‘HEARTSTOPPER FOREVER’ Review

‘HEARTSTOPPER FOREVER’ Offers an Educational Rollercoaster of Emotions

After three seasons of a mostly wholesome and seemingly prolonged honeymoon phase, ‘HEARTSTOPPER FOREVER’ brings light to the importance of maintaining independence and a sense of self in a committed relationship.

While there is a lot more emphasis on sexual activity, the most prominent theme of this film is mental health, specifically the anxiety that comes with feeling unworthy of receiving love, worried that at any point everything you’re familiar and comfortable with could all disappear in an instant. Nick and Charlie feel this intensely as their self-deprecating tendencies lead them to believe that they are the cause of each other’s personal struggles, leading to their short-lived yet emotionally distressing breakup.

Joe Locke Portrays a Surprising yet Admirably Confident Charlie Spring

The film kicks off with Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) successfully campaigning for Head Boy in efforts to combat the homophobic bullying he suffered throughout his time at Truham Grammar School. While it may not be entirely realistic for an all boys school to champion an openly gay student, (especially after relentlessly bullying him for his identity), it provides a unique and optimistic outlook on queer student life that is sure to be appreciated by the audience.

Despite how anyone may feel in regard to the likelihood of Charlie’s position as Head Boy, it ultimately serves as an avenue for him to become an inspirational figure for the closeted students at Truham, specifically a younger boy named Alfie. The protective relationship he develops with Alfie is not only heartwarming to witness but vital for the audience to understand that being mistreated for your queer identity does not have to be silently endured just because it is an unfortunately common occurrence, something that Joe Locke conveys passionately with Charlie’s attitude towards bigoted students.

Following the vote for Head Boy, the main ‘Heartstopper’ ensemble celebrates with a party to (literally) uplift Charlie. The scene seems to draw inspiration from the iconic Petra Collins’ ‘Euphoria’ aesthetic with expressive, glittering bold makeup. This is mostly shown with Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) and Tara’s (Corinna Brown), two characters that are unfortunately sidelined in the franchise’s final instalment - possibly due to a time constraint, yet still disappointing to see. When present in the film, they are warmly lit and emit queer joy, which defines what seems like their only purpose - to act as a beacon of hope for everlasting teen romance, in contrast to the crippling relationship between Elle (Yasmin Finney) and Tao (William Gao) which unfortunately projects onto the minds of both Charlie and Nick.

Kit Connor Effortlessly Conveys Nick Nelson’s Personal Struggles

Once the celebrations for Charlie are over, we’re quickly introduced to Nick Nelson’s (Kit Connor) conflict of struggling to define himself as a person beyond his relationship with Charlie. When speaking to the audience at the premiere, the actor nobly gives credit to the writers for his portrayal of Nick’s mental health struggles, however it would be an injustice to not recognize his performance and the way that he effortlessly conveys the feeling of being lost, behind those around you that seem to have the rest of their lives figured out.

What I would consider one of the most important moments that emphasizes Nick’s change in behavior is when his mum, Sarah Nelson (Anna Maxwell Martin), tells him that he “hasn’t been himself lately.” It’s a great juxtaposing callback to the show’s first season in which she tells him that he seems to be more himself after meeting Charlie, further showing that he has lost his personal identity through their relationship. Whether this was intentional or not, (which I can only assume it was), I appreciate the writers’ effort in drawing reference from the show in a way that was impactful for a character’s emotional arc, as opposed to cheaply recycling the now-iconic “Hi” greetings between Nick and Charlie.

Noticeable Balance in Character Narration

As an additional note, I appreciated seeing both Charlie and Nick’s narration in this film. Nick’s struggles of feeling as though he lacked a personal identity mirrored my thoughts as a loyal viewer of the show for the vast majority of Season 1 and 2. Despite being one of the leading characters and a vital piece of the story, ‘Heartstopper’ tended to favor Charlie’s point-of-view for the first half of the franchise. While Nick’s feelings were undoubtedly touched upon more in Season 3, it is incomparable to the objectively fair balance shown in this film.

Costuming Used to Reflect Emotions

Costume designer Adam Dee has always used color as symbolism throughout the ‘Heartstopper’ franchise and this final instalment is no exception. Charlie’s feelings after temporary breaking up with Nick are directly reflected through his wardrobe as he trades in his warm spring palette to attend a pride parade wearing the most melodramatic piece of clothing possible, a black hoodie.

Queer Culture Represented in a Different Light

The presentation of the queer teen experience in this film is noticeably different to the previous three seasons of the franchise, offering a more mature and arguably “realistic” or “accurate” depiction. Besides the overload of sex scenes, an example of this is when we see Nick and Charlie visiting gay clubs together, standing out like sore thumbs among the extras dressed in almost nothing but leather harnesses. It does a great job at showcasing the spectrum of queer self-expression from those that present themselves more “modestly” (Nick and Charlie) to the other side of queer culture that’s perhaps more unapologetic and visually loud.

Anna Maxwell Martin Succeeds in Filling an Olivia Colman-shaped Hole

When it was first announced that the role of Sarah Nelson had been recast, fans wasted no time in expressing their disappointment. While I admit that it was slightly heartbreaking to know that we would no longer see Olivia Colman delivering her preciously maternal portrayal of Sarah, the controversial decision (though I’m sure unavoidable) was quickly forgiven through witnessing Anna Maxwell Martin’s performance. However you may feel regarding the recast, it would be unfair to fail to recognize her sincere approach to the role, which I can only describe as being on par with Olivia Colman.

Personal Favorite Moments that Elevate the Film

Overall I found that this conclusion mostly stayed true to ‘Heartstopper’ fashion in being a heartwarming and frankly rare piece of queer joy in media, with one of my favorite moments stemming from the pivotal interaction between an elderly gay couple that offers Charlie a glimpse into his potential long-term future with Nick. “We look after each other, don’t we?”, as repeated by Charlie to Nick in a tear-jerking moment as the two rekindle their relationship. It goes without saying that the film is sure to please the show’s devoted fanbase with an expected yet bittersweet happy ending.

Rating: ★★★★★

‘HEARTSTOPPER FOREVER’ starring Joe Locke and Kit Connor is now streaming on Netflix.

— Pop Base

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