Hello and welcome to Big Gay Energy.
I'm Bree. I'm Theora.
And I'm Caitlin. Come along with us while we dive
into the fun and nuances of queer media.
Representation matters, and we're here to talk about it.
Cheers, queers. What's on the big gay agenda
today, Theora? Today we are talking about Heart
Stopper Season 2 Episode 7. Sorry.
It just. It made me think of the game.
The way you said that. But anyway, is that how you say
the game name? I have no idea.
I don't know. You're supposed to be like when
you, like, pick up a sorry. Like sorry.
I don't know actually how to play the game.
I guess it's not relevant. I think it depends on how you
play the game because I'm more competitive, so I'd be like
sorry bitch. So we haven't played a
competitive game together. That would be very interesting.
No, we've played friendship Co-op games.
Friendships might be broken if we both played an actual
competitive game together. Precisely.
So sorry. All right.
We're going to start. Early in the morning.
It's not actually early. It's midday and Tara and Darcy
are doing what they do best. They're kissing in Tara's bed.
Yes. They're very good.
At it. And Tara's mom respects her
privacy, so she actually knocks on the door, which I love.
And. Darcy rolls off the bed to
pretend that they weren't in bed together.
OK, but like roll is such a? Kind word.
She doesn't roll though. Like if you watch Tara, like
panic pushes Darcy and so she kind of like with that momentum
falls off the bed because yeah, mom's at the door stop being
gay. And also yeah, mom is also like
girls. It's like the afternoon.
What are you gonna are you alive and like good for them because
they're just being gay until noon.
So. They're getting hit up all day
long. Hydrate for them.
And I also love that Mom definitely pretends to not hear
Darcy loudly land on the floor, 'cause it's not like she's
subtly ninja, like, rolls onto the floor and everything's cool.
She's like, it's like boom. Darcy's on the floor.
You know, maybe she didn't. Hear it?
You don't know what she heard. Well.
Ma, I think Mom is aware of their relationship because she
knocks to be like, please stop doing whatever you're doing.
She's like, I do not need to know as much as I will probably
if I open this door right now right?
And she's like, there's a loud bang.
I don't need to know about that. Let's just move on and they
start talking for a bit and we get confirmation in the scene
that. Tara is out to her parents cause
Mom comments on it, but she's not out to her granny because
Granny would have a heart attack if she knew.
See now if you ever have an issue with Granny, that is
definitely the way to get back at her.
Just tell her and give her a heart attack.
Well, I don't even know if it's just that Tara's out.
I think it's that Tara's having sleepovers with her girlfriend.
So like, mom knows what's going on is the point here.
But Granny? Granny would tisk tisk at this?
All the way to the hospital. So let's not tell Granny other
things we get. This is the first time I think
we see Tara's room. On screen.
And it's adorable and like so colorful and bright and it just
fits her personality so well. There's like a there's like
stuffed unicorns all over the place, little like ballet dancer
stuff. And like with Nick, Tara does
have pictures of her and Darcy all over the walls, which is so
freaking cute. And it's next to a stuffed
Unicorn, which. Basically, if Darcy was a
stuffed animal like she would, she would be a pink Unicorn
stuffed animal. Let's keep it with a rainbow
tail. Yes, and a rainbow.
It has a rainbow horn too. So like, it's.
Oh, it does. Yes, it is Darcy the stuffed
animal. So I love it.
Darcy in stuffed animal form. Darcy the stuffed animal.
And the last thing in Tara's room.
That is important and foreshadowing and amazing.
Most important, right? The most important is the Taylor
Swift folklore poster. So we'll circle back to that in
the next episode cause foreshadowing.
Other thing I want to point out in this scene is so this this
episode allegedly like picks up very shortly after they get like
the Paris trip concludes. So it seems that like Darcy went
straight to Tara's house after the Paris trip, based on their
conversation. So I wonder if the text she got
from her mom while they're in the Louvre was basically like,
don't come back or or something nasty, cause like, we didn't see
it. We just saw Tara be like, hey,
is that your mom? And Darcy's like, yeah, fuck
that, whatever. So I'm just, I'm curious if that
was, like the catalyst for Darcy to be like, yeah, I'm not ready
to go home quite yet. You think?
She said don't come back? I I don't know, something along
the lines to make Darcy not want to come home, you know what I
mean? I don't know the exact text
'cause we never see it. I think it's probably just
something that she was, like really mad at her about
something. Like maybe she didn't clean or
something. Or like maybe she did something
before she left and she was just really mad and she's like, I
don't feel like dealing with this right now.
Maybe I'll just tell her that it the trip was extended.
I'm sure her mom doesn't care or know the length of the trip, to
be honest. That's fair.
But unfortunately, Darcy has to go home tonight, 'cause Tara's
mom's, like, enough with the sleepovers.
Like, you need to go home. Like, I'm a cool.
I'm a cool mom, but I'm not that cool.
Darcy, you gotta go home. Like it's been 84 years.
You gotta go home. I mean, Tara's mom should just
foster her at that point. I mean, yeah, I mean, but again,
they don't know the extent of Darcy's home life.
But. It is nice that Tara's mom's
being cool and letting them have sleepovers because like, I don't
think my mom would be that cool when I was their age.
So there's that. So yeah, well, that's nice.
While the girls are being gay, Nick is at home not having a
sleepover with his boyfriend, but instead he is reminiscing
about the Paris trip by scrolling through all of his
photos and he's like, got a huge smile on his face.
Because, Nick. Loves photos as memories, like
he's the one always taking them and here he is looking through
them. But his smile falters when he
come, when it comes across a particular photo.
And it's a photo of them at that dinner where Imogen basically
broke up with Ben in the most epic way possible.
And it's like Nick took a selfie and it's like of the whole table
and it's from the context clues, it's like the end of the meal
cause like everybody's plates are basically empty.
Except Charlie's. Charlie's plate looks like it
just arrived, cause Nick zooms in and he's like, oh, all of
Charlie's food is still there. So he realizes that Charlie's
eating disorder is still ongoing, even if Charlie isn't
talking about it. Well damn Fiora, so he gets
worried. What do you mean damn?
I didn't realize that. Yeah, he he zooms in on it in
the. Apparently I didn't pay
attention to that. There's that.
So yeah, Nick, it's Nick is still worried about Charlie,
cause Charlie's not talking to him about this.
But Nick, the ever observant protective boyfriend, is just
like, picking up on all the signs.
I love that Imogen is living her best life.
Yeah, I mean, she this is post Ben.
So she's thrilled to screw the misery.
Yep, she don't need that misery. And then Charlie is also alone
in his bed scrolling through Instagram when he gets a
notification from Ben. Because of course he doesn't,
and it says Saw Nick's post. Can we talk?
Wait. So he saw Nick's post.
Yeah 'cause Nick Nick's post Nick at the end of the last
episode posted about them. Oh.
Yeah. OK.
Got it. Yeah, so.
You don't deserve his time. Well, no.
Charlie swipes that notification away so fast and just sinks back
into his dark thoughts. So yeah, I mean, what Nick
doesn't seem to know, really is just how bad of a trigger Ben is
for Charlie's mental health, not just because of the stuff that,
like, went down with the two of them that Nick witnessed.
But everything proceeding to that with his outing and
bullying and stuff, and I feel like Ben is just a trigger for
all of that. And so, you know, he's looking
at all these happy memories he's having with Nick as he's trying
to, like, move on and try and get better.
Or at least like pretend like everything's better because he
hasn't fully processed everything.
He's just been stuck with it internally.
And so Ben is just that constant reminder of like the past and
like and like. He's not worthy and like all
this kind of stuff. So he just goes back into his
his, his bad thoughts, which is sad.
Poor little Charlie. I know.
I just. I want the best for him, I know.
Then, while all this is going on, Elle receives the news that
she got into Lambert and they chose her piece for their
exhibit and the exhibit's called Here and Queer.
Yeah, it's really great. Like like, what are the odds,
first of all, in a queer show? But it's super cute that, like,
you know this particular. So Ella's really trying to find
her place and she already kind of feels at home at Lambert just
by having gone through the like, sixth form welcome.
Like check this place out kind of thing.
But then to be invited, to be exhibited in this very like,
welcoming type of exhibit for specifically they put to
celebrate young queer and trans artists, it it must just be
like, OK, this is beyond a sign that this is where I need to go,
that this is where I belong. Like, I mean, I feel like
there's nothing more welcoming than that.
Exactly, Exactly. So it's just beyond perfect.
So I'm happy for Elle. So these are all pretty quick
scenes. And we head to Tao dancing.
Oh my God, it's the cutest fucking thing ever.
Tao is just so happy dancing. And then his mom walks in and
says that he looks so happy, which he does.
He is he. Is Tal lets her know that he and
Elle are together and his mom is so excited it's ridiculous.
I mean, she's their ship captain.
She has been for a while. And I love.
Exactly what she says to him, which is the perfect girl from
my perfect boy. It's just so fucking cute.
I want to hug Tal's mom and hurray for good parents.
Yes, hurray for good parents. Which positive Rep in this show?
For the most part by disliked Charlie's family, I think.
And. Darcy's.
And Darcy's and David. Fuck that guy and Nick's dad, I
guess. There's a lot of supportive
pairs that there's some fucking shitty ones do, but whatever.
But that's life. That's life.
Exactly. So And just like life.
Tao's mom is so excited that she's like, I have to, I have to
go call our entire family now, 'cause she's like, I've been
waiting for this cause. Like, OK, I think Tao's a lot
like his mom, 'cause like, in the sense that like, he, when
his feels are so big, he has to, like do something with them.
Hence why he was like physically dancing.
Tao's mom's like, my feels are so big right now.
I have to tell. Everyone.
It's the cutest fucking thing on the planet and I love it so
much, OK? So at this point, Elle texts the
group chat that her piece got into the art show, and Tao
immediately asks if she got into the school and got a place.
And I think I believe, she starts to say.
I got in. But she just decides to lie and
say not yet, she doesn't know. Yeah, they both go through that
thing where they're like, you see through text their they type
their first thought and they're like, I don't know.
And they backpedal. So like everybody else is like,
yeah, yay go L we have to shop and like get outfits to your
exhibit. We're so excited.
But Tao's first thought is, does that mean you're leaving?
Like, that's his first thought to like the exhibit, but then he
changes it and he's like. Did you get in?
Which means the same thing, but it's a nicer way of saying that.
And then L basically her first reaction is to be honest and
tell Tao, because they've been friends for I don't know how
long, but they're very close and they tell each other everything.
But to tell Tao that she understands that, like that
would make him upset. And she's like, well, I haven't.
I don't know, Maybe I won't go. Maybe I won't.
So she decides to just, like, keep it to herself while she
figures out what she really wants and like what's best for
her. So she's kind of like, no, not
yet. So basically, like they're in
this limbo of like, being fully honest with each other because
they're afraid of how the other one's gonna react, basically,
and what that would mean for whatever their relationship is
at this point. But also they just got happy.
