie, we do spend more time with their friend group than we have previously. We see Imogen and Sahar navigate uncovering their sexuality because of one another, while Isaac comes to terms with the realization that he is asexual and aromantic, which is made more difficult when his whole friend group is made of couples. In season two, Darcy was kicked out of the house by their mother and moved in with their girlfriend, Tara. They are in the process of navigating living with Tara while also coming out as non-binary. Meanwhile, Tara is coping with Darcy moving in while also handling the pressures of growing up and making decisions that will impact her future. Elle and Tao are in the honeymoon phase of a new relationship and are managing the pressures that come with that, all while Elle rises to fame on social media because of her art. We also get to see more of Tori Spring, Charlie’s sister, who worries immensely about her brother’s mental health and deals with a quick-tempered mother. Then, there is the introduction of Michael, Tori’s first real friend (and possible love interest), who was prominently featured in the novel that led to “Heartsopper,” “Solitaire,” which focuses on Tori.
“Heartstopper” has had such an important impact on today’s generation, providing teenagers with representation that never would have been present ten years ago. It highlights a diverse set of characters and experiences that, although they all deal with hardships, are still able to find love and light in life. It not only deals with being a queer teen but just being a teen in general. And the third season only expands on this further, providing us with a deeper insight to these beautiful characters.
