Since its debut, Heartstopper has charmed viewers and critics with its grounded and sweet love story about two British schoolboys falling in love. Fans of the series will be pleased to discover that the show’s latest season will continue to charm and move viewers while deepening the characters’ emotional journeys. Season 3 of the hit teen drama is its most emotional and mature so far, and that’s a good thing.

Previously On Heartstopper…

Season One of the Netflix drama introduced viewers to the adorable and endearing leads, Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick (Kit Connor), who start as friends and slowly fall in love. Charlie has to overcome his insecurities to believe and accept that Nick likes him, and Nick has to sort through all of the confusion that comes with the realization that he is bisexual.

Season Two of the series was the perfect example of how a series should progress and expand its characters and scope. Although Charlie and Nick were still the central characters, the supporting characters came into their own during the show’s sophomore season. The show grew in a way that felt realistic and exciting. It indeed became an ensemble story.

Heartstopper Season 3

Season 3 of the show adapts storylines from Volumes 4 & 5 of the webcomic and the Heartstopper novella This Winter. Picking up not long after the end of season 2, Charlie mulls over how to tell his beloved boyfriend Nick that he loves him. It’s a massive step in their relationship, and Charlie wants to make sure he chooses the perfect moment for the revelation. On the other hand, Nick is trying to figure out how to talk to Charlie about his erratic eating habits. Nick is concerned that Charlie has an eating disorder and is scared that addressing the topic after all Charlie has been through will lead to further issues. As the season continues, Charlie and Nick’s relationship deepens to the point that they decide to take things to the next level.

They also begin to deal with the fact that Nick will be leaving for university soon and what that means for the future of their relationship. Locke and Connor infuse their respective characters with tremendous depth, heart, and sincerity. Both together and separately, Charlie and Nick are endlessly endearing, and that’s in large part thanks to the talent and emotion Locke and Connor bring to their portrayals. Connor expertly portrays the helplessness and anguish Nick experiences while Charlie deals with his eating disorder. It’s a feeling that many who’ve had a loved one dealing with a mental disorder have experienced. There is one scene in particular, while Nick is on holiday with his Aunt Diane (Hayley Atwell) and her family, in which he breaks down how afraid he is for Charlie. It’s a great scene, and Connor and Atwell’s chemistry adds a believable nephew and aunt dynamic to it.

During that scene, Atwell’s Aunt Diane also tells Nick that he and Charlie can’t be each other’s everything. They have to be willing and open to receiving help from the family and friends around them. This line of dialogue is wonderfully prophetic as we see the two do just that. We get great scenes in which Charlie and Nick find themselves having to turn to their network of support instead of each other, and again, it highlights the growth of the characters and the story.

The Heartstopper Ensemble

Although Charlie and Nick’s story is engaging and moving, the rest of the gang has many ups and downs and exciting journeys. If I had to choose a duo in the Hearstopper universe who is always on the verge of dethroning Charlie and Nick as my favorite couple, it’s Tao (William Gao) and Elle (Yasmin Finney). Their love story will make fans swoon throughout the season. They’re in the middle of enjoying their summer of romance when the season begins, seeing as Elle is about to transfer to a new art school, and Tao is worried about the future of their relationship. As a character, Tao has matured so much during the last two seasons, and watching him grow into his interest in filmmaking and his relationship with Elle is extremely enjoyable. William Gao’s mannerisms and turns of phrase make the character a joy to watch anytime he’s on screen, and one can’t help but wonder where the character begins and the actor ends. William Gao makes Tao such a fun and likable character.

Finney continues to bring much thoughtfulness and seriousness to her role as Elle. The character becomes a viral sensation thanks to her provocative art but remains grounded and focused, even in the face of bigots who want to dismiss her talents as a means to further an agenda. Elle is a trans woman, yes, and while defending her community is important to her, she refuses to let anyone make that her entire identity. When she and Tao consider taking their relationship to the next level, Elle must come to terms with her body dysmorphia. Again, Finney does an excellent job of conveying Elle’s struggle.

At the end of Season 2, Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) manages to break away from her abusive and neglectful mother with the help of her friends and her supportive girlfriend, Tara (Corinna Brown). This season, Darcy goes to live with her supportive and loving grandmother. Tara, who feels the weight of the perfect persona she’s carefully crafted over the years, prepares for university. I’ve always loved this pairing and the endless support and love they provide each other. Edgell and Brown have a palpable chemistry that lights up the screen, and you can’t help but root for this couple. As Darcy begins to explore different ways of expressing herself through her wardrobe and Tara learns to give herself room to be imperfect, the tender love and care they bring each other is heartwarming.

Jenny Walser, who portrays Charlie’s reclusive and introverted older sister, Tori, is utilized more during this season and gets some emotional moments about Charlie’s eating disorder and the character’s painful loneliness. There’s a scene in Episode 6 that will break viewers’ hearts as she expresses her loneliness to Charlie, to no avail. It’s upsetting that the show doesn’t explore or even call Charlie out for how often he overlooks his sister’s pain, but it is understandable, given the circumstances. Tori’s storyline kicks into high gear with the introduction of her love interest, Michael (Darragh Hand). He’s awkward, anxious, and supportive, all wrapped into one. Hand’s portrayal of the character as charmingly befuddled but highly logical makes him entertaining and everything viewers would expect from Tori Spring’s love interest. Fans of Solitaire, the novel that birthed the Heartstopper universe, will be pleased by the character’s induction.

While I won’t give much away about Imogen’s storyline with Sahar (Leila Khan), I will say Rhea Norwood has successfully taken the character from annoying to annoying and likable. Imogen is a mess, but in a way that makes her human, it shows that not all journeys of discovery are without hurt feelings and misunderstandings.

Looking Ahead To Season 4

Show creator and executive producer Alice Oseman will begin the final installment of the Heartstopper webcomic this month. This will give viewers and readers a pretty good idea of what to expect during the show’s previously announced fourth, and presumably final, season.

In a perfect world, Netflix would give the fourth season a few more episodes so that Mr. Ajayi (Fisayo Akinade) and Mr. Farouk (Nima Taleghani) romance could be explored more. Although we get many adorable and promising scenes with the pair in Season 3, seeing their relationship in more depth would be nice.

The show could also use a theoretical larger episode count to give viewers a proper adaptation of the Solitaire storyline, which should be taking place during the current timeline. Give Issac (Tobie Donovan) a proper conclusion to the storyline that began in Season 2, but was not given its proper development this season. And perhaps even give Nick’s own abandoned friend group a chance to interact with the rest of the cast.

It would also be nice to see Olivia Colman return as Nick’s mother, Sarah, and get more fun cameos like the ones from Mr. Bridgerton and Jonathan Bailey this season.

Viewers and readers should have absolute faith in Alice Oseman and the team that has worked with her to adapt her webcomic into a bonified hit.  They’ve done great work so far, and I have no doubt the final season and installment of the comic will be just as well executed.

While Heartstopper Season 3 is the show’s most mature and emotional season, it still maintains the charm and humor that made it a hit with fans since its debut.

Heartstopper Season 3 debuts on Netflix on October 3rd. Remember to read the source material for free over on Webtoons.