No, exactly. And then, like, that's the
thing. It's like, oh, I just finally
got this thing I've wanted cause like, L has been pining forever
and Tao has been pining but didn't realize it forever.
So, like, to finally have that and then be like, oh man, it's
gonna go away in a few weeks or so.
Like that's scary, you know? Yeah.
So it's hard. It's a hard.
Let's just pretend it's not happening.
We'll pretend it's not happening and go to Nick's house.
Yeah, that's exactly where I was going with that.
Thank you. And the first thing I noticed,
apparently, is that Nellie is back.
That's what you always notice. Oh.
Nellie. Nellie was not in the season
enough. Just saying you should read the
books because Nick gets another dog.
But Nellie? Nellie's still there, but he
gets a puppy. OK.
Nellie's back. Nellie's back.
Happy Nellie. Thoughts.
Whoa. I love Nellie.
Nellie's such a good dog. She is.
But seriously, the books. Nick.
Nick gets another puppy. You should check that out.
What kind of? Puppy.
The pug they're. Not my favorite, but you know,
dogs are dogs. It's cute.
And sadly, sadly, Natalie's back.
But David never left. Gross.
I can, can we like. I know.
Ship him away. Can we turn him into the Pug?
That'd be great. With a better personality.
Yeah, anything's better than David.
Let's keep it real. But we have to have some tension
here. So, like, let's resolve this
nonsense. Fine.
So Nick asks if he can invite Charlie over when his dad comes
for dinner. Because if he has to be stuck
with his dad at dinner, you may as well have the first thing you
love with you. Yep, just saying.
And Olivia Coleman just goes all out and says they should.
Just invite his whole. Family and make it a dinner
party. They both really do not want to
be alone with his wife. No, Clearly or David.
They're like more people as buffers please, and we hate
them. What could possibly go wrong
with this entire family meeting together?
It's either be worried about what those two will say and
embarrassed to have anybody over, or just need the people
there so you don't have to listen to them.
No, exactly. The biggest burn is when David
bitches that Nick gets to invite someone and he doesn't.
He's like, Nick gets to bring somebody and Olivia Coleman's
like, do you have someone to invite David Crickets asked.
Invited If you asked. Yeah, probably.
You could bring anyone you wanted.
Well, I like Nick's smug face. Says it all, though, 'cause,
like the the point of this is is that David keeps ragging on Nick
for having a boyfriend. But Olivia Coleman's like, are
you dating anybody? Yeah, I didn't think so.
So why are you? Mad at Nick for being happy when
you're unhappy. That's really what this is.
It's like a jealous, envious thing from David.
That Nick is happy and he is not and he's alone and Nick has a
boyfriend. So that's what Olivia Coleman's
like. Bitch in your place.
Shut the fuck up. I thought was really funny.
Even his mom is like. David, you're so transparent.
I swear this is Olivia Coleman's episode.
Oh yeah, no, it's super is. Give her an Emmy for this
episode. 'Cause it's Olivia Coleman and.
If you are not for super familiar with Olivia Coleman,
just go listen to one of her like Oscar or Emmy acceptance
speeches. She doesn't notoriously does not
prepare for them as a way to like jinx herself for not
winning so that every time she gets on stage she just rambles
'cause there is no speech. So just go watch them.
They're hilarious. And endearing.
It's one place I love her. Yeah, I love Olivia.
Pullman She's the best. Hold.
On I'm sorry, just this side note, my favorite one is when
she didn't remember what movie she was promoting.
Yeah, Norton Show or something. She's the.
Best just. The movie in my.
Hair. She's like, why am I here?
I was just like on calendar B at this interview.
I don't know what the interview is about.
Like I just love her so much. Like she's I just do so much
work she does, but also like she's a such a hot mess in real
life and I just. Love it.
She's the actual best. She's great.
Speaking of what's great,
Speaking of great, we go back to the Spring Spring House and Tori
and Charlie are playing Mario Kart because of course they are.
It's like the it's like the spring family game is like to
play Mario Kart and as they're doing this.
Charlie is talking about how fun the Paris trip was and then he's
like Tori. You should have come too.
And Tori is my spirit animal because her response is summers
are for sleeping, not visiting old museums.
And like, girl, yes, that's such a Tori line.
I fucking love it. She's like, bitch.
No, I got to get my beauty rest. Fuck that shit.
I mean, I agree with the museum part.
I agree with sleeping. Summers for sleeping like Tori
gets it. I really hate sleeping anyway.
So Charlie gets the invite through text from Nick.
Oh my God, to invite. Oh my gosh.
OK, so Charlie gets the invite for his family to come over, and
Tori reminds him that Mom isn't Nick's biggest fan.
Like, come on, Mom. Well, to be fair, Charlie is
still not. He hasn't completed his school
homework. That's been lingering for like
months now. So and Charlie since.
From her point of view, like since Charlie has met Nick, her
perception 'cause she doesn't know Charlie really is that Nick
came into his life. Nick's now.
Charlie's not doing well in school now Charlie's not
listening to her and sneaking out and breaking rules.
So like, she's associating those two things together without
getting to the underlying cause of like.
What is actually going on with Charlie really doesn't have
anything to do with Nick at all. If anything, Nick helps Charlie
feel better and like that's why he's doing all these things
where his parents like are very surface level with with their
children and they don't really get to the crux of like what is
bothering them. Their communication is just
terrible in the spring household, with the exception of
Tori and Charlie. They're much better at
communicating with each other, but everybody else is really bad
at it, so. I get where she's coming from,
from like the limited information she has, but like
her, his parents don't really put a lot of effort into, like,
really understanding him. So here we are.
But Charlie is really hopeful that if mom comes to the dinner
party and actually spends times with Nick, which she has not
done, she's only heard about Nick in passing, then maybe that
will change her mind because Nick is a freaking golden
retriever. Who wouldn't love Nick after
like being in his presence for like 3 minutes?
Like he's the best, you know? And so we're very hopeful about
this. And then the moment is
completely ruined because Charlie's getting more instant
messages from Ben where he's like, hey, I saw you read the
message like, I need to talk to you.
Stop ignoring me. And Tori notices Charlie's
shifted mood immediately because Tori is very in tune with
Charlie. However, in classic Tori
fashion, she doesn't do anything.
She just sits there, but she notices that this is going on
with Charlie but doesn't act to like help or talk to him about
it, which is part of their dynamic a little bit.
I know I bring this up every single time, but why are we
texting on Instagram? Instagram is for sending reels
that remind you of someone else, right?
No, I don't understand why that is where we're texting
everybody. And like they have group chats
and like, like this Para Squad is a group chat, which like as
far as I'm aware is not an Instagram function.
So like, does Instagram does meta sponsor Hard Chopper?
Yeah, that is a valid question. No, I think there's Insta
mentioning in the book, but like, yeah, are they sponsoring
this show? Valid question because it's a
lot of Insta. And like, it's actually
Instagram. It's not like a fake social
media site that they're using. So after the spring, Spring
sibling stuff happens. That's when L posts on Instagram
about her Lambert exhibit that's coming up, and that's when the
Paris Squad group chat actually blows up.
Oh, we actually talked about this already, so we'll skip past
it. Everybody's first instinct with
texting and all that stuff. We actually just jumped ahead
our bad. How did that even happen?
I don't know, 'cause we couldn't remember.
OK, wait, also, but there is something from the scene that I
want to talk about that I forgot to talk about.
So everybody is in this Paris squad includes Sahar, and we get
a picture of Sahar in her room, which her room is also super
cool. And can we talk about what a bi
queenless woman is? Because like, look at her, she's
got a guitar and like, the rainbow flag on it.
And like, everything is just bi flag colors in her room.
Oh my gosh. I didn't even notice the rainbow
flag. Yeah, she's the freaking room's
awesome. I know her room is awesome.
And so the rooms are really reflective of their
personalities. And so, like, I want more Sahar
based on just this image. Like, she just looks so chaotic
and fun and I want more of her. That's all I'm saying.
I really want more of her. She's she's a really fun
character so far. Love it.
Love it.
And unfortunately we make our way to do our Darcy's house
after that. I mean, we need to because we
need to get into this. So Darcy stares at her house
before finally going in. Because if I didn't want to go
home to that shit, I would also just stare.
Get Me Out of here. Anyway, there are ominous clouds
foreshadowing Terrible things are ahead.
I yeah, I love the cloud detail because if you look at it, her
house is like in the middle of these other houses that look a
identical. So it's just like, on the
surface it looks like a very ordinary, unassuming house, but
inside the home it does not match the exterior.
And I think that's a really great metaphor for Darcy at this
point because on the surface and on the outside, she looks like a
normal, happy, confident girl, but inside, like she's not.
OK. So I do love this.
I think it very much mirrors her journey and how, like, easy it
is to just like miss when somebody's going through
something. Because on the surface they look
perfectly fine. And like, you would never know
by looking at this house that, like, how toxic it is inside.
You know, unless you saw the ominous clouds, which we can't.
Unless you had some mushrooms that allowed you to see these.
Yeah, unless you're on drugs and you're like, what's that purple
cloud there? That house is weird.
Which, I mean, if you're doing that, do you and call 911 or
something? I'm just picturing this person
in an ambulance. Going to the hospital like
there's a purple cloud, there's a pink Unicorn.
You would get more drugs to make you stop hallucinating so it
wouldn't be effective, but I'm saying try and be a Good
Samaritan, you know? Yeah, well, let's leave the
house. And the ominous clouds.
And let's go. All those shopping?
Yeah. So the Paris squad is really
excited for Elle and they want to get art show and prom
outfits. They have a lot going on where
they need clothes, so they go like thrifting basically, and
nothing they already have will work.
Obviously not well. Do you have a prom outfit just
laying around? If you've never been to a prom
before, like now, so this is an excuse to get out.
And then for the art show, yeah, this is an excuse to get out and
do something. It's classic classic teenager
stuff. So they're all kind of like
going together. And immediately, Isaac announces
that he's going to break off from the group to meet up with
James, because they left things very weirdly.
In the last episode with their kiss.
So Isaac needs to go talk to James to clear that up.
Totally understandable. Nobody else seems to know the
context of what's going on with Isaac.
I don't think he told anybody because Darcy very excitedly
squeals. Oh my God, they're gonna kiss.
And Isaac is like, that's why I need to go talk to him because
and fuck you guys. And he sulks away basically.
So I feel bad. His friends are not very
observant in that aspect because they don't understand that
people don't want to be with other people.
Like they all need to be coupled up at all.
Times, yeah. And also I nobody has noticed
what is going on with him, period.
And asked him about it and he hasn't.
And I don't think he's close enough to any of them when it
comes to this topic to talk to him, which is why he seeks out
James. But it's sad, 'cause like,
they're his close friends and he doesn't feel comfortable enough
talking to them about it. And it's very clear in the scene
that that's what's going on. He definitely cares about other
people more than just himself. So maybe he's just, like, never
shared problems with them before.
