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Heartstopper S2E4

I love this moment after Nick sits where he just takes Charlie in (and takes in loving him, if his subsequent lip bite is anything to go by). Charlie's delight at it and at Nick is also fantastic.

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This is my take on Harry Greene in Heartstopper (TV).

Goal:

Harry wants social capital.

Method of achieving his goal:

Harry primarily rules by fear and by creating an 'us' vs 'them' mentality.

If someone in Harry's group steps out of (his) line, he picks on them until they fall back in.

This serves as a lesson to that person, but it also sets an example for what will happen to anyone else who behaves similarly.

The others in the group therefore typically at least passively support Harry, lest they be turned on, too.

Harry will also pick on random people to:

demonstrate his authority,

amuse his mates,

make them complicit in it so that they don’t have anywhere else to turn, and

benefit from the 'bond' that creates.

-> It’s easiest to do this with people who have less social capital and/or won’t stand up for themselves (like Charlie).

Obstacles:

Nick

Harry knows that Nick is more well-liked than he is.

This is a threat to his power, so he wants to keep Nick under his thumb. -> A great way to do this is by constantly being in Nick's business and by dictating what Nick should care about and how he should live his life. When Harry gets the other lads in on it, it both adds pressure to Nick to comply and shows him that if he doesn't, he'll likely lose more than Harry.

Harry also wants to benefit from Nick’s popularity: he looks cooler if Nick is his friend.

When Nick begins to stand up to him, this is therefore an especially big problem for Harry.

Tao

When Tao starts (verbally) fighting back, this is a challenge to Harry's authority, which is unacceptable — especially from someone of Tao's low social standing.

However, it's a chance for Harry to prove himself, and it seems like it should be easy.

Charlie

From Harry's point of view, Charlie may not be directly challenging him, but Charlie is the driving motivator behind both Tao and Nick standing up to him (which they do in front of his mates, another affront), and especially behind Nick pulling away from him.

Ever since Charlie entered Nick’s life, and especially since he joined the rugby team, Nick has been different: more talkative, joking around more — and not in Harry-approved ways — and a lot less dependent on Harry. In fact, Nick keeps spending time with Charlie instead of with Harry and the other lads, even when they're all out together.

Tao is Charlie's best friend, and it's clear that he's standing up to Harry largely in defence of Charlie.

Charlie is also the opposite of Harry in a lot of ways. As Charlie begins to integrate into the rugby team, Harry will almost certainly feel the lads' acceptance of him as a weakening of Harry's grip on them and of his social capital in general.

Dealing with the obstacles:

Harry needs to prove himself, reassert his authority and superiority. Part of the problem, though, is that Harry's obstacles are intertwined.

Since Charlie is at the root of it all, Harry must (figuratively) knock Charlie down in order to (1) keep Charlie in his place as much as possible; (2) not let him become more 'in' with the rugby lads; (3) show Nick that Charlie isn’t anything special, isn’t worth 'rebelling' for; (4) keep Nick in line by straining his tether to Charlie; and (5) punish Charlie for being different to Harry as well as 'causing' issues for him.

This generally does not have the intended effect:

Charlie may occasionally be beaten down, but he continues to pick himself back up.

Tao typically wins their verbal sparring matches.

Nick increasingly frequently and strongly pulls away from Harry in favour of Charlie.

The turning point (& the fights):

Nick firmly chooses Charlie over Harry at the cinema, and Harry is incensed. Nick must be shown that Harry is the one in charge, so Harry goads him into a fight.

That Monday, Nick not only doesn't apologise, but he doesn't sit with the group before form that morning. Nick again doesn't join them at lunch. It's the same the next day.

Harry is losing his grip on Nick, and he's angry about it. Harry can’t really fight Charlie, for various reasons, but what about the other thorn in his side? If he fights Tao, that will hurt Charlie, and hurt Nick, and theoretically go towards reinforcing Harry’s superiority and rightful social standing at the top of the pecking order (and hurt Tao). What a perfect vector for his anger and frustration! So Harry goads Tao into a fight.

The aftermath

Harry tries a few more times to generously "allow" Nick back into the fold, and Nick refuses.

Christian, Sai and Otis also stop talking to Harry and those who are still close to him.

Charlie stands up to Harry.

So why does Harry stick up for Nick and Charlie in Paris?

Harry is realising that he lost: Nick is out from under his thumb now, and others have followed him. The only way for Harry to get back in is to get back in with Nick. And the way to do that is through Charlie (in the same way that going against Charlie led to the breaking point in the first place).

Is part of Harry's motivation to change that he realises that he's been treating people poorly and doesn't actually want to do that? (Or, at the very least, not his friends?)

Maybe. It's possible he genuinely misses Nick and the others and wants to do better.

But as things stand at the end of season 2, it seems like Harry has given up on homophobic "jokes" because they led to his empire crumbling; it doesn't seem like he's changed his goal or learned a bigger lesson.

