Hello and welcome to Big Gay Energy.
I'm Caitlin. And I'm Fiora.
Come along with us while we dive into the fun and nuances of
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we're. Here to talk about it.
Cheers, queers. What's on the big agenda today,
Theora? Today we are continuing our
scene by scene breakdown of Heart Stopper Season 3, and
today we'll be discussing Episode 6.
Body. All right.
And of course, today we have joining us is Elena because we
cannot do heart stopper without her.
Wait, it isn't. Hello.
We hope that you enjoy being here as much.
As I do, I really do. Thank you guys.
All right, and before we get into the episode, just make sure
that you're doing all the things following us, liking the
podcast? Come check out the Patreon, join
the Discord, do all the things, you know the drill, and let's
get into it. Let's do it.
All right. So we start with April.
It's been four months since Charlie has left impatient.
And of course, Charlie being Charlie, he's downplaying how
far he has come. But he has Jeff in his corner
and he won't stand for that. So he's making him think about
the progress he has made because he has made so much progress,
even if he doesn't think it. And this is a very clever way to
be able to see to have a time jump, but also see what happened
in those four months through highlights.
And because compared to the previous seasons, these this
season encompasses the most time.
So it's just a very interesting way to see that.
And it doesn't make the time jump jarring like some shows do.
So we learned that Charlie started back to school in
January and the first thing we get with him in school is Farouk
telling him that he could come to him if he needed anything.
And it's just so sweet to see Farooq in his corner as well
because we know he has Nathan already, but it's just so
special with Farooq because Farooq does see himself in
Charlie because of his experiences in school.
And I feel like once Farooq saw himself in Charlie, he just
invested himself in his progress and is like, I will support you
no matter what. Also, Farooq's ark has been such
a joy as well because he went from this like closed off hard
and exterior teacher to opening up and actually finding himself
as well through his relationship with Nathan.
And I think he's like really starting to accept himself and
just his world. And it's it's making positive
strides for him. Yeah, like Speaking of coming a
long way, like Youssef is definitely the character in the
background who's had tremendous growth, like you said.
Yeah, and Charlie also gets a warm welcome back by everybody
and he seems to be fully supported, which is very nice.
And yeah, I mean, how could you not love him?
I know the stark contrast from season 1, like when he is going
into the changing room for the very first time and how awkward
that was to now. Like literally all the boys go
and tackle hug him. So sweet, very sweet.
So many people have gone through growth and it's nice to see.
So unfortunately, Charlie does relapse 2 weeks later and this
seems to be weighing on him currently because of the fact
that he relapsed. So obviously you're not
magically fixed when you get out of an an inpatient program, but
it's, it's so depressing when you do get those moments from
that feel exactly like the moments that you went through
right before going into inpatient.
It's like, why did I do this? Like I made no progress at all.
I'm right back where I was. And so I I understand why this
is making him feel like he's kind of a failure in that sense,
but he's not because this is a roller coaster.
Life is a roller coaster. And his relapse included arguing
with Nick over him eating. And we then get the solitaire
scene where Tori has to have Nick come back after their
argument. And so it's like nice to see
that solitaire tie in. But.
Just really sad that he's gone through.
This yeah, I have to wonder for Charlie, like what it what is it
about it that's weighing on him more?
Is it is it the fact that he argued with Nick or is it the
actual relapse itself, relapse itself because.
Or is it a combination of both, like equally?
Because obviously like the argument with Nick is what led
him to relapse, but what what is it exactly that's weighing on
him? Because we see the actual
argument scene, so obviously that part is weighing on him,
but how much is it actually so? Yeah, I mean, that's a really
good question because I think in this conversation with Jeff,
there's like a hint that Charlie feels like a failure a little
bit that like everything's not perfect.
So I wonder if that's like like part of the OCD is kind of like,
wow, Charlie, you're not perfect.
You're arguing with Nick. I wonder if it's like a
combination, maybe like you're saying, but.
Yeah, like you're one you're 1 perfect or whatever.
In his mind you're 1 safe place. You you've done and messed it up
or cuz now he's he's walked away from you too or whatever because
of what you did. Yeah in his mind is what he's
thinking for sure. Yeah.
I think so, yeah. Definitely possible because he's
like, I ruin everything because of this and I'm never going to
get better so why? Yeah.
Yeah, he fell falls back into that I just ruin people's lives
kind of mindset. Yeah.
I feel you, Charlie. He's just, it's a it's a rough
time, But luckily it seems that Charlie in his relationship has
gotten better. And Jeff says something really
interesting and he says that maybe it's because Charlie's not
constantly thinking about his intrusive thoughts that he
finally has more energy and more space to think about Nick and
put that energy into their relationship and working on
that. And then we get a montage of him
doing that and the whole thing's just really cute and, you know,
really gay. But it's it's nice to see him be
happy, especially after having just seen that relapse scene and
then seeing them really work through it.
I think Jeff's become like one of my favorite characters in
this in this season for sure. I'm so glad we got more time
with him this like in the show, because like, obviously we only
get to see a glimpse of him in the in the comics for obvious
logistical reasons and story reasons.
But I love that we get to have time to sit down.
And also his writing is one of my favorite things, his
dialogue, just like Charlie asks, do you practice your
motivational pep talk? Do they just come to you?
And he goes, they just come to me.
I'm a talented person. He just like Charlie's sarcastic
and he's just sarcastic back in a like a very kind way That's
not condescending, but it's meeting Charlie's energy.
I think he says something about it's been four months since he's
been out of inpatient. He's like, I should bake a cake.
And Jeff goes. I know you're being sarcastic,
but that's a lovely. Idea.
I also think that's a lovely idea.
Can we have some? He's like, Charlie's like, OK,
fine. Like about the talk about his
progress. He's like, OK, fine, happy.
And Jeff, like, just goes, yeah, delighted.
So cute, so matter. In such a kind, loving way to
Charlie. He doesn't put up with Charlie's
shit and I love it. Yeah.
Jeff and Susan are the therapist that we all need and I now I
want them to both have a spin off where they're just like
running like a psychiatric like clinic, inpatient, outpatient,
whatever it may be. So we can get a bunch of
different stories. But then the two of them having
to run like group therapy sessions together.
I think that would be a really fun, funny dynamic.
You know what, head? Canon.
I would love for fan fiction writers to run with.
They're actually siblings. Jeff and Susan are actually just
siblings. That's interesting.
That's a good. Or family of some kind and they
share this passion or something because they're part of the same
clinic so. Yeah, that's interesting.
I love that Someone do. It do it do it.
And then we get to the title card.
So the title of the show and episode here are written, and
then it's mirrored back. And then it goes into the black
fuzziness that we know as Charlie's anxiety.
So to me, this is in imitating looking in the mirror and
communicating that Charlie is still having what he is still
hating what he sees in the mirror, which is why this
episode is titled Body. But I did notice that there is
hope because there needs to always be hope because we don't
end with the black fuzziness because they could have easily
just like faded out from the fuzziness.
They bring it back to the original mirror and it's
indicating that Charlie will get past.
This. Got to love that hope in the
animation. It's well done everyone.
It's not hard stopper if there isn't a little bit of it's going
to be OK kind of mentality always.
Don't panic. Yeah.
And of course, after this is we cut to Lambert.
That's the school's name. I was like, what's the school
name? Lambert, the art school where
Elle is at her art college, she's with.
Elle. Naomi and Felix in this class,
probably just in like a standard painting class, I guess they're
all, they're all doing self portraits.
It looks like Elle's done a fantastic self-portrait and the
teacher, their professor comes over and approaches about the OR
the radio station contacting and wanting to interview Elle about
her artwork. So I love that the teacher in
this scene, they clarify, they want to make sure they didn't.
They don't try to pressure L. They just say I just came to ask
if that's something you're comfortable with.
Let me know what you think, like I'll send you the details.
They there is no like you should totally do it.
You should do this. It's just AI just want to offer
it to you. It's there.
And then the friends, I think the friends don't even like
after the teacher walks away. I don't think they even say,
Elle, you should take it. You should totally do it In this
moment. They just say, Oh my God, Elle,
you're famous. Like just so encouraging.
Like, wow, even just getting this interview offer is a great
thing because it shows like how great you're doing.
And I think that's really sweet that there there is no pressure
in this moment of, oh, you should totally do it so.
Yeah, I agree. What I thought was weird though,
is that like the radio station went through the school, which I
thought was kind of weird because the thing that was
making Elle giving her notoriety was Instagram.
So I found it weird that she wasn't approached through her
Instagram. It was like they should.
They went through the school. Which was.
That's true. Interesting the.
Only thing I could think of is that they aren't allowed to
contact a minor. Yeah, I was thinking that too.
It's just. It's just.
Odd that it went. Through.
School as we know later, they don't really care about the
rules with mine so. Anyway.
My hope is. Maybe that was like too much of
a paper trail. My hope is the I thought.
The other thing wasn't oh, sorry, you're good.
Yeah, my hope is that if if they're contacting the school,
like it's public knowledge where she goes to school, 'cause
that's that's the other thing is OK, well, if she's famous
through Instagram, who Instagram stalked her and found out what
school she goes. Right.
No, totally. Like is that just probably not.
It was just very. Strange, somebody probably like
tracked down her painting from her art show from the previous
year from when she got accepted or something like that.
Maybe somebody could have usually or, or she posted,
probably posted something by Lambert on her Instagram and
they're like, oh, she goes to the school just.
Maybe tag the location? Probably.
I hope so, but. This is showing kids.
Don't tag your location unless you want people to find you.
You know, when, like, Facebook came out with that, like,
tagging locations? Yeah, I had to deal with my mom
tagging us in our house. Anyway, that's a whole nother
story for another day. Yeah.
Be safe online, kids. This is not, you know, remember
the days of PSA's being safe online when we're in middle
school? Yeah, that's still relevant.
That's still very relevant Anyway, yeah, so we cut from
that to Elsa got like this look of smiling on her face, like
obviously she's contemplating, like, huh, Like just trying to
decide how she wants to take that information of these people
want to interview you about your art.
So after this, we go to Truham and we see Nicholas in the
hallway. Probably just walking, I think.
I assume he's probably going to find Charlie.
And it's so cute because he goes to find Charlie in the practice
room. And it's really cute that he, he
hears Charlie before he sees him because he can hear Charlie in
the practice room playing his drums.
And he, like, pauses in the hallway, and he just smiles
like, that's my man playing his music.
He goes up and finds Charlie in the practice room.
And he just peeks through the glass for a second, which I
think is really cute. He just gives Charlie, like,
another second to, like, keep practicing without interrupting.
Can I just say, first of all, these practice rooms are huge.
Right. Like the ones at my school.
I don't know about you guys but the ones at my college were
dinky. They were tiny compared to this.
Is it a? Practice room or did he just
take over a classroom? To I mean, he calls it a
practice room in in the show, but I'm like, is it, is it the
practice room? I don't know.
I he calls it a practice room. So I'm like.
I mean, the drums were already there.
So like, I don't see him, he carrying her on drums, you know?
So I assume this is like there's musical equipment in this room,
so it must be dedicated to some sort of practicing?
It's also but it's not like a high school that's dedicated
towards music so I don't see them having more than this one
room. I mean, maybe UK schools are
different and they actually have funded art programs in their
high school. That's.
True, they care about the arts. Maybe.
I mean, that's. Fair.
I didn't look into that. I.
Also did grow up in AI, did go to College in a state where they
didn't federally fund the arts because they didn't think it was
valuable enough. So I'm like, you know, I guess
that makes sense. Welcome to America.
I'll go to the Midwest. Yeah, I do love this.
I do love the scene where where Nick is peeping on Charlie while
he's like playing the drums and Charlie has no idea.
It's just like ultimate golden retriever Nick, because he sees
Charlie, he's like boyfriend. It's so cute.
And like Charlie is just in his black cat energy, not paying
attention to the world, just doing his drums.
It's just this very cute. Yeah.
And then enter Nicholas, stage left or more up, up, stage left,
if you will, immediately comes over.
He goes, scoops Charlie up, spins him around again.
If it's not a season of Heart Stopper, if there's an at least
one moment where Nick scoops up Charlie and spins him, that's
just their thing. So cute.
It is. Yeah, it.
And it's really sweet. So it's Charlie's birthday
today. He's our boy is 16.
Oh, my God. So much has happened.
Yeah. And so Nick, for his birthday,
surprises him with some really cute tickets to go see Jack
Maddox, who is an author that Charlie's obsessed with.
Me too, my dude. Side note, I just want to say as
as a comic reader, Charlie's also super obsessed with this
band called The Ark. It's this boy band.
It's in another one of Alice's novels called I Was Born for
This. It's actually, yeah, it's
actually from their perspective. So or it's more focused on them.
Yeah, I read that novel to read it.
It's good. It's good.
Yeah, so I I would love at some point escalate a glimpse or even
just a reference to them. I'm kind of surprised they
haven't been referenced. I I get like why they wouldn't
have the band because that's just is that would require like
more casting, more actors they'd have to hire.
So I get like the practicalities as like a filmmaker and
everything, but like give us a poster or something, or like a
tort, like toys or something. We got Taylor Swift.
I know, right? So give us a band poster.
Like I know, I know there's some fan out there who would be so
happy that would make their life to be able to make a fan poster
of this band and make it into the show 100%.
That fan's name is Elena. I can't draw to save my life.
Caitlyn, what are you talking about?
You don't have to draw, you just like drag and drop things on.
A graphic design? Nah, I'll leave it up to graphic
designers. I'll help you.
Why don't you just go with Caitlyn?
No one got time for that. That's hard.
To get some of that, yeah. I'm also, I think if I remember
right, this the the mini comic about this author who was
originally called Henry Maddox in the comics.
I think this was originally not written by Alice, but I think
Alice illustrated it, if I remember right.
And it basically made it Canon. So it was like a collaborative
effort. Somebody else wrote it and then
Alice, I think I remember, bring this right.
But it's really cool if it's actually made it into the show
and it's like officially show cannon.
Like, hell yeah. So when Nick gets gives Charlie
these tickets, he says, yeah, he's doing the lecture in the
book signing, which first of all, I assume Charlie probably
knew that this was happening. So look at his face when he
goes, wait, we actually get to meet him.
He's probably thinking, Oh my God, wait, we're going to this
book signing. I get to meet this guy.
What? So.
Naturally, Tackle hugs his boyfriend, proclaims his love
for him, as you do when they buy you tickets to meet your
celebrity crush, Obviously. But Nick teases he's just like,
Oh, well, obviously you don't love me as much as you love Jack
Maddox, Hey. I love jealous, hey.
Man, if say we were talking about season 1C and Tao got you
tickets to go, I don't know, a freaking kissing booth or
something to kiss Nick Nelson, I think he would do the same
thing. Somebody write that fan fiction.
That terrible idea for fan fiction?
They have a crossover with the kissing.
Oh God. I mean, could be.
