Heartstopper season 3 is a thoughtful evolution of the show as its characters face new challenges. At its core, Heartstopper is a joyful expression of young queer love and friendship, anchored by the romance between Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick (Kit Connor). The first two seasons were dominated by a candy-colored palette, smartly incorporating Heartstopper‘s comic roots with bursts of animation at key moments.
However, the end of Heartstopper season 2 came to a crossroads – its characters were growing up, and the show was toying with some heavier material than it had explored previously. The finale hinted at a darker, more mature tone going forward, which it fully embraces in season 3. While the joy the show is known for is certainly on display in some parts of the new season, this is a decidedly heavier run of episodes than Heartstopper has attempted in the past.
Heartstopper Season 3 Tackles Some Tough Topics
Charlie’s Story Is Hard To Watch But Handled Well
This is especially the case in the first half of the season, which is largely devoted to Charlie’s deteriorating mental health and eating disorder. While there are plenty of tough-to-watch moments as a result, the show handles that development with a level of care that’s impressive even by Heartstopper’s standards. While Charlie’s perspective is given the screen time it deserves, I came away from season 3 even more impressed by the way the show explores the toll it takes on Nick, Tori (Jenny Walser), and the other people who care about Charlie.
The season explores a lot of thorny stuff about the burden of being a caretaker, the potential danger in letting a relationship – even a wonderful one – consume you, and the way a new love changes dynamics with friends and family. Those are pretty ambitious concepts for any show to tackle, and season 3 not only doesn’t shy away from them but more than does them justice. It comes to a head in episode 4, a season standout that covers several months of Charlie’s health struggles and Nick’s response to them.
As part of its more grownup tone, the season explores sex in a way it hasn’t before, which feels like a natural turning point considering most of the characters are now in relationships and getting older. I was curious to see the show’s take on this and not surprised that its approach was quite gentle and sweet, exploring it realistically but not in a way that takes the show in a too-graphic direction.
Heartstopper Season 3 Takes Advantage Of Its Ensemble
Charlie’s Friends Come Together & The Performances Are Impressive
While Charlie is understandably a focal point of the new episodes, the Netflix show put a lot of time into establishing his friend group in the first two seasons, and that really pays off this time around. The characters are so rich and their dynamics are so well-established at this point that the show can pick any two friends, put them together, and have it feel completely natural. For example, Nick has some wonderful scenes with people it’d be easy to label as “Charlie’s friends”, but it’s clear they’re just as intent on supporting Nick as they are Charlie.
With the heavier material, it’s a real pleasure to watch Heartstopper’s younger actors become even more confident in their performances. In season 3, where Charlie bottles a lot up as Nick worries about him, Kit Connor’s tendency to play Nick quite openly juxtaposed with Joe Locke’s more restrained approach is particularly effective.
Hayley Atwell is perfectly cast as Nick’s aunt, bringing a warm but no-nonsense energy suited to what he needs at the time.
While Olivia Colman’s absence is conspicuous at times – scheduling conflicts prevented her from returning as Nick’s mom – Hayley Atwell is perfectly cast as Nick’s aunt, bringing a warm but no-nonsense energy suited to what he needs at the time. Ted Lasso fans will enjoy seeing Annette Badland (aka Mae) pop up as Darcy’s gran, and Jonathan Bailey’s appearance is brief but memorable, leading to one of the season’s funnier moments.
Heartstopper Season 3’s Darker Turn Is Earned But Might Leave Some Viewers Wanting More
The Joyous Moments That Defined The First Two Seasons Aren’t As Prominent This Time Around
If there’s a negative to season 3’s slightly darker and more mature tone, it’s that the fun, romantic moments aren’t quite as plentiful as they were in the first two seasons. There are still joyous scenes to be found, but I wish they had a little more time to breathe. While the show used to revel in swoony, romantic moments, letting us soak them in and feel the character’s joy, there’s not quite as much time to celebrate before we’re hit with another sad moment in season 3.
I was also left wanting a bit more for one of the show’s new pairings: Tori and Michael. While Tori is given a lot more to do this season to great effect, much of it involves Charlie, which means there’s not quite as much time for her and Michael. The two are a delight and help provide a lot of the season’s lighter moments, and a bit more time with them would have benefited both the characters and the season’s tone.
Heartstopper season 3 ends in a hopeful place, albeit without much resolution for some storylines. This feels appropriate for this particular season. As these episodes make clear, the characters are growing up and facing new challenges; their lives are a lot messier than they used to be. The end of the season left me hoping for a season 4 renewal sooner rather than later, and after seeing the new episodes, I expect many will feel the same.
All eight episodes of Heartstopper season 3 will be available to stream on Netflix on October 3.
