Spoilers below.
Over the past two seasons, Heartstopper has won fans over with its whimsy and feel-good romance. The first focused on the beginnings of Nicholas Nelson (Kit Connor) and Charlie Spring’s (Joe Locke) dreamy love story, and the second centered on the pressures of coming out, all with the Netflix show’s signature charm. This season, however, undergoes a seismic shift, highlighting real-world issues like eating disorders, mental health, asexuality, and sex, with a more serious lens. While this casts a gloom on the previously sunny show, it felt more real, honest, and true to a modern teen’s experience. It might feel a little different this time around, but Heartstopper doesn’t stop providing a beacon for teens struggling with the same problems.
As season 3 unfolds, the importance of community is clear, whether it’s through biological or chosen family. Some of the heavier topics get resolved when a character leans on those around them. Charlie, with Nick’s encouragement, got help for his eating disorder and mental health struggles; Tao (William Gao) and Elle (Yasmin Finney) navigated sex expertly after having a crucial discussion (plus, the conversations this seasons surrounding Elle’s gender identity were poignant and excellent); and Tara (Corinna Brown) faced academic pressure and made it through an anxiety attack with the help of her friends.
The finale, titled “Apart,” further emphasizes the community theme, addressing the importance of those we choose to surround ourselves with. For many LGBTQ+ individuals, a strong support system can be difficult to find. Heartstopper proves that our supporters are actually all around us; we just have to find them.
We open with Nick and Charlie in bed, talking about their first time sleeping together. The last episode concluded with them finally having sex, with Charlie keeping his shirt on. Nick doesn’t mind, and mentions that the boys only touched, alluding to the fact that they did not have penetrative sex. The two have a conversation about how sex can be a lot of things—there isn’t one definition. Charlie asks Nick if he’s been researching how to have sex properly, and Charlie pulls up Nick’s laptop and search history. Here, Charlie discovers that Nick has been looking at universities that aren’t quite local. Nick says he is worried about being away from Charlie, so he’ll probably go to school somewhere nearby. Personally, I don’t believe it for a second and am already bracing myself for what looks to be a possibly heartbreaking plot point.
Charlie then returns home and has a conversation with his mom (Georgina Rich), who, in the last episode, snapped and said Charlie couldn’t sleep over at Nick’s house. Charlie’s mom apologizes, knowing she can be overbearing and quick to anger, but she thinks boyfriend sleepovers are a lot emotionally. She asks Charlie to compromise and wait until exams are over. Charlie agrees. (I, however, am left shocked that boyfriend sleepovers are even allowed. Maybe I’m geriatric, but this would have never slid in my teen years.)
Later, Nick joins Tara, Imogen (Rhea Norwood), and Elle on a college road trip (someone call Raven Symoné) to look at universities. They visit places near and far, and even spend a night on the road, where Imogen and Nick stay in the same room. Imogen famously had a crush on Nick for a while, and she admits she just wanted attention. Perhaps, she hasn’t even ever liked a boy. Nick comforts her.
The next day, Elle reveals she knows Nick and Charlie had sex, after Tao told her. Nick doesn’t reveal the details, but the girls then take him to a pharmacy to buy condoms and lube. It’s a true rite of passage for a newly sexually active high schooler. The travelers then hit London to visit Leeds. Nick quickly falls in love with the queer community, opportunity to play rugby, and campus. But there’s a slight problem: The university is four hours away from home. Nick, in the car home, talks about how much he doesn’t want to date long distance. Elle mentions that he has to put his happiness first.
Charlie, meanwhile, decides to make his therapy sessions less frequent. He says he has people who can help him between visits. “I think I realized that even though I love Nick, I need other people,” Charlie says, which is further proof that all we need is community. He also decides to apply for head boy of Truham.
His whole family then heads to a Love, Simon-level carnival, where he’s performing with Sahar (Leila Khan)’s band, Queer Intentions.
Michael (Darragh Hand) then comes over and asks Charlie for advice on Tori (Jenny Walser). Michael asked Tori to be his girlfriend, and Tori freaked out. Charlie then joins Tori on the ferris wheel, where she reveals that she’s jealous of Charlie’s hope. Charlie finally admits how much Tori’s helped him in the last year. She has so much love to give, she can give some to Michael as well. Post ride, Tori approaches Michael, leaving their relationship status unknown. Tori spinoff, when?
Tara then Instagram DMs the friend group (which seems to be everyone’s main form of communication) that the road trippers are stuck in a traffic jam; they might not make it to the carnival and miss the band. Nick feels that Charlie needs him to be there when he performs. After some ticket-worthy speeding, they arrive mid-performance. Charlie was still able to perform without Nick there, something he likely wouldn’t have been able to do at the start of the season.
Following the performance, Charlie’s mom agrees to let him sleep over at Nick’s. The season then concludes with a dreamy carnival sequence, where Elle reveals that she’s going to go to art school in Europe. Tao is excited, not worried for her. This clearly gives Nick some nerves about his impending decision.
Charlie and Nick head home and begin to have sex. Charlie finally takes his shirt off, a big step. Nick says, “I love you, and you are so fucking hot,” and Charlie immediately responds with a hug. The season ends with an affirmation of Charlie’s body, showing that while we do need to work to find self love and acceptance, sometimes, the words of others can make a profound and positive impact. Roll credits.
Samuel is the Associate Editor at ELLE Magazine. Prior to this role, he was the Assistant to ELLE’s Editor-in-Chief, Nina Garcia. At ELLE, Samuel writes about music, fashion, arts, and culture, interviewing Normani, Lola Tung, Sara Bareilles, Kelli O’Hara, Nicholas Galitzine, Tate McRae, and more. Raised in Des Moines, Iowa, Samuel attended Northwestern University and currently resides in New York City.