So Charlie asks Nick if he can get a birthday kiss, cuz you
know, that's apparently a requirement in relationships.
Wouldn't I wouldn't know but why?
It's true. But Nick happily obliges.
And this is where things get a little bit a little bit heated
very quickly. It gets more intense than either
of them probably intended it to. And at one point Charlie has to
break away and he says we should probably.
And Nick kind of gets where he's going with what he's trying to
say. And he goes, yeah, not at
school. When had they?
Ever stopped them first of all? The school.
Part like come I. Mean, I don't know the amount of
times they've, I don't know if they've ever been walked in on
at school, but they definitely gotten walked on at other
places. So who knows?
Yeah, for sure. But yeah, so the thing that I
think is So what makes this scene so funny at the end is
Charlie's body language at the end.
He literally does this awkward little thing where he as he's
turning away from Nick, he swings his arms in a very
awkward light. Like he's so like he's like
purposely trying to stand up straight as he's like turning
away to like go grab his bag and he's like, it's almost four in
time anyway. Charlie's like, I don't know
what to do with my hands. I don't.
Know what to do with any part of me, but I cannot be looking at
you right now. So yeah, Joe's, Joe's body
language and this just made me laugh so good.
It's a very teenage boy trying to like, calm down, but doesn't
know what to do with all this energy.
And it's like, yeah, it's awkward.
Let's go to. Class.
Yeah. And then he changes the subject.
He's like, but Saturday, Saturday around the sleepover.
Saturday. So.
Yes, all right, But before we move on, we have to interrupt
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All right, There you go. That's the right words.
Speaking of friendships, so let's get back to Heart Stopper.
So in the next scene, we shoot on over to Charlie's bedroom
where Isaac, Tao and Charlie are hanging out, you know, just
being boys. And when the scene opens, it's
Tao and Isaac sharing a bag of crisps.
And like, Tao's eating them. And then he's like, I'm done
with this. And he like tosses the bag over
on the other side of the bed and it just so happens to be where
like the stuffed lemur is hanging out.
So it like it almost looks like Tau passed the chips to the
lemur and the lemur is like hanging out with the bag of
chips, which I find really funny.
I'm sure this was not on purpose or anything.
I just find it amusing that the lemur ends up with the bag of
chips. OK.
I I love that you pointed that out.
It was super random when I saw it and I was like, that's really
funny. I think the lemur ends up with
the food anyway so they're hanging out and Charlie
confesses to his friends. Basically the scene we just saw
with Nick and Charlie's like it happened again and it being
super intense make out sessions with Nick that get super awkward
once they stop. And like in the scene their
animations are more intense too. So it's not just like the spark
of electricity, it's like a meteor shower of electricity.
So like a sexual tension is a ruin between the two.
And Isaac and Tao immediately understand that that's what's
happening here. And then the conversation
transitions into Are you ready to have sex with a Dick?
Which they're being very mature about handling this, but like,
also immature because they're boys.
So I appreciate the way this was all kind of done.
So like Isaac. Yeah.
Taos basically do not get into the details with me, Charlie.
I don't. But Isaac's, like, avid book
reader here. I want all this funny details.
Charlie, tell me literally everything.
So I love that. Yeah, we have to have another
moment of appreciation just for a heart stopper showing this
conversation between male teens in a healthy way because it's
like the perfect mix of like handling things appropriately.
But also, you know, when you're a teenager, like it's, it's
weird and fun like to talk about with your friends, but they're
not making him feel bad about anything, pressuring him
anything like that. They're just having this really
adorable conversation where Tao does not want to hear details,
even though he would definitely give the details for himself.
Oh that is absolutely what happens, because when given the
chance to talk about sex, what does Tao do?
He starts waxing poetic about El.
So like, yeah, Tao is such a hypocrite in the scene, which I
find hilarious, but like, Oh my God.
So yeah, I agree. I think this is a a good
depiction of how to have this conversation as boys without
toxic masculinity baked into this conversation because like,
yeah, Tau literally waxes poetic about Elle and then Isaac's
like, listen, I just want to know what's going on.
Everything, give me everything. And like I and then Charlie's
like the shy boy a bit about it, but nobody's like like nobody's
bragging or doing anything weird.
It's just it's very cute the way they're kind of like talking
about it in different ways, but like together it's a healthy
conversation, which is really cute.
Yeah, the way that Tao approaches it when he like
starts doing the the sharing of his sex life with Elle, it's
more like it's him doing a reflection in a way that's like
how he remembers it. And it's not in a braggy way.
It's literally just I remember how wonderful it was because I
love Elle and so like a very Tao fashion of just like fawning
over his girlfriend and everything.
So I love that so much and I love how it really like in the
way that it does tactical toxic masculinity.
A lot of the time when you hear on in media at least, like men,
especially straight men stereotyped in these kind of
talks, they're always like belittling their partners or
minimizing their partners, especially if they're if they're
female. So I love it that it does.
It just naturally goes against all of that by just simply not
acknowledging it and doing it in a in a way that's like so much
more just like out of respect for his partner, but still be
boys being boys so. Yeah, it's still playful in
nature, which is very sweet. And yeah, and like Tao's
reflection is very like emotional based as well, which
also something I love about Tao, which is very passionate the way
he's talking. It's so true, such a Tao.
Thing it's so good. How can't do anything without
being passionate? I know, that's why I love him
too. That's very true.
He's very invested in stuff I know I love.
And The funny thing is, it's just how Isaac couldn't care
less about Tao's sex life, but he is invested in Charlie's.
It's just like, Isaac, are you? Are you that that reader that
loves the Slow burn? Like the Super excruciating the
long Slow Burn romances where they don't even like talk to
each other properly until chapter 10?
You know, he really did me. He would be like also I was.
Probably telling them every detail as it happens.
I think he's. Like enough?
Yeah. Like how long after it happened
at New Year's to the end of telling them that's the real
question? Probably like the next day or
something. Oh, the second.
Or yeah, he came downstairs after midnight.
It was just like, guys, we totally just had sex, but not
like in a weird way, just like a Oh my God, I cannot believe that
was amazing. It was magical, yeah.
Yeah, I mean, he was surprised too.
So. Oh my.
God. That was so funny.
OK, so back to Charlie though. So Charlie, I also like the fact
that they, they frame the question as like, Are you ready,
Charlie, basically, which I think is another, again, a
healthy way to kind of like think about this and a good way
for them to communicate it. So Charlie says that like
basically, yes, he does. He he's at the point where he's
ready. I think Charlie's kind of been
ready for a while, but like he had a lot of other stuff going
on. So there's part of Charlie that
we've seen since, I mean, since the beginning really, where he's
like always afraid of pressuring Nick into something he doesn't
want to do. So I think that's part of what's
going on with Charlie. But 'cause I go back to their
conversation in Paris when they first kind of talked about sex,
where Charlie was like, I don't want to pressure Nick into
anything he's not ready to do. So I feel like that's always
like in his brain when this topic kind of comes up.
Yeah, also like when he does kick the guys out for, he's
like, I need to change. It's so funny.
So shout out to Caitlin for getting me into watching these
shows with closed captioning on, like going back and rewatching
with captions afterwards because I missed so many of these hidden
gems without it. Especially like the dialogue in
between scenes. So literally as Charlie is
kicking out Tao and Isaac, he shuts the door behind him and
you just hear the caption show Tao and Isaac start seeing you
like sexy time Doo Doo. And I like I went back and I
watched it and I tackled at that moment because I was like, why
have I never noticed this? Because I didn't have captions
on so much, so much goes missed. Yeah, like so many gems.
If you don't like have the captions because you can't you
can't always hear them very. And you if you can hear it, you
can't hear it clearly. You can't hear what's actually
being said. It's like when Charlie and what
was it like episode 3? I think when he goes we little
light bulb. I wouldn't have thought that if
there was no caption. That was so cute so.
It's so funny and Darcy has a lot of lines where it's just
like thrown away because it's in between.
It's it's great. I recommend captions.
I know. It's so also because it keeps me
actually focused on it because it.
Yeah. Anyway, you never know what
you're missing. No, what?
That was a good one. I appreciate being.
Pointed out to that because it's.
So on brand again. Playful teenage boys.
So yeah, back to Charlie, he so part of part of his hesitancy is
like, what is Nick's thinking? I'm afraid to ask.
But then the other piece that we've been hinted at for quite
some time and going back to the title of this episode is
Charlie's body dysmorphia is the other component.
So he's afraid of Nick essentially looking at him and
being like, because you can hide under.
He hides under his clothes and, like, he often wears like, you
know, cardigans and, like, pants.
So he's usually pretty covered up.
So Charlie's like, oh, no, what if he sees me?
And so to the latest point, eventually he kicks the boys out
of the room so he can change. So he's not comfortable changing
in front of his friends, is the hint there, too.
But then he does start to change, and he's, like, looking
at himself in the mirror. And he just looks very
uncomfortable just being alone with his, you know, in his own
skin in a way. And the other thing that we see
in the scene when Charlie takes his shirt off is in front of the
mirrors is he's got the track marks on his left arm or right
arm. Yeah.
Yeah, his right arm. Sorry.
Yeah, it looks like he's got them on both, but like the ones
on his right or his on his left arm look a lot more fresh and
more raw. So maybe they just are more
recent. The other ones have kind of just
like healed over time. It's kind of what it looks like.
Or it could just be something with the makeup.
I don't know. I like to think that it's just
Canon that they're a little bit longer healed so.
Yeah, it's a good one. But this is this whole scene is
basically the title card playing out.
Yeah, 'cause we got his reflection.
So. And I think because he's not
super comfortable in his own skin, I think that that's part
of why Charlie thinks Nick would be kind of put off to use his
words, because like, that's Charlie projecting onto Nick his
own insecurity about how he feels.
So and you know, that's, that's real.
A lot of people are like not super comfortable in their own
skin. And like it is, you know, the
way Charlie's like, well, it's one thing to change in a locker
room where like there's a functionality to what we're
doing. Like everybody's just changing
it to their sports gear or whatever.
It's a whole other thing to like do that in front of another
person where like your nakedness or vulnerability is going to be
the focus of that other person. So it's like more exposure.
Is that Ringo my Ringo's tail. Ringo's here for the body.
Body talk. OK, so after Charlie changes, we
then cut to the start of Charlie's 16th birthday
celebration, which is taking place at his house.
So his parents are out of town and Paris squad is over to throw
a proper party for him and they've got booze and games and
everything. They went all out for this.
It's very cute. Yeah, but while, while they're
like there, I think that this is another closed captioning catch.
They're like Charlie's telling them to like, not break
something or like don't drink too much, something like that.
And Tao Tao's response is fine. Darcy says yes, Sir, Isaac says.
Sounds like a note for Imogen, right?
It's definitely the don't drink. Yeah, I think he asked.
Like please don't, please don't puke anywhere.
I think it's what he asks so. Yeah, OK.
Yes, that sounds about right. I apologize, Imogen says.
How have I got this reputation? And I'm just like.
Girl. Really, Imogen, you can't think
of any possibility of why you have this reputation right now,
But also I at least Imogen has taken this reputation from Darcy
because Darcy was that in the previous season.
That's true. Darcy's Paris Folly.
So basically these friends need to realize if someone is puking
at parties, what is going on in their lives, Yeah.
Yeah, they're not. OK OK.
So then the, the the gang starts partying and they're starting to
get ready for, like, a drinking game, I suppose.
And like, Tara is, like, filling her drink all the way to the,
like, very top of the cup with wine because she says, quote, I
need a night off. And so I get the impression that
this poor girl has not relaxed since the season started, like,
as every time they're at a party, she's always, like,
stressed drinking, which nobody else seems to notice.
So that will come to a head of this episode as well.
And the teenagers are teenagers, let's say.
So they're making a quote potion that the loser has to drink for
whatever the game is. And like, it gets so ridiculous
that like Darcy starts like, I think like putting chips in it
and like something children do when you leave them alone at
restaurant tables. And they start like mixing the
mustard and ketchup and stuff to get like, that's what they're
doing. They're like loser drinks this
and this. Yeah, no, like the you think the
word potion makes me laugh because it's like that specific
word because like I know of kids like making when you make
potions and they mix all of the shampoos, condition anything in
the bathroom into the tub. To make a potion, it's just.
So I can just find it. Like these kids?
Are mixing alcohol to drink. It's it's ridiculous.
But it's like a worse version of like jungle juice.
So when you're like, if you ever heard that term when you're just
like broke and partying, it's just like all the alcohols get
mixed together and then you put something sweet in it so you
don't taste it. And that's like the drink you
drink. But like they're like literally
just like no, everything in the house, including food is going
into this and the loser will suffer with our like, Oh my God.
It's just really funny what they were doing.
We never see the game play out or who drinks this.
I just think it's really random that they had it in here and
very funny. OK.
So then everybody kind of starts like talking and hanging out and
we don't see them play a drinking game.
They're just like that was implied by the potion.
But then they start kind of like hanging out and stuff.
And then Nick gets third wheeled against his will by Imogen, who
confesses that things are weird with Sahar right now and that
they haven't spoken since New Year's.
So like these two interact and then they like don't speak for
months. And now I'm just like, I need to
talk to somebody about this. Let me talk to the lesbian third
Wheeler, Nick. So.
How are they functioning without talking though?
Because they're in the theme friend group at this point now.
I don't know. I don't know.
So Nick advises Imogen.
He's like, instead of talking to the lesbian whisperer, AKA me,
why don't you go talk to her and like, work this out.
And Imogen looks like really, really worried.
Like I'm sure she's thought of this, but she's like, so I get
the impression that like Imogen at this point has like sat with
her feelings and like her actions over the past couple of
months and has been actively processing stuff instead of like
ignoring it, brushing it off and is like scared to confront it
so. Yeah.
And then we cut the Sahar, who like, doesn't look worried or
beaten up the way Imogen kind of does.
And she's at this point working on recruiting Charlie to play
drums for her band for an up and coming gig, which we will see
later. And he's like, I'll think about
it. And it's like, yes, we saw
Charlie playing drums at the beginning of this.
That's a clue that yes, the boy plays the drums and he's good at
it. But again, Charlie's somebody
who doesn't like spotlights. So like, playing in front of a
crowd, what especially a strange crowd, like at a gig, I feel
like would be intimidating to Charlie.
So he's like, I got to think this over, which totally makes
sense. And I realized during the scene
that, like, this is one of the very few times that I can recall
where Sahar and Charlie were having a conversation alone or
interacting by themselves. And like, I want more of this,
please and thank you. Because like, I want more of
Sahar. Well, that's true.
I mean, yeah, I'll take more scenes with them, but.
Yeah, I think. I.
Am freaking love with Sahar. I think this is like, from what
I remember, the only time that they actually talk one-on-one
ever in the show. Yeah, OK.
I'm. Not going.
To no wholeheartedly agree they need more screen time, the two
of them especially cuz like the interviews with Joe and Layla
are so freaking cute. I love their friendship is just
so sweet. So wholeheartedly support more
screen time for Charlie and Sahar.