Maybe they're just not used to it.
Which, I mean, someone needs to realize that he's not.
OK. Well, also like Isaac, you know,
the bookworm is very much a character that's in his head.
So, you know, I would assume he's trying to work it out
himself first before he talks to other people, if he's planning
on talking to other people. So he's also could just not be
ready for that. And like, this reaction from his
friends is really not helping him and his current, like,
mindset, you know? Yeah, Yeah.
But Darcy finds a suit for prom during shopping, and Tara says
she has to try it on because she needs to see Darcy in it.
Like, let's be real. Yeah, I mean, correction, Tara
finds the suit for Darcy, not the other way around.
And then she's like, you need to try this on, Darcy protests a
little bit. But Tara talks her into it
because Tara likes women in suits, which is relatable.
Tara is a woman who knows what she wants.
And she's like, you're my woman and I want you to wear this,
Please wear this right now. She's like, it matches my dress.
So like, it's meant to be Put this on right now.
Also she's like, I could see you in it already.
Yes. And also notably like I'm
currently I'm making my way through all of Alice Alice's
books and I'm reading the Heartstopper yearbook, which is
basically like Alice basically published this thing and it's
like an evolution of how she evolution of Heartstopper from
where it started to where it ended and her drawings along the
way. And it's really interesting.
And she has little character BIOS and drawings.
And notably, a character trait of Darcy is that she does hate
dresses. So, like, there was no way in
hell she was going to wear a dress.
She was going to wear a suit anyway.
So this could also just be like Tara, like pumping her up to be
like, yeah, no, it's OK do it. I know you want to do this.
Do it. But also Tara's like do it for
me. I mean, we also see later why
she's like a little hesitant to wear a suit as well.
Yeah, totally. But it is notably a character
trait of Darcy's from the author.
So and while all that is happening, Charlie is still
being bombarded with messages from Missouri.
Yes, Ben just won't leave him alone.
Well, it's again, none of this is like I want to clear the air
and this and that. It's just I have things to say
to you, Charlie, let me say them to you.
That's basically his messages. It's Ben centering himself at
the expense of Charlie's mental health, who is not responding.
So like you would take the hit, but Ben is all about Ben.
I don't think Ben has ever thought it was necessary or even
tried to think of someone else. Yeah, exactly.
That is his and I'm still I'm. I'm kind of convinced that's
because his parents don't really care about him.
So I'm so convinced that that is his parents dynamic.
It's dad. It's dad above everybody else.
And so I think he's that's what he has learned at home and he's
going to stick to that and not like stray away from it.
That is my assumption. And that is a fair assumption.
Yeah, that's why the patriarchy is toxic and a problem.
Freaking patriarchy. Patriarchal bullshit.
That's my favorite saying anyway.
It's a motto. Down with the patriarchal
bullshit that is now a sticker. Not actually, but we should make
that sticker. Yeah, there is just Google.
So to get rid of this misery, Nick.
Nick doesn't know about it, but this is.
We're getting rid of the misery by seeing this.
Nick asked Charlie to prom. Finally.
Oh my God, it's so freaking cute the way he does it.
And Charlie's super happy about it.
And which is notable because we don't get a lot of super happy
Charlie moments in this season. But one of the first things
Charlie brings up after the initial happiness is, well, we
might draw a lot of attention. So Charlie is just like ratting
on himself basically that he, you know, is worried about the
attention that them being out together will bring.
Even though, like, he's initially happy that, yeah, I
get to be out in public at prom with my boyfriend, which is what
Charlie does want. But he's like attention equals
bullying, I think. So he's still very much aware
that that's a possibility and I think is afraid of it for
himself and also for Nick, you know, But Nick's like, that'll
be fine, Let's just do it. And Charlie's like, OK, fine,
but we are not wearing matching suits.
We are not twinning as gays. Absolutely not.
We are not those gays. We are not those gays.
And Nick's. Like, yeah, obviously.
And like, OK, I have as a gay, I have to say that, like, my wife
does not care about that. And so, like, she will wear
clothes where we look similar, and then I will go change,
'cause I'm like, is that what you're wearing?
We're not doing this. So I will go change my clothes.
So we are not twinning 'cause it's weird.
Is it weird? Yes, because then you get the
are you guys siblings? Which you're gonna get that
anyway, No. Well, it's more likely you'll
get it if you look similar. So I'm like, we're not wearing
the same color, we're not wearing the same clothes.
Let's change so we look different.
We got to draw the line somewhere, Caitlin, so I
understand where Charlie is coming from in this scene.
That's funny. I can see that happening now.
It happens all the time. So while that is happening, Ella
is trying to find a dress for the art exhibit, and while Darcy
is trying on the suit, Tara finds out that Elle did get into
the school. Yep, So she gets Elle to admit
that she hasn't told anyone because she doesn't know how Tao
will take the news, which is, Which is fair because, you know,
he's been pretty unpredictable. I feel like this season like
she's been like, where the hell did you go?
And he's just, he's in love. He is.
And also, like we as the audience saw his first reaction,
his first reaction to just her being an exhibit is are you
leaving? So it's very much on both of
their minds when it comes to this school.
So she's not wrong. I love the dress she picks out,
'cause to me it's super foreshadowing, 'cause if you
look at it, the dress she picks out has butterflies on it of.
Course it does, yes, because butterflies is Tao and L's love
cartoon, I guess an art stopper. And so to me, the wardrobe is
very indicative of, like, her state of mind, because she's
again stuck between choosing art college and potentially staying
at Higgs to stay closer to Tao, which don't stay anywhere for
anybody. Yes, but I love the thing that
she says to Tara when they're talking about the dress.
Cause Tara's like, Oh my God, you look amazing.
Which, yes, but Ella's like, I like this dress, but I don't
think this is the one. So I think by saying that in
that dress, Elle is admitting that she's gonna pick art school
over Tao. So I think this is a very
foreshadowing scene. Oh, that's interesting.
Yeah, you're really good with the butterflies.
I like symbolism and foreshadowing and things like
that and picking it out. So 'cause like, if you think
about it like these, the clothing, the sets, the colors,
it's all very deliberate. There are people who are paid to
literally just think about these things in the context of the
show, and they have the full script.
So I think this is very intentional about Elle's
headspace, what she's going to choose when she's being honest
because she's being honest about the dress.
Like it's just how I feel about it, but I think it's a has a
deeper meaning, like I said so after that.
Because remember, as Caitlin pointed out, Darcy has been
getting her suit on this whole time.
So she exits the dressing room after this conversation and Tara
is impressed with a capital I and like according to Sapphic
law, when your girlfriend approves of an outfit, you're
legally obligated to buy it. Darcy.
Those are the rules, girl. Did you not read the Sappho
Bible? Because you have to buy the
suit. Now that's just.
Does that exist in? Real life.
Tara's face, jaw on the floor. She is so excited.
She's like, yes, wear that every single.
Day. I can just see them hanging out
like watching movies in pajamas and then Darcy just puts on the
suit randomly blazer on. But like, I'm gonna hydrate for
lesbian Jesus cause. OK, Tara got it bad.
But no matter how much he wants to buy it, Darcy doesn't have
enough money for the suit. Yeah.
And this is, I love that if everybody's like, you need the
suit, so everybody's face money. To help her buy it.
Everyone else has read the Bible, according to Sappho, so
they get it. They're like, well, but legally
you have to buy this dress. So we will help you so you don't
go to queer jail. Yeah, it looks like they're
trying to buy her out of like a ticket or something.
It's super cute. They'll be like, OK, the look on
Darcy's face when they cause 'cause like immediately she's
like, oh fuck, because she can't be like, hey mom, I wanna buy
this suit for obvious reasons. One, I don't think her mom's
gonna give her money for a prom outfit no matter what it is.
And two, like this what we see later.
Mom would never give her money for this because she burned the
Sappo Bible. She's like, fuck this blasphemy.
So that was never going to happen.
So Darcy I think is like, fuck, I'm going to be let down.
I want the suit for me, but also I'm letting down Tara and like,
this is about Tara and this kind of stuff.
So to have her friends immediately jump in and fulfill
the role that a parent should, I think is overwhelming.
She just looks overwhelmed when they start like handing money
and pulling it together. And and I feel like this type of
hat, this type of support and kindness is really rare in
Darcy's life, which is upsetting to me.
It's just sad. But it's good that she has again
a found family that is going to support her versus her blood
relatives that do not. I like that she's getting to
experience it exactly. And just leave the look on her
face as just so like, I can't believe this is happening.
And she's so overwhelmed. Like she's just like, wow, she's
a puppy. She's a very hyperactive puppy
and she can't kick the puppy I don't want.
People stop kicking the puppy though.
She's this little starving puppy like, feed her.
But Speaking of sad puppies, we go over to Isaac, who's visiting
James at the bookstore, and the first shot of Isaac is just him
sitting. Like the first of all, this
bookstore is really cool looking.
I wish I could go here. It's cute and adorable and Isaac
is sitting in like kind of in the middle of the store or
towards the front on this little couch by himself or a love seat.
Sorry. And in the first shot as Isaac
by himself, really lost in thought and like, rubbing his
hands together. And I imagine, like, Isaac's
been thinking about how to have this conversation with James
since the kiss happened, because like I mentioned earlier, Isaac
is just a very internal character.
He's very quiet. He speaks very rarely, but when
he says it, when he talks, it's very poignant and like to the
point and stuff. So I think that he's just been
internalizing this the whole time and still is not doesn't
feel super comfortable having this conversation because it's
hard for him. And before they get into the big
talk, when James finally comes over, it's very cute.
They have like a cute bonding moment before they get to like
the the heavy stuff and they bond over this customer that
James was busy with who's buying a bunch of Penguin classics and
Isaac is just like Oh my God, life goals.
And I love that they have this cute little light hearted moment
together. To me it demonstrates that their
friendship was deeper than the crush because they they have
this like you know, very important hobby in common.
The two of them that they can talk about that Isaac does not
have with his with the Paris squad.
So to me. It gives me hope that they're
going to remain really good friends after the crush thing
kind of fades. So I do like that this little
moment is in here with them. I think this is my favorite
movement between them. Oh my.
Gosh, it's so cute. It's so cute and beautiful, and
we don't get a lot of James, but this scene really, like, speaks
to how good of a friend he is and how good of a person he is.
So I do love, I love this scene and it's in like, there's like a
safe space for Isaac, right? Like the bookstore.
That's his like, happy place, you know?
So it's a beautiful, I love the scene, period.
And then after they make this, the little small talk that is,
you know, their whole world, James says that he guesses that
Isaac doesn't like him the way that he does, which is
unfortunately true for James. Yes.
And because Isaac explains that he doesn't understand how he
feels. Yeah, I love the full line that
he says. He says, I don't understand how
I'm supposed to feel when I have a crush on someone.
You know, I read all these books about people who fall in love,
and I still have absolutely no idea.
Like, I feel like that's really relatable.
