Heartstopper season 3 episode 8 “Apart” felt like the end of Part 1 of season 3 instead of the season finale. Our favorite teenagers are on the cusp of big sweeping life changes. And I felt like I was cut off right when we were getting to the juicy stuff. But…I was wrong the more that I looked at this final episode. We’ve had the juicy stuff all season long. And “Apart” was another stepping stone for these teenagers that instead of being drama filled like any other teenage oriented show, feels real instead.
You feel that realness in the way that Nick is weighing his university options or in how Charlie and Tori had an honest conversation on how things have changed in this particular episode. Together, all of these moments in season 3 have been the culmination of years of hard work on Heartstopper. And it feels earned and like we are taking the next steps in life right alongside Charlie, Nick, and the rest of the gang.
So without further ado, let’s dive into Heartstopper season 3 episode 8 “Apart.”
Nick and his university decision.
Young love is fraught with codependency. A lot of that is grounded in young love being the first time teenagers feel these sparks, strong emotions, and hit milestones on the road to being an adult. Combine that with being a people pleaser and worry over your partner’s state because of a mental health crisis, and you’ve got a breeding ground for anxiety. That’s what I felt watching Nick go through his university picks with Tara, Imogen, and Elle.
Like Imogen, Nick doesn’t know who he is outside of Charlie. Something blossomed with Charlie that he never expected. And that helped him find his bisexuality. But it also shook up his world and made him feel like his future was uncertain. This is continuity at its finest for Heartstopper and the continuation of a long line of writing and character development for Nick. With university looming on the horizon, he’s become comfortable in the safety of Charlie’s orbit. But like Tara said in the car, maybe it’s time for Nick to find out who he is. And if that means going away to uni and doing long distance with Charlie, that’s something he has to seriously consider.
Like in episode 7 of Heartstopper season 3, I really enjoyed how the group of teenagers was shuffled around to have Nick go with the girls to check out university. It proves that author Alice Oseman and Netflix understand that this is how you create a strong foundation that builds on itself, season after season. And being with the girls was exactly what he needed to get some distance from Charlie and perspective on his life. He might love Charlie and end up spending the rest of his life with him. But he’s still a kid. And he needs to give himself grace to find out who Nick is when everything else is stripped away and it’s just him.
MORE: Revisit the beginning of the season with our review for Heartstopper season 3 episode 1 “Love.”
Charlie & Tori finally talk.
One of Charlie’s most important relationships is with his sister. And after a season’s worth of her worrying about him and having his back, he stepped up big time in “Apart.” He’s been steeped in everything Nick that he’s ignored that he’s never been alone. She’s always been there. And gently she’s been reaching out, telling him in her own way that she needs him and that she fears being abandoned by him. Now he gets it. He sees it all. And he sees Tori and how she needs him.
This flip of perspective for Charlie has had the groundwork laid out for him all season. And his offer to talk to Tori for Michael was a step in helping her, but also helping in his own healing. In fact, it reminded me of him helping out Tara with her panic attack. Charlie is more grounded now and has some skills taught to him by professionals. And when talking to Tori on the ferris wheel, she sensed it. Those clinical words and ways of thinking. But she appreciated it for the honest love that was embedded in those words. Now she understands that Charlie loves her, values her, and needs her to find her own happiness.
Going into season 4, I want more of Tori. Because she told Charlie she doesn’t feel things. But that’s wrong. She does feel things. Maybe more than anyone else around her. She just expresses those feelings in different and more quiet ways. They’re still valid, if a little different. And somewhere out there, there is a viewer just like Tori. Someone who feels deeply but is quiet, observing, and on the cusp of blossoming just like Tori did in “Apart.” She’ll always worry about Charlie. That’s what older sisters do. But that conversation with Charlie, it was him telling her that he was ok and that he can stand on his own. And if the moment comes when he needs someone, he knows he can come to her.
Where they go from here.
Heartstopper hasn’t been renewed for a fourth season yet. In the grand scheme of things, and considering how Netflix is when it comes to canceling LGBTQ+ shows, I should be nervous. But I’m not. This show, this universe created by Oseman, is one of the best queer shows I’ve ever seen. It’s comfort, love, reality, and exactly the kind of thing that I would’ve loved to have growing up. And I think the only place that we can go from here when it comes to Heartstopper is to give us more.
More of Charlie and Nick trying to figure out the next step in their relationship’s evolution. Charlie maybe trying to figure out how to stand tall and strong on his own while also leaning on others. Nick stepping out into the unknown, finding himself at university without losing contact of back home. Elle becoming more grounded in herself and the space she occupies in this world. Or even what kind of companionship Isaac wants in his life. And that’s not without going deep into Tori, Elle, Tao, Tara, and Darcy. The point being, Heartstopper needs more.
Having the Heartstopper books isn’t enough. We need seasons 4 and 5 of this show. We as queer people need the comfort of this show and how it validates our experiences, the ones we’ve had and those we wish we had if given the chance. And we especially need a space where our experiences are validated and made real on screen. So yes, I’m terrified that even though this show has a strong fanbase and strong enough numbers viewership wise to get to season 3, that it will be canceled. But I’m holding onto hope that we will get more.
And if we don’t, if Heartstopper does get canceled, what other shows are there that offer this kind of queer representation? There aren’t any. That’s devastating on its own. And if we lose Heartstopper, I don’t know how I’d survive that alongside the cancellation of Warrior Nun, Dead Boy Detectives, Glamorous, I Am Not Okay with This, First Kill, One Day at a Time, Rebelde, and the list goes on.
MORE: As we say goodbye, revisit the beginning with our review for Heartstopper season 3 episode 1 “Love.”
Heartstopper season 3 is now available on Netflix.
