‘Heartstopper’ Season 3 Episode 3 Review: Talk

If I thought episode 2 of season 3 of Heartstopper made me cry, it was nothing in comparison to episode 3 “Talk.” It built off a lot of the subject matter from episode 2 in a way that felt well paced, structured, and deserved. And it still made me cry like a baby. Because like I mentioned in season 3 episode 2 of Heartstopper, I don’t have an eating disorder. But you don’t have to have an eating disorder to understand a lot of the things that Charlie is going through. The same thing goes for Isaac, who is feeling really left out by his friend group. And the same thing could be said for Elle and Tao, both of them in the middle of a new relationship and feeling like she has to start all over at another school. 

So we’re going to dry our tears and dive into some of the most important moments of Heartstopper season 3 episode 3 “Talk.”

Isaac having his moment. 

For as understanding as Isaac is, I knew that he was going to break. I knew there was going to come a moment where he just had enough. And episode 3 was that moment. Just as everyone else in this friendship group is going through milestones, so is Isaac. And it’s so important to show that just because he’s not in a relationship, doesn’t mean that things aren’t changing for him. Growing up, most of the dramas geared towards me and my age bracket were romantic. It was about high school crushes and high school boyfriends or girlfriends. Friendship was definitely an important part of what I saw on TV. But they never explored not wanting those romantic relationships in the way that Heartstopper is exploring it in season 3. 

Isaac got a moment to speak his truth and tell his friends what’s been going on with him. And they did it in the same manner like we got in episode 1 where Isaac told Charlie and it was no big deal. The same thing happened in this scene in the zoo. More importantly, the show didn’t make it that now that Isaac spoke his truth, that’s it. Too often, shows who have representation, like to show off the representation on screen, check a box, and then keep moving on. Basically, they drop the lead. The big representation happened and they don’t think there’s anything else that comes after that. Heartstopper isn’t like that. Because it’s a process. Isaac will continue learning things about himself for the rest of his life just like all of us do when big changes happen. 

Not taking away the focus from Isaac, but I really liked how this conversation was a catalyst for Tao realizing that he was doing the same thing he accused Charlie of doing in season 1 but now to Isaac. He was being a bad friend. And now that he’s realized that he has neglected Isaac and their friendship all summer long, he’s starting to realize that there’s something up with Charlie too. My hope against hope is that he doesn’t push in the same manner that he did at the zoo. But these are teenagers we’re talking about. It’s not going to be perfect and it might get messy if we already have Charlie at the point where he can talk about him having an eating disorder with his parents.

MORE: If you need more of Isaac, we’ve got you covered with our review for Heartstopper season 3 episode 2 “Home.”

Creating a safe space for Charlie. 

Like Aunt Diane mentioned in episode 2 of season 3 of Heartstopper, we can’t fix the ones we love. The only thing we can do is be there and support them. And Aunt Diane did that for Nick in episode 2. Now, Nick has done that for Charlie. And you can tell it wasn’t perfect. I kind of appreciate that it wasn’t perfect. When Nick finally had the conversation with Charlie at the end of the episode, you could tell that Charlie was struggling. There was fear on his face but also anger and anxiety. It was a scary moment. But Nick created a safe space where Charlie didn’t bolt. And even if he was on the edge, he stayed. 

When Charlie and Nick finally go to talk to Charlie’s parents, I loved that Nick was there for support. He didn’t say anything or take lead of the conversation. He let Charlie do it after helping him find a medium where he could express his thoughts and get them out there to his parents. By the end of the episode, Charlie had asked for help, something that he never thought would be possible. And maybe something like this won’t go the same for other people that are in this situation in real life. Maybe their parents will freak out. But maybe they won’t. Maybe they will be like Charlie’s parents who sat there and listened. That possibility needs to be put out there and I really applaud Heartstopper for continuously proving to me, the viewer, that there is consideration taken when dealing with such heavy material.

I also really like that this episode acknowledged that Charlie has more than an eating disorder going on. Sometimes that happens with mental health issues. It’s a combination of things that doesn’t have an easy fix. They take time and every single person is different, something that TV doesn’t inherently take the time to explain. But Heartstopper is doing that. They’re taking the time to explain and not only give teens tools to express themselves but also parents an opportunity to understand or remember how hard it was to be a teenager and the problems that come with it.

MORE: What happens to Charie and Nick next? Read our review for Heartstopper season 3 episode 4 “Journey.”

The older gays. 

Every single time I see Mr. Ajayi and Mr. Farouk on my screen the butterflies start. Because yes, this is a story about being a teenager. But plenty of people who aren’t teenagers are watching this. And I love how Heartstopper is finding a way to balance out so many storylines without forgetting even the side characters like the two teachers. Whatever’s going on with them, they’ve been dating all summer and they are close enough that they’re driving to work together. Not even that, they are having lunch together. And I for one am very much looking forward to the students like Charlie and Nick cooing over them, because they deserve love and happiness too. 

Admittedly, I’m a little scared for these two. We don’t often see LGBTQ+ relationships between teachers on teen shows. And I fear the Karens of the world, who might step in and ruin the relationship that’s blossoming between them because drama and “what will the children at school learn or think blah blah blah.” This fear goes hand in hand with the show’s overall pace. Because if Heartstopper has gotten to this point in episode 3 where Charlie is already asking for help with his eating disorder, what’s going to come next? I’ve never read the books and when this show started I decided not to so I can be surprised. So far it’s been good surprises with a bunch of feels. But what other shoe is going to drop? And when are they going to stop teasing me about Jonathan Bailey? I’m excited but I’m scared for what the rest of Heartstopper season 3 is going to be like.

Heartstopper season 3 is now available on Netflix.

What did you think of Heartstopper season 3 episode 3? Let us know in the comments below!