LEWIS: ‘Heartstopper’ season three on mental health, hope

Art by Rose Padios

The beloved adaptation of the webcomic “Heartstopper” resumed on Netflix for its third season at the beginning of October. 

For the uninitiated, “Heartstopper” is a coming-of-age story that follows two British teenagers, Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) and Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) as they discover who they are and fall in love. The story was originally published as a webcomic series by Alice Oseman in 2016 and is still currently being updated. Volumes of the comic have been published in print as graphic novels as well. 

Season three of “Heartstopper” takes a heavier turn, touching on themes of eating disorders, mental illness, self-harm and intimacy. 

The end of season two left viewers with Nick and Charlie going to prom together as a couple. Both of them wanted to say “I love you” to the other but were unsure if it was too soon in their relationship. 

Season three resumes in the summer following the prom, and the episodes continue through the start of the next summer. In the first episode, Nick and Charlie are still thinking about saying those three words to each other.

The usual gang’s all back for a beach hangout. Tao (William Gao) and Elle (Yasmin Finney) are indulging in a “summer of love” after making their relationship official last season. Additionally, Tara (Corinna Brown) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) experience a strain in their relationship as Darcy’s issues at home continue. 

Last season, the warning signs of Charlie’s mental illnesses were hinted at throughout the episodes, allowing Nick and the viewers to start picking up on the problem. 

The topic of mental health is addressed head-on this season when Charlie is hospitalized for his eating disorder. Viewers see his experience through both Nick’s eyes and his own, giving perspective into how mental illness can impact everyone involved.

One true point of excellence with “Heartstopper” is how the series talks about issues and topics directly. Charlie’s mental illnesses are named — Anorexia and OCD — and their impacts on his life are explained thoroughly. 

Charlie also receives on-screen therapy. The therapist character, Geoff (Eddie Marsan), was a great medium to get essential information both to Charlie and the viewer. His therapist helped stress the importance of therapy and support systems when recovering from an eating disorder. 

Charlie isn’t the only character that sparks mental health conversations. Tara is a high-achieving student who is receiving immense pressure to take on leadership roles and attend prestigious universities. The stress of these expectations starts to take their toll on Tara and eventually, Charlie coaches her through breathing exercises he learned from therapy. 

The conversation around mental health in season three is done incredibly well, but it’s more than just the direct discussion of mental health. We see these characters at their lowest, but we are also provided hope. “Heartstopper” is incredibly hopeful despite its heavier topics this season. 

Reminiscent of the comics, the visual representation of emotions with on-screen doodles is super effective. Whether it’s the signature “Heartstopper” leaves when there’s sweet, tender moments or scribbles to represent mental turmoil, the doodles elevate the audience’s viewing experience while also paying homage to the source material. 

This season also explores the topic of intimacy within different romantic relationships. Episode six, titled “Body,” dedicates most of the 35-minute run time to this subject. These characters are teenagers, but the discussion of sex is open, consensual and not graphic, which is absolutely integral when portraying younger characters.

“Heartstopper” is perhaps more delicate, and thus, mature, about handling these topics than most other shows targeted toward teenage audiences today. 

Obviously, Nick and Charlie are seeking to take the next step in their relationship, but viewers are also given insight into other characters’ relationships as well. Particularly, Elle and Tao’s relationship was insightful, as Elle struggled with intimacy because of her dysphoria from being a transgender woman. 

Beyond romantic relationships, “Heartstopper” excels in friendship. It establishes the power that having a network of good friends can have on people. Charlie is able to lean on his friends when he needs them and they’re able to lean on him too.

Through his friends, Nick is able to find comfort in people other than Charlie. He becomes his own person as he begins to decide where he will go for university. 

Tori Spring (Jenny Walser) is the standout character from this season for me. As an older sister myself, the sibling dynamic between her and Charlie is rooted in truth. Her concern for her little brother is relatable and all too real. 

In previous seasons, I immensely disliked Imogen (Rhea Norwood), a character that is only in the Netflix show. She greatly developed this season which allowed my opinion of her to completely change. 

The “Heartstopper” show is such a wonderful adaptation. Of course, there are always changes when adapting a book for television, but the changes the “Heartstopper” writing crew makes only enhance the story. There is a chance to create deeper understandings of the side characters that simply couldn’t exist in the comics. 

During some of the scenes, I found myself recalling exact panels of the webcomic, now acted out in real life on my screen. The show does a very nice job of capturing those key, memorable moments from the comic while also transforming the story into something more evolved. 

Overall, “Heartstopper” is a beautiful character study of a group of teenagers discovering their identities. Season three carries on the wholesomeness while simultaneously weaving in serious and important conversations. There are many characters and all of them are handled so well on their own individual journeys and their relationships with each other. 

Published in the Daily Nebraskan, read here.