Even if he has, and Harry works on changing his behaviour across the board, it may be too little too late for him to be back in with Nick and the others.

We'll have to see what season 3 brings.

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Okay, look, I know this jacket that Charlie's wearing in one of the Heartstopper S3 promo clips is from the comics.

But I also know that there is this little comic (click the arrow on the righthand side to see the second image).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alice Oseman 🎨✨ (@aliceosemanart)

And I know -- I know -- that the two jackets aren't quite the same, and that it looks like Charlie's jacket in the S3 clip fits him fine.

And I don't care.

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Image ID for Alice Oseman's Instagram post:

Screenname: aliceosemanart

Image 1: Caption is "Nick buys a denim jacket." Nick is drawn wearing a denim jacket with a sherpa collar. He says to Charlie, "What d'you think?" Charlie answers from off-page, "It looks SO good."

Image 2: Charlie is drawn wearing the same denim jacket; he's blushing. He says to Nick, "Why am I trying it on? It's way too big, it doesn't look good-". Nick interrupts from off-page, "I HAVE MY REASONS."

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Cute detail from Heartstopper S1E5: At the bowling alley, the couples (current and future) use the same bowling ball within their pair. Isaac uses a different ball from the rest.

Charlie and Nick

Tao and Elle

Isaac

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(There's one "exception" where a light green ball is shown for Nick's game-winning strike, but the exact same shot is used later for Elle's own winning strike, so I think we can safely discount it.)

Nick's strike | Elle's strike

[stopper-my-heart]

Nick's moments of panic under the umbrella in Heartstopper S1E4 before Charlie kisses him really get me. So I wrote a thing in second person to try to appreciate the weight of the emotions that I imagine Nick is experiencing.

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You’re into this boy. So into him. He’s been in your thoughts. . . a lot. You've been talking all the time, you keep wanting to see him, and whenever you do, it’s never enough. You can’t help but smile when you think of him, let alone when you see him.

You want this boy. Romantically. You don’t really know what that looks like, but you know it’s true.

And, it seems, he wants you, too.

Your first kiss was good. Really good. All those tingles and flutters and sparks that you felt from just being close to him were amplified into so much more. It was so much better than you could’ve ever imagined.

And then you panicked. You screwed it up. You ran. You went back, but it was too late. You need him to know that you don’t regret it, that you wanted it, that you want him, that you were (are) just freaking out.

You try to be calm, you try to keep your cool. (No need to embarrass yourself in front of your crush.) Plus things are a little weird, restrained, and understandably so. He's probably really hurt. You need to get this out, you need to explain. You can do it.

And then he begins apologising. It quickly becomes clear that he has this all wrong. That he’s wildly misunderstood, rewritten what has happened. You were there because you wanted to be, because you chose to be. Yes, you were scared — are scared — but he has this all twisted.

Charlie.

Charlie!

Charlie.

He's not getting it. So you kiss him.

You make sure he knows what’s going to happen, and even if he seems very confused, he responds readily enough. You attempt to pour all of your feelings into him, to get across all of your regret and sorrow for hurting him as well as (maybe especially) how much you do want this. And for a moment, he loses himself in the kiss. You understand, you do too. Kissing him is just as good as you remember.

And, well, it’s too late for being cool now. You just kissed all your emotions into him, practically begging him to understand; you’d best explain what those emotions are in the hopes that he properly will. (Besides, this isn’t just “your crush”, this is Charlie.) You can’t leave him standing there so lost and confused. You may be confused, but he deserves to know that that confusion isn't about him.

So you start to explain…and then it all comes out. You’re vulnerable in a way you can’t remember being before. There’s no one in your life you can talk to like this, especially not about this. And it’s really been messing with you. Because not only has this boy's presence in your life already begun to upend everything, but you're so much happier because of it. And what are you supposed to do with that? What even would your life be if it were entirely different? Do you even want it to be different? . . .Maybe. But it’s scary. But you want him. And you want you.

So you tell him this, more or less. Really, you cry into his chest. Is this too much? Is he overwhelmed? So much for keeping it cool, keeping your cool. But you need this. He seems okay, he seems to get it. The friendship you’ve built is there, it can handle difficult things — it already has. He seems to want to be there for you. So you let him, and he lets you, and things are hard but they’re better in this moment. You’re finally seen and understood, and maybe Charlie now understands why you ran away, that it wasn’t about him, about the two of you.

. . .But now what?

You want him, but being with him will indeed upend every single facet of your life if other people know. You’re not ready for that, you can’t face that yet. It's too much. Everything is still so new and confusing. You don’t want to ask, but you want to be with him and you don’t see any other way to do that right now except to…keep this a secret? He finishes the thought for you. "Yeah," you concede, unhappily, but owning that that’s where you’re at.

He agrees, he tries to reassure you; you’re not completely convinced, but you want to believe him, so you let yourself.

And there's that question again: Now what?