Yeah. Like I love that line because it
highlights like how romance and like sex really is just in the
modern times. It's just really a plot Pope
plot. A focused plot.
Sorry words in so much of media. So like if you are arrow Ace
like it's not relatable really where you're like, I don't I
don't feel that. I would imagine it's not
relatable and probably really confusing because you're like, I
keep reading this and the message is always like find
love, find true love. But it's like this doesn't fit
how I feel so I don't, I don't understand this.
Yeah, it must be more confusing for Isaac, I would think.
Yeah definitely more confusing. But like even like every like
piece of media makes, it's like knowing how you feel.
Seem easy. Dating, kissing everything is
like everyone knows how to do these things.
Totally. But.
And then when you, if you have trouble with any of it, you're
like, what is wrong with me? Yeah, exactly.
And I like that that's depicted a little bit with like the Tao L
relationship when they remember their first kiss and they're
just like, I don't know what I'm doing.
I love that that's in here because it's that's more
realistic than just being like, yes, I'm in a Tao not knowing
how to date. Yeah, their first date, not
knowing what to do. Like that's more relatable than
like what you would read in most books, which is just like, I
know how to do this. You know, I'm, I'm a player.
Like, I'm really good at all this.
I've never been on a date. Yeah, it's like you're 14.
Like, get out of here. Yeah, these teenagers are really
advanced, especially if you watch the propaganda that is
American TV shows about teenagers where they're all
millionaires. And yeah, it's like sex feeds
and it's like you're 15. Like, what is this that I what
am I watching? This is ridiculous.
I hate it so much. Yeah, it's, you know what?
The most relatable, like teenage high school show is where it's
like, yes, these are fucking dumb ass teenagers.
It's the Dairy girls. That's exactly what teenagers
are like. Like go watch the Dairy Girls,
OK, First of all, there's queerness in it, and second of
all, it's very little, very little queerness.
Oh, it's there, It's there, it's there.
But yeah, like that. That is.
That is what teenagers are not whatever like Riverdale or
whatever the fucking US equivalent is.
It's just I forget what the annoying who the character's
name is. That is queer Claire.
Who's Claire? I love Claire.
I want Claire. She's a spoiler.
Sorry, sorry. I love all of them.
They're adorable. But yeah, that's what teenagers
are really like. And I think that this show has a
good is more realistic about what teenagers are actually like
anyhow. Also, teenagers are never played
by teenagers. That's.
I find that extremely fucking annoying.
They're always. Played by I mean, I understand
from like legal and school and all that.
Like there's a lot of behind the scenes stuff to explain with
that, but I get that too. But I also hate it.
But like get as young as possible.
Yes. Anyway, Isaac feels like
something is wrong with him because he didn't feel anything
when he and James kissed. Because in the books, they're
supposed to be freaking fireworks, right?
And James follows this with there's nothing wrong with you.
You probably just haven't found the right person yet.
And I feel like James is saying this because, you know, that's
the sexual propaganda, like where romance is above all kind
of thing. And it So to me it feels like he
said this in a supportive way and it applies to most people.
But in this case, it's dismissive of asexuality and
it's probably way more confusing to Isaac than it is helpful for
him to hear this where it's just like there's nothing wrong with
you but like, try again. And Isaac is like, I keep trying
and I don't. It does doesn't seem like this
is something the math isn't math in here.
I think the biggest cause of this is that there's no
representation, which is why heart stopper's so important
because like obviously we're there's not a lot of non binary
representation, asexuality representation.
So this is not how we think and we need to see more of it.
So good job heart Stopper. To be fair, heart stopper was
created by an asexual author. So, like, yeah, Alice is
asexual. So, like, that's why I think,
well, OK, so it actually is pretty funny with Alice because
when she first published Solitaire, which is the first
book in the The Generated Heart Stopper, because it's Tori's
story, she was 14. So first of all, she's a genius.
Yeah, she's 14. Yeah, she's ridiculous.
First of all, there's that. That was her first novel and.
And got published at 14. Yeah, yeah, like she's
ridiculous. She's ridiculous.
Yeah. She's like really young.
She's in her like early 20s right now with, yeah, she's like
a literal genius. So she published her the
Solitaire super young. And when she wrote it, like she,
she published it in the UK and then it got really big.
And then she like, republished it in the US And at that point,
I think she made changes a little bit to some of the
characters. Like one of the characters,
she's like, oh, I define them as pansexual later on because she
says I didn't have the language to really understand how to
describe this character. And I didn't have the exposure
basically to other types of sexuality.
And so, like, in hindsight, when she was looking at that book,
she's like, it's so obvious to me that, like, this character
was coded pansexual and this other character was coded
asexual. And I'm like, I should have see
in the writing on the wall because I didn't know what I was
at the time I was writing this. But like, I was clearly writing
how I felt, you know? And I was going to bring this up
later, but I'll just kind of bring it up now for when in
Isaac's like coming out moment later.
My first read on Isaac coming out, and even in this moment is
that he doesn't have the language to describe how he
feels like. He doesn't have the language for
asexuality, so he doesn't understand it.
To put the label on cause like labels can be problematic, but I
feel like language can be powerful for some people.
So if you can have a word or words to describe how you feel,
that is very empowering. And so for Isaac, he's like, I
have these feelings or lack of feelings and I don't know if
something's wrong with me or there's some way to describe me.
So I think to me that's my first read, that's what's going on
with him. But if you think about with
Isaac, whom Alice wrote into this book or into the show based
on a different character, but a lot of it wasn't really focused
on on the on Allred, the other character, she's doing a lot
more about focusing on the asexuality journey with Isaac.
So this is after Alice has kind of figured out who she is after
she has a better insight into that.
And I think Isaac is more of a stand in character for her
compared to the ones she's written in the past.
I should know this. Does she write on the show?
Yeah. OK yeah.
She she was very heavy in writing.
Like she has written it in interviews.
She's like, I'm writing heart stopper, like she's heavy-handed
in the show. So yeah, this is everything with
Isaac is very deliberate from an asexual person who has gone
through that experience. And what I find sad about Isaac,
and I think this is a link to Alice, because if you think
about Isaac not having the language for asexuality, that is
really sad because he is an avid reader of queer books.
OK, so if you have somebody who's constantly consuming queer
media and doesn't know what asexuality is, that really
speaks to the bigger problem of their not being good or enough
representation for this type of sexuality.
Cause Isaac has never come across it and he reads like
thousands of books. You know, but I swear we see him
reading a book about being ace. Was it or was it the bisexual
book? I swear it was the ace.
I will have to go back and look, But I swear like, 'cause I saw
the cover again during the when they were doing the book
display. And I'm like, that's the book
that he was reading. So I swear he read it before.
I find that so weird cuz like that's how his dirty reads.
But I mean is it how many Ace characters can you think of in
queer media? I think we got like 3 on Earth
on our thing that we were doing. Yeah, we were trying to do an
episode about Ace rap, but it kind of fell through.
Well, that's not even the one I was talking about.
Yeah, yeah, we're still working on.
If anybody's got ideas, feel free to put them in chat.
And if you can represent them as well, let us know.
Yeah 'cause we were gonna talk to Bree's sister who is ace, and
that did not work out, so we'll keep trying.
But yes, because it's important. It is important, but yeah,
basically not many, which is the unfortunate thing.
But I love that Alice is like, fuck that because in this scene.
If you look behind Isaac and James, there is a book on
display that's got like a purple pinkish cover.
And I'm pretty sure the book is Loveless by Alice, which again,
kudos girl plug for your own book.
But it's really appropriate for the scene because it's basically
the book about an asexual or like a romantic relationship.
So it's like perfect in a in a conversation where it's almost
like, I don't know what I am, I don't understand me.
And there's this book to be like, hey, this representation
exists, 'cause I'm trying to put it out there, like, love it, I
haven't. Have you read this one?
Oh, you haven't you? Cool, you just answered my
question. No, I haven't.
I haven't read that and I haven't read Radio Silence.
Oh, for our friend on YouTube who pointed out.
First of all, thank you for all of the comments you keep leaving
us. They make our day and I'm.
Glad we have a few people doing in depth comments.
Yes. Oh my.
It's really nice. It's so nice because I love
hearing everybody's thoughts and plus you guys actually have
experience with the UK schooling system.
So thank you. We're trying we're trying so
hard you want to slap in the face.
So Bree, our other Co host, which if you've only watched
Heartstopper, you've never seen Bree because Bree's not into
Heartstopper so she's not here. Bree was like, oh I I understand
this UK schooling system and we're like girl, where the fuck
were you in the episodes? So you could explain this shit
to us if you understand this. So Bree left us.
We need to just interview her about the school.
Jesus. Christ.
So that was fun to learn in high set after we there's a reason
there's three of us for this stuff anyway.
Yeah, usually there's three of us, but not for this.
But I did read this winter. It's adorable.
It's it's fucking adorable. Like it's basically like, like
you pointed out, it it's really good for highlighting the
sibling relationships and there's PO VS from all the
spring siblings. So it's adorable.
Oh, yeah. In the book, they have a younger
brother. Oh, that's right.
That's right. Yeah.
So. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I started solitaire. So yeah.
So it's really, it's really, really cute.
And if you guys are interested, Caitlyn and I were toying with
the idea of like, during the hiatus covering more of Alice's
books until we get until season three comes about because
they're honestly so good. She's a freaking genius.
So if you're interested in that, let.
Us know Theoras been getting to them very quick.
They're easy to read. They're like 200 pages, like
they're super easy books to read and I love them.
She's a really good, great, great writer and everything is
super queer, so it's really, really fun.
But yeah, Loveless I will add to this list.
And the other one is Radio Silence, which is the one I
think about Allred, who's like the Isaac character in the
books. But I haven't gotten there.
I just don't have time anyhow. That's that's now that we went
off on that rant. It was all important.
It was. I was going to talk about it.
Everything. We say is important the art.
No, I was not every single word, but here all the words
Beelzebub. Oh shit.
You don't have a selling challenge, do you?
Wonderful. I forgot about it.
Thank you. OK, so that's something else for
me to think about while we finish this.
They do. Anyway, anyway, Isaac finishes
up his conversation and heads back to the gang.
And of course it's. I feel like at this point
Isaac's dreading going back to them because the gang is
bombarding Isaac with questions. And James Isaac is frustrated.
I cannot keep characters names straight and knows apparently.
Oh, I don't know what's wrong with me.
Anyway, Isaac is so frustrated that he just yells at them to
shut up and leave him alone. And you know what?
Good for him. For standing up for himself.
Yeah, no, for real. But also it's like sad that we
just watched a scene where he received a bunch of support for
from James and like is not receiving that kind of same
support from his friend group. Cause like he shows up and he's
clearly like not happy, like he's just kind of like down a
little bit. I don't know.
To me, this scene kind of like again reinforces that like, he
can't really confide in them when it comes to this 'cause
they just don't understand also. Like, I know that James is into
Isaac, but even before that, like when they were just friends
friends, he's always been the only one who's seen him.
