Heartstopper season 3 episode 1 “Love” is a reminder of why this show is so beloved and why it’s so relatable. In a time where it’s an absolute wasteland for LGBTQ+ shows on TV or on streaming services, Heartstopper acts as a warm and soothing balm that reminds you of many of our own universal experiences when we’re trying to figure ourselves out at such a young age. And the show manages to do that without it feeling like it’s preaching to us as the viewer.
All Heartstopper doing is telling the story of a group of teenagers, romantic relationships they’re in, the friendships that carry them through their days, and the challenges they face as their world expands and emotions get a little bit more complex. And you don’t have to be gay, bisexual, lesbian, asexual or transgender to understand this. The experiences in a Heartstopper are for everyone.
With so much to cover for this first episode, let’s break down key moments that exemplify why people connect with this show so much!
First up, Charlie and Nick.
The moment has finally come to really start addressing some of Charlie’s eating problems. For those who are reading this review and haven’t watched the episode, “Love” can absolutely be triggering. It goes along the line of what I feel Heartstopper does really really well aka showcasing experiences that are more universal than people think. But this can be triggering for some due to the language used, the confrontation between Nick and Charlie at the beach, and some of the visualizations that the episode used to show what Charlie was feeling inside. So I do think that viewers should be cautious but also open to the fact that this is being discussed.
Right now, there is a teenager watching this who connects with Charlie. And I truly hope that it gives these viewers a sense of comfort but also a lifeline. Because that’s the most important thing when you take on subjects like this. People connect with Charlie, know him, and love him. And if he’s going through something similar to a viewer, it gives you the strength to acknowledge what’s going on with yourself. And it also gives perspective. For example, Nick noticed what was going on with Charlie and supported him. That could be happening to the viewer at home and maybe it’ll give them the strength to confront what’s going on with themselves in the hopes they’ll get the same support.
Heartstopper season 3 episode 1 also showed another shift between Charlie and Nick that you don’t have to be gay to understand. Or bisexual or queer. When you’re that age and you first start having those romantic sparks with someone, the butterflies are real and I feel like no one explains what comes after the sparks. It’s just one day you don’t experience these romantic feelings and then boom it’s sexual in nature. No one stops to explain the in-between. The shift from a crush to physical intimacy besides kissing. And I really liked how Heartstopper used small visualizations to show that the spark between Charlie and Nick is transforming into something new but exciting and scary at the same time.
Whatever comes next for Charlie and Nick, I think that Heartstopper is dealing with it with a delicate hand and much love for how scary it is to be a teenager.
MORE: What happens when Nick goes on vacation? Read our review for Heartstopper season 3 episode 2 “Home.”
Next up, Elle and Tao.
I love that we got confirmation right off the bat that these two are together. No will they or won’t they anymore. They’re more grounded even if things are going to change when the summer ends. And every adult who has gone through those teenage years knows that these problems on Heartstopper feel like the end of the world. But it’s not. It doesn’t mean that these aren’t important experiences and that they shouldn’t be acknowledged. In fact, I think that Heartstopper does a really great job at addressing insecurities and fears that feel like the end of the world. Acknowledging makes things less scary, especially if you share it with someone else.
Tao was feeling fear. That’s why he wanted to make his dates with Elle to be perfect. He wanted to create lasting memories and feared that if everything wasn’t perfect, it would cast a shadow over whatever comes next. For teenagers in this day and age, they’ve got so many things coming their way, on top of school and their parents expectations. So I like that they showed this specific fear. And I like that Elle was there to tell him basically that he wasn’t alone in this. Because yes, these two are friends and now they are boyfriend and girlfriend. But if anything, they’re partners. That’s more solid and will last the test of time and the end of summer.
Then there’s Isaac.
I loved the conversation between Isaac and Charlie at the beach. Too often coming out is seen as this big grand gesture. That puts pressure on people. That put pressure on me and I never had the help to guide me through that when I was a teenager. I just stumbled my way through it and hoped for the best. So that’s why I like that people are going to see Isaac’s coming out to Charlie as just a casual conversation on the beach. It doesn’t have to be more than that and Heartstopper makes it clear that you don’t owe anyone your truth.
Another pivotal moment during “Love” happened when Charlie admitted that he did not know what being aromantic meant.
Our queer identities under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, it’s consistently evolving. And just because we are part of the community doesn’t mean that we know everything and it’s okay to admit that. That’s what Heartstopper is doing in this moment. And it was done in a gentle manner where Charlie wasn’t made to feel like he was a “bad gay” if he didn’t know about Isaac’s lived experience. But even more so, this scene was amazing because they didn’t make Isaac give a whole lesson on what being aromatic is. Even within the LGBTQ+ community, it’s up to us to educate ourselves on how we are evolving to help each other. And Heartstopper proved that in this scene.
MORE: If you want more of Isaac being a unicorn, read our review for Heartstopper season 3 episode 2!
And we can’t forget about Tara and Darcy.
Asking for what you need is terrifying. And it’s even more terrifying when your loved one is in a tough spot and you don’t want to hurt their feelings. This is a universal experience. And just like everything else on this show, it was super important to see Tara ask for what she needed and for Darcy to be okay with it. Of course Darcy is going to feel a little thrown off because this has been stability for her, but it was very important for Tara to ask for what she needed and for it to not turn into unhealthy depictions of what comes next, like most teen dramas have taught us.
I don’t know what’s going to come next for these two, but I think the fact that Tara asked for what she needed, makes it so she feels safe with Darcy. She knows that she can bring this up to the person she cares about and have her wishes respected. Things aren’t simple and maybe Darcy will take it differently later on in the series. But in the moment, Darcy told her it was okay and that was it. I do wish that the show took some time to discuss a little bit more on the insecurities or feelings that both of these young women are feeling. But maybe this works for them. Maybe both of them are listening to each other and that is all that’s needed.
We can’t finish off this section when it comes to Tara and Darcy without talking about the intimacy that was shown in Heartstopper season 3 episode 1. I honestly don’t think I’m watching any sapphic series at the moment. Wynonna Earp was the only one that explored the intimacy between two female presenting people in a way that felt honest. And besides the Vengeance special on Tubi that they just had, that show is gone. So I hold Tara and Darcy’s relationship with the utmost love and hope that we’ll get to see more of them. Because as older queers, we might have experienced these moments before. But seeing Tara and Darcy in love or just sharing kisses, leaves me with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside that this is something that would have helped me in my teenage years. I know I would’ve felt seen. And now I know there will be other baby queers who will see this and feel a little bit less alone and have the head start in life I never had.
Conclusion
Heartstopper makes people feel seen. And this first episode of season 3 did it four times over with a bunch of different pairings that didn’t just focus on the fact that some of these teenagers are in romantic relationships. Friendships matter just like everything else and so does family. Because of that, “Love” is a promising start to season 3 but also a continuation of what this show does right over and over again.
Heartstopper season 3 is now available on Netflix.
