Heartstopper, season 3

The third season of “Heartstopper” picks up right where our characters left off at the end of season two.

Nick, knowing there is more that Charlie hasn’t told him about both his “eating thing” and mental health struggles, asks Charlie to open up to him about the bullying. Despite his need for everything to be fine and perfect, Charlie admits to Nick that things got so bad that he used to cut himself sometimes. Nick pleads with Charlie, asking him to promise to let Nick know if it gets bad again, and Charlie agrees. They kiss and say goodbye - Nick far from relieved and Charlie walking home realizing he is in love with Nick.

Elle (Yasmin Finney) and Tao (William Gao) are dating, with Elle preparing to start sixth form at the Lambert School. Isaac (Tobie Donovan) is coming to terms with his asexuality/aromanticism. Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) has moved out of her homophobic Mom’s house and into Tara’s (Corinna Brown) and Sahar and Imogen are coming to terms with their complicated friendship.

Season 3 also has a new director at the helm, Andy Newbery. As someone who has watched the first two seasons directed by Euros Lyn, many, many times I was certainly aware of some differences in style in the first few episodes of season 3, particularly in the way that Newbery and returning season 2 cinematographer Simona Susnea shoot the friend group. Their conversations at the beach and at the zoo, for example, are filmed in a way that feels more fluid and casual, seeming almost improvised at times. Although I highly doubt they filmed the episodes in order, it does seem as if their partnership gets more confident and creative as the season goes along, especially once we get to 4th episode, “Journey,” which has stunning work from Newbery, Susnea and editor Angharad Owen.

When “Heartstopper” first came out, there were the inevitable comparisons and contrasts to “Euphoria.” In season 3, watching Charlie and his friends/family navigate his eating disorder and mental health issues, I couldn’t help but think about “Euphoria,” particularly the brilliant episode, “Stands Still Like a Hummingbird” where Rue (Zendaya) is intervened on by her friends and family. Although we have been advised by Netflix not to go into details about what ends up happening with Charlie and his eating disorder, I can say that the end of episode three brought intense tears to my eyes.

As a person well versed in eating disorders within the queer community (that’s my day job, after all) I knew I was seeing something highly unique once we got to Charlie’s journey in episode 4. Adapted faithfully from my favorite part of the comics - episode 4 along with episode 5 (an adaptation of Oseman’s wonderful novella, “This Winter”) are very emotional and authentic. The acting from everyone, especially Kit Connor, Joe Locke, Jenny Walser (this season’s MVP!) and Georgina Rich, a season stand out as Charlie’s Mom, help make these episodes the series’s best to date.

Jenny Walser is truly a revelation this season as Tori, giving an incredible performance as a sister dealing with her own mental health struggles while trying desperately to care for a brother who is unable to ask for help.

Avid “Heartstopper” fans are well aware of Oseman’s first novel, “Solitaire” which came before the comics and first introduced us to the Spring family as well as Nick Nelson. “Solitaire” is a bit darker than the comics, and even though the series doesn’t choose to adapt the novel (which occurs around the same time as “Heartstopper” season 3) specifically, it’s clear Jenny Walser has done her research. Tori is the main character in “Solitaire” and Walser definitely brings all of Tori’s backstory to this season of the show.

In the 5th episode, when Charlie can’t handle Christmas with the extended Spring family anymore, he decides to run away to Nick’s, to Tori’s displeasure. In a scene that is adapted almost word for word from the novella, “This Winter,” Tori tells Charlie to please not go, to stay with her on Christmas. And yet he leaves anyway. It’s is gut wrenching, and Locke and Walser are fantastic.

Although Charlie’s mental health issues are front and center, there are other matters at hand that are equally as brilliant in their telling. Watching Elle and Tao navigate sex for the first time - a trans girl experiencing gender dysphoria when her cis boyfriend touches her - it is so delicately handled! The conversations Elle and Tao have about their feelings are so moving and expertly played by Finney and Gao.

The final episode also has Nick and Charlie questioning, “what is sex?” Connor and Locke have never been better than they are in these very sweet moments. It’s the simplicity of these scenes and exchanges, impeccably written, directed and acted that continue to make this show groundbreaking.

And then there is the relationship between Charlie and his Mom. They have a kitchen conversation in the final episode that harkens back to the one at the end of season one with Nick and his Mom. It’s a different type of exchange, but equally important, especially for those of us who had controlling Moms like Charlie’s.

There are a couple of things that didn’t quite work for me though - one of which is the tension building between Isaac and the rest of the friend group, specifically his irritation with Elle and Tao. There is a scene where Charlie doesn’t show up to movie night leaving Isaac alone with Tao and Elle, who overplay the bit, acting as if he isn’t there when he is literally right next to them in the tiny bed. A bit later when the teens go to the zoo, there is a very quick blow up between Isaac and Tao, that for me came mostly out of nowhere.

And then there’s Nick’s missing Mom (the unavailable Olivia Colman). Although Hayley Atwell who stands in as Nick’s Aunt is absolutely incredible throughout - particularly in one of the comic’s most iconic scenes when she tells a crying Nick that love can’t cure Charlie’s mental illness, there is definitely a gap without the presence of Nick’s Mom. She is referenced a few times, and we even hear her supposedly coming home, opening and closing doors, but mostly it seems as if Nick is living at home alone. Here’s hoping Colman can make it back for season 4!

The final epsiode of season three brings us closer to the inevitable. Nick, Tara and Elle are preparing to graduate while their significant others will be left at Truham. With one comic to go and the incredible novella “Nick and Charlie” left to adapt as well, next season will very likely be the last of “Heartstopper.”

Will our beloved couples last through graduation and beyond? Are Nick and Charlie meant to be together forever? Time will tell, and if the final chapter is as good as this one, I can’t wait to see where they all end up.