On Oct. 5, Season 3 of the popular and widely acclaimed television series “Heartstopper” was released on Netflix. Based on the original comic by Alice Oseman, the show explores queer identities, mental health and friendship.
The story follows boyfriends Charlie and Nick as they enter the 11th and 12th grades, respectively. It shows how they manage their increasing responsibilities and relationships with each other and their friends. Watching these characters struggle through and overcome these struggles creates a viewing experience that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
Overall, Season 3 of “Heartstopper” is a great watch that continues the light-hearted tone of the previous seasons while delving into heavier topics. The storytelling employs great delicacy when discussing diverse experiences and struggles. The actors tactfully depict queer experiences, such as identity exploration and gender dysphoria, as well as ones that all viewers can relate to, such as navigating long-distance friendships. Even though the show includes a variety of characters, no individual plotline overshadows another, providing the viewers with a more complete insight into their story. Finally, despite covering heavier topics, “Heartstopper” still has many wholesome moments that lighten the tone without detracting from its overall message, producing an emotional show in more aspects than one.
Additionally, the visuals in this season are beautiful. Most shots are focused on people, highlighting the character-driven nature of the story. The most unique part of the show is the doodles overlaying scenes to represent emotions, a reference to the original comic. For example, drawings of butterflies and leaves might represent joy or love, while frenzied lines symbolize a character’s anxiety. For readers of the source material, the doodles act as a nice nod to the graphic novel, while watchers of the show can better understand the scene’s tone through these visual references.
Finally, the music in this season of “Heartstopper” is incredible. For enjoyers of indie music, the soundtrack includes many familiar names such as beabadoobee and Sufjan Stevens; even though these artists are popular, their songs are naturally integrated and contribute to the overall mood of each episode.
Overall, Season 3 of “Heartstopper” successfully continues the light-hearted love story from the first two seasons without shying away from more serious themes. It conveys these contrasting stories through its amazing writing, visuals, and soundtrack, creating an enjoyable watching experience that is engaging for all.