More or just more of Joe and Lila together, period, please.
Yeah, it is kind of weird that they cause like Nick interacts
one-on-one with Imogen a lot and it is weird that like Charlie
has not hasn't really interacted with Sahar one-on-one.
It's more like she became part of the group, but like didn't
really orbit Charlie, which is a very interesting.
He's like the center of the group.
So I think it's, it's interesting, I guess we get.
Season 4, I would love to see like the pairings, like
completely switch up and just totally like see what would
happen if like they were forced to be indifferent because I
think we had a little bit of that at one point.
I can't fully remember the scene right now, but I think we talked
about it. But like, like fully like people
that you don't really see interact by themselves.
Yeah, but. What I still wish we could see
is Imogen with the the other girls, like a lot more.
Yeah. Or just with like that group of
like Tara, Darcy and Elle. Like we don't really get to see
Imogen with them. We all only have seen them like
the one time in season 1 where she's like, I'm an ally.
That's the last time I think we saw her just with them.
So. Yeah, that's also a really good
point. That is kind of weird that like
Imogen only shows up when the boys are there.
Yeah, like I think. That's that's also an
interesting thing, like maybe she's trying to remove herself
from. Yeah, I think the one time we
still see her with the group is like when they're at school and
that's it, which is good. I like that we do see her with
them, that she is hanging out with them at school.
I think that's great. But I want to see more of these,
this group, this specific group. Yeah, I totally agree.
So Speaking of the group, so then the gang sings happy
birthday and presents a homemade cake to Charlie.
And it's so I love the fondant stars on this thing.
The way they're like not perfect stars.
Like they're clearly like hand cut out, like free cut out, not
with a stencil. Like it's so cute.
And I want to know who baked it. Yeah, so I had.
AI don't have, would you like to?
Do I had a theory on this? I thought my head cannon was
that it was Nick because it's Canon in the comics that Nick is
a Baker, that he loves making cakes.
So I was like, it's probably Nick and it could have been
really cute if it was a team effort between him and Tori.
OK, I would love that you, but it would have been a tragedy,
travesty, whatever the word is that we didn't see it, if that.
Yes, so I did go back and I I watched it with captains again.
Shout out to Caitlin for starting this with me.
I went back and I watched it and apparently there is a moment
where Imogen says I made it. Something about like, tell me
what you think. So Imogen's actually the one who
made it so. I would not have.
If you made me guess, I would never have guessed.
Exactly, I don't think. So.
Interested, Imogen. But it does kind of make sense
because Imogen's always looking for something to distract her.
That's true. I think this would be a good way
for and she also cares a lot about the people in her life.
I guess. That's true.
Like at the beginning she was like, remember she
overcompensated by bringing all the things to the beach.
I bring the fun so I I can see her like I, I think she's like
naked. She might like buy a cake, but
like, it's. Interesting she made it.
I wonder if she felt. Yeah, I think.
Oh, go on Caitlin, Sorry. Yeah, go ahead.
I feel, I wonder if so, when the beginning of Season 2, when she
comes over for the sleepover, She brings basically nothing
from what we can tell, except for, like, her essentials.
Like, there's her bag and all of her, like, toiletries and
everything. We assume she brings what she
needs, but she doesn't bring, like, snacks or anything to the
party. Obviously, Charlie's providing
everything. But like, I wonder if she felt
awkward that she didn't bring anything and that's why now
she's overcompensating. Like, oh, if I bring stuff.
Yeah. I mean, this is a very I, I
mean, I was the same way in certain groups.
I was like, if I bring the snacks will people like me more?
Right, I can see Imogen thinking along those lines for sure,
especially as she gets insecure. More insecure maybe?
It's I think it comes from a place of like feeling like you
don't you as a person don't have much to give in like your
presence. And so not me projecting about
this at all, but like I feel like no.
That's not what this point. But like just feeling like, Oh
well, if I have this physical matter of like things I can
actually give like snacks or gifts or anything, Oh well,
people will want my presents, People will like me more because
I, I have a package deal, I include these nice things, so.
There's a reason I'm in this friend group.
Yeah, right. Because she was added later.
Basically you. Know yeah, she adopted the mom
role. I'll bring the snacks.
She is the mom friend. Well, I'm drinking too much.
Like a She's a wine mom. She's.
The cool aunt. Yeah, right.
She's a wine mom who's going through some shit and realizing
that she's not in love with her husband.
Well, yeah, that's absolutely what's happening.
Damn. OK, so there's no transition
from that. So at this point, Tori then
joins the party, which is really cute because we don't see her
enter. She's just there for like giving
Charlie the cake and singing Happy Birthday.
So I love that she showed up for that.
And it kind of cuts to Charlie giving a piece of cake and he's
with Nick and Nick looks kind of worried about the eating the
cake because like it's obligatory that you eat the cake
and Charlie's like no, no, no, I I want to, I want to do this
like I want to try the cake. And so he does, and I love that.
Like, it's not a big deal. Nobody's focusing on him eating
the cake, and he seems happy about it and proud that he
actually, like, was able to eat his own birthday cake without an
issue. So I get the sense, like, from
this little moment that, like, this party actually feels like
normal for Charlie. Like, I'm just a normal boy
enjoying my 16th birthday, unlike the disaster that was
Christmas. So, you know, he, he, it's April
and he has made a lot of strides since.
Like he went into recovery and rehab.
And like, I feel like this is his first big event that he has
that actually feels normal to Charlie because he's behaving
very normally and seems like genuinely happy here, which I
love. For him, I think it definitely
helps especially. And it's.
Also, oh, sorry Caleb, I keep cutting you off.
What were you gonna say? OK.
I was going to say, it's also an event that's focusing on him
too. I mean, obviously they're not
focusing on him eating, but it's the focus is still on him.
So this is a lot of progress. Yeah, yeah.
Like I was just kind of what I was going to say too, like the
fact that especially because Christmas was kind of an
obligation for him, whereas this is an event that yes, it is
solely on him and that obviously can be a lot for him.
But this is his friend group and this is purely a place of love.
This is people made this Imogen made this cake because she loves
Charlie, because she is his friend, because she really cares
about him. It's it's out of love.
It's not about obligation. It's not about, oh, I have to do
this. I have to pretend I'm normal.
He just is with people who love him no matter what.
So that probably that probably helps a lot.
Definitely, like clearly this is more of a safe environment for
Charlie like Tori. Like of all the family members,
it's just Tori parents are gone and his friends who know the
truth about what happened to him.
So like, yeah, it's very safe for Charlie.
Yeah, Charlie even says, like at the beginning of the episode, I
think he said specifically about Nick.
He's seen me at rock bottom and he hasn't run away screaming.
None of these guys have, obviously.
Like, not all of them. Yeah.
None of them saw it as explicitly as Nick saw it or
like as Tori saw it or anything with Charlie.
But they're still here too, man. They're still, they still love
you. Yeah, that's a really good
point. And at the end of this part of
the scene, they're I guess they're talking about figuring
out what game to play because they want to play a game.
I guess either they didn't play the drinking game yet or, you
know, that that ended. They want to play more games.
But Imogen suggests that they should play Never Have I Ever
because Imogen just wants some secrets to get spilled.
Probably whoever, not whoever says I.
Have done that enough times is the one who has to drink it
right? That's probably where the potion
goes with Darcy, yes. Maybe.
Sahar. You never know.
You know. What secret life does she live?
Does she lead? We need to know more.
About that. We don't know enough.
We only know very few facts. Yeah, I mean, every, every
league guitarist has a story. You know, let us hear the story.
All right, so then we get a new person coming to visit, and Tao
answers the door. And who is there?
It's Michael Holden yay and I love the way he says hello like
really bright and like sing songy and Tao was like do you
have other friends Charlie? Like who is?
That Tao was like what is this Charlie?
I never seen this person in my life.
Right. And here he is, just being like
they've known each other for 15 years.
And I was like. Who is this human?
I love Michael also. Part of Tao was probably like,
why don't I know anything about? Oh yeah, He's like, what?
Also because like, it's another thing, Charlie kept his
struggles away from him, so he's like, Oh my gosh, what else is
he keeping from me now? It's true.
Is he replacing me? Charlie's living the double.
Lines, He might not have gone to that place, but but Michael
comes in and just full force. He's Michael, of course.
Yeah. And Michael gives Charlie words
of wisdom and these loose wisdom.
It's hilarious. 16 is when everything starts to make sense,
or when nothing makes any sense anymore.
I love that that was the ending. It's so true though.
It is, but I think that this is every age.
It's true. That's very true.
So it's such a Michael thing to say.
Yeah, and then he gives Charlie a ceramic cat and he's so cute
and he says that he got it because it had the same energy
as Charlie. OK, so one is showing that
Michael is very observant considering like I'm sure he
hasn't spent much time with Charlie at this point, which is
very good that he's observing because that's something Tori
needs right now. But also it is adorable that he
did a ceramic cat because what did we see in Tori's bedroom?
A bunch of cats. And there's like something else
that like they both think about like cats.
And I just, I thought that was really cute.
And I love it. It's like a happy cat too, which
which is more like Charlie versus like the stoic baby tiger
looking cat, which would be more Tori like the more like clothes
off. Like this is a happy cat.
Yeah. It's.
Like a cat that like wants to be around.
Yeah. But is it a maniac like an
orange cat? I don't know what cat he.
So like Ringo, who's literally just like, sleeping right next
to me right now. He's chilling.
Oh, he's sleepy. I love the fact that the the
choice of the angle of how they shot this little scene of this
little, the little figurine. It looks like the cat is looking
up at Charlie from Michael's hand.
It does. He's just like.
Hello. It's so.
Pretty cute. I love it's just the the choice
of angle there. I wonder if that was on purpose.
I hope it was because that is genius and it's adorable.
Or it's the best accident ever. That was so funny.
I want to know like what accidents happened in heart
stopper that like we're like fangirling about and they're
like, oh, we. Know that yeah, I just like we
know that some scenes were improvised so.
And those are like hidden gems that we find and we're like oh
wait that was unscripted. What Stuff like that.
But what was not intended at all or what was for what was for
aesthetic purposes that just turned artistic.
Who knows? Also, the fact that Michael says
it made him sad to see this, this little Kitty sitting all
alone on his shelf. It's such a Michael Holden thing
to say. First of all, also just like
this is supposed to, This is supposed to be like Charlie
being alone makes him sad to see Charlie alone.
No, I don't know. Or is that or a projection?
Or the cat. Or is that but I love how like.
Emotional Michael got when he was talking about the ceramic
cat at this estate sale or wherever the hell he was and he
was just like getting emotional and that's when Tori he's like
grabs him he's like stop it I. Know you can see him kind of
spiral. What are you doing?
Sort of just spiraling a little bit.
Spiraling. And she's like, oh.
My tori's like, no, come on, you're go upstairs.
Nope, I know. Let's go.
That's enough share. I love Tori and Michael, they
really balance each other out in that aspect.
It's. Beautiful.
It's so funny. So then the party moves to
outside and this is where we get a couple scenes with queers
intent. Queer, not queers intent, not a
queer intent, queers intent. OK, so first up we have Tao and
L in a tent and Elle, well, tell first as Elle if she thinks that
she's going to do the interview. And he then follows us up by
encouraging her and saying how the world needs to know how
talented she is. But the thing that I noticed
from this is and something that I really appreciated this.
He allowed her to tell him how she was feeling first before he
added how he felt about it. And like his once not well, like
encouraging her into doing it. So he wasn't pushing her into
doing this interview. He really wanted to know what
she wanted to do, and I was. Just.
Supportive without being pushy. Yeah, basically everybody that
has a conversation with Elle about this interview is not
pushy. It's more so like Elle, tell us
what you think and feel. Not so much like basically the
way I would, I would kind of like almost compare it to like
what Tara's going through right now and the way it's kind of
like a foil where she achieved stuff.
And immediately the response from everybody is like, great
job. Aren't you going to be prefect
now? Aren't you going to do this?
You're in like an Oxford like prep class and this and that the
way everybody like projects the next thing on to Tara and that
gives her a ton of anxiety with this like L is being presented
with this big opportunity and like the conversations with L
are very much like, how do you feel L Not like, Hey, you could
get even more famous. Like people aren't projecting
the next level of success onto L.
It's more so like, how are you feeling L?
So it's like polar opposites going on with like Tara and we
get to see like Elle being comfortable in this, whereas
Tara's like stress drinking in the corner basically.
I also love. Yeah, it's nice to see the
contrast between the two. Yeah.
Exactly. They're contrasting situations.
It's also just very on brand fertile, especially, especially
after like what we saw last episode, the whole like them
having sex for the first time. He was so like on and about
like, what are you comfortable with?
So it's like such a pattern for him.
It's still like so, so tall to be like, are you comfortable
with this? Is this OK?
Because he, he's seen her out of her comfort zone before and he's
like, yeah, we don't want that. So yeah, I love that he is still
like. On other little deeds, other
little detail may or may not be intentional, but I'm choosing to
say it's intentional. Is that the colors on the flat
on the tent behind L or trans pride colors which we love to
see? That has to be intentional.
I feel like this has to be intentional because it's like
such a like a trans like positive episode, like her being
confident about it. But it'd be really funny if
these things aren't like the the fireworks behind Tori and
they're like, Oh yeah, no, we totally meant to make that the
ace color. Yeah, totally.
Really how so much for production randomly watches
this. It's so please let us know.
I feel like because there's, it has to be because I think.
One of the I agree. It's too, I think.
One of the designers from Season 1 during the bowling alley scene
when Nick is like fully bathed in bisexual lighting, I I feel
like I saw an interview, like I read somewheres.
Though one of the designers did confirm that one was
intentional. I don't know about the rest of
the show and I don't know. I couldn't tell you what source
I had so I don't even know if it's true or not.
But it's the Internet, who knows, I feel.
Like there's too many. For it to be random, honestly.
I'm gonna have to find a lighting person cuz you do bring
up a lot of lighting theor so it'll be interesting to see if
like every single lighting is so.
We've got to get like a theater kid on the show who's done like,
lighting design, who just, like, knows.
That would be fun too cuz like this too.
It's not like the with the tent in particular, it's not like the
tent has those colors that's like lit to do that.
Yeah, You know what I mean? So it's more intentional than
just like buying a tent that has like rainbow patterns on it or
whatever. Like the lighting specifically
is like setup. It's like, who set up these
tents? I know, I'm curious also, just
like how did they get that background?
Cuz I'm like it doesn't look like if it's a gobo, it's a
very, very complexly designed gobo cuz it's like all the
different colors so. Right, but like these?
Tents are like, they're just not just tents either.
They're very complicated, like setups to like.
So who is doing this? Darcy.
Can you imagine Darcy? 'S like secret talent is like, I
mean setting up tents, they're like, OK, send the lesbians
first of all. And then but when like Tarsi's
like really good at this for some reason, like just got the
Feng shui down and stuff. It's like something Darcy's good
at. Yeah, that's my head.