Yeah. Totally.
It just it really makes me sad. That the others aren't like,
they're too wrapped up in themselves.
Yes, they're wrapped up in their own couple drama that they
exclude him. And I think that's part of his
frustration here, 'cause he's just like, I understand, like
part of his. What he says here too is like,
just because I don't have couple, I don't need couple
drama to make me interesting to you guys.
Like, I know that's what you guys care about.
It's basically what the crux of what he says.
And he just storms always like, fuck this shit.
You know what? I I wouldn't understand most
things, but I would talk to you all day about books.
For real. I want to.
You definitely would love to talk to Isaac about books.
Like dream, I want to be James. I can be friends with Isaac.
I get that side note though in the scene.
So it's like raining and everybody has umbrellas.
Darcy and Tara, for some reason have the a pansexual umbrella.
Which I find really funny. Not funny, but like.
Like, hey, we're not talking about pansexuality because that
character doesn't show up in these this, this show.
But yeah, Rep yeah, maybe. Maybe in the.
Character's pan do you know, do I you know in the show?
So I wouldn't know. It's only in solitaire like if
if so if I finish reading the book I'll know yeah you'll know.
Well if you start the book it's like towards the beginning.
Yeah I probably know and I just don't remember an off handed
line but it's what a Tori's friends.
So I don't know how much of Tori they're really going to include
in Heart Stopper cause Alice has basically said like Tori's story
is done, she's more like a side Comic Relief.
At least tell us it's diet Lemonade Uh huh At least mention
that it's diet Lemonade. I know it's never mentioned, but
yeah Tori is more she said in the show is in Heart stopper in
particular. She's more like a side character
in there for like supporting Charlie, not her own thing.
So I don't know. I just want more like shots of
her, like just randomly in the background, just like, hide her,
like, where's Waldo in the background on things?
Yep, there's there's one coming up in soon.
So I love the Tori spotting spottings.
They're hilarious. So from here, Yep, we go to the
art exhibition. Yeah.
So after that, it's like, finally art, art exhibition
time. And it's called Here and Queer.
And I love the gangs, mutual looks of wonder when they walk
in. It's almost like entering this
magical place filled with color and life.
And it's it's almost like a safe space for all of them.
It's like, oh, surrounded by people just like me.
And everybody's just like, so happy when they walk in this
room. Which I get.
It's like coming out for the first time, like it's like
under, like accepting yourself and just.
The whole world, it's just, I mean if you don't pay attention
to the the, you know, those people, the whole world is
amazing. So I think there's something
interesting, like I think it's interesting you said coming out.
So there's this other way to frame it that I've heard.
Instead of like coming out, it's more like coming in, like coming
into your queerness versus like, yeah, that's interesting,
projecting outward and that feels more like this scene
you're coming in. And just like, I can exist in
this safe space just as me. I don't have to, like, be like,
yes, I'm bisexual. Actually.
Like, yes, I'm bisexual, actually.
Like, it's not that, like explaining it to straight people
think it's just like, I can just be me here.
And like, I don't have to explain anything.
Everybody just kind of gets it and I can just relax.
So it's more like coming in versus coming out and just it's
just, it's a magical, cute little moment of just like home,
you know? But isn't this the place where
Imogen finds out that it's a horror is by or look at there.
Look at there. No, I was just saying because
you're like, I don't have to you, you don't have to say it.
But then I just thought it was ironic.
Imogen is think she's. Imogen is an ally, right.
An ally. Anyway, so like, yeah, the game
walks into their safe space, which is the here and queer
exhibit which is exactly what Elle has named her piece.
So I think those two things go together.
Oh yeah. Also, OK, OK.
Anyway, so right away someone let it slip that Elle will be
going there in September. Isn't that like, the principle?
And somebody who already goes to Lambert is just like, we're so
excited you're here to exhibit your artwork and we can't wait
to see what you're going to produce in September.
So like somebody who knew that they were, she would tell them
before she brought them somewhere that she was going to
go to. I mean, to be fair, I don't
think she was expecting anyone to say, oh, can't wait to see
you in the fall, but it is a possibility, right?
Totally. Yes.
So yeah, but like bottom line, by told people, she should have
told Tao, 'cause he looks completely shell shocked when he
finds out that that is indeed what happened.
You don't want someone like that you're with to find out that
you're leaving them. No, he looks, even if it's not
like, literally so sad. He's a sad little puppy here.
And like, the immediate shot after that is Elle's face and
it's like clear that she fucked up.
She's like, oh, I done fucked up.
But before she can like, console a very clearly distraught Tao,
Naomi and Felix swoop in and they're just like, yeah, girl,
Congrats, can't wait to go to school together and stuff.
So yeah, that is left unresolved and I can't wait to see more of
the three of them. Agreed.
Hopefully we do. I would like to know more about
Felix because I feel like we don't know a goddamn thing about
Felix. So season three, please.
So before any of that can get resolved, we cut over, we follow
Isaac. So everybody kind of, like,
splits up and Isaac wanders off on his own in true Isaac fashion
because that's what he does and he is immediately drawn to one
of the art installations. And it's basically like this,
like hanging installation with a bunch of like, cards with like
hearts on them and they're upside down and all this kind of
stuff. And it's like love flipped on
its head is basically what it looks like to me.
And he's immediately drawn to this.
And the beautiful thing is that Isaac doesn't know why.
He just knows that he loves it. And to me, that's a call back to
what Nick said to Elle in the last episode.
When they're in the Louvre and and when he said you don't have
to like when they're looking at the art.
And he's like, well, you don't have to understand your feelings
completely to know that you like something.
And to me, that's exactly what's happening with Isaac.
He knows that he likes his art, but he doesn't understand and
he's having feelings towards it, but he doesn't understand why.
And that's exactly what's happening.
Theor is so smart. That's a really good like.
Parallels Yeah, we'll go with that word 'cause I couldn't
figure out what word I was trying to say.
You quoting something? No, I'm just saying parallels.
So after a beat of Isaac just kind of standing there, the
artist himself or artist themselves actually don't know
their pronouns. Mosey's on up to Isaac and
explains what the installation is all about.
And it's about their experience being aromantic and asexual.
And I adore the artist's interpretation of their work.
And so I'm going to quote what they said, being in a world
where romance and sex are prized above everything else, but you
don't feel those forms of attraction growing up, feeling
something about you is different, but not having the
words to describe what it is. So I kind of talked about this
earlier, but basically sentiments like this for me I
think is why labels are valid for some people.
And like language is just so important because like having
the word words are powerful. So if you can have a word to
describe your feelings, it does help you process, understand
them and kind of like come to a form of acceptance if that fits
you. Because to me, Isaac's dirty
reads like somebody who, like, has these feelings but doesn't
understand what they mean. And then when he gets the
language for what they mean, everything kind of makes sense.
And so and we see this with Isaac, he just looks once the
artist is kind of explaining this to him.
He's like, oh, asexuality, a romantic.
That's what I'm feeling. That's like, it's like a Eureka
moment. And he just looks so relieved.
And we get, like, the leaves floating, which Caitlin has
pointed out means, like, they're being their authentic selves.
They're freed by something and just being themselves.
And like, to me, once Isaac has the language, he is free, you
know, that's why we have so many labels.
Yeah, exactly. Stop getting pissed off because
you found yours. But some people are just like,
well, labels can be confining and like, problematic.
And yeah, like, I think that's valid too.
But to some people, having language is very powerful for
them, and that's liberating. So I I see both, both sides of
that. But for Isaac's particular, I
think having language is empowering for him.
Yes, yeah. And shout out to the creators in
this scene because in this, in this entire exhibit, it's just,
it's very colorful and there's like light installations playing
with color the whole time. And I liked it as the artist is
explaining this and like Isaac is having the epiphany like the
arrow ace colors start like playing on him as the scene is
happening. So poetic cinema and I love it.
Thank you creators. They love colors in the show.
Oh yes, Oh yes we do. Which we love colors too.
But once again, as I explained earlier, the sad part of this
all is that like Isaac didn't understand Arrow Ace, but yet he
reads all these career books which.
Highlights. The problem of we don't have
enough representation. For this type of sexuality, So
more of that, please. OK, so Isaac realizes has his
epiphany, and we then cut to Darcy with who got a text from
Mom saying I didn't give you a petition permit A petition I.
Didn't petition you. I didn't give you permission to
go get home and now is in all caps.
Yikes. I wouldn't want to go home to
that either. Well, no.
So Darcy's mom is pissed off because she didn't give her, but
she didn't petition her to go to the.
Exhibit She didn't. She has FOMO, 'cause she didn't
get an invite. That's really bad, Darcy says.
She probably should go home because she doesn't want her mom
to be even more mad at her. Yeah, and Darcy like, huffs to
tar. Tara's like, really?
You got to go. And Darcy basically just says
literally nothing I ever do is good enough.
And to me, that line right there speaks volumes about her home
life. To her, she's like, I can't win,
you know, Which is sad. It's it's really rough to live
like that, because then you just feel like nothing.
What's the point? Yeah, I really shouldn't be
there. Totally.
It's very clearly bad for Darcy's mental health and
well-being. I I need to get Darcy out of
that house for my sanity. We'll petition to say in Darcy.
They gave petitions. Yeah.
They gave petitions. OK, so we go from Darcy
basically getting anxiety because of this text.
I'm leaving. She leaves.
Yes. Yes she is.
She's. Gone.
No, she needs to stay there and be yourself.
I know Be here and queer, but again, that's the struggle
Darcy's facing. Is being queer and then being in
the closet at home, basically. So fortunately it makes sense.
So after that happens, Imogen and Sahar have a really weird
conversation about how Sahar is there because like, images like,
why are you here? Like, she's not allowed to be
friends with her friends. And Sahar's like Imel's friend,
too. And then so Imogen makes this
comment that she isn't the token ally anymore.
It's hard. It's like appalled at this.
And it's like, what? I'm bisexual.
I love this Imogen. We'll figure it out soon.
I mean, all Imogen has to do in this scene is look over her
shoulder at the art that's literally behind them because
it's just two female presenting people that looks like they're
about to kiss. So I love the placement of that
between emoji and Sahar, foreshadowing, I hope.
Also emoji. Just look to the right girl,
like just just look. Just look and explain, you know
what? Look in front of you that's
that's what she is. But it's still not clicking like
get inspired like Isaac was, and then the artist needs to come by
and be like. So lesbianism.
And then maybe she'll be like, oh, OK.
But yeah, I I love that after they have that conversation,
Sahara's like, how dare you call me an ally.
I'm in the mafia. I'll be, you know, the alphabet
mafia. She walks away and emoji is
like, what? And like chases after Sahar and
I want their off screen conversation that they're having
about this because Emoji looks really pressed and about the
fact that Sahara is like mad at her.
And I want to know what's going on here.
And as they walk away, we get a shot of Tara being, like,
interesting after watching that whole conversation.
Does she say it or yes, is it? She says it.
