As Charlie tries to come back to phrases together with his interpersonal nightmare, Nick’s personal psyche suffers as he places the load of his boyfriend’s world on his shoulders. It’s an unfair ask for a 16-year-old to be his associate’s solely lifeline in a time of disaster, one thing that Nick’s aunt makes certain to inform him on the finish of the second episode. The unconscionable guilt and struggling that Nick undergoes forces him to mature and forgo his hobbies and pleasure till Charlie is healed.
“Journey” exhibits every particular person’s perspective of the identical time interval of their lives as Charlie enters a rehabilitation clinic and Nick copes with letting another person maintain his favourite particular person. It’s a outstanding sequence of occasions that begins with Nick’s POV. He’s surrounded by Charlie’s mates, who’ve now grow to be his besties, as they attempt to go on with their lives whereas Charlie is lingering of their minds incessantly within the background.
A Halloween bash sees Nick break down in agony within the hallway of the home celebration, contrasting with Heartstopper’s regular sense of happy-go-lucky. The characters have confronted issues earlier than, however the cocoon of hope that envelopes their lives juxtaposes the stereotypical trauma that rains down on different LGBTQ+ characters throughout queer tv. There’s a way of unnatural bliss that’s typically sweet coating the story, and the sugar rush runs out 10 minutes into this episode. Nick is trapped by his boyfriend’s excruciation.
Charlie’s life inside rehab mirrors Nick’s sense of dread, however in a a lot totally different manner. He’s grow to be virtually numb to his points, and the psychological well being professionals behind closed doorways should train him to unlock himself and let the doubt in. Individuals all the time say that those that need assistance should first admit their struggles, and seeing Charlie face his demons parallels the present’s initiation into puberty. Heartstopper is actual now. The cartoon fireworks that explode on the display throughout a primary kiss or the butterflies that float round characters’ stomachs whereas speaking to a crush have been changed with dizzying grays and cloudy earth tones. The colour has left these teenagers’ lives, however they will discover the sunshine in the event that they battle again.
The one second that each characters share and we due to this fact see in each timelines is a poignant telephone name between the boys close to the tip of Charlie’s keep within the ward. Nick checks up on Charlie, however we are able to’t see the latter’s somber reactions to Nick’s questions. We’re left questioning if he’s really okay. Listening to a voice can’t replicate seeing a face. 600 seconds later we see the identical speak from Charlie’s line, and it calms us. Heartstopper is again. The rainbow is peering by the clouds, however the present can by no means return.
“Journey” not solely experiments with superior storytelling strategies hardly seen in adolescent tv, but it surely silences the doubters who don’t consider this collection could be concurrently euphoric and logical. Nick and Charlie have gone by a gamut of emotional abuse inflicted by the human expertise. They needed to, although. It makes the happiness imply extra for the remainder of the season. They get to return to the standard: Growing a intercourse life. Going to varsity campus visits. Coming into a band. Experiencing the final of their teen years with a smile. Due to the discomfort of “Journey”, Heartstopper season 3 emerges from the enclosure and soars by the sky with a contemporary set of wings!
