Heartstopper Season 3 gives a very emotional and mature take on the relationship between Nick and Charlie by providing an answer to one big question: Does Nick love Charlie? Well, the show provides a pretty straightforward answer: It's a big YES!
As one watches the new Heartstopper season, emotions and physical development have been handled sensitively in many instances, but they are focused on how Nick and Charlie love each other.
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From not being able to express his feelings to Nick, up to their gradually intimate relationship, Season 3 depicts Charlie and Nick's relationship in a mature way. But, like all relationships, challenges loom along the way.
Nick and Charlie’s relationship in Heartstopper Season 3 shows a mature evolution
Season 3 of Heartstopper has deepened the relationship between Nick and Charlie.
Screen Rant remarks that Charlie, at the outset of the series, will always have a hard time expressing his love to Nick in a perfect moment that eventually places the emotional setting for both characters' relationship in the episodes. In Heartstopper, Nick and Charlie finally say the words.
Their bonding will change them, not only emotionally, but also physically, because they will stroll towards new stages of intimacy, yet preserve the fabulous charm that fans came to fall in love with. It is underlined by the animated hearts and electric sparks flying between them, as seen in a sneak peek from Netflix Tudum.
Yet, the show doesn't lose the tenderness of some interactions between Nick and Charlie. At the end of Season 3, the relationship between the two is stronger though a foreboding glimmer into complications down the road.
Nick moving to university can also pose possible difficulties: the distance can test their intimacy. Charlie's process with his psyche is a very special thing in their relationship in Heartstopper.
His struggles with eating disorders and mental health explored more in Season 3, add to this character and therefore affects his relationship with Nick. The sensitive treatment of these issues makes their connection all the stronger, showing that Nick's love for Charlie is not superficial romantic love, but organic care and support.
The role of mental health in strengthening Nick and Charlie’s bond in Heartstopper
A huge theme of Charlie's mental health is hanging over Heartstopper Season 3, affecting his bond with Nick to a great extent. Building off a solid foundation from the previous season, with Charlie's self-harm and eating disorders beginning to develop, Season 3 goes a little further in his emotional state.
In fact, as Screen Rant suggests, Charlie's journey toward professional help with his eating disorder and mental health issues makes him a more empathetic character and also deepens his relationship with Nick.
This storyline is important in showing how love is not only about the times when things are well, but also about staying by someone's side during the darkest hours.
In an interview with Netflix Tudum, Joe Locke explains how Charlie's growth impacts his relationship with Nick on Heartstopper:
“Charlie is quite shy and not very confident, but his relationship with Nick helps him become more open and honest about his struggles.”
This mature portrayal of mental health makes it clear that Nick's love for Charlie doesn't merely come from attraction or simple teenage romance, but actual emotional support and understanding.
Finally, it fills in so much of the presence that is going to be lacking in YA media regarding mental health issues that Charlie struggled with during Heartstopper Season 3, including the time spent at a mental health clinic.
The way Nick stands by Charlie through these really hard moments is a testament to his real love and commitment, really driving the fact that Nick truly loves Charlie.
Read more: Season 3's soundtrack details
How Heartstopper Season 3 challenges Nick and Charlie
As much as Nick and Charlie love each other through Season 3, Heartstopper also introduces future challenges for them, which we may witness in later seasons. The looming aspect of Nick's plans of maybe moving away to University hangs large over Season 4.
It is in this context that Screen Rant states that: a long distance seems a possibility as Nick wishes to stay away from home yet close to Charlie. This would bring in new challenges for the couple. Things indicate that on the mental health storyline, Charlie makes forward moves in Season 3, but, things will get bumpy ahead.
That said, it is touching to see Nick remain as supportive of Charlie as he is, given the latter's series of crises; however, a side-effect of this relationship is something that also reflects the complexity between them as they grow in age and move into new chapters in their lives.
Read more: All the places where this teen rom-com was filmed
Heartstopper author Alice Oseman spoke with Netflix Tudum and inferred that there are more bumps for the couple along the road ahead, saying:
“This isn’t just a teenage romance anymore—this is a real relationship.”
Combine this with personal growth, as Nick may be off to University and Charlie recovering from head injuries, it seems that the Season 4 story is going to test their love against the tribulations it will face in this respect.
Heartstopper Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.
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