She's like, interesting. Damn, I missed that.
So I think that Tara's Gaydar is setting her A5 alarm fire at
this point. And she's like, that was really
gay. Just what?
Just happened here. Interesting.
And yeah, Tara, maybe you should, like, push their heads
together so they can figure it out.
Be the ship captain. Be the ship captain.
I have no power in this. Oh shit.
And I forgot. Darcy also witnessed this.
And I think Darcy's face is kind of like Tara, so she's like,
that was pretty gay. So after that, Darcy bounces so
that Mummy dearest is not angry at her anymore because she
didn't petition this. And so Tara I.
But fortunately Tara's like, hey, hey, prom is tomorrow,
don't forget pot point. And Darcy expresses that she's
looking forward to it. She's not going to forget about
prom. She's ready.
And they have a really cute moment where they basically like
talking about their outfits and they're going to slow dance.
And so the fact that queer women are talking about something
happy means that something tragic is going to happen.
So I got anxiety at the best moment because of like, what,
you know, queer media has done to me.
This is way too cute. Something bad's going to happen.
The lesbians can't be happy? No, obviously not.
So basically after hearing all the cuteness, I was as sad as
Tara looked after Darcy left, Like she just looks so sad, but
she does. But after my PTSD subsided, my
brain started working. I realized that they have to be
dancing to a Taylor Swift song and now I have hope to keep
watching cuz folklore was in the room and they're talking about
dancing. So it has to be do a Taylor
Swift song. So I'm.
I was calling it in my brain at that moment.
I'm just saying I just need everyone.
If you haven't seen our reaction videos, oh wait, this is only on
Patreon SO. Become a Patreon member who are
Patreon for 5 bucks and watch them, because the auras the
whole time is just trying to figure out when Taylor Swift.
Is gonna be coming. I mean, can you blame me?
I knew there's a Taylor Swift song you just had and it was
with them because of course it is Taylor, so I was waiting for
it. So anyway.
Also they kiss before they leave and they're illuminated with the
colors of the lesbian flag as they do that.
So once again, shout out to the, you know, offset people for
making this as queer as humanly possible.
I love it. So after the lesbians are done
lesbian, we transitioned to a scene where one of the art
college professors slash event coordinators.
I don't know who any of these people at Lambert actually are,
but somebody representing the art college is making a speech
about all the great student artists and introduces Elle as
this prodigy that we'll be starting next year.
And then we get the big unveiling of Safe Space Elle's
work. So Elle makes a speech.
How her artwork is of what has always made her feel safe and it
it's a painting of her with the boys in The Art Room because it
was the safe space for all of them.
And I think my interpretation on this is that because Elle came
out as trans when they were at Truham, which that's the arts
room in Truham. So I think that that means for
Elle that like her safe space during that time period was
being in The Art Room. Art is like her version of a
bookstore for Isaac with her best friends.
So I think that during that difficult time that was her safe
space. Slash and her and her found
family, which are her friends and art, which is her like
creative outlet during that difficult time.
Because if you think about the exhibit, it's about it's
celebrating, you know, queer trans artists.
And I think that was on her mind and that potentially is what
this means. We also get like a scenes of
like her friends like taking all of this in while she's kind of
like unveiling the work. And there's a pic, there's a
scene of Tao and in the background behind Tao there is a
light installation with butterflies.
So that means some Tao and L stuff is about to go down.
So that's what someone count how many butterflies there are in
this whole show. I'm sure somebody has that
somewhere on like Tuppler or something.
I need a leave leaves versus butterfly comparison.
Oh, it's definitely more leaves. Yeah.
But I want to know the ratio. Yeah.
OK. OK, so Tao and her and Elle.
Thank you. I just thought that I write
these sentences very weirdly. Apparently.
You really do. I try to fix them for you.
I'm sorry. Oh, my gosh.
All right. I am not the writer.
That's OK. Tell and Elle Talk about Elle
getting into the school and tell tells her not to base her
decisions on him like a good guy should.
And he just wants her to be happy because she deserves to be
happy. And he can clearly see how happy
art makes her like he loves watching her do art.
Like he he knows how much this means to her and he follows us
up by saying wherever you are, I'll still want to be with you.
So he's basically being like we're not going to break up
because of this. So like, do what makes you
happy, which I appreciate, and it's kind of a call back to
something they go through during one of the books.
I think it's called Nick and Charlie is the name of the book.
It's not a graphic novel. It's actually a book where it's
like later after Elle's already gone to Lambert.
So I wonder if that's hinting to that and what happens with Tao
and Elle. But regardless, at this point,
Elle is still pretending to be conflicted and like, oh, I might
go to Higgs and it's like, girl, we all know you're going to art
school, like, including Tao. Like he he knows, like, yeah, he
always, he always does. He's like if she gets in, she's
going like she has to go, right. Because he he is her number one
fan when it comes to art. Like, he is her.
He is her biggest fan of her work.
I don't think he would let her not go.
I mean, I think he respects her, like making her own decisions.
But, you know, he knows that she deserves to be here because
she's a freaking talented artist and she deserves to shine.
He's just, you know, he's got feelings about gonna, you know,
missing her and losing her. And that's totally
understandable. Can't blame him for that, you
know? So I love that scene.
But then we get to like, actually probably one of my
favorite scenes in this this, this next scene I have titled,
oh, look, here Comes Missouri. Yeah.
And yeah, this is when Ben traps Charlie and forces him to hear
him out. Because nothing says a good
conversation like forcing someone to listen to you.
I mean, he's basically been trying to force Charlie into
this. If you just read those Instagram
messages. And the first thing he says when
Nick and Charlie come out of the exhibit is I need to talk to
you. Not we need to talk.
It's I need to talk to you, Charlie.
And Nick, to his credit, is having none of this.
Nick immediately transitions into protective boyfriend mode
and he tries to take Charlie's way.
He's like, fuck this shit Charlie.
You have nothing to say to Charlie.
You fucking assaulted him. Get out of here.
But then Ben says I want to apologize, and that changes
everything, because that's more of a like, a mutual conversation
versus like I need to like, get dump my feelings onto you, which
is really what this conversation is.
Mm hmm. Yeah, sorry.
All right, so Ben mentions to them that he won't be coming
back to Jerome next year. So it's the last time that we'll
see him at least. So that that's a positive.
And Ben tells him that he really likes him, but that he is so
messed up that Ben is messed up. And his parents would never
accept him if he was out. Yeah.
And that's really, that's really the heart of all of the stuff
with Ben, He says to them, the exact line he says is, I want to
be like the two of you, but my parents will never accept who I
really am. So Ben is like a conflicted
character between, like, what he feels and what he's been
indoctrinated to project. And that's why I think, like,
this all really, really ties back to, like, his home life.
And we got it. We did get a glimpse of Ben's
dad and whoever the mom is, whether it's bio mom, stepmom, I
don't know, at the parents day thing.
And just like Ben's dad gives me like alpha male sleazeball
vibes. And so I think that Ben has been
raised in an environment where like he's expected to also be
that and so and he's not on the inside and so like it is really
shitty. Like Ben's situation is really
shitty, but how he handles it is also shitty.
The one thing that I really, really, really hate about this
scene is that it makes me feel a very, very tiny little bit for
Ben. But luckily it doesn't make
Charlie feel anything because Charlie tells it makes Charlie
feel some confidence. I think, yeah.
It's like, you know what? This bullshit.
Charlie tells him that he never cared how, How sorry pronouns.
Charlie tells Ben that Ben never cared how Charlie felt and that
Ben always forced himself on Charlie.
Which is absolutely true, yes. But.
And also terrible, yes. Now that he is with Nick, he can
finally see, like, what a healthy relationship is.
And that involves more communication, you know, in both
parts. And like, talking to each other.
Not at each other. Yeah, exactly.
At one person and not letting the other person talk at all.
Or trying to, like, manipulate the other person into doing what
you want, 'cause like, Ben would always manipulate Charlie into,
like, again, hooking up with him when it was convenient for Ben,
you know, versus like, Nick and Charlie hang out with each
other, 'cause they want to. So yeah, very, very different.
And what Charlie says to Ben in this context is so fucking sad.
But I think this is really all the mental health stuff Charlie
is going through and how he really feels.
So I think it's good that Nick hears this, but Charlie says I
went along with it because I had a crush and I didn't know any
better. This, I felt like this must be
what I deserve, someone taking what he wants from me when he
wants it. Now when anything good happens
to me, there's a little voice in the back of my mind telling me
I'm worthless and I don't deserve it.
Like this confession is explains the PTSD Charlie has from this
relationship and like the bullying and why Ben is such a
big trigger. I think that Charlie, the little
voice starts talking in the back of Charlie's head and he sees
Ben and that's why he like shrinks in on himself being like
you're worthless, you don't deserve Nick, like you don't
deserve to be happy. And maybe that's why he tries so
hard to make everything perfect with Nick or appear perfect
because he's really afraid of, like, losing Nick or Nick
realizing like, oh, Charlie's not worth it.
Or he's an annoyance and it's just, it's really sad.
And it it kind of shows you like how you can just get trapped in
these like, bad thought cycles when you've been, like beaten
down enough by someone or you know, something, You know, Yeah,
I'm really glad that Nick was there to see all this too,
because he can see that Charlie is.
I mean, there is a lot going on with Charlie, but at least this
he's learning to stand up for himself.
And I don't think Charlie would have like told him everything
that happened, 'cause I don't think he knows how to really
communicate it. So he's getting, Nick is getting
to see what's inside Charlie's head without Charlie having to
actually tell him. Correct.
Yeah. And I mean, Charlie basically
tells Ben good riddance and yes, go you.
Yeah, exactly. I I what his line is so good.
So you don't hurt anyone else. But I don't want to be there to
see that happen. So yeah, this this moment of
Charlie standing up to Ben is so, so huge.
And I hope that by getting this kind of closure of basically
because Charlie's a good person, he's like, yeah, go you for
wanting to improve yourself. But like, you don't get to use
me in that process. Basically, like I don't want
anything to do with you anymore. You go on your own and I hope
that. Yeah.
Yeah, sorry. In this in media a lot of times
the victims become like friends with.
The people who abuse them and like help them become better
people and so. Like now they're the a nice
character. So when Charlie is saying like,
I don't want to be there to to see it happen because like, I'm
not helping you through this, I don't care.
I don't want to. I hope you become a better
person, but I don't want to be a part of it, I feel like.
That's just giving people permission to let go of the
negative people in their life, where a lot of times I feel like
the media is just saying keep everybody in your life.
You can't let anybody go. Oh, I think that goes back to,
at least in America, Christian traditional values.
Not to. Yeah, not calling out
Christians. I'm just saying a.
Part of that religion and the culture of that religion that
has been baked into the country we live in is that women in
particular are vessels of forgiveness.
And like, you're supposed to forgive people even when they
abuse you. That's what you're especially in
marriages, like, no divorce. And if your husband abuses you,
that's your fault, right? You're supposed to forgive him
of his and make and help him be a better person.