There have been a lot of emotions and things are a little weird, even if a lot better, and you want to say something, or to touch him, but this is new and you’re meant to be leaving and…best to just go. The awkwardness will fade eventually. You’ll figure out how to be in this new dynamic. For now, you’re wanting, but you don’t know how to do anything more than that (would he want you to?). So you smile at him through the awkwardness and start to walk home.

. . .

What. Just. Happened.

This is good, but awkward, but good, and he wants this too, right? You’re together now, right? You’re really getting to be with him, with this boy you want so much, with Charlie. This is happening?

And then you hear it: Charlie calling out to you. Feet slapping on wet pavement.

“Nick!”

You stop, startled, confused, off-balance. What’s happening? He’s smiling, but.. What could possibly be worth running out into the rain in his pyjamas for? Has he changed his mind already? Does he not want this? Is keeping it a secret too much?

The doubts and fear are filling your mind, but you try to rein it in, to not let it show, not let him see.

And then he looks back at you. And you know, in an instant, that everything that you wanted for your goodbye, he wanted, too.

Right? Please let you be understanding this correctly. You look at his lips, once, twice — you can’t help it. You’re desperately hoping that you’re on the same page, but barely daring to believe it.

And then he kisses you.

And the world stops.

.

.

.

.

And this is it. This is right.

Charlie.

This boy just ran out in the rain to kiss you. He’s soaking wet, he must be freezing, and here he is, kissing you. That’s the only reason he came out after you. To kiss you.

He smiles — that amazing smile of his that lights up your whole world — and then he runs off again.

There’s no more room for thoughts, only feelings. Massive feelings that well up inside you. So much sentiment that it feels like your heart is bursting.

You thought you were off-balance before? Well now you’re practically drunk.

What have you gotten yourself into?

Maybe the best thing ever.

[stopper-my-heart]

The Heartstopper webcomic returns to Tumblr, Tapas, and Webtoon on the 1st October 2024 🍂 The final chapter will be called 'Forever', which will be followed by an epilogue.

Updates will be three times a month on the 1st, 11th, and 21st of each month at 11am UK time.

to nick, love charlie

To Char, Love Nick

Tapas / Webtoon

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[stopper-my-heart]

FOUR WEEKS

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Nick & Charlie: Heartstopper S2E8 | Christmas 2018 comic

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Heartstopper S1E4 | S2E4

[stopper-my-heart]

Quick message to say that I've hit my stopping point for what I want to see of Heartstopper season 3 (S3) content before the season itself comes out in October. I've already set tumblr to filter all of the relevant tags that I can think of, but I know it's not easy to tag everything or for me to anticipate everyone's tags. As a result, I might unfollow you to avoid "spoilers" (in quotation marks because I mean this to include officially released material) -- but I'll save your username and follow you again after I watch S3.

For anyone who similarly wants to filter S3 content, I'll continue using "heartstopper s3" and "heartstopper spoilers" as tags for my posts.

If something is tagged as "heartstopper S3" but not "heartstopper spoilers", it's because it's just my musings or hopes for S3 that do not involve S3 content (including from the comics).

The "heartstopper spoilers" tag may additionally include the S3 official stills, the three released ~30-second clips and the promo video for the Tia Kofi podcast, as well as any bits I might pull from the comics. I will not be including any more of the podcast or anything released from this point forward.

(If the above changes, I'll let you know.)

[stopper-my-heart]

Happy 8 years of Heartstopper ❤️ 8 years ago today I posted the first few pages of the Heartstopper webcomic 🍂

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Heartstopper: Nick & Charlie + forehead lean -> kiss

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Heartstopper: Nick & Charlie + hug tropes

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Heartstopper S2E7

What's this that's caught Charlie's eye? Ooh, they have a whole rack of jumpers! And look, a lovely green one in a Nick-esque style and colour that would look good on him.

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ohhhhh my god thank uou so much for putting image descriptions on all your posts. i love seeing this on other blogs it makes me so happy

My pleasure! I want to make things as accessible as possible. (It makes me happy when I see it too ❤️)

Thanks for incidentally creating the perfect opportunity for me to say something I've been meaning to for anyone who follows me/sees my posts:

My aim is to have image descriptions/alt text every time, but sometimes I forget or switch out a gif/image at the last minute or tumblr/my browser does a weird thing or something else goes wrong. I'm slowly making my way back through my posts to check on all of the images, but I haven't gotten to them all yet, and I'm sure some alt text will also end up missing in the future.

So: If you see one of my posts without alt text, please let me know and I'll add it. Especially if you want to reblog it!

P.S. If you have tips for me about writing alt text, please reach out if/when you can. Because so much of what I want to talk about or have noticed is multiple small details, my descriptions are often very long and detailed, and I want to hit a good balance of useful but not annoying. This also goes for any other suggestions for how to make my posts or blog more accessible/inclusive!

[stopper-my-heart]

Visiting their old form room

Nick: This is where we were the day I said "hi" and you fell in love with me.

Charlie: Nick.

Nick: The day you said "hi" and I became obsessed with you forever.

[x]