Who said teenage romance was overrated? Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson return more in love than ever in season 3 of Heartstopper, a series adapted fromAlice Oseman's graphic novel, available on Netflix since October 3, 2024. A new flurry of episodes plunges the group of friends into a tormented year, between long-distance relationships, challenged mental health and first explorations into the terrain of sex.
A poster that follows the publication a few weeks ago of images that speak volumes! Images released on July 8 by Netflix, on X.
The cast includes the original Joe Locke(Agatha All Along) and Kit Connor(The Wild Robot) as Charlie and Nick respectively, as well as William Gao, Yasmin Finney, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, Tobie Donovan, Cormac Hyde-Corrin and Rhea Norwood. New faces make their appearance, such as Darragh Hand, Jonathan Bailey andHayley Atwell, known for her role asAgent Carter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and as the voice of Lara Croft in the animated series Tomb Raider, due on the platform in October.
Our review of Heartstopper Season 3 on Netflix:
After two brilliant seasons, what can we expect from Heartstopper season 3? If season 1 was cute from start to finish, and season 2 introduced moments as touching as they were heartbreaking, season 3 goes further into the story and into the dark, with a very moving, often heartbreaking first half, due to the themes tackled, quite difficult, but extremely well written and brilliantly interpreted by the series' cast, as complicit as ever.
Thus, we plunge into the torments of Charlie Spring, suffering from eating disorders that worsen as time goes by, without Nick, her boyfriend, being able to do much to help, to the point of leading him down an emotional slippery slope. Episode 4 will put your emotions on a roller-coaster ride you won't want to leave unscathed... Yes, we told you it was dark, but rest assured, the rest of the season allows the characters to get back on track, ending on several welcome notes of humor.
Now, let's talk about temporality: whereas seasons 1 and 2 were rather evenly spaced in the narrative's timeframe (at least more or less), sailing over a few months, big change for season 3. It spans an entire year, with some episodes taking place over a single day, and others over several months. This is very confusing, and may come as a surprise.
At times, it feels as if the film is being rushed through one scene after another, with no time to breathe. However, in detail, nothing is missing and it works, but if you take the season as a whole, it's a different matter. Breaths at certain moments, in certain scenes, even for a few seconds, would have added density and depth to the story... It's a pity, but largely forgivable. Which brings us to a question: since the graphic novel uses the same temporality (this season 3 focuses on volumes 4 and 5 of the novel), does what works in literature work in a TV adaptation, where the temporality, more rooted in reality, is not the same? We're more divided on the answer, and leave you to make up your own mind on the matter.
Episode 4, in particular, illustrates the difference in temporality between the previous and subsequent episodes: whereas the first three episodes take place over a period of one day to three weeks, the fourth takes place over eight months. Complicated to stage without seeming to neglect the narrative... and therein lies the genius ofAlice Oseman and the screenwriters: transforming narrative time into a narrative within a narrative (via diaries and voice-overs), allowing long periods to be covered in a short space of time. In this respect, the staging is brilliant, dividing the narrative (and the episode) in two: Nick's point of view, then Charlie's, over the same narrative time, with an extremely well-crafted transition (going back in time to the beginning of the episode with a succession of previous scenes very quickly, up to a key point). And it works terribly well!
And the rest? Although the pure, sincere love story between Nick and Charlie takes center stage throughout the season (it's their story that's being told, after all), we appreciate that the secondary characters and their relationships take up more space in this season, likeIsaac who asserts himself more and more in the group, Darcy who navigates the waters of non-binarity, Tori who gets some real development, Tao, whose past with his father adds to our understanding of the character's psyche,Imogen and Sahar, who are searching for their relationship/non-relationship, andElla, who is confronted for the first time (or at least shown to the audience for the first time) with society's view of trans-identity (via a local radio interview). It's a subject that suddenly becomes political, and one that strikes home with its burning topicality.
I'd also like to mention the music, which is as powerful as ever in its delivery of emotions, amplifying everything in a surgical manner, and the cast, which is as brilliant as ever. The season ends with Nick questioning his academic choices, a potential long-distance relationship with Charlie and who he is without his boyfriend. And of course, Nick's first discoveries about sex, which are dealt with simply, without being voyeuristic or crude. A season just as good as the previous ones, if not better, as addictive as ever, and one that should please fans without a shadow of a doubt. But if you're curious, take a look: I promise you won't be disappointed! To be seen and seen again without moderation.
All that's left is for you to get an idea of this third season ofHeartstopper, adapted from volumes 4 and 5 ofAlice Oseman's graphic novel.
For other trailers, click here:
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