So yeah, it's putting all the responsibility onto the victim.
And that has been portrayed in media because that's the cult
that was culturally acceptable for a very long period of time
where it's like, yeah, you'd have mainly female characters or
like female coded, which you can argue is kind of like in the
relationship of Ben and Charlie. How that dynamic is set up with
like abuser, victim that Charlie is that female figure in the
context of like that social structure.
So yeah, it would be expected for Charlie to be like, I
forgive you, Ben. Yes, be a better person.
I will help you be a better person.
Because that's what like traditional values tell that
type of person to be like, you're the vessel of
forgiveness. It's your responsibility.
But Charlie's like, fuck that. It is not my responsibility to
fix you, Ben. You fix your fucking self.
I don't have to. I don't need to be a part of
that at all. And like, Ben is almost again,
because he comes from traditional family values.
He's expecting Charlie to be like, yeah, I'll help you.
I will help you be a better person.
I'll forgive you, Ben. Like, he comes into this
conversation with that expectation.
And Charlie is like, no, I'm my own person.
I'm not responsible for you. You're responsible for you, Ben.
What you choose to do, you need to live with the consequences of
that. And that's basically this
conversation. And it's so good and so
important because, yeah, stop with the fucking victim blaming.
Shit. Like victims are not responsible
for their abuser's behavior during, after, or before.
It is all on that abuser to like, figure their fucking shit
out and be a better person on their own because they want to,
not because the victim is responsible for fixing them.
So I do like this scene. I I think it puts a lot of
things that have been hella problematic culturally.
For a very long time into the light and this is a much
healthier way for the victim to carry on with that So and I hope
that through this that Charlie gets some autonomy and like his
mental health spiraling lessons because it seems a lot to be
triggered by Ben. And by basically being like,
fuck that, get out of my life, I never want to see you again,
that that trigger can at least be like, eased a bit.
From him because it's just been so huge this season.
I'm really hoping. I know.
We see more of Charlie's mental health in the next season
because that's what you told me, not that I know.
Anything of what's happening? I'm lucky I know what happened
already. You can see you.
Can see the signs are there. Like even at the beginning of
this episode where like Nick's like oh he's not eating again
like the mental health stuff is there.
They purposely have sprinkled many many signs of Charlie's
mental health decline throughout the whole show.
It's just like you have to pick up on them and Nick is getting
better. At picking up on them.
So we, the audience are getting better at picking up on them
because he won't talk about that.
He doesn't talk. You just you have to watch
Charlie to see, to see the signs.
Hopefully without Ben there, he'll be able to.
Yeah, I mean, I think Ben is actually.
I don't think we're going to see Ben again.
No, he's out. The character like the actor's
gone. Yeah, there is not really a lot
of Ben. Actually, Ben's in Ben, Ben's in
Solitaire. Ben is all all over the place.
So I find it really odd that they're just, they're cutting
him out of the show. But that's totally, I don't.
I think it might be the actor's choice and that's fine.
I like the scene, I like his exiting, like, I don't think we
need to focus on him really in the show, but he's in the books
for sure. I mean, yeah, he had his use in
the show, but I'm kind of glad he's not there anymore.
So towards I I believe. It's the end of the scene.
We get this rainbow wave and like, it's actually like a wave
like that. You see, Yeah, you hear, you
hear ocean sounds like it literally is a wave.
So we see the rainbow wave and it comes close to Ben and it's
like very close to him, but it never touches him.
And it's signifying that he will never be able to come out.
He'll never get to have what Charlie has.
Yeah, well, the wave. Comes up to Ben and Ben kind of
like, hesitates. And then he steps away like he
could step into it, but he chooses to step away.
So I think that, yeah, Ben is choosing not to be like Nick and
Charlie. He's gonna choose the comp head
life. He accepted that very quickly.
So I don't think he'll ever allow himself to even think that
it's a possibility. No, never.
And I'm not gonna lie, this is probably one of my favorite
scenes in the show. And like, you know, I've
probably said this before, like Ben, this doesn't happen in the
show. We don't get the back story on
Ben. So I like the way they expanded
this because to me, Ben is fascinating in a very morbid
way. He is the epitome of a tragic
character. And an unfortunate reality for
so many people who are stuck in homophobic situations like this
and Ben and and I think that again, it ties.
Back to Ben's line about the homophobic parents, and I think
that if you look at it, there's a direct.
Parallel being set up or foiling happening with Darcy and Ben
because what they have in common is they both have homophobic
families that are unwilling to accept them for who they are in
their home life and that leaves both of them with degrees of
internalized self hatred because unfortunately that's what
happens. So like.
Stop being so fucking homophobic.
It psychologically damages people, but they have that self
hatred because of their home wives.
But the major contrast between them lies with how that trauma
manifests in their behavior outside of that environment.
Darcy goes polar opposite. She's just as gay as the day is
long and has a whole last girlfriend with whom she's
proudly affectionate with in public and just embraces very
fully who she is and is free when she's free of her
oppressive family. So Darcy embraces who she is.
To summarize that. Ben, on the other hand, is the
type of person that hates that part of himself that just cannot
please his parents, so much so that he hides it at all cost.
He runs from who he is and he makes sad his sad feelings about
that hatred everybody else's problem, which is why he
outwardly treats Charlie like trash.
He's projecting his hurt and hatred onto Charlie and cause
Charlie is out and out. And no, when he was outed, he
didn't deny it and be like, no, I'm not gay.
He was just like, yeah, gay. He like he owned it, which is
something Ben can never do and Ben hates that Charlie can so
easily do that when he can't. So he like, takes those feelings
out on Charlie. And in the conversation, Ben,
you know, expressed that like he really did like.
Charlie and I think that's true to a degree.
He's torn between his desire for somebody like Charlie, somebody
good like him, and to use his words and his hatred at Charlie
for just shoving being out in his face because Ben is too
scared to do that. So the part where Ben basically
like. Honestly admits why he like
Charlie. Like I wanted something good.
You were something good. Like that part kills me because
I think not only did Charlie need to hear that, he needed to
hear that he is good, right? Because Ben did not make him
feel that way, but like Charlie is good and I think he needed to
hear that. But the way Ben lights up when
he says it, almost like being honest about this part of
himself does bring him joy. But like you pointed out
earlier, this was a very one sided toxic relationship and
Charlie really didn't really did need to reject Ben here for his
own well-being. And so when we get to the wave
scene, the rainbow. Wave scene.
The symbolism of him walking away from that approaching
rainbow is so heartbreaking because he so easily could make
the choice to be himself. Walk into the rainbow and walk
into that exhibit. Cause the Rainbow's coming from
that exhibit, but he actively chooses not to because.
He's afraid and it's just. Very tragic and I think the
fact. That the creators chose to make
this a wave is also intentional because again, you hear the
seagulls and this like speech sounds.
And remember the beach was the location where Charlie and Nick
found their happiness at the end of season one by proclaiming
they were boyfriends and like they were going to tell people
that mattered. And to have that happened here
with Ben and to him like choose to walk away from it is is is
demonstrating. Like you said, Ben will never
have that. Never.
He's never going to have the happy beach moment with a boy
like Nick and Charlie did, so I love that too.
It's just sucks for him. It's sad, but like that is.
The reality for some people you know this is this is real and it
just it sucks that. You know.
People are beaten down by like. Homophobia from other people to
the point where they hate themselves so much that they
harm other people. Like it sucks that this is a
reality. It really.
Does, yeah. So bye bye.
Ben, I thought you were fascinating, but I'm thought
you're about to say bye, bitch. Bye, bitch.
Yeah. Let's take a bite of him and go
to A. Scene where that we've both been
dying to talk about for a while now.
The awkward and this is. Yes, the awkward dinner party.
I don't like the. Beginning like we have to wait
for the solo Olivia Coleman scene.
Then he was great anyway. So when we first get to Charlie.
'S house? Nope.
Nick's house via Charlie, who is arriving at Nick's.
Yes, Nick's dad is over and he's hanging out with David, watching
rugby and like, that's the pit of me.
Like, of course they are. That's all I can think of.
They got beers. They're doing mad.
Stuff, unsurprisingly, but annoyingly.
Nick 's dad does not remember Charlie's name.
When he comes in he's like and you are you literally met.
Like if you if you would have just.
Talked to you about him maybe, but you met him.
It's been less than a week. It's just it goes to, it goes to
show you. How?
Little Nick's dad pays attention to anything that isn't himself,
so there's that. Olivia Coleman is amazing as
always, and she tells Nick that he doesn't have to tell his dad
about Charlie being his boyfriend because.
He doesn't deserve to know if Nick doesn't want him to.
And you know what? At this point, I don't think his
dad deserves anything. No, maybe David.
He deserves to have to live with David.
Although his dad's not gonna remember.
He can't even remember Charlie's name.
So even if you tell him, what's the point?
But Nick says I'm not doing it for.
Him. I'm doing it for me, which good
on you, Nick, like get on you that.
That's the that's the good attitude to have about those.
And then luckily. Not too much can happen in
between this and. Charlie 's family arrives, and
it's important to note that Tori is seated next to David.
Poor Tori. Yes, Another important note is
that Tori does not have a drink with a straw during any of these
scenes, so that will explain her behavior later because no straw
equals murderous Tori. So there's that.
Charlie did not give them the note like that they needed to
have diet lemonade with a straw. No, it's Harley gets stressed
out by big dinners. So the other thing to take note,
so he wasn't thinking straight. So the other thing to take note
of is that all throughout dinner Charlie is playing with his
food, but he doesn't actually eat any of it.
He's just like cutting it to smaller pieces and like, pushing
it around his plate. Oh man, poor kid.
Anyway, so David starts being David and he tries to out Nick
like just. Kept prompting him and egging
him on to tell his dad and Tori he's like getting so pissed off
with him already and she speaks up asking what his problem is.
Yeah, 'cause she doesn't ever Jingle the straw.
She's like, I will cut you without hesitation.
Cut you like a bitch, but like despite all the.
Murder energy. That's happening at this table.
It all goes over. Nick's dad 's head because the
magic word of rugby is spoken at some point during the
conversation. Cause like.
Nick's like. Oh, well, or or Well, actually,
David was like, Oh yeah, yeah. Nick was, like, really adamant
about Charlie joining rugby and I don't know why.
And Nick's dad's like rugby because According to him, oh,
you play rugby. I'll learn your name now.
Rugby. Rugby.
Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
Because it's a very attractive sport to women.
That's why he cares about it, because, like, he has no
personality or thought process at all.
And Olivia Coleman's face is just priceless.
When he says that shit because she's like.
What? OK, so like how did?
I be with this asshole. Yes.
Like, OK, there's that. And while the compet sentiment
here is gross, I will admit rugby isn't a practice sport to
me when women are playing it. So he's not wrong.
But clearly Nick's dad is more concerned about appearing
attractive to women than he is about his own offspring, which
is disgusting. That is how I feel about soccer
now, by the way. I mean, yes, it's like all I had
to do was. Watch it, women.
