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I was wondering if you were going to be doing some more s3 analysis? I'm really new to fandom and have been enjoying the show pretty solitary, but it's been cool slowly reading people's metas, and I'm veeery excited for s4 (cmooon netflix) and how it addresses more of Nick's anxiety and Charlie's growing confidence

Welcome to fandom in general and this one in particular, Anon! I really love fandom for its ability to connect people in a range of specific to very broad ways. I'm glad you're finding ways to engage that suit you and I very much hope you'll enjoy the experience.

I'll definitely be doing more posts relating to S3, and I also have a big list of things from the other seasons and things that span seasons.

That said, to set expectations: Overall S3 to me feels pretty upfront (in a way that feels appropriate for it). Because of that, and because I typically try not to involve very much of the personal side in my analyses, I'm expecting most of my S3-specific posts to be relatively small in scope. [This could very well change -- It's very possible that I'm just still stuck in feelings about it (I do have many thoughts and feelings about S3) and the more 'objective' thoughts will emerge later.]

(P.S. Not to be dramatic: S4 is a need. C'mon, Netflix!)

Thanks for enquiring, Anon :)

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I did not have on my Heartstopper season 3 bingo card that I would be crying over drawers

Heartstopper S3E4 | S1E1

(They hit me as a reminder of Charlie's safe place and a suggestion that the clinic can be or is one too)

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Heartstopper S1E7

We've talked about the globe in Charlie's room being illuminated while he and Nick are drumming in S1E2 and how it lights up when Nick opens his eyes and sees Charlie in his prom suit in S2E8, but have we talked about it being lit up here when Charlie tells Tori that he and Nick are going out?

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Me watching season 2 of Heartstopper:

Me watching the first part of season 3 of Heartstopper:

[text post] [insp]

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Charlie when Nick is in study hall / exams for a few weeks but they text outside of school and Charlie sneaks out to see Nick sometimes even though he's grounded:

Me thinking about how Charlie will be doing when Nick is in a different country with poor cell reception for multiple weeks so they can't see each other or text or call regularly:

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["The Dream" Heartstopper mini-comic] [text post] [insp]

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Heartstopper OST / Adiescar Chase appreciation post

I don't want to say that the OST is what 'makes' Heartstopper (TV) because a lot of factors go into making Heartstopper what it is, and if any one of those were different, it would be a very different show. That said, I do think the score is one of those factors.

The OST massively contributes to the vibe of the show. It creates and maintains a heartwarming and uplifting atmosphere while acknowledging that nothing is perfect and that often things are very challenging. It helps immerse us in the created world, inviting us to (temporarily) live within it.

Each song is different, individualised, but also very cohesive — both within the score itself and with the indie/pop songs used.

It's identifiable. If you play me any of the Heartstopper OST songs, I will know exactly what it's from (and not just because I've seen the show many times by now).

It's unique. I haven't heard anything quite like it before, especially within the realm of mainstream TV and film.

The songs really encapsulate emotions, both revealing more about one or more characters' state of mind and transporting us along their emotional journey with them. When it's needed, the score also acts as a source of reassurance and hope for the audience (one of many such sources).

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Music composed for a show or film is often 'good' in a sufficient sense: it fits in the background, it serves as part of the atmosphere, but it doesn't shine on its own. Sometimes a score draws too much attention, or it underwhelms. It's a rare case where the music garners its own attention without pulling focus from the rest of what is happening on-screen and only amplifying it.

There are maybe a handful of composers who I would say typically create scores that fall into the latter category, and I think Adiescar Chase is poised to join that group, if she hasn't already. Because for me, the Heartstopper OST achieves that extremely difficult excellence within balance.

In case it wasn't obvious, I'm incredibly impressed by Adiescar Chase's work on Heartstopper (I'm thrilled that she's done the OST for season 3 as well). I plan to keep an eye on her other projects and watch anything — and possibly everything — for which she composes.

Links for listening:

Adiescar Chase's website

Her discography on Spotify

Heartstopper S1 OST: on youtube ; on Spotify

Heartstopper S2 OST: list of links to it on many platforms

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🚨WARNING: SPOILERS for Heartstopper S3!!

Don't even read the voting options of this poll if you don't want potential spoilers for Heartstopper season 3 and the scene this still is from

Obviously the scene may be somewhat changed from the comics, and also obviously we'll have the answer pretty soon (!!). Nevertheless, please join me in my speculation! I'm immensely curious about what other people think. (Reblog to share the speculating joy!)

If you want a refresher from the comics: Tapas ; Webtoons

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Heartstopper S1E1: Charlie looking at Nick

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Heartstopper S2E1

I don't know who could use the right-side up version of this in their life but I'm sure someone could

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While Charlie is coping with everyone commenting on his hickey in Heartstopper S2E5, Isaac is reading The Outsider by Albert Camus, which involves "...the alienation of an individual who refuses to conform to social norms". Fitting, right?

And then we have this shot of everyone climbing the Eiffel Tower where Isaac looks up towards James while he turns a page in The Outsider.

Maybe alienation and a character who "refuses to show [or to pretend to have] emotions simply to satisfy the expectations of others" is relevant here too...

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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." /END ID]

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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