Heartstopper Season 3 is still the gorgeously wholesome coming-of-age series but with heavier topics and compassion sprinkled into every episode. It was apparent that this season would be a bit harder to binge since it would address various character struggles; still, it’s simultaneously rewarding to see how the actors have grown in embodying their characters, making the season more admirable.
Because the series is based on graphic novels by Alice Oseman, longtime fans already know what to expect, making Heartstopper Season 3 an exceptional example of how a show could continue to improve the longer it’s on air when it chooses to tell significant and nuanced stories. Additionally, with the series’ exceptionally inclusive nature, every beat feels more essential to understanding the complexities that make human beings unique.
Being a teenager is hard, but I’m old enough to remember when the drama in past series was so far-fetched that I could rarely relate to the characters. The nostalgia might still make these shows easy to binge, but the content value isn’t meaty enough to provide viewers with the means to express themselves authentically. This is where Heartstopper stands out because the characters continue to feel like teenagers who are still figuring things out in an ever-changing world. At the same time, we see accurate depictions of the extra hurdles minorities need to cross through. In Season 3, this fact is more significant than ever because it remains a balm in the face of all the terrors happening in the world. For a moment, those who feel alone in their struggles or alienated by their country, could see a brighter world in Heartstopper.
Further, the series also allows the relationships to continue developing in ways that feel organic and genuine. No plot point or character journey feels like it’s for the sake of shock value but rather to address something that’s lived-in and carefully presented. This detail brings us to Charlie’s eating disorder, which results in some of the most heartbreaking and nuanced depictions. For viewers who might be triggered by the content, please take care of yourselves first. Joe Locke does a brilliant job of bringing Charlie’s aches to the surface, so much so that I’d easily break with him even in earlier seasons.
Mental health is of great importance in this show, and this is especially the case in Heartstopper Season 3, where it takes more of a front seat. But again, it’s all addressed so organically that the entire team deserves ample praise for the heart they lay in every episode. Additionally, it’s no surprise to fans after the interviews that the seasons would feature more sex, but again, what we have is so wonderfully done to showcase character growth and the love they have for each other. This show is, first and foremost, about a group of loving humans finding comfort in each other, and every beat in the new season looks inward to address teenage narratives that’ll ensure viewers feel seen and understood.
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It continues to be a lovely factor that a show like Heartstopper exists because truly wholesome content is still infrequent on our TV screens. The world is too fragile and broken not to know that there’s light in how we love other humans. The new season is more sincere than ever, deeply vulnerable, and incredible. The only flaw? My own personal gripe? We needed more of Jonathan Bailey’s character.
Heartstopper Season 3 is returning to Netflix on October 3.
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