Imogen was busy with the cake. That's fair, yeah.
I don't know if Sahar would have a hand in any of it unless she
showed up early. So her problem?
I could say Isaac. May be good at it cuz like
remember Isaac's little cozy corner at Christmas book nut
yeah that's but Isaac probably brings like a Feng shui book or
like interior design book being like all right colors.
They all show up early so Charlie doesn't have to worry
about anything. Yeah.
Charlie was off this duty cuz it's his birthday for sure.
Anyway, I don't know, but whoever, I never thought about
that. I'm like this is.
These are elaborate tents. Yes, very elaborate tents.
Because they even have in the next tent that we're about to
talk about with Imogen and Sahar.
I think they have this like star thing.
Hanging in. It's hanging in the tent like.
It's just there's a lot going on.
I'm. Pretty sure they have the
pansexual colors going on in their tent too if I'm not
mistaken. Oh, I think pants.
Yes, they. Do blue.
They do. Blue.
Is there pink? Blue.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's just the pink.
Yellow and blue, Yeah, that's interesting.
Quite. Interesting.
Also, why? Is there also interesting that
wouldn't be the BI colors. I love that there's bright
because. There's no there are balloons in
there freaking tent too. I'm like why are there just like
blast balloons? Yeah, listen.
Like who designed the tents? Yeah.
And why? Maybe even.
Imogen's contribution? Imogen showed up.
They were like doing these tents and she's like, I want to help.
She throws balloons in here. Right.
It also could just be that somebody was drunk.
I was like, this is a good idea. That's why I think, darling.
Imogen. You know what I could see?
Could you imagine just Imogen and Darcy trying to work on
something together? I feel like.
It would be, yeah. I think it would be a disaster,
but I think it would be amazing to watch.
Yeah, it. Would be wildly entertaining.
OK, but Imogen and Sahar in this tent are awkwardly trying to,
like, lay out a blanket. And for two people who don't
talk a lot, they sure do end up in the same space quite a bit.
And in this scene, it's, it seems as if images gotten to the
point where it's just her breaking point.
Like all of this is just too overwhelming.
She's sitting with all these emotions like she's not talking
to Sahar from what we know now. So she has to just be like these
thoughts, I'm sorry. These thoughts have to just be
like going through her mind every single day and to the
point where like she can't keep denying it.
Like they're not going way no matter how hard she tries.
Yeah, and I like in this scene where she's talking so hard, she
doesn't like admit like she has been reflecting and thinking and
her conclusion over all of it is that she doesn't know who she
is, you know, which I think is such a true thing to a hard
thing to admit for anybody. But like, that's a very mature
conclusion to get get to based on everything we've seen about
Imogen. So it's like, and it's a very
like coming of age conclusion as well.
Like she's becoming the person she was meant to be.
And like she's been, as we've talked about somebody who's been
hiding from, like hiding who she really is or hiding how she
truly feels like being quote closeted and that kind of stuff.
So like to then be like, what is all this, these feelings I'm
having? Like these things that I've been
doing, like who even am I? Like that's a scary conclusion
to get to. But also, she says that the one
thing she does know is that she doesn't want to keep hurting
Sahar. And that part made my heart belt
because I love that she is realizing the harm that her
actions are doing to Sahar. Yeah.
Because it's one thing to be in denial about yourself or not
wanting to think about it or not care about how you feel, but
when it's affecting other people, that's when it's a
problem. Like a big problem, Like it's a
problem if you don't accept yourself too, but at least it's
only affecting you. And so it's just nice to see
that she is thinking about Sahar and Sahar's feelings now, which
was not the case in Halloween. Yeah.
And it's also like different to like Charlie's journey where
like it became very focused on like Charlie and how Charlie's
doing internally and how Charlie's feeling.
And we saw like through the Christmas, you know, Christmas
and New Year stuff the way like it's impacting Nick, it's also
impacting impacting Tori. And like that was never fully
addressed. So it's interesting that with
like Imogen, they are making the point of being like me going
through my identity crisis and my mental health stuff is
impacting other people. And like, I'm acknowledging
that, which is really interesting that we're doing
that with the side characters more explicitly.
And part of it is Imogen is like, oh, I don't want you to be
mad at me or hate me or whatever.
And so hard admits that like, oh, I can never like hate you or
be mad, like truly mad at you because like Imogen on the flip
side, helped Sahar realize she was, you know, bisexual, which
like is something that was huge for Sahar.
That's a whole nother identity of like, oh, who am I?
I didn't know this about myself. So like she's like, well, you
kind of helped me process something so I can never hate
you. I'm grateful that for you and
the fact that you did that for me without realizing you were
doing anything. And then we also get Imogen
admitting softly, very like drops her voice when she says,
like, I can say the same thing about you because like, here's
Sahar being the catalyst for Imogen to figure out who she is.
And I'm very, very proud of her for saying that out loud because
like, it's one thing to admit to yourself.
It's another thing to say it out loud to the person that like was
the catalyst. So, like, that's took a lot of
courage for Imogen to say Kenja's here.
Hi pup. Damn it, Kenja.
OK. All right, so we can continue.
So the conclusion from this conversation that I think is
important is basically where they're just like, I think we're
better off as friends and we get this cut to like, it's like them
as children. And it's like, is this like
they're healing their inner child?
Like I don't know why they did that.
It was very weird. It's very fast.
It's like baby Imogen, baby Sahar, like giggling and having
fun of the tent. Yeah, OK.
I can see how it is weird. I mean, it's very out of place.
So I do like your read on it, that it's healing their inner
child. Maybe it's kind of like they're
like at a sleepover when you're little and like realizing
things. Maybe this is the moment.
Maybe they were. I forget if we know their
friendship timeline but maybe this is like the age where maybe
Sahar realized. Yeah cuz we know they were
friends. They like stopped being friends
for a while. We just don't know how old they
were. So is this supposed to be like a
flashback to like that time when they were like really good
friends or something? Cuz in season 2 during the truth
or dare scene, I think it's Sahar that says Imogen got a
boyfriend and then she stopped texting me and Imogen was like
no you stopped texting me and it's like.
I think so. I think this is the moment that
they like, it was a time where they were like talking together
and like they both probably had an inkling about it.
And Imogen, I mean, obviously they're young here though, so
like they're not going to fully understand what's happening.
But Imogen like completely like what we see her do on the show
when opposite, like overcompensated everything and
kind of created the divide between the two of them.
So maybe they're going back to this moment.
Yeah, starting over. Maybe even just like.
Which is really cute. Yeah, like rekindling the
friendship. But the children have to go
quickly away because Imogen and Mealy then asks if they can get
crazy drunk now because it's Imogen.
And Sahar pulls out a bottle of wine and she says, cuz it's your
bottle, It's your drink of choice.
And it's just adorable. But then I I didn't catch it
when we were watching it the first time.
And the subtitles helped me. Imogen says, is this
sustainable? I'm trying to do my bit.
Yeah. Sahars, the line delivery of
this line when Sahar says just drink it Imogen, that was so
fun. Dick gets up and leaves the tent
It's perfect. I love it so much.
This is one of my favorite scenes.
I love Sahara Imogen so much. I want more of them.
I want I mean, I want more of everybody, but I want more of
them because we didn't get as much as them because they
haven't been big characters since the beginning like
everybody else has. Well, so so it's just very nice
to see. The story Caitlin, you want to
know a really cute detail about these two?
How does Sahar know that Imogen loves wine?
Because in New Year's Eve, she was drinking champagne.
At Halloween, she was drinking tequila.
How does Sahar know that Imogen loves wine?
Let's think about that like she's paying attention.
This is girls paying attention. Imogen does say things a lot
though, so Imogen was probably going off about wine one day but
yeah no so hard. Definitely does pay attention
and files things away when. Remembered because.
She can, which is why she gets annoyed sometimes because she's
like I have to file this away again.
Yeah. It's true, but I do like that
they they're like we're better off as friends.
So personally, I like this Ave. for them because for me, I think
this would be a very Alice message to say, which is that
not every relationship in your life needs to be romantic,
including queer ones, because like the bulk of like queer
media that exists is all about romance.
And like it is OK to not be romantically entangled with your
first queer crush because that's basically what they were both
admitting to each other. You were my first queer crush is
the message here. But like and that plasmics so
much queer media where it's like your first queer crush is the
one you end up with and that's it.
And it's like that's not the reality the vast majority of the
time, and it is OK to just like be friends with that person.
Like you don't need to like marry them the way like Nick's
first queer crush is Charlie. And that's basically the premise
of hard snobber that Nick ends up with Charlie and that's his
first queer. Like not like that's celebrity
awakening, like queer awakening kind of thing, but like your
first real life queer crush is the person you end up with.
That happens so much in media and it's like it's OK to not end
up with that person. It's not the end of the world.
It's OK to learn something from them and just be friends with
them. That is totally fine.
It's also kind of interesting because you know how the like
for straight people, like boys, guys and girls can't be just
friends. Like there's that thing going on
and now it's kind of like a play on, well, if two people are I
guess bi, like they have to be together or like they can
actually be friends. So it's kind of like the playing
on that thing. I don't know if that made sense.
It made sense in my head. I don't think I fully got the
words out, but you know, it's all right.
Basically, just because you have two queer people with the same
sexual preference in a room together doesn't mean they have
to be romantically involved with each other.
You can also just. Which is, yeah, which is what a
lot of media does, because we'll have two queer people in a show.
Only two. I think those two will be
together. Right.
So I do. I get that.
And I that is very much needed and makes a lot of sense,
especially for heart stopper. So that that's great.
I just, I just love. Them so much and I just really
want them together just personally and that's just my
own issue because I know that would be good for everybody if
they weren't but I I just I just love them and because like I can
also see that at the end it was kind of weird because they were
like admitting that they both like realized that and like they
didn't actually say that they had feelings for each other they
just realized something about. Themselves.
So that's another thing. But I could see that Sahar was
like, maybe just kind of brushing it off maybe.
I don't. I wouldn't say she was
embarrassed, but maybe just like, try not to make it a big
deal. And pretending like she didn't
want them to be together. And then like, Imogen could have
like just got along with him was like, oh, yeah.
But like, secretly, they still want to be together.
And like, they'll figure that out in 20 years.
I mean slow burn romance is the thing.
It could be the best best friends to frenemies to best
friends to lovers slow burn romance ever.
Does it count if they have like other relationships in between?
Yeah. Like and it wouldn't.
Yeah, it's still a possibility for sure.
The point is that the the feelings slowly start to fester.
They start to build, they start to fester.
Doesn't always. They don't always have to
express the romance immediately. That's kind of the thing about
slow burn is it takes forever for the actual expression of
feelings to happen. All right, I think I'm growing
during this conversation right now.
I mean, I again, I would still love them to be together, but I
think it could also be very fun to see them be like wing women
for each other and like go out and then like, if it didn't
start springing up. Oh yeah.
We, we're, we both made each other realize that we were bi.
And so ours, like, stop telling people that.
Oh my God. What if they turn to like the
stereotypical lesbian exes where it's like they're still best
friends and they like go to each other's weddings and everything?
Yeah, totally. Like I can definitely.
They're literally the maids of honor in each other's weddings.
That would be so sweet. I just want to see more of them.
I can see them just being best friends once they get past it,
and I think that that that's OK. Like, that's real life too.
All right, so this next part, the party has basically moved
fully to the backyard in the sense of the actual party.
There is music, there is dancing, there is more booze,
There is absolute chaos in the best way.
And I thought it was a really cute little thing.
So the song, you hear the song Good for You by Olivia Rodrigo
at some point you're playing during the scene.
And I thought that was really a cute little detail because fun
fact, Joe is actually buddies with Olivia Rodrigo IRL in real
life. So I think that that's really
cute. So wonder, I wonder if he like
next song to personally call Olivia and be like, Hey, hey,
can I can I have your song in in our show for my for my
character's birthday party? I know it's not how it.
Was interesting, no, But like the music supervisors could have
been like, oh, we have this idea or something like that and then
like probably went through that way.
Yeah. Who knows?
Got got. Some kind of?
Fair use rights or something like that.
But that that song grew on me in the beginning, I wasn't too
sure. I can't get over the fact that
it's the same thing as Paramore. Which one?
I don't know Paramore really. You only know the one song that
was on Glee. Which one was it?
Only exception. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
No, but I knew that one before Glee.
I knew that one. I was on the radio a lot.
Yeah, I can't think of the title of the Paramour song, but it's
like literally the same. The music is exactly the same.
Interesting. Maybe I did hear it because it
sounded familiar to me. I'm trying to think of every
para. That's a whole another
conversation we could have, but probably not on camera so.
I was like, I know only a few para war songs so I'm just like.
Misery business. That's the.
Song which couldn't think of the title.
It's the exact same, like the core of the music is exactly the
same. So when I hear this song, my
brain switches to Paramore because it's the same.
Gotcha. I'm like wow, OK, well let's we
talk about that another time. Anyway, curious.
So, yeah, I mean, Music Choice in the show is pretty great.
The sometimes they do like obviously the the songs that are
kind of on theme for the actual scene.
And sometimes they just throw in some songs that it's like, hey,
we actually know these people personally.
And it's a really cute thing that we get to honor their work,
especially when we have songs that are literally from like
Wager Project, which is Will and his sister Olivia's band.
If you don't know Will Will is the actor plays Tao and his
sister have a band and they're amazing.
And Olivia's like Tao Tao. She's Will isn't a beautiful
musician, a beautiful pianist and Olivia, beautiful voice,
such a gorgeous voice she has so shout out to them.
Olivia Rodrigo is Will's sister. Olivia or Olive?
She was by Olive. I think she was by Olivia, Yeah.
No, it's not the same person, but no.
Also very talented singer. So Speaking of Tao, it's really
cute. I think I accidentally went back
to this part where Tao is getting out the camera and
asking about Elle's documentary. So Charlie and friends,
basically during this next scene, they get pretty drunk.
I mean as teenagers do so. It's really, it's really sweet
to see Charlie getting to just laugh freely with his friends.
Like yes, it is under the influence of alcohol, but it is
in his safe place with his buddies.
Charlie just wants to feel like a normal teenager.
That's all he's wanted to feel since he got out of inpatient.
And I wonder if this is one of the first times he's really just
like like what he said before, like if he's just feeling like
he's back to his life now, like he's able to be norm like as
normally as he can be, you know, in this situation.
But where he? Yeah.
And, you know, with, like, the mental health stuff, like it's
peaks and valleys, it's not a straight line to recovery.
So I wonder if this is like the best day, like he's had in a
really long time, like a really good, good day.
It seems like it from all the shots we get of him in this
party. So it's perfect for his
birthday. I'm very happy he got to have
that for his because like 16 is like a, you know, kind of a big
deal, like age to turn. So I'm glad he got that.
