Heartstopper season 3 review: Netflix series grows up in powerful third season

Heartstopper season 3 is one of the most powerful pieces of television you'll see all year.

That's not hyperbole. The Netflix series has always been powerful in its own Heartstopper kind of way, but this season it dials things up, taking a thoughtful look at mental health, intimacy, and the pressures that come with being a teenager. This result is incredibly moving.

Heartstopper has become a favorite for many in the two years since its debut, with its uplifting portrayal of young queer romances rightfully garnering it high praise and a devoted following. It's the change we need in the world, and it's just so earnest in everything that it does - so much so that words that are commonly used to describe it are joyous, lovely, and warm.

Some viewers, however, longed for it to tackle more mature elements of the teenage experience. Whether that is necessary to the Heartstopper experience is up for debate, but the show has undertaken that challenge, as its second season set in motion a much more grown up third outing. The question is: Could it pull that off and still be Heartstopper?

Heartstopper's most mature storytelling yet makes for an emotional season

The third season of Heartstopper picks up shortly after the events of season 2. Our protagonist, Charlie Spring (Joe Locke), wants to tell his boyfriend Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) that he loves him, but he's afraid that he won't feel the same way. Nick, on the other hand, is worried about Charlie, specifically about his mental health and whether he has an eating disorder.

Right out of the gate, Heartstopper season 3 makes clear that it's ready to tackle more mature storylines and that's not something that it loses throughout the eight-episode run. Struggle is a scary thing, but it's also a journey, and the show does a convincing job of highlighting that journey - and all the ups and downs that come with it.

The first half of the season, in particular, is television at its most powerful, dealing with the complexities of Charlie's struggles, as well as how they affect those who love him. It's an emotional watch, and at times it isn't an easy one. Indeed, some of the storylines tackled this season aren't what one might have come to expect from Heartstopper, but that's part of what makes them so crucial. Heartstopper isn't just about the highs in life; it's about how you overcome the lows, too. And that ensures that no matter how bad things get for its characters, it never fails to highlight that there is light at the end of the tunnel. That's that Heartstopper charm.

Change has always been at the forefront of this show, and that comes in different shapes and sizes. For Nick and Charlie, they are facing the changes in their own lives and how that is changing their relationships. But they aren't the only characters facing change either, as Tao and Elle, Tara and Darcy, Imogen and Sahar, and even Charlie's sister Tori all have their own challenges.

Speaking of change, there is a bit of a change to the storytelling format this season and it does produce some mixed results. Seasons pass a bit quicker than we've come to expect and that can leave certain aspects of the story feeling underdeveloped. It's also one of the reasons as to why the first half of the season is stronger than the second.

Connor and Locke are phenomenal. Their performances have always been Heartstopper's greatest asset, but they take things to the next level here. Their chemistry on-screen is as strong as it's ever been, ensuring that fans of Nick and Charlie will be satisfied when it comes to those endearing moments between them that we've come to expect from this show. But they are equally impressive on their own.

Locke is captivating, approaching Charlie's struggles with such authenticity and care. There is one scene, in particular, that is so raw, so powerful. I don't mind telling you that it moved me to tears. It's probably the best single performance in the whole show, and it elevated material that was already extremely powerful in its own right. The nuance in his performance is stunning.

Connor has a particularly powerful moment of his own; one that you knew was coming if you read the source material. He doesn't disappoint, producing some of his finest work yet, convincingly illustrating the gravity of Nick's biggest struggles. And he maintains that commitment throughout the season, subtly illustrating the weight of that "I don't know what to do now" moment seen in the trailer and how that feeling of helplessness informs much of Nick's arc this season.

Both shine in the fourth episode of the season, which probably won't come as a surprise after Connor himself called it the best episode of Heartstopper that has ever been made. It's a bold claim, but one that lives up to that statement. It's an incredible piece of television and quite possibly this show's greatest accomplishment.

One thing that the season is missing is the presence of Olivia Colman as Nick's mother Sarah. The Oscar winner couldn't make a season 3 appearance work, so we definitely missed her scenes with Connor. However, Hayley Atwell is a welcome addition to the cast as Nick's Aunt Diane, who instantly feels like she's been a part of the show all along. There is an extraordinary scene between her and Connor that will no doubt go down as one of the season's best moments.

Even with its more mature tone, the show continues to be a celebration of queer love. That may be more evident here than ever, as that maturity brings forth intimacy. Yes, season 3 has been described as Heartstopper's steamiest season and it lives up that. That's another reason that this season isn't as family-friendly viewing as its two predecessors, and the shift from "Emmy-winning children's program" into teen drama might come as a bit of a surprise. Still though, for the most part, it's done in a very Heartstopper kind of way. Just a slightly older, more mature Heartstopper kind of way.

I will say that there are a few storylines that didn't get the focus they needed to breathe and that does leave some elements of the season feeling a bit unfinished. It's not enough to take away from the season's triumphs, but it is a little odd considering how tight this show normally is.

All in all, Heartstopper season 3 is definitely the show's most grown up installment yet. Much of it is certainly a departure from the earnest, light-hearted show of season 1, but it never loses that Heartstopper identity either. Its thought-provoking depiction of Charlie's mental health struggles produces the show's most powerful standalone episode while the committed performances from its cast are sure to have you feeling all of the emotions.

Heartstopper season 3 premieres on Netflix on October 3.