Heartstopper season 3 episode 7 “Together” feels like the beginning of the end. These teenagers have been through so much in this short 8 episode season. But everything feels very much earned, and the same thing could be said for this episode of Heartstopper. We saw a lot of reflection when it came to Nick and how much he’s had to support someone else while maybe ignoring his own needs. We also saw the continuing journey of Elle, especially after that disastrous radio interview in episode 6. And we saw Charlie and Nick finally take the next step in their relationship, something that both of them have been nervous about.
So without further ado, let’s dive into some of the important moments in Heartstopper season 3 episode 7 “Together.”
Nick and his woes and worries.
I loved that Heartstopper took a moment to zero in on Nick’s mental state in “Together.” Because he’s been there for Charlie throughout everything. But it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have his own problems. He does and they’re just as valid as what Charlie is going through. That’s why I love that Tara checks in with him. He needs people by his side outside of Charlie. Because Charlie is important, but romantic relationships aren’t everything. Heartstopper has proved that time and time again with Charlie’s friendships. So Nick deserves that same support. And I feel like he got that support in “Together.”
Showing Nick having anxieties over college, how being bisexual changed his life, and having sex with Charlie, they’re real problems. And all it does is flesh out Nick in a way that feels like he’s a living and breathing character. By that I mean, by the end of season 3, his character is still going forward. I might not see him on my screen but I know that he’s out there living in Alice Oseman’s mind because of how fleshed out he is. And I think acknowledging that he has anxieties or fears in this manner, proves that Heartstopper understands that everyone’s going through something. Another show would have just made it all about Charlie and forgotten about Nick’s feelings. But that just leads to a weaker show, with a cast of characters who aren’t as defined. That’s not Heartstopper.
While we’re on the topic of Nick and Tara, I did want to comment on the work that Heartstopper has been doing in fleshing out her story too. Because as much as she’s supporting Nick, he’s supporting her right back. No one does this alone, and it’s good to know that if Tara needs a space to talk or someone to come to, she can talk to Nick. In the previous episode “Body,” she leaned on Charlie. And in “Together” we also saw her leaning on Darcy and Nick. Tara isn’t alone. None of these teens are, which is a resounding message that I feel throughout the entirety of Heartstopper.
MORE: Want to know what happens next to Nick? Read our review for Heartstopper season 3 episode 8 “Apart.”
The aftermath of the radio interview.
After Heartstopper season 3 episode 6 “Body,” we raged against that ignorant and manipulative radio host. And I still feel that rage within me. But a lot of that anger has been replaced with sorrow for her. Because she’s just trying to live a regular teenage life and she’s starting to realize more and more that as her world expands, so does she come to understand the hate and vitriol that is out there for people like her. Her worry that Tao will never understand the weight on her shoulders, is justified. And I love that she had her friends at school to support her. Because her parents will have her back. But no one is going to understand Elle’s situation like those who also inhabit similar bodies.
Tao making that video for Elle was a gentle yet powerful reminder to Elle that this is how someone sees her. Bigots might look down on her and want to destroy her way of life, but those who truly matter see her for the young woman she is. And Tao helped create a safe space where she could remember the love that surrounds her but also share her fears. This gentle but powerful reminder is also something that viewers of Heartstopper could be affected by in a positive light. Because if we see ourselves in the content we consume, then maybe someone like Elle will take in this experience and be reminded that there are those in this world that see you for who you are. That matters.
MORE: Ready to talk about the end of this season? Read our review for Heartstopper season 3 episode 8 “Apart.”
Charlie and Nick taking the next step.
All season long, there’s been an undercurrent of tension between Nick and Charlie. In episode 1 of season 3 “Love” there were literal sparks between Charlie and Nick on that beach. And now the moment has come for them to take the next step in their relationship. While I loved the respect and care that went into the sex scene, I was a little thrown off by the conversation with the family before it. So much so that I had to pause. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a teen drama where the teenager in question is as upfront about what they intend to do. Because every single teen drama acts like the teens have to hide it and the parents have never been a teenager before. That’s not the case here.
Admittedly, there was a part of this scene with the Spring family that annoyed me. Multiple parts in fact. First of all, the family dinner. I don’t like the mom, but Charlie was buttering her up because he had a request and not because he wanted to spend time with her. That’s icky. What’s also icky is that the show consistently makes the mom the villain and the dad says nothing besides giving looks and throwing quippy lines around or driving. Again, I don’t like the mom but I need some more balance here. My feeling uncomfortable during this whole scene was made worse by the moms comments about Charlie being ill and then Charlie dipping his toes into stereotypical TV teenage behavior about him not being a kid anymore that screams “But daddy I love him” circa Ariel in The Little Mermaid.
That little family dinner hiccup aside, I do think that the events of “Together” speak of a great shift between Nick and Charlie that goes beyond sex. Charlie has self-image issues to the point where he doesn’t even like looking at himself in the mirror. So to let Nick see him like this, it’s a level of trust and intimacy that is game changing for Charlie but also speaks of the progress he’s made. On the Nick side of things, being bisexual opened up his world in ways that he never expected. And being with Charlie in this intimate manner comes with a level of trust and care that will define his experiences when it comes to romantic relationships in the future.
It’s more than sex on a Heartstopper. It’s about the emotional intimacy of being patient with your partner, kind with your partner, and understanding of what makes your partner feel good. And to have Heartstopper, a comfort show with some heavy topics sprinkled through, teach that lesson to a new generation, it matters and makes this show a cornerstone for LGBTQ+ youth in 2024.
Heartstopper season 3 is now available on Netflix.