I'm just worried about him later this day because like I know
this feeling when you're finally having a great day at the end of
the day when everyone's gone and all of it wears off, it's like
such a crash that I hope and we don't see what I.
Don't think he has that, but yeah, it's true.
Yeah, it probably hopes that he wasn't.
He's not alone at the end. Too.
He's not alone. He's.
With Nick and he has, he has something to look forward to the
next day, so maybe that helps too.
I was going to look forward to. Definitely really makes a
difference. Yeah.
In this moment when all the gang is dancing around and partying,
there's this really cute moment where Tori Mike is still here.
Michael is just like hanging out with Tori.
And they look at each other and they clink their glasses.
So the question is, we know what Tori is probably drinking.
What's Michael's drink of choice?
Does he is he talking about in solitaire?
I don't remember. I don't think he did.
Did she get? Is she getting him hooked on
diet lemonade? He would drink it in solidarity.
Yeah, in solitarity. Solitaire.
I need, I need to leave. I need, I need to leave.
Goodbye. It was.
Right there. I couldn't not do it.
That was too good. I can't go on.
Yeah, it's just. But that's a really good
question. I don't think I don't see him
drinking alcohol. So like.
Yeah, no. Yeah, what is he drinking?
No I I literally would see him drinking this because of Tori.
He also has a straw too. He also is drinking out of a
straw, just like her. So yeah, I, I.
Could see I can see Tori not giving him a choice and just
handing it to him and him being like all right.
OK, yeah. She doesn't even ask.
Can I get you a drink? She just gets him a diet limit.
She's like and he's like. OK, cool.
Very Michael. I love them.
Oh my God. I need every single character to
have their own spit off, literally, you know, so just.
Keep it going forever. Yeah.
So after a while, there's like this point where they're all,
they've kind of like wound down a little bit.
You know, they're like the music's, the music's probably
still going in the background, like very quietly.
They're not dancing anymore. Everybody's probably a little
bit tired. And they're all just kind of
hanging out at this point. And there's a group of them.
It's, I think it's Nick, Imogen, Sahar, Darcy and Tara all start
talking about university plans. And Darcy we hear mentions
talking about taking a gap year, which we we know from the comics
that they do end up picking a gap year eventually.
And Tara is over here just like this is kind of where her
pressure of being like the best of everything about being the
top student, about everything just kind of comes to a head
because she begins to have a panic attack.
And it's emulated, it's simulated with this fuzz, this
shadow of fuzz that just like like starts to just engulf her
and basically like starts to suffocate her to the point that
breathing is hard for her. She has to literally like get up
and bolt. She like she runs.
She gets out of that space. I just want to, I do want to say
like she does at one point say, guys, can we stop talking about
university stuff? And it seems like literally no
one hears her when she says it like Darcy might.
No, they just keep talking. Darcy might have like heard it,
but Darcy is like, kind of invested in the conversation.
I feel like Darcy's the only one that would have actually heard
it, honestly, just because they probably, you know, listen to
their girlfriend. But yeah, as soon as Tara gets
up, Darcy's immediately on it. But first of all, immediately is
just like what's going on? And Tara basically rushes out,
goes into the house trying to find like some escape, trying to
just get out of this little space and just breathe.
And CC, who is drunk, clocks her coming in and he comes over.
Like he just immediately, like his brain just focuses on her
and he goes over and he's like, OK, you're having a panic attack
here. He basically talks through it
with her and demonstrates one of the breathing exercises that
Jeff had given him in his therapy sessions.
Hazard do the inhale, exhale just to keep herself afloat,
which it obviously does. It does like a really great deal
for her. It really helps.
I appreciate the fact that he even says like, we're in my
house, we've had some drinks. Like he talks her through what
has happened tonight, like where they are, what's going on, just
to kind of ground her and put her like bring her back to the
reel, like what's really happening in front of her.
And it's very, it's very well done, I think.
Yeah, I really love that this is also a one-on-one, uh, with
Charlie and Tara because in the scene, like you see Nick
hovering in the background over like Charlie's shoulder and he's
like in the frame out of focus. So he's like there for support,
but like Nick doesn't jump in and try to help Tara too.
He kind of like sits back and lets Charlie take control of the
situation, which is really interesting because Nick has
been framed as like the savior and like, you know, save your
character archetype or whatever throughout the show.
And so it's interesting that he's like staying in the
background while Charlie adopts the role because this is where
Charlie's an expert really up the group and knows how to
really help Tara through this. So I like that Nick doesn't jump
in. He just like, let's Charlie do
that and that's pretty significant.
That like anything he did would not be helpful because he
doesn't know how to handle it. He didn't know how to handle it
with Charlie and Charlie had to figure it out through his own
journey. I also found it interesting that
no one else followed her and that it right they all allowed
her to have this moment alone without everybody crowding her
which would make things 100 times worse in this moment.
I just found that very interesting considering how like
close the group. Is.
Like did they mean to like give her a timeline?
I'm just I'm surprised no one else.
Followed like Darcy didn't even immediately.
Followed. Yeah, that's the weird.
Part. Really.
The weird part? I'm like, why didn't Darcy at
least come? And like, Darcy and Nick be
together, right? Because it takes a while for
like, Charlie to get her to calm down.
So like it took Darcy a while to be like, maybe I should check on
her, you know, which is weird. But like The thing is like we've
keep clocking glimpses of Tara's like mental struggles with all
the stress that she's under throughout the season, but
nobody else seems to notice that she's stressed out.
So like for all the closeness of this group, it does go to show
you that like when people are struggling and they don't want
you to know about it, they're not going to let you know about
it. Like Charlie said it at one
point when I don't remember, he was apologizing or like his
mental health stuff was coming out and he said to somebody he
was like, oh, I was really good at hiding it.
Like people are good at hiding stuff.
So like, well, like we saw little glimpses, but Tara's been
mostly like putting a fake smile on and just like going through
the motions. And like, I don't think she's
really shared her stress with with Darcy, even when they were
living together. And so like Tara's just very
good at hiding it. And so like he or she can't hide
it anymore because it's like eating her up from the inside
out. So but yeah, it that's a weird
behavior from Tara, like, you know.
Yeah, the only, the only thing from like a writer standpoint, I
could really see that would that would really make sense Why
Darcy didn't immediately follow is like Tara bolts off and Darcy
immediately goes, what did you say?
Wait, what was it something one of you guys said or something
like that? Like trying to like breakdown?
Why? Why Tara literally just ran off?
Because obviously everybody's kind of dumbstruck by that.
So is it just like, is she OK? Wait.
What's that? I find it weird that Darcy
didn't immediately follow. But this whole thing is just
because they're all at this place now where they are talking
about university. They there's so much going on in
your last year of school, I mean every year, but there's so many
decisions and things to talk about that you really are
absorbed in yourself. I like we talked about before,
they are all in the focus on yourself stage right now.
They're not focusing on like developing relationships around
you. So it's a lot easier to just not
notice or like see it, but like not really how to register to
the point. Where?
Yeah, that too. So is that?
Yeah, Darcy's like I've been drinking.
I'm not going to be helpful right now.
Or like you're just not noticing because they're drunk, you know?
I think maybe. Yeah, but it's a very
interesting situation. Darcy also, I feel like lately
like probably has been on like some kind of high just because
there's there is like this high that you get when you kind of
start to understand yourself a little bit better.
Like them figuring out now, obviously they haven't like
opened up to target about being non binary, but they are coming
into that understanding of themselves.
They're probably riding a little bit of a high just like feeling
so happy, like they finally had this part of themselves figured
out because it is it is such a rush or it could be a rush.
It could be, it could be different for different people
obviously, but it can be like such a weight off your chest
just feeling like. And Darcy's been dealing with
these struggles for years now with her, with their parents,
and now with them living at Grands, they can finally relax
and breathe. And I think they also might be
just trying to hold on to that as much as possible.
The good time that they are overlooking Tara struggles
because it has been all about Darsi.
So I mean, that's just something that a couple of characters we
see this season have to Start learning that it is a give and
take. Even if you want the good times
to stay, you can't ignore the fact that your partner is
struggling. If you ignore it, it's going to
get worse, not better. Plus, I bet that there's
probably a certain level of Darcy comparing themselves to
Tara, like specifically like with their grades with
university stuff like being Tara, being like all these
things about being head, being prefect, and then also being
like in the orchestra and everything.
Obviously Darcy's also in the orchestra, but Darcy like we see
like earlier in the season, like they literally throw their grade
card, the report cards away. So it's like there's got to be
like this level of they assume that Tara has it all together
because Tara is doing all the successful stuff.
So maybe they just have no idea. But also, Tara hasn't opened up
about it because, again, doesn't want to put that on anybody
else. So yeah, I bet Darcy probably is
just in their own head about it too.
Just like my girlfriend is amazing and I'm over here, you
know, not even going to university or whatever, whatever
they're dealing with at the same time as figuring out their
gender identity. So yeah.
There is a lot going on. Yeah, every single person.
Yeah, yeah. So when Darcy does come rush in
to check on their girlfriend, see how she's doing, Tara does
somewhat admit that there's just a lot of pressure, that she's
just kind of getting overwhelmed by all of it.
And she even, I think it's really sweet that she does
acknowledge that Charlie has just helped her in this moment.
And so when Charlie gets up, Nick says that's a mate that was
amazing for helping Tara. And Charlie's immediate response
is just I am so drunk right now. I love that that was his
response. Like that was so random.
He's like, I'm glad I did it. I'm just so drunk.
I. Dude, that happens though.
It's all happens. Nature to him now though to like
create these things, which is amazing to see how like
ingrained it is now. Yeah.
Yeah, that was really funny, Charlie.
It's so relatable, though. We're like, I don't know how I
just did that. I was out of it.
He's like, I'm so drunk right now.
Yeah, Charlie, we know, believe me.
Especially in this next scene. We know.
Oh yeah, we know. So Speaking of drunk Charlie,
next we shoot on over to the kitchen where Nick and Charlie
have a moment alone and Nick being protective.
Boyfriend is trying to get a very drunk Charlie to hydrate
for lesbian Jesus and the birthday boy tells Nick and he
just drunk Charlie starts being drunk and he's like, I like you,
I like you so much, Please don't leave me.
It's just like drunken confessions at the sink
basically. And it's like, OK, so it's like
it's very sweet sentiment to like as Nick to hear all this.
But I think these kinds of comments that coming from
Charlie, like, inadvertently put pressure on Nick when it comes
to, like, university, because I remember we were just talking
about university and we know Nick's, like, said, well, I'm
going to try to stay close to home and, like, home is Charlie.
So like, this is more pressure, like, to hear these confessions
from Charlie to be like, please don't ever leave me.
And Nick's, like, about to go to university.
So like, yeah. So that's going to be burrowed
in his brain. Hey, little Ringo's face.
Can see his if you're listening. Ringo's face has made a presence
on the camera. Very cool.
What? I know he's a OK all.
Right, so anyways, the drunk and flirting continues and like
Charlie basically pulls Nick like in like close to him and
they have this very honest and very flirty conversation about
taking things further in their relationship.
And Charlie admits that he's ready to have sex with Nick.
And Nick, you know, admits like, hey, a lot has happened since
Paris, like the last time we talked about this.
And he's like at a place where he is also ready to do that.
And I think, and I kudos to Joe and Kit because the acting here
was beyond perfect because the way they had this conversation,
because it's very like tentative and shy and sweet.
And it felt realistic for like these two characters like to
have this conversation. And I love the way they chose to
like dip their voices into whispering when they're talking
about this, like, even though they're completely alone and
nobody's anywhere near them because it it makes it feel like
an extremely intimate moment between the two of them because
it is. So I like the way they like
executed this. I thought it was perfect for
like teenage first love, first time kind of conversation.
And then Charlie's like, you want to go to my room and do
stuff and Nick's like, listen, you're super drunk.
We're not doing this for the first time or ever when you're
super drunk and cannot consent to things.
So good job, Nick. But good job, hard.
Stopper. Yeah, good job, hard stopper.
But from Charlie's point of view, I see where he's coming
from to be like, let's do it now.
Because he, you know, he's not sober, meaning he's not in his
head about this. And he's has more like courage
to like go through with this because when he's sober, he
starts to have the body dysmorphia and he starts to like
tell Nick about it because again, this is a conversation
they've never had about the body dysmorphia.
So as he's trying to have this conversation, said drunkenness
starts to emerge in the form of vomit.
So he's like, I need to get out of here right now and throw.
Up so like. They cut the conversation short
and Nick, just like rushes into the bathroom before he throws up
on Nick, which would have been terrible.
I know the reason why they're not doing anything right now.
Right, exactly. Yeah.
So 2 two things I wonder is like, so hypothetically, if
Charlie had not started feeling sick, would he have actually
finished that sentence? And second of all, had Charlie
never had this moment of being drunk and being able to have the
liquid courage, how would this conversation have ever been
brought up? That's my curiosity is like if I
could see it probably being like much further down the line, like
couple weeks maybe even a month before they actually even
mention. It.
Or would Nick have been the one to mention it?
Or do we think maybe Charlie would have eventually gotten the
courage with the with the current or the encouragement
from his friends and everything? I don't know.
I'm very, I've been very curious about that, how that would have
all. Yeah.
No, that's a really, really good, really good question
because like, Charlie was kind of talking about the sex stuff
with his friends, but like, even with the friends, he doesn't
talk about the body dysmorphia. So yeah, I feel like it would
have taken longer for him without the liquid courage to,
like, admit this to Nick. And I feel like Charlie would be
the one that has to broach this topic because like,
traditionally with their relationship, it has been
Charlie has been the one that brings it up, not Nick.
So yeah, I feel like it would have to, like, organically come
up, which would have been a lot harder.
Yeah, I agree with that because let evidence being let's shoot
over to the next morning. So Nick and Charlie, like, wake
up together in the tent. And Nick asked Charlie, hey, do
you remember anything from last night because you're pretty
drunk. And Charlie goes on like a
hungover trip down memory lane until he remembers the
conversation from the kitchen and then gets embarrassed.
So that's why I think that, like, organically, this would
have been a lot harder without the alcohol for him to, like,
say anything because even now he already said it.
He's has a hard time talking about it now, like when he's
sober. So.
But Nick's like, hey, I'm glad you brought it up.
So, like, it's something that needed to be said between the
two of them. But it's very hard to have these
conversations and then like. They're always like, am I
pressuring the other one this and that?
So like, yeah, I agree with you. I think this would have taken
much longer to, like, be a conversation without those.
But they, again, don't get to finish the conversation because
the writers are evil. And so like, Tori and Michael,
that opened the tent immediately.
And they're like, hey, mom and dad are coming in 30 minutes.
And they're like also, Tori, you have to get to the Jack Maddox
event today. And then Michael, ever the
helpful lad that he is, is like, I'll make everybody toast
because you look like you need toast.
And like, I love how precious he is.
And he's just like I want to help toast toast.
