Top 10 Times Heartstopper Tackled Serious Issues

Before season 3, Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring had a lot of social and emotional hurdles to overcome, but one thing they were sure of is that if they had each other, that was enough. When other people aren’t getting in the way, their love story is almost a fairy tale. But with Charlie’s ongoing mental health struggles reaching a fever pitch, Nick feels helpless. If he can’t make his boyfriend feel better, what good is he? His Aunt Diane sets him straight. She injects a much-needed reminder that a relationship can feel like the entire world, but it can’t fix everything.

Isaac’s friends are all coupled up by the end of season 2. The reason for his growing annoyance with them seems obvious to his friends. They assume he’s just tired of being a third, fifth, or even a seventh wheel, and wants a partner of his own. That’s where the story would go on other shows. But the real truth is somehow much simpler than that. When another schoolmate starts showing a romantic interest in Isaac, he’s completely uninterested. But an artist’s piece about being aromantic and asexual gives him the same feelings that Nick and Charlie got when they realized they had a mutual crush. In a show that’s so much about romantic love, it’s refreshing and necessary to show an equally heartening alternative.

In one of the first season’s best scenes, Nick Nelson’s mother gave a masterclass in the art of accepting an LGBTQIA+ child. The rest of his family could take a lesson. His brother, David, acts like an adolescent jerk when Nick comes out to him, and can’t even wait to spill the beans to their dad. Nick’s problems are made even more complicated by Nick’s already complicated feelings about his absent father. Family strife is a struggle everyone can relate to, and it’s hard to navigate even when you’re not navigating your identity at the same time.

Season 3 brought a lot of challenges to Charlie Spring and his family. His fiercely protective and eccentric older sister, Tori, has always been a support for him. She’s even threatened bodily harm for him. But after, it becomes clear that she needs to take more time for herself. Her seeming depression and anxiety are also a problem, but she seems to bury herself in helping Charlie through his troubles. But with season 3, Tori finally has a chance to blossom into her own character, and Charlie is fully there to support her as she always has him. It becomes a great reminder that the strong sibling needs attention and care too.

Elle and Tao were friends who couldn’t deny their chemistry any longer. But as strong as their chemistry is, Elle’s trans identity means there are a few wrinkles in their happily ever after. As a young trans person, Elle has a lot of pressure on her. A lot of that pressure comes from external sources. However, when the two broach the topic of intimacy, Elle has to be very real with Tao about what that might mean. Her anxieties about her body, and the very real effect of gender dysphoria, has to be on the table if they’re even thinking about taking the next step in their relationship.

Charlie’s self-esteem issues are largely tied to his feelings about his body. As his relationship with Nick heats up, he realizes that they’re both ready to take things further. That is, at least, until Charlie’s anxieties take over. His body is a sore spot for him for various reasons. Part of his journey over the third season is allowing himself to feel comfortable enough with himself to be physically intimate with Nick. These competing feelings put him through the wringer for several episodes. Fortunately, “Heartstopper” is the kind of show where his boyfriend supports him through it.

“Heartstopper” is subtle and deliberate about when and how much to show of Charlie Spring being picked on by his classmates. The show doesn’t dwell on this part of his young life, but when it does give us a look at it, it pulls no punches. In fact, it isn’t until the end of season 2 that we really get to hear the full extent of his mistreatment. As Nick and Charlie grow closer, they finally ask to hear about those painful experiences. Even though so many of his issues with self-hatred stem from the bullying, getting to hear it from his point of view is powerful and it only brings the boyfriends closer together.

While it may have a reputation of presenting a rosy and even overly-positive portrayal of teenage life, “Heartstopper” begins with some pretty heavy themes. In its very first episode, Charlie Spring is in a covert quasi-relationship with a popular boy named Ben, who mistreats him. So much so that when Charlie tries to break it off with him, Ben is unwilling to respect his bodily autonomy. It’s only through Nick’s intervention that Charlie is saved from a potentially traumatic situation. There’s a toxic and deeply disturbing psychology in Ben’s conversations with Charlie that is unfortunately mirrored in many real-life abusive relationships.

Midway through season 3, Charlie is admitted to a clinic after he faces a devastating relapse with respect to his mental health. Things devolve for him, his relationship with Nick and his friends becomes strained, and his condition grows worse. Going away to an inpatient clinic is only the beginning of his healing journey. We get to see how his time away not only affects him, but also his entire network of support. Ultimately, though, it marks a turning point for Charlie in his relationships with people, and how he can trust his friends and loved ones to look out for him.

“Heartstopper” fans were equally excited and devastated to see the anticipated third season. Readers of the graphic novels already knew what awaited Charlie Spring, but for the rest of us, his struggles with food take center stage. The show depicts them as gently but honestly as possible, giving us the full of what Charlie’s recovery looks like, and the effect it has on him and those who love him. One of the most heartbreaking scenes is when Nick, after realizing how many signs he missed, works up the courage to tell Charlie how worried he is. He knows this could potentially blindside his boyfriend, but he cares too much to let it go unnoticed.

Did these moments make your heart skip a few beats? Let us know in the comments.