Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Heartstopper Season 3 continues the story of Nick (Kit Connor), Charlie (Joe Locke), and their friends as they navigate the trials and tribulations of adolescence.
Charlie has an eating disorder that he is not admitting to himself and that he is hiding from Nick; Nick feels guilty for wanting to attend university away from home, where he won’t be able to look after Charlie; Elle (Yasmin Finney) posts her art on social media and gets notoriety, which brings the possibility of being interviewed for a radio talk show; Tao (William Gao) wants to take his relationship with Elle to next level, but she’s concerned that it will trigger gender dysphoria; Tara (Corinna Brown) is getting ready to start a new life away from Darcy (Kizzy Edgell), who realizes that she is non-binary; and Isaac (Tobie Donovan), who is asexual and aromantic, must deal with feeling left out because most of his friends are in relationships.
Some Thoughts:
Season three is darker than usual due to Charlie having developed anorexia nervosa with obsessive–compulsive disorder, which is hinted at in season two. This is a heavy topic, so to lighten things up, the couples start talking about bringing sex into their relationships. The budding sexuality is handled with the innocent charm that Heartstopper is known for.
Although Isaac is still relegated to the sidelines, he does get a little more screen time than usual. Since Heartstopper is primarily about romantic relationships, I doubt he’ll ever get his own episode. Still, it would be nice if it did happen. Romance isn’t everything, and his character is there to prove it.
As with previous seasons, pacing and visuals are well done. However, where the previous stories felt natural and fluid, some of the plots feel a bit forced. For instance, the talk show Elle participates in takes a sudden turn that’s hard to believe was a surprise. Why would Elle agree to do a radio interview without knowing the nature of the show? And while the acting is decent, there is a scene where Charlie is supposed to be drunk but comes across as sober.
There are also side plots that get mentioned and fizzle, such as Darcy not doing well on her exams, Isaac feeling left out because he doesn’t have a partner, and Elle’s radio interview.
This is also the first time the series felt a bit long in the tooth. The season ends with the characters preparing to split up, so hopefully it will get some fresh plots and dynamics when it returns.
The Final Verdict:
Season 3 of Heartstopper is enjoyable despite showing its age. The stories are beginning to wear thin and some of the plots don’t feel as natural as they once did. It does end with the promise of some much-needed change, so there is hope for season 4.