But it's also cute like does has he been over a bit and saw that
Charlie like likes toast? Because in the beginning, we saw
that that is something that he would eat when he was having
these thoughts. Yeah.
And that's something that he could still get down.
So like, I just found it. That's pretty interesting.
Michael's very absurd. I love Michael.
He's so cute. I want more Michael and Tori.
We need more Tori. I just want to appreciate Tori
or not Tori. Michael.
He, he acts like such a dad in this scene which is so funny to
me. He literally opens the tent and
goes morning campers. Oh my God.
That's right, he does do that. He is like a dad.
Oh my God, he has dad energy. You're right.
He's. Like, oh.
Never put that together, Yeah. He's like, you look like you
could use some eggs on toast. I'm like, God, he seems like
such like such dad energy already.
And I'm like, Oh my God. That's so true, I love it so
much. So yeah, the fact that first of
all, Tori immediately, like, Charlie is like, did he stay
over? Tori's like, yeah, I'm allowed
to have friends over, too. First of all, Tori is wearing
the sweater that Michael wore to the party last night.
Sure is. Which I think if I remember
right, in solitaire there's a point where she does maybe?
I think so. So my question is, could this be
the night that is, that is Canon to this to the show when they
would have when Michael would have come over and they watched
Disney movies? I think yes, I think this was
their Beauty and the Beast night.
We'll say, is this, Yeah. Is this their?
Is this that scene? That's really cute.
I want to see it bro, I know I. Wanted to see it.
We've been robbed. We've been robbed.
I love that scene, but I agree with that.
OK, so then all right. So then he asks to continue with
this Tori Charlie conversation. So after he asks, did you know,
did he stay over? Then Charlie's like starts
teasing Tori and he's like friends, huh?
And then Tori gets really pissed off and storms away.
Like she doesn't say anything. And OK, like I understand that
we do. Since we read Solitaire, we know
that Tori's going through some stuff right now.
And so I kind of feel bad for Tori that she's getting teased
right when she's like making a friendship that's important to
her or whatever it is. So like she kind of gets
embarrassed. And but but from Charlie's point
of view, like I'm sure he's been dying to like tease Tori about
anything. And so he finally can like tease
her about her love life and he's like, finally you've been
teasing me. Like, so it's one of those like
perfect sibling things where one of them's annoyed by the other
one and the other one's like, finally I have something to
tease you about. And it's not malicious, but
like, you know, it's just it's peak sibling relationship stuff.
I know that this is from Charlie's point of view.
That's why you don't really see that Tori's having issues.
So like everybody really needs to read solitaire because it
just gives you so much a better understanding of what is
happening this season that is completely lost.
Like you're just like, who is this random dude who shows up
who's in a few scenes? But there's so much to.
Them and it's. Adorable, and I love it.
So if you haven't yet, go read Solitaire.
So good, just a second. All right, anything about Tori
and Michael before we head over to something that pisses me off.
And I'm sure it pisses. Me off as well.
Seriously. Can't stress enough that Tori
and Michael need their own show, their own movie, anything or
even just anything. I think I said this last
episode. I just, I would love to see
another thing with Derek and Jenny together just regardless
if it's. Obviously I'd love it if it was
Michael and Tori, but regardless.
As long as it's a comedy I really want.
To as long as it's them giving each other shit or or or
fighting crime together. If it was like a.
Yes, yes. Oh my God, could you imagine if
they did? Like a psychic and a cop.
And Michael's the psychic. Kind of, Oh my God.
Basically. He's the psychic.
He's so funny. It would basically just be a
sprawled in fan fiction come to life.
But like, I want it So what? It sounds that sounds amazing.
I was trying to think, do I want a spin off of Tori and Michael
or Imogen? It's a har more and I think I'm
actually leaning towards Tori and Michael.
Me too, because I think they could do some more with like
representation in that show. It'll be very interesting.
Also the dynamics, great. Their dynamics.
I do love Imogen is a harm, but I think there's some really
great things we could explore because we know more right now
about yeah. Two I would love.
But you know what? Oh, sorry, both.
Yeah, I would love if Sahar got the Alid last treatment.
For those who haven't read the comics, Alid is the the best
friend of Charlie that Isaac kind of fills in the spot for in
the in the show, Alice like had actual artistic decisions that
she made with not having Alid in the show because Alid has like
his whole own story. I would love her so hard to get
the same treatment where she gets her own novel basically
because she's got so much depth to her.
I'd love if Alice eventually wanted to write a Sahar novel.
What did she do with Alice or Aled?
Can we have a novel for each character like Alice?
You can keep going, yeah, if you really want to.
Like Heartstopper itself can stop, but like, give.
Each. Character their own like
dedicated story and then continue writing Tories because
she deserves better right now. Yeah, Tori gets a whole series.
Yes, that's just needed. OK, but we've been stalling.
We need to go to the scene where it's, it's not really great for
the characters involved. But before we get to even that
part, we're going to go to Elle arriving at Sonic's radio
station and with Tao and her parents tagging along.
And I love that. Tao, of course, tags along
because he has to. He is filming the great Elle
documentary, so he's obligated to be there whether he wants to
or not. But he 1000% wants to.
And Elle immediately gets separated from her support
because they said that Tao and her parents need to stay out
here while she goes in for the interview.
And like I get that for sound wise at least there is a place
that Tao and the parents can watch.
Which this would be terrible if they were fully separated.
Oh my God, could you imagine that?
But at least she gets to see them and have that support from
afar. She's a minor though.
Could they legally do that? I don't even know.
I, I don't, I think they have to at least be able to see them
because. I I don't know if they could
sign like a consent waiver or some shit like to let her do it
without them watching. I don't know.
I think, I think she's old enough where if her parents
didn't even have to be there, I think they probably could have
signed something. Yeah, that's what.
I was like, I don't know the law.
I mean, with minors it's. I don't know the laws in the UK,
but it's like obviously like. Yeah, I don't know the UK.
The parents would have to. In the US, the parents would
have to be the ones to sign the waiver.
I know that, correct. Yeah, exactly.
Yeah. Well, funny use bring up UK
laws. We'll get there in a little bit.
I'm scared, Caitlin. I'm scared.
Yes, always be. Scared.
With Caitlin, yes, but first we have to get into the interview,
and the interview starts out with a couple brief basic
questions. And the interviewer, if you
notice, doesn't actually seem interested in the answers to
this. Like she's bringing over the
paper, probably with questions, looking around, not fully
focused on Elle until the interview viewer starts saying
trans identities are the hot topic of the moment.
And first of all, this line is so insulting because it not only
does she now know that I'll know that she was brought here to
talk about being trans, not her art.
But this is a way that they're basically saying that she only
matters right now because it's good for ratings.
Like she's a hot topic. That's the only reason why she's
here. And then the interviewer
continues to dig her own grave. If we didn't hate her enough
after else because so this whole thing is going on and the
interview is basically trying to get her to talk about like the
current topics of what's happening in the world with
people basically being transphobic.
And else says trans people aren't a debate.
We are human beings first of. All.
Yes, girl, do we need a pause for a dog or?
OK, she's. Trying to break it really hard.
Is this interview really makes me mad?
That's why. That's why I panned over to
Ringo. I'm just like here during the
mists of this conversation. Have a cute sleeping cat.
OK. You chose this.
Go chew your bone in the corner. Oh my God, it almost went up my
nose. You chose this dog.
You're forced here. Luckily mine has calmed down.
I'm actually quite surprised. Julie, is the vacuum going?
Are you skirted to vacuum? Oh, Julie's not here.
Your bad girl collar on. That explains it.
OK. All right.
Yeah, you can hang out in here. That's OK.
She was like, I'm not being alone.
Yeah, she doesn't want to be alone.
OK, we can hang out in here. OK, That's fine.
Tash, you don't want to be alone.
It's OK. Now go lay down.
I. Want to just smooch his little
head but I know he would hate it.
Yeah, she's being more persistent than normal, so that
something's wrong. I got you.
OK. OK.
OK, so first of all, yes, girl, like I the lines that Elle has
here, it's just amazing. It's it's so, so powerful
because I people don't realize that they're talking about
humans, not just a concept like these.
These are people whose lives are directly affecting by saying
these things, by making these laws, by having these debates
that really shouldn't be debates.
It's just people. It's just OK.
I another time, another time. Anyway, the interviewer's
response to this is, well, I mean, our speaker last week
believed that the presence of gender neutral bathrooms will
increase cases of sexual assault against women.
I'm very interested to get your thoughts about that.
I'm sorry, what has does this have to do with art?
It it doesn't what they're doing is they're trying to do the both
sides of the issue media thing, which like in America, there's
some kind of law, I forget what it is.
Basically, we're like, news has to do that.
They have to show both sides of an issue, even when like the
other side is completely ridiculous.
So like they're trying to be like, hey, we had the guests
talk about the other side of this issue.
Now it's your turn. Yeah, journal.
But like the fact that you didn't like tell for any of
these questions is like gotcha journalism, which is really
gross, especially a minor. But like that's what they're
trying to do. They're trying to be like, hey,
give us your side of this thing we talked about with somebody
else, like. That these are the worst
interviews. And unfortunately that's that is
what happens to people, which is why, I mean, I know people don't
see this, but when we do interviews, I'm like, you have
control because really the person being interviewed should
have control over what's being put out there.
Yep. But I mean, like news
organizations that they're profit driven.
So like, what's going to get more like rage bait clicks are
like a thing. So like, yeah.
Anyway. Anyway.
It's annoying, it's annoying, but.
It's very annoying. Throughout the interview, we cut
to L and just her reactions to everything that's happening and
everything that this interviewer was saying to her.
And we get this slow zoom in to like closer to her face.
And I was thinking about like why they chose to just like
slowly zoom in every single time we go to her.
And I think it's meant to make it feel like she is suffocating
in this interview in this room and feeling trapped.
Like, yeah, you're you're she's not locked in there, but you're
in a room with one other person. You feel trapped when you're
supposed to be. I don't know if the interview's
live or not because that would be even worse if this is
happening live, I think. And usually it is with radio
shows, which is terrible and even worse for her.
So I can totally understand her being like, well, can I leave?
Like, is that even allowed? And we also get shots of her
through Tal's camera and it's most of the time it's after we
see the support system. It's like she looks to her
support system behind the glass. And then we cut to footage of
her through Tal's camera and it's basically showing that
she's being treated as entertainment and not a person.
Like she's just there for show. She's a person on a screen, per
person. Just she's a voice, but there's
no human element attached to her right now.
In modern politics trends, people have become a scapegoat.
Like we learned about that in school, right?
Always remember learning about that word for the first time in
like, history classes in America.
And they're like, who is the scapegoat in World War 2?
And you're like the Jews. They blame the Jews for
everything. Now that's just trans people.
They're just politicians use trans people to rile people up
to get them to vote for shit. And like they've become the
scapegoat group. And it's really sad to see this
through. First of all, through Elle's
point of view as the person who's like, I just came here to
talk about art and you're trying to like, get me to talk about
politics as a minor. And then Port and then Tao, like
who's just so proud of his girlfriend to like, and he's
like, I came here to film this and we're all here.
And it's just like this. He's watching her shrink also
through the camera and like become small and like to him,
like Elle's this big, bright, beautiful presence.
And to like see that diminish, like it's just heartbreaking.
It's just. Especially when he uplifts her
at every chance he can get and he can't even get to her right
now. That's the other thing.
And Elle is visibly uncomfortable right now.
And, like, tells the person, oh, the tell says, oh, my gosh,
sorry. Says that the person last week
must have been transphobic because yes.
And the interviews, like, yeah, I know it's a heavy topic.
We can just move on to something else.
OK, so let's move on to art. No, we don't do that.
Can I just. No, let's talk about.
Yeah. Just go to say like how
dismissive that the way she said that was almost like like such a
typical adult trying to talk to a teenager who is like trying to
say something genuine. There's like, oh, you're a
teenager, you don't know any better.
Such it was so dismissive like that.
I think that's what set me off was how dismissive it was.
Like it's too advanced of a conversation for you to.
Have Then why are you asking this teenager these questions?
Yeah, it's a heavy subject. You're getting emotional, so we
can't have this conversation anymore, kind of thing is what
it sounds like. It's like.
Yeah. Rose, right.
Ringo, Right. Yeah, Ringo.
Ringo agrees.
Yeah, Ringo. Ringo's digging his claws into
my shoulder, so he agrees. I saw Ringo start trying to
attack you there. I'm like.
What do you want? He wants attention so bad.
So does this interview her? So they move the next topic that
she tries to ask. Elle about is.
Schools being required to basically out students to their
parents, which again, we're not here to talk about that right
now. But again, it's another terrible
issue, but also not something that Elle should be here to be
talking about. And Elle immediately excuses
herself and was just like I need to get out of here which
rightfully so. I am surprised she lasted that
long like it has to be because she felt trapped there.
And the interviewer has the nerve to say I'm sorry if I
offended you. I'm like, ma'am, you clearly did
and you are saying it's her fault by not taking
responsibility for what you said cuz like, if no, you can visibly
see that you made her uncomfortable.
Yeah. Like no part.
Like her face immediately fell like the first sentence in.
OK, so now we're gonna have to get into the big thing that
needs to be addressed. And Theor has already brought it
up because it's the thing that Theor has been ranting since we
first saw this episode. Ella is a minor and luckily her
parents were there with her but not they weren't even able to
protect her like they're able to fight the station.
Like you see the mom fighting in the audio engineer section while
Elle is in this interview and she is fighting.
She's like you told us when she was going to be here to talk
about art, what is happening. This is not right.
And like, kudos for mom for immediately fighting, not being
like, I don't know, I, I know some parents might be like, oh,
we'll just move on. It's fine.
But no, like this, this is not OK.
And I'm glad that Ella has so many people in her corner that
are uplifting her and helping her like, not overcome, but just
like stay confident in who she is and not let these people get
her down because these, what these people are doing are
terrible. And even Tao is like, do we go
in there? What do we do?
How do we stop this? And I think he would 1000% run
into a burning building for her. Like anything, if she is in
trouble, he is getting there. It's like this interview is
predatory. Like very predatory.
Yeah. So like I mentioned earlier, me
being me, I did some research. So there are long guidelines in
the UK that govern the interviewing of minors to ensure
that they are protected. Because I like facts.
And I wanted to know like what the actual thing was like what
they're obligated to do. So legally, the Children Act 19
of 1989 places a duty on parents and guardians to safeguard
children, Meaning like their consent is necessary for minors
to participate in interviews. We've already talked about that.
It means that they need to clearly explain the purpose of
the interview, how the recording will be used and any potential
public exposure to the parents so they can consent properly.
They need to know what's actually happening.
And ethically, like legally, minors don't have to consent to
this interview, just their parents.
Ethically, it's good to have the minors consent, which we'll get
into in a second. So the other part like Section
17 of this Children Act, requires that even the
organizations promote the welfare of the children.
