Nick (Kit Connor) eagerly shares with Charlie (Joe Locke) that he successfully came out to his mother, and the two share an excited embrace. Nick describes the experience as having gone “really well.” Charlie, always quick with a playful remark, responds, “Want a well-done kiss?”
The new episodes follow the couple as Nick works up the courage to be open about their relationship with friends and classmates. While he goes through this process, those around them also face their own relationship and personal challenges.
Tara (Corinna Brown) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) experience emotional distance after one of them says “I love you,” only for the other to struggle with how to respond. Elle (Yasmin Finney) and Tao (William Gao) wrestle with the nature of their connection, unsure whether their bond is purely friendship or something deeper.
A truth-or-dare game leads Nick to take a bold step forward (Photo: Heartstopper/See-Saw Films)Meanwhile, Isaac (Tobie Donovan) finds himself the recipient of affection from a new character, James (Bradley Riches), and must figure out how he truly feels. Much of the romance, tension, and self-discovery take place during a school trip to Paris, adding an extra layer of enchantment to the revealing emotions.
Nick Takes a Step Toward Living Openly
After an emotional heart-to-heart with his mother in Season One, Nick feels ready to be more open about his relationship with Charlie. However, expressing this to the world proves to be more challenging than expected.
His first step is telling his longtime friend Imogen before working up the courage to share the truth with his rugby teammates. Charlie, knowing firsthand the bullying that can come with being outed, remains supportive, even though it means keeping their relationship private during the Paris trip—at least for a while.
In Episode Six, a game of truth or dare leads to Nick making a bold decision. When Charlie wakes up with a visible hickey, curiosity spreads among their classmates, and the pressure to address the rumors builds. Taking the moment into his own hands, Nick openly admits that he and Charlie are together. He later confirms their relationship publicly on Instagram.
While Nick’s coming-out journey is heartfelt and empowering, it contrasts with that of actor Kit Connor, who felt compelled to reveal his own bisexuality before he was ready due to fan speculation.
Charlie Opens Up About Mental Health Struggles
Throughout both the graphic novels and the show, Charlie’s mental health plays a major role in shaping his story. His past experiences with bullying after being outed left lasting emotional scars, contributing to self-doubt in his relationship with Nick.
Early in Season Two, signs emerge that Charlie is struggling with his eating habits. During the Paris trip, he faints due to not having eaten enough. Later, he confesses to Nick that he has difficulty maintaining a regular eating pattern.
“Some days I’m fine, but other days I feel like I need to control it,” he shares. “I used to do it a lot last year when things were really bad at school. Sometimes it feels like the only thing I have control over.” As the season progresses, Nick becomes more aware of Charlie’s struggles. After noticing him skipping meals again, he quietly looks up information about eating disorders.
In the season finale, Charlie opens up even further, revealing the extent of the bullying he endured after being outed by Tao. He shares with Nick that he once resorted to self-harm. Overcome with emotion, Nick embraces him as Charlie softly admits, “I don’t want to feel like that anymore.”
Nick asks Charlie to promise that he will speak up if he starts feeling that way again. “I just don’t want to annoy you or burden you,” Charlie responds. “I don’t want you to think I’m some fragile, broken mess. That you need to fix me.”
Love Confessions and New Relationships Blossom
As the season nears its conclusion, prom night serves as a turning point. Charlie, realizing that their relationship is now fully out in the open, decides to leave the dance early with Nick. Back at Nick’s house, they reflect on their journey together.
During this heartfelt moment, Nick expresses admiration for Charlie’s hair and eyes before beginning to say “I love…” only to be interrupted by his mother arriving home.
A love confession creates unexpected tension between Tara and Darcy (Photo: Heartstopper/See-Saw Films)As they part ways for the night, Charlie types out a message to Nick that simply reads, “I love you.” His thumb hesitates over the send button as the screen fades to black, ending the season on an emotional note.
Elsewhere, Tara and Darcy reach a place where they can finally exchange “I love you”s. Earlier in the season, Tara had accidentally said it, but Darcy struggled to respond. Whenever the topic came up again, Darcy brushed it off, pretending to have forgotten. It isn’t until after Tara’s birthday party in Episode Six that Darcy finally reciprocates the sentiment.
Other relationships also develop over the course of the season. School chaperones Mr. Ajayi (Fisayo Akinade) and Mr. Farouk (Nima Taleghani) form a romantic connection. Meanwhile, Elle and Tao acknowledge their feelings for each other, sealing the moment with a kiss in front of the Louvre before officially becoming a couple.
Isaac, on the other hand, realizes that he doesn’t reciprocate James’ romantic feelings. His journey leads him to start exploring asexuality, an aspect of his identity he had not considered before.
The Future of “Heartstopper”
Fans of the series can look forward to more, as two additional seasons were confirmed in May 2022 following the success of the first. “We were overjoyed with the global reaction to ‘Heartstopper’ and can’t wait to continue the story with two more seasons. Watch this space!” creator Alice Oseman wrote in a tweet on May 20, 2022.
Oseman, who also serves as an executive producer, originally introduced “Heartstopper” as a webcomic before expanding it into a series of graphic novels. To date, four volumes have been released, with a fifth installment set to be published in December.
