On the (hopefully) first season finale of Heartstopper, Charlie was beset by worry he had ruined his boyfriend Nick’s life, and dealing with alienating his best friend Tao — would he able to reconcile with them, and support them during Truham-Higgs Sports Day?
1. Charlie Beats Ben Literally and Figuratively
Following an intervention from Nick, and an apology from Charlie, Tao forgives him — but how does Charlie make up for keeping their secret from him? By taking his place in the school race. Fortunately, Charlie wins, beating his venomous ex Ben, whom he gets to gloat over after he collapses from exhaustion on the field. Ben threatens to out Nick, but Charlie responds he could out Ben in turn, although the thought never occurred to him because he’s a good person. Damn, now that’s what I call mutually assured destruction: Charlie truly ran rings around Ben, physically, tactically, and morally.
2. Butterflies in Stomachs
Sports Day marks the first time Elle has returned to her previous school, and she and Tao decide to run around and revisit her old classrooms. All alone in the art room, Elle feels more comfortable with Tao than ever, and leans in for a kiss, only to relent at the last second, and instead feign rubbing off the facial marking on his cheek. As she moves on, it dawns on Tao his old friend might have feelings for him, and that he might feel the same way — so they don’t get together this season, but it’s a viable set-up for the next, which will presumably have enough time to explore the idea of two old friends falling in love, as well as the complexities and challenges of having a trans partner.
3. The Biggest Dorks in the World
When Nick sees Charlie supporting him from the spectators’ area during the rugby match, he decides to quit, and take Charlie by the hand into the corridor, so he can prove to him he matters more than anything else in his life. It’s so sweet; and then we move on to Nick taking Charlie to the beach — as previously suggested — on Sunday, where he tells him he doesn’t care what anyone else thinks, and that he wants to be open about their relationship now. But, Nick, didn’t you pretty much come out to everyone on the field taking Charlie’s hand? Oh whatever, if you need to sing it from the rooftops then knock yourself out: you two are just adorkable.
4. Bookends
There’s an interesting contrast in the first and final scenes of the episode: in the former, Charlie’s stoic, sarcastic sister Tori is forced to break character and comfort her brother when she notices something’s upsetting him. In the latter, Nick comes out as bi as well being in a relationship with Charlie to his mother, and she’s delighted for him. Paired with scenes in prior episodes where Charlie’s dad notices his son’s been bullied, but doesn’t pry any further, I think it implies something about how straight people ought to help LGBTQ+ people; it’s not enough to accept them, as Charlie’s parents clearly do, but they must also find ways to actively support them, and make them feel good about themselves — otherwise all they’re hearing are the much louder homophobes and transphobes.
5. Musical Notes
I’ve been highlighting my favorite song from each episode (and so we’re clear, my favorite from this one was Australian artist Montaigne’s “Because I Love You“), but I really have to give plaudits to Adiescar Chase’s original score, which is so lovely and tranquil, despite being electronic in nature — it complements the pop soundtrack choices really well, and I can’t imagine many of the more serene moments without it. I look forward to hearing more of it if (when) the show’s renewed, as well as what else Chase will score in future, and what other indie pop tracks the second season will introduce (or reintroduce) us to.
Bonus Thoughts:
– Alice Oseman cameos as the train passenger sitting to the left of Nick and Charlie.
– Nick’s mum saying she knows what bisexual means, because she wasn’t born in the 18th century, sure feels like a reference to Olivia Colman’s role in The Favourite.
Continued below– Is it me or does Nick seem more like a Charlie, and Charlie seems more like a Nick? Oh, OK, it’s just me then.
Heartstopper‘s a really lovely series, an uplifting story of boy-meets-boy that feels essential in a year where anti-LGBT voices have been especially emboldened again. Hopefully it won’t be long before we see Nick, Charlie, Tao, Elle, Tara, Darcy, Isaac, Imogen, and the rest of the gang again.
And happy International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia folks!