Section 47 mandates that investigations are done if there
is suspicion that there is harm. So it this is to ensure like the
interview does not place a child in a vulnerable position such as
discussing topics that could distress them without
appropriate support, and it takes steps to protect the child
from exploitation. So basically what we saw.
And then we have something called the Ofcom's Broadcasting
Code, and this is UK's communications regulator that
enforces the Broadcasting Code which outlines standards for
television and radio broadcasts. So Section 1 is all about
protecting minors in broadcasting.
So whether it be TV shows or radio.
And Rule 1.28 requires broadcasters to exercise Duke
care over the welfare and dignity of individuals under 18.
And this applies even if the parents have given consent, like
the minors have to be thought of first it rule.
Sorry, there's a lot going on here.
Rule 1.29 prohibits causing unnecessary distress or anxiety
to minors due to their environment, involvement in the
program, or content. So basically the interview
topics must be suitable for minors.
Age and maturity. Ella's mature but she's still a
minor and was not told about this.
And again, these this radio production should not have
placed her in a situation that where she was feeling distressed
and visibly, it's not like they didn't realize it.
So basically just Long story short, they should have really
they were required to make sure that they both parties
understood the purpose of the interview, what was going to be
asked and for L side they thought they did.
They thought it was just about art.
And this was definitely non compliance on the radio
broadcast point of view part. OK, So if they fail to adhere to
these requirements, there's a couple things that could happen.
There's investigations, there could be fines.
Basically the big thing that happens with these like
allegations, like when there is an investigation it, it damages
the station's reputation, which I feel like is definitely not
enough, especially with cases like this.
Like the reputation that's it's going to be there for like a
couple weeks and then it blows over and people forget because
that's just what happens. So if it's like really bad,
there could be legal action and they can get there like license
or ability to broadcast taken away from them.
But from the little bit of research I did, it doesn't seem
like the cases that have especially involved minors, it
was most likely just like a slap on the wrist, like reputation
damage. And that's definitely not
enough. But there are guidelines out
there that just did not follow them.
So that is my roundup of UK law that I learned.
Hopefully I did not lose anybody there.
I mean that makes sense. This was a predatory interview
and hopefully oh mom sues them or whatever.
I know that's insane. I mean, the mom did say you'll
be hearing from me. So right, Hell yeah.
I got I got to say I I love that the mom is the one going off in
the scene. It makes me really happy because
so like in season 2, we had seen the dad be like, obviously he
was joking, but he was being protective of Elle mostly to Tau
and it was mostly just teasing. But in this moment, the mom
especially is just like, you don't touch my kid.
And that just warmed my heart. But like, it broke my heart,
simultaneously warming my heart seeing this mom who like
genuinely just wow. It's always great to see a
parent fighting for their child. Yeah, yes.
So. They are.
Do you need a break? I need a minute.
Yeah, go take it. I'm going to pause.
Should I pause or should I keep going?
OK, so we're next scene. OK yeah, OK.
So kind of in between this whole part, where else is going for
her interview? We kind of cut between this and
the other part of the scene where at the same time we assume
that Nick and Charlie are at the classic seminar for Jack Maddox,
the author that Charlie is obsessed with and has a crush
on. So that kind of alternates
between this and the interview that Elle is at.
So we kind of get to this point where they go to the seminar and
Nick immediately says ready to meet the love of your life.
And Charlie immediately catches on and is giving Nick some some
shit for it for being jealous. He's like, I'm allowed to have a
crush on a celebrity. He's like teasing him because
it's like, look, we're secure in this relationship.
You know, there's no way in hell I'm going to leave here for this
guy. Obviously, first of all, like
he's famous. I'm, I'm me.
I'm a person who is not famous. This guy's a celebrity.
Not that that matters necessarily, but in his mind,
he's like, he's a celebrity completely distant from me.
Never met this guy. He's not an option.
Why are you jealous? It's just funny.
And Nick immediately just goes, I can't believe I'm about to be
replaced, which you can tell is completely joking, but there's
definitely still a hand of jealousy there like that.
Charlie is infatuated with somebody else, if you will.
Well, it's like also like for Jack Maddox as well, like for
Nick it's like, oh, he's also got the intellectual thing going
on that I don't have. So it's not just the looks.
He's like he shares one of Charlie's major interests.
Like in a, he's at the top of his field kind of way.
I think there's also that little bit of intimidation that Nick
even not that there's a competition, if Nick is mentally
trying to compete with him, he's like, I can't compete with the
classics cuz like we see it in this interview, like he says
stuff and Nick's like, I don't even know what's happening what
what they're talking about. So.
Yeah, that is very true. Yeah.
So on that note, I definitely at some point need, I need a scene
about Nick fawning over David Tennant and then Charlie just
being like, look, see, you can have crushes too.
It's fine. I need this.
I need Nick. I I want that.
Seriously I need the scene of Nick watching Good Omens and
going Oh my God David Head is hot Charlie.
I know why I love Doctor Who because David Tennant's hot.
Also I actually need to see where Nick discover or Charlie
basically discovers. Which I think this is also in
the comics is that they discovered that Nick has a type.
Nick likes his dark hair and bright eyes.
I think in the comics he is cannot.
It's Canon that he has a crush on Zooey Deschanel.
Like Zooey Deschanel is one of his crushes.
Celebrity crushes which again? Dark hair, blue eyes.
Yeah. I know there's another example
in there that I can't remember, but remember Zooey Deschanel
because I remember hearing that and I was just like, yeah, me
too, Nick. Me too.
Zooey Deschanel for God's sake. Next guy.
Good taste. Go good taste.
Yeah. So in this moment of jealousy,
in walks Jonathan Bailey, AKA the gentleman who is playing
Jack Maddox. But yeah, look, if he's gonna if
we're going to give Olivia Coleman this treatment of we
don't even call her by her character name.
He's she's just Olivia Coleman. I I I do it with Jonathan
Bailey. Jonathan Bailey walks in.
I love, I love this band. I've never seen Bridger Tin but
I love this band. Is that?
Where he's that's like I think kind of where he's got a lot of
his big break specifically like with Netflix because he's in
Bridgerton. Especially like season 2.
He was like one of the main characters again, never seen
Bridgerton. I don't really know much about
it except that he's in it. And apparently he has like this
whole enemies to lover storyline in season 2.
So I'm like, good for him, Good for him.
He apparently does play a straight man really well, even
though he's not. That's like, his reputation, I
guess, which is really funny. Yeah.
In walks Jonathan Bailey. Naturally, Charlie has to
reiterate. Oh, my God, he's so hot.
And the look on Nick's face. Oh, look on Nick's face.
Just pure jealousy. Pure jealousy.
It's so funny. Yeah.
So then we cut back at some point to Elle's interview.
And then after that scene in Elle's interview, we come back
to the lecture and Jack is now mid lecture and he makes this
joke and he says, you know, you can't trust a Mesopotamian to
source your copper ingot, which makes the whole audience except
for Nick laugh. So I this bothered me.
I was like what does that mean? Because I don't remember
anything about Mesopotamia. I felt so left out of this joke.
So I googled that shit. I was like, I literally just
googled Mesopotamia copper and I got something like this whole
feed of just like this thing called the complaint tablet to a
Nashir or something. I have I have no idea how to
pronounce that. So apparently according,
especially according to the Guinness World Records, this is
the oldest recorded customer complaint in history that we
that we know of what? So it's a tablet.
It is currently on display at the British Museum.
And it's this tablet from ancient Greece or ancient,
sorry, ancient Mesopotamia. Some merchant from Mesopotamia
stole some. Like substandard is what the
article said. Substandard copper to this
customer. Customer hated it so much, was
so mad about it that they carved it into a whole ass tablet to
complain about it. There's also an entire subreddit
about it called Really Shitty Copper.
It's just a bunch of memes based on this story. 100% Charlie will
be on that subreddit by the way. But apparently this is like this
went viral back in 2015 and I'd never heard about it before.
And so I'm like, I'm I've totally missed out on this whole
thing. Hilarious.
But so I. Definitely go viral on Tumblr.
Tumblr. You know, Tumblr and then the
Reddit? Probably.
Probably on Reddit and Reddit, yeah.
Well, I I saw something, yeah, I saw something like when the
Karen thing was big, like the first, the oldest customer
complaint, but I never learned anything about.
It yeah, My favorite one that I saw I just kind of like scroll
through real quick. My favorite one was somebody
photoshopped the tablet on like the display at the museum.
They photoshopped out the tablet and it said in another universe
he was actually really good at selling copper and so the tablet
existed. I love that so much.
That was my history rabbit hole I went down.
That was. I just thought that was now that
I know that joke now, or now that I get what that reference
is, That joke's actually really fucking funny.
Oh. My God, that is really fucking
funny. But I basically was Nick in this
scene where that shit went right over my head the first time.
I'm like what? If you ask me what Mesopotamia
is, I wouldn't even be able to. Answer I remember learning the
fertile present. That's all I remember.
I don't even know what those words.
I don't even know what it meant. I just remember that's what it
was. I was like, yeah, and
Mesopotamia is a fun I. Probably would have told you it
was a made-up land and a story, and that's Hugo Potamia.
I'm not good at history. Let's continue.
That's Hugo Potamia, which I'm realizing.
Maybe that is a playoff of Mesopotamia.
That's unfairly Odd Parents. I don't know.
Yeah, she goes. What planet are you from?
You go Potamia. Anyway, I watched way too much
cartoons as a kid. So yeah, that joke goes over
Nick's head. He's the only one in the
audience that doesn't laugh. Same, buddy.
I was confused at first, but now I get it.
Now it's funny and it isn't funny.
And so he asked another, he asked hers to answer another
question. And Charlie is selected.
Lucky boy. He asks a question about if Jack
has any recommendations on books in Queerness in Ancient Greece,
which I had to go back and watch this with captions because I
didn't quite catch what he was saying.
I just said, heard something, something, something Greece.
And I was like, huh, so queer. He asked about queerness in
ancient Greece, which I thought was kind of neat.
Jack immediately his response is, now that's a wonderful
question. Like there's such enthusiasm,
which would make any fanboy's day to ask your celebrity crush
something and then go. That's a wonderful thing.
Charlie must be dying on the inside.
I think it's. I think the would have
recommendations too. Yeah, I think it's really cute
that Nick even smiled and, like, went to hold Charlie's hand
because he just like, I think he could tell how excited Charlie
was in that moment. And I think he also kind of saw
some of Jack's charm now throughout the lecture.
He's probably just like, OK, I can kind of see why you like
him. He sees cool.
Also, just like, the fact that he is, like, sharing in
Charlie's passion right now. I think it's really sweet.
Like it is me and who when I need somebody who does this?
And also at the end of like this little, the end of this little
scene, how freaking dare they cut to the next scene before we
find out what the hell this enthralling book he read in
Milan was. Because I want to read it
seriously, this enthralling book about queerness in ancient
Greece, I want to know what that is.
How dare. So if anybody in the comments
knows any books about queerness in ancient Greece that are
enthralling, are enthralling that Jonathan Bailey would 100%
read please. Leave it in the comments.
I need more book corrects because you know.
So after the lecture, we head to the book signing where Charlie
actually gets to come up face to face with his celebrity crush
dying. Oh my gosh.
He starts with his signature little shy high, which we
haven't seen in a hot second. I don't think we've seen like
this level of him being kind of shy since season 1.
First of all, our sweet and quietly, quietly confident boy
has come so far. I'm so proud of him.
That's a good point. Yeah, that's such a good catch.
It's true. Because it's like his iconic hi,
hi. Yeah, he's been more conscious,
which means his highs, Yeah. Yeah, which means he he really
likes Jonathan Bailey. I mean, that's fair.
Jonathan Bailey Yeah, I'll say all all of the gays and the bot,
the gut gay men and the bye girlies, they get it.
So, yeah. So he tells Jack he's like a
huge fan and he wants to study classic literature at his
university probably. So it's like his absolute
passion. So Jack basically is a huge
inspiration for his passion. And when Jack science Charlie's
book, he tells him study hard. Don't ignore your Latin vocab,
which I thought was really cute because throwback to season 1,
there's a conversation, you kind of you miss it if you don't
pause. It's in episode 2 of Season 1.
Nick and Charlie have, like, this text conversation that you
see Charlie scroll through before Cal immediately says
Charlie, he's straight and in the text conversation.
Yeah. Wait, God, talk about does it
ever drive you crazy how fast the night changes?
Oh, my God. Oh.
My God. Jesus.
So literally in that text conversation, Nick finds out
that Charlie's studying Latin. Nick flat out calls Charlie a
nerd. He says you have been exposed as
a nerd. Charlie goes rude.
So what? Talk about full circle that
we've we've got. Nick's not only here with
Charlie at the lecture. He is supporting his partner in
his passion, letting him nerd out and embracing him as a nerd.
But Nick's an enabler in this sense because he bought the
freaking tickets. Mind you, he also he didn't just
buy Charlie's ticket, he bought himself a ticket to come with
Charlie, which is sweet. It's so cute.
So this is like, Nick, Nick Nelson just setting the bar
every single day. Like, so like, support your
partner and their passions. Hell, yeah.
I just thought that was the cutest thing.
It's just like, yeah, your boyfriend's a nerd and you love
it. Admit it.
You love it. He does so after Jack.
This is the part that made me cackle.
So Jack? Asks Nick.
Oh my God. If you can do anything for him,
like can he sign something, get a photo, whatever.
And Nick just suddenly gets so flustered because now he's being
addressed by this very attractive man who is right in
front of his face and is full of charm and he just is like gets
so flustered, gets stuttery. He doesn't even say the word
Mesopotamia, right? He says and something I don't
remember. And that part just made me
laugh. But first of all, kids acting
here, top notch because I got full on second hand
embarrassment watching this scene.
It was so freaking funny the way that he wheels around and like
full on smacks into this other poor random dude.
This guy's like so caught off guard.
That was my favorite part. He says nice, yeah, nice to meet
you. Thanks.
Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you.
Like says it multiple times and then smacks into this guy and
he's like trying to run away so. Cute dude you.
Poor thing. Nixon mood Charlie's also
Charlie's face the whole time during this interaction is just
like baby good. He's, he's just watching like.
This. Happening right now.
Like he's just amazed. I don't, I don't know if
Charlie's ever seen Nick get this flustered slash, like,
right, like speechless about anything.
Not that we've seen, at least, no.
And Nick? Nick just going, yeah, he's
really hot. You walk away, like, so much the
way that Charlie's probably feeling like, so smug, yes.
Like, he's probably feeling a combination of things.
Like he's probably so amused. He's probably overjoyed.
First of all, the fact that Nick is, like, sharing in the passion
with him and is embracing. And he can see, like, why
Charlie loves it so much. So Charlie's probably so happy
about that. But he's smug as hell because
there is no way in hell that he's ever letting Nick live this
one down, even if it's only ever mentioned between them.
If they just keep this between them, they never tell anybody
else. You know, he's going to bring it
up at some point. He's he's not going to let Nick
live that down because I was so. As you shouldn't.
This was hilarious because like Nick was being jealous AF at the
beginning of this and then Charlie's like yeah come around
to my way of thinking. Have you Nick, by the end of
this? Yeah, he's really hot.
Yeah, duh. Yeah, I.
Told ya well, Charlie. AM.
I getting replaced. Yeah, right.
Well, now it's something they can bond.
Over right? I mean, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, that was hilarious. Everything about that was really
funny. Such a funny scene.
It's amazing and such a cute scene.
Amazing acting by everybody honestly.
Yeah. Oh my God.
Anyway, I love that situation. OK, so like, all right, so then
we we we leave. The.
Sexy nerd man seminar. And then we head over to
Charlie's room and like, OK, when as to your point, when you
and your partner are fanboying over the same man, naturally
that sets the mood, right? So Nick and Charlie just roll
with that literally in Charlie's room and start like making out
aggressively in Charlie's beds. It's kind of like where we
started the episode. Plus, you know, Jonathan Bailey
or is his influence the ghost of Jonathan Bailey's in this room?
Not that he's a ghost, but like his essence is in the room.
It came with the book, right? So they start making out and
then Nick starts getting super handsy because they're alone
allegedly. And as this like kind of
happens, we start getting animations into Charlie's
mindset. OK, so we start seeing his
anxiety spiking when Nick starts like getting handsy basically.
And when I like about this scene, it's hard to watch
because just cause Charlie's anxiety.
But Charlie you can see like is fighting his anxiety his the
best that he can and he's trying to just like get past it to like
keep going because like deep down he does want to like keep
going when it comes to Nick, But like his anxiety is fighting
him. And so like, it's really hard to
watch Charlie be like, no, I can push through it.
I can push through it and it's just like it's not working.
And then it like gets to the breaking point when Nick tries
to or he asked to take Charlie's shirt off.
And that's like when Charlie's like, Nope, anxiety wins.
Anxiety wins. And Nick, to his credit, being a
good partner who's very good at communicating, does like, notice
at this point that Charlie is like, not OK.
And he tries to talk to Charlie about it.
But the theme of this episode is them boys get interrupted.
So Jane comes in, which is like the worst person to like walk in
on this because she induces anxiety in everybody in this
scene, not just where Nick is like scarred for life after
this. So Mama walks in and they spring
apart, but they're on the bed and they're they get visibly
panicking and Mama ain't blind. So she's like, you guys good.
And then she like awkwardly like talks to them and then like
leaves but leaves the door open because them boys were getting
handsy. But it's a nice subtle way of
like saying knock it off without being like, what were you doing,
having a conversation? Because maybe she's learning
that, oh, if I say anything right now, it's just going to
make things worse. I'll suddenly do it to get my
point across. But also, these are Waspy
people, they're not going to talk about sex out in the open.
That's just that, what white Anglo Saxons do.
She's going to be like you. Good.
Let's leave. Door open.
I'm down the hall. Just so you know, You know what
I mean. Yeah, I think also part of if I
remember from the comic side, I don't remember, I don't know how
much it's true to Cannon in the show, but in the comics, I think
part of why she really tries to enforce the bedroom door open
policy is like just like because of him, like with his relapse
and everything a few months ago, like just just trying to make
sure that you know, like whenever he shuts the door that
everything's fine. Like, you know, just it's mostly
just for her sake of like feeling at ease, I think.
And that's. Totally fair.
Like if Charlie had suicide ideation in the past, like, and
he's still on his recovery, like, that totally makes sense,
yeah. Yeah, I don't know how true it
is to like the show like in this camp in their minds, but.
Yeah. So.
That's a good point. Yeah, the the animation, I love
the way that it like it's so complex with there's the sparks
flying, but then there is the the stag that's like surrounding
Charlie. It starts to engulf him.
So it's like you can tell he's trying so hard to be present,
trying to like give in to the desire that he has for Nick in
the moment. But the static does continue to
kind of engulf him and he just can't quite get past it.
And I think, I think it's an interesting touch.
They modified from the comics how this scene is done, just
very slightly. There is this moment in the
comics where Charlie gets so deep into his own head that it's
just a single shot of him by himself, like curled in on
himself. And obviously, like the
animation is a little different to the comics because in the
comics there's a lot of specs are all around him that we see
where is in the in the show, it's more of like actual fuzz
and static. I think it's just to kind of
help demonstrate what's going on in his brain a lot more.
But we don't see that moment of Charlie wrapping himself like or
curling in on himself in the in the show.
And I wonder if it's because, like, I'm not sure, honestly.
I think maybe it's just because, like, it didn't seem necessary
for the sake of us understanding what's going on in Charlie's
head. Because we know we get it.
We've seen it. We've seen it earlier on in this
episode, So. But yeah.
Yeah, yeah, That's interesting. I'm not.
I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because we did get
the the mirror scene where Charlie was kind of like closing
himself off physically by grabbing his arm across his
chest. So like, yeah, maybe that was
supposed to be the replacement scene because for this scene, it
just kind of like goes from Charlie's anxiety to mom
interrupting to like them actually talking.
So maybe it just wasn't. It didn't flow.
Or maybe it just seemed like it was too intense for this moment,
honestly. Because in the comics too, in
the comics, they have just come home from school when they have
the scene happen. So in this moment, obviously,
like Charlie's probably still on a high of like, I just met my
celebrity crush. And also my boyfriend also
thinks the Sky's hot. So they just had like a lot of
fun where they just were. So maybe it wasn't, maybe it
kind of takes away from that because it's not as intense, but
they're still like the anxiety and the nerves.
Yeah. So.
Yeah, it definitely makes the transition into the rest of the
scene, like, less dark, less, you know, less heavy, even
though, like, I mean, big topic they're about to talk to.
So after Jane leaves, Charlie and Nick finally do talk about
like, the body dysmorphia a little bit.
And Charlie basically admits he's nervous about taking his
shirt off because he has scars and he doesn't have a six pack
like Jonathan Bailey does. And Nick, as always, the best
boy has the perfect response, which is I don't care about any
of that. And it really boils down to
like, you're the one that I want, Charlie, like it's you.
It's it has nothing to do with any of that stuff.
And that really eases Charlie's anxiety more than anything.
That was basically word Xanax, what Nick just did.
And it was so perfect because like in his head, like Nick, I
mean, Charlie was definitely like compare, just compare
himself to Nick a little bit. He's like, well, Nick's like
rugby fit and all this stuff. And I know why I I'm into him
physically. What the hell does he see in me?
We're so different body type wise.
And so to hear it directly from Nick to be like, it's you,
everything about you. Like basically is what Nick was
saying like was the perfect response for some for Charlie
truly in that moment. So now finally they're on the
same page about like, you know, the physical things so that
we'll we'll get to that in another episode.
But first we have to bookend this episode with therapy with
Jeff because that's how we started and that's how we're
going to end. Except this time I love that we
end with basically Jeff doing relationship therapy for him
because in the beginning they joked about that and Charles
like snack like what do I feel like I'm in relationship therapy
right now? Jeff's like maybe in like 10
years. But then they end the episode
basically with relationship therapy, which the irony of that
is hilarious to me. And then we get some shots like
of like, basically Jeff's office.
And we get this one really cute, like glimpse of like what's on
his desk or a shelf. I couldn't tell exactly.
But like, there's this really cute little card that somebody
made him, obviously that's like a thank you card and he's got
like the pride flag and like Jeff is so cute and just Oh my
God. I love it, it's I've seen the
progress pride flag there which just gives acceptance.
But it also tells it just like he's a beloved therapist by like
all his clients, not just like what we're seeing with not that
what we're seeing with Charlie is like a one off thing.
It's just like he's a very good therapist, which is very it just
a safe person. So I just love that about him.
So in this conversation, they get to the root of Charlie's
anxiety when it comes to all the bodies dysmorphia, maybe not the
dysmorphia, but like the what the block really is when it
comes to, you know, physical intimacy with Nick.
And it it has to do with the lack of control.
Because given Charlie's OCD, that makes total sense.
Like basically like having sex for the first time is something
that's kind of out of your control in in a lot of ways.
And, and it's very new and scary.
So for somebody with OCDI can't even imagine like, I think
that's part of it with Charlie. He's like, I would have to
relinquish a lot of control to Nick and like hope for the best.
And that can be very intimidating and scary.
Yeah. Plus, like back in Season 1, he
had like, Ben literally assaulted him.
So like, yeah, that is like as close as he's gotten to intimacy
in the worst way. Possible that's really true
where he had zero agency and 0 control.
Like, yeah, yeah, yeah. She probably has some PTSD from
that. And I think Charlie said, I
can't remember if it was in the scene of the beginning where
he's like, I don't want that basically what happened with
Ben. I don't want that to define me.
And it's so true. But like, you know, he's still
going to have these lingering fears that he's dealing with.
It's just, you know, it will take him some time kind of
thing. I mean, Jeff Beck basically
says, like, well, the key to trusting the key is trusting
Nick. So like basically Nick is not
Ben is the big, big bottom line. And like in order for that to
work, you 2 need to communicate, which they do.
And also like, and then he's like also as the dad in the
room, practice safe sex and like, I love her immediately.
He's like, there's free condoms outside.
Go get them. They're in the lobby.
Like like important. Like insert the teenage urge to
squirm during this part because like you look at Charlie and
he's just like, oh God, he just becomes a teenager in this
moment. He's like, I'm uncomfortable.
You're adult talking about sex, which I think is really so
funny. And Jeff reminds Charlie because
again, it's a, it's a lack of like confidence too on Charlie's
part. And he's like, listen, Charlie,
like you have confidence and he runs through the list.
He's like you told Nick you loved him first.
You asked Nick, you did all these things.
It's not like you don't have confidence.
Like it's the problem is like feeling confident sometimes and
he's like, and that's normal. It's basically a challenge that
everybody goes through and you're going to go through every
single day is like feeling confidence, but like know that
you have it in you to like do these things because you do just
like you have to like believe in yourself basically and feel it.
Yeah, Charlie is such a quietly confident guy.
I think he doesn't even agreed. Like you said, he doesn't even
realize it for most of this. Like to like queue back to
season 1, which we get the freaking flashback to get my
freaking feelings about that. Jesus where Nick and Charlie
have their first kiss because Charlie literally gets the
confidence to say like would you kiss me?
Like what my 14 year old asking never never.
But also like after that. Like standing up to Ben at the
end of season 1 and then again in season 2.
Standing up to Ben shutting, slamming the door in Harry's
face in season 2. This.
Boy's got like flashes of confidence that we see that I
don't even know if he realizes because he just has the emotion
in the moment and he's just past the point of giving a shit.
He's like, no, you've hurt me enough.
You're we're done. And I love that.
But it's clear that he hasn't seen like he doesn't see that.
I mean, it's hard to see yourself sometimes.
It's the outside looking in from people around you that can say,
like, you know, you've done this, this and this.
And if you don't realize, oh, yeah, I guess I did do that,
didn't I? So, yeah.
And so when he does say, I guess I just don't feel confident.
It's just like, I think you have it in you, Charlie.
Yeah, I mean, a good example from this, this episode is like
when Tara was having the panic attack, like Charlie had all the
confidence in the world in that moment to be like, breathe, do
this, do that. There is like no hesitation to
another. So like, you're right.
He has these moments where he exhibits confidence, but he
doesn't realize he's doing it is kind of the thing, like you
said. So good pep talk from Jeff.
Good relationship. I love how it ended with
relationship advice. Basically.
He's like, no, I don't need that from you.
And then yes, you do. But very cute.
And then at the end of like the, you know, mock down memory lane
montage, Charlie looks out the window and we see those animated
birds from like the comics slash Paris.
And that's where it ends. So like a hopeful like lovebird
note. Which is cute.
Yeah, that's where we end. That's where we end.
OK, so that was episode 6. So time for the big gay energy
Award. This one's hard, actually.
I'm going to give it to Sahar and Imogen for like having their
like conversation being like. Let me be fun.
OK, fun. I'm.
Going to restart that. Section.
My neighbors are also for some reason having a screaming match
next door. I'm just like why?
Why? Oh, my neighbors had like the
home feeder going on and there was just like booming going on
for most of today. It's just insane.
Like, you know other people live here, right?
Yeah, the neighbors downstairs yell A.
Lot OK. Sorry, Julie came home.
So. She wasn't going to stop
parking. OK.
I'll just start that over. OK.
Yeah. Big energy order.
OK, I'm going to give the big gay energy order to Sahar and
Imogen for their little confession scene and being like,
let's just be friends and work on our friendship.
So that took a lot to confess that they like, we're basically
each other's, like queer awakening in a way, and then are
just going to like, work on their relationship with each
other. I like that scene.
That was mine too. But more specifically, even
Imogen admitting that she was hurting Sahar.
And just like admitting everything.
Like Imogen has come so far. So she definitely deserves the
big gay energy award. Yeah.
Finally coming into her own. Going to give Michael the big
Dad energy award. Oh.
My God, Michael, hold it. Yeah.
That's a pull on that. Like he honestly like in the in
the sweetest way. He reminded me kind of of my dad
when we go camping when he said morning campers.
I'm like, my dad would do that. Yeah, that's cute.
He's. Such a dad.
So are you changing your Big Energy award to Big Bad Energy?
In this episode specifically, yes he is.
He is big dad energy. I love that.
I'll accept that. I accept that, Jane.
I, I like to think Michael will, at some point in his life, work
with kids like either be a teacher or be a counselor or
like or something. Could you imagine him being in
charge of a bunch of children? That'd be a my.
God. You're the best camp counselor
ever. He.
Really, wouldn't he would be in charge of like older middle like
high school kids and then randomly get thrust into having
to take care of like a group of elementary school kids and be
like, what is going on? OK, so wrapping up, if you made
it this far in the episode, we want to know, use this phrase in
a comment or review. Again, it'll be really funny if
you put this in a review. Today's secret phrase is sexy
Nerd man seminar. Is that what you said?
I don't. Remember.
I was going to be my runner up for the award was Sexy Nerd man.
Whatever. Jonathan Bailey.
Yeah. Sexy nerd man seminar.
That's that is what theor is it was it went through.
It was originally supposed to be Queers Intense, and then it was
going to be Mesopotamia, and then as soon as Theora said that
and Elena couldn't stop laughing.
She was like, that was it. We're.
Trying to go into the serious talk about this next scene.
I'm like, I can't stop, I'm sorry.
I gotta be serious. Now I'm just cackling over here.
That's funny. This is serious.
Elena, it's so serious. Yeah, we know it's a serious hi.
And this is so serious, but it's the end.
It is the end Sexy turn man seminars come to an end, so
we'll be back next time to discuss Episode 3 O 7, which is
the penultimate episode for season 3.
And until next time, everybody hydrate for lesbian.
Jesus and get it up all over the place.
Bye. And with that, we've been big
gay energy. Thank you for listening.
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