Play it. It just it made a thought.
It makes more sense when women are doing it, it just does.
So naturally. This conversation of being
attractive to women then devolves into Do you boys have
girlfriends yet? Because that's something that
you always ask. And I don't know if this is true
around the world, but at least in America, it's common to ask
kindergarteners if they have a girlfriend.
It's disgusting. My God, my grandma would ask me.
That since like middle school on Do you have a boyfriend yet?
And I'm like, God, yeah, like IA.
Part of me. Died every time I got asked that
question because I thought something was wrong with me,
that I didn't like anyone. Yep, and I don't want to tell my
ultra conservative grandmother. But then eventually it was
satisfying to be like I'm marrying a woman.
Get over it. No boyfriends, however.
So it was that this is my. Wife bug that shit.
If you're into. Boys, go for it.
Just I it's. Annoying when it's assumed the
compact stuff is really annoying.
Like are you seeing anyone? Better question also.
Stop asking that. To literal children, compact
people. Because yeah, I don't understand
it's so because they do. I think it's even.
Preschool. Like if.
If the child can talk, yeah. They're like, look, boyfriend
and girlfriend and they're like eating mud together in their
diapers and you're going to tell me that they can't see a same
sex couple on TV when you're asking?
Them if they. Have a girlfriend?
Yeah, because yeah, it's the gay people indoctrinating people
into sexuality. Meanwhile, the streets are like
trying to push straightness onto their literal babies.
It's fucking creepy. Stop sexualizing children.
It's just weird. They do it all the time.
It's gross. So.
When David keeps. Pushing this topic because of
course he does. Of course, Tori grabs.
David's arm. I wish she.
Broke it to. Stop him from saying.
Anything. Else and Nick gets so fed up
with it and says screw it and. He comes out to his dad and.
Does an amazing speech about how his dad is.
Never there. And he only sees him twice a
year anyway, So what does it matter?
Yeah, because poor Nick has been, like, really stressing out
about coming out to his dad. But he's just like, this is
ridiculous. I don't even care anymore.
He's just done trying to win the affection of a father who
doesn't take an interest in him, and he's over David's bullying.
So I love that he just stands up to both of them at once.
And he's like, I like my life and I like who I am.
So your bullying won't work on me.
And I'm not afraid of you, Dad. So Charlie and Nick are both
standing up for. Themselves in this episode, yes
to their bullies, respective bullies and absent father who's
kind of like a bully in a way. Because.
Like Nick's always like. I want your affection and dad's
like now. The key of this all is that
learning to love yourself is the key to happiness.
And Nick has that now. And it's a very beautiful moment
and I love it. What else is beautiful?
Is that Olivia Coleman? Also tells David to knock it off
and. Even.
His dad is disappointed in him, but Olivia Coleman does not like
that. Like, even though his dad is
sticking, kind of sticking up for Nick in this moment.
Olivia Coleman's like, bitch. Yeah, you have no right to say.
Anything about. Your children?
I don't. I don't even know if, she says.
You're his children or anything. Because he's never around.
Oh my God. Like I'm raising these assholes.
No, only Dave is the asshole. You know what I mean?
This exchange was fucking priceless because the dad the
dad starts it by. Looking at David.
After he's being a homophobic prick and the dad's like you
have not grown up to the bed, I hope you'd be.
And Olivia Coleman just puts this this bitch in his place and
it was just glorious where she's like, you have no right to speak
on this topic Mr. ICU twice a year.
So fuck you. And while this is fight is
happening. Like Nick and Charlie leave to
go out little big. Leaves 'cause he's like enough,
and then Charlie follows him. The fight is keeps going and so
you could hear it when they're outside.
And it's just so fucking funny, 'cause you just hear Olivia
Coleman, just like putting this man into his place.
And it's so fucking funny. But I also love that.
But Charlie's? Family's just.
Sitting there, Yeah. They're like, what do we do?
They're like, fuck, can we go outside too and like, leave?
Yeah. So Charlie does leave to.
Check out. Check on Nick, who basically
starved outside and Nick admits that it really felt good to say
it. Like it felt good to be honest
and come out and. Even though that you know it
blew up like that, but it felt good and and cute boyfriend
fashion Charlie rewards him with a hug.
He earned a hug. Yeah.
And then? Olivia Coleman.
Comes out. Because she is the best mom and
wants to make sure that he's OK. She really is like one of the
best TV moms of all time is Olivia Coleman.
The bar is not that high. No.
She just comes out to check on him.
And stands up for him. Why is this bar not higher?
I wouldn't say. Olivia Coleman makes the bar
pretty high, to be honest. For like, mom's period.
Because she's like on screen, I mean.
Olivia Coleman. Is great.
First of all, it's Olivia Coleman.
So there's that and. Second of all, it's like.
Very consistently. She's very attuned to Nick and
like gives him space and like she honestly is a really great
mother to him. Like it's very this is.
Like top of the line supportive parent is Levi Coleman and this
is scene really encapsulates it too.
Great energy as well. Yeah, and the conversation she
has here with them. Is really remarkable because
she's it's this has to be a really hard conversation to have
from her point of view because they're talking about the fact
that Nick's dad is an absent father and.
Nick is like, why doesn't he care?
Because it's really frustrating to be the child of this, I'd
imagine, whose parents just like does not fucking care about
them. And parents are supposed to care
about their kids. And Olivia Coleman very easily
could lie to him and be like, oh he cares but in his old way and
like make excuses, which is like the polite thing to do in like
polite society. But instead again A+ mom moment.
She's honest and she says I wish I understood, but I don't.
Olivia Coleman doesn't like bullshit.
That's why she's not married to the student.
Anymore. Yeah.
And but I love this where she's like I.
Wish I understood, but I don't. I think it's a very sad way to
exist, you know. I love that honesty from her.
It's she doesn't make excuses for him.
She doesn't try to coddleneck. She's just very honest.
She's like, I don't know, I don't know why he's like this,
but it must be sad. It's just it's such a beautiful
relationship that they have. Like I I haven't really come
across a. Parental kind of relationship.
Quite. Like theirs?
I mean, like, because, like, there's like, I don't know from,
like, Gilmore Girls. Is like a good one, but it's.
Like the mother, daughter relationship is very like it's
more friend. Like this one is very much like
Parent child, but it's she doesn't treat Nick like he's a.
Child, she doesn't lie to him or coddle him.
She's very honest with him in a healthy way.
Like the. This is why Nick is such a good
communicator, 'cause she is such a good communicator and he grew
up in that household, so like that actually.
Now the thing about makes so much sense, like their
communication was next level and what you were saying about like.
The. Relationship Usually if it's not
like a strained relationship, it is like the friendship type
relationship, so it is. It is nice to see, yeah.
Totally this is a. This is a really good mother son
relationship. Like mother, child relationship.
It's so good. Holy shit.
So with all that said, the absent father goes to leave.
Again, it's on brand. Who's surprised?
Anybody. No.
Well, David is actually surprised, so we'll get to that
in a second. David, I don't, I don't think he
knows what's life is OK No. Anyway, so.
The dad says he wants to be better and Nick probably heard
this many times before and he just says show it.
Yeah, and basically like after. Nick's just.
Like, I'm not going to coddle you.
All right? This is, we're done.
David comes out of the stairs and he's like, oh, you're
leaving, Dad, you're leaving. And then?
There's a moment where it sinks. In for David that the dad
doesn't care about him either because dad's like, hey, yeah,
I'll see you later in London, you know where you go to school.
And David's like Glasgow. I go to school in Glasgow.
So it's like David was riding his hide horse that like, yeah,
Dad. Doesn't really know Nick and
like me and dad were bonding over rugby, so like dad loves me
more. And it's very evident in this
moment. They're like, no, dad doesn't
give a shit about either of you. This is your dad does not care
about you either. And so.
Reality check for David. That let's be real.
He needed. He has Daddy.
Issues. That's.
Why he's such a little prick. The dad is very moment based
parenting. Like oh, I'm your dad now once I
leave this house. Who are you?
Right exactly. And before dad bounces for.
Good. He he does say to Nick that he
genuinely thinks Charlie is a very good person.
So I'm glad that Nick at least got that approval of like.
He's like, I don't understand these bisexual things, but like,
Charlie seems like a good person, so I like it.
Nick at least gets that. And he says his name, so he
remembered Charlie's fucking name.
So that's good. He got one thing right,
Character growth. So after the dad leaves.
Do we ever know his name? It doesn't matter, OK?
David sits on the stairs. He That's.
He's being not in his room, his stairs, yeah, And he's on the
phone with his friend, complaining.
About Nick and. Charlie at Meanwhile, Tori is in
the bathroom. Yeah, so she overhears David
blaming the evening, the evening drama on Nick's quote, Drama
Queen, boyfriend's influence, and Sir, that is not what you
say in front of. Tori, because those are fighting
words in the spring household talking shit about Charlie.
But this this screenshot that you pulled, it's when David is
sitting on the stairs and. Tori is towering over him.
And it's a very low angle. You just see, like the power she
has right now, the murder is in her eyes.
The energy's wafting, and this dumbass does not feel the murder
over his shoulder. He's just awkwardly holding his
phone. Like who does this?
Because he's talking through Earpods, so like he doesn't need
to be doing this. He doesn't need to be baiting
Tori like this. So what does Tori do?
Caitlin. She comes out and kicks his
phone out of his hand and calls him a pathetic little man.
Oh God, I love that. Hey, great for.
Tori. Love it?
Yeah. I love.
That well, she kicked him in the.
Head though I yeah. I thought she was going to fight
him. But.
That works too. Kick his phone because he's a
pathetic little man. He definitely is.
He has daddy issues. So at the end.
So then we get to. The end of the evening where the
spring family. Is leaving and Charlie admits
that Nick is a nice boy and she's warming up to him.
So Congrats Charlie. Your master plan worked then the
boys do this like they do a goodbye goodbye thing instead of
hi hi outside the door. And during this the topic of
prom comes up because it's tomorrow, as Tara told us
earlier. And.
Charlie. Asks Nick.
So we don't forget, Yeah. So you don't forget that that is
going to be the plot of the next episode.
Charlie, it asks Nick if they're going to go.
Together. Together.
And Nick is a little confused. He's like, well, duh, like we're
boyfriends. What?
What do you mean? And so this line seems weird to
me, but. At first, but I wonder if.
Charlie's really asking. What he's really asking here is,
are they going to be out because, like, Prom makes?
Him. Nervous.
I wonder. If it's Charlie projecting his
feelings versus like framing it as like, well, Nick like.
Are you sure you want to be seen?
That's a big step for you. But I think Charlie's actually
really scared about it because they would be, they would be the
only queer couple. And I think that that's really
stressing out Charlie. And he's just like not ready to
admit that he's actually scared. So he's just like, you sure Nick
and Nick's like, yeah, obviously.
I think Charlie just doesn't trust that they can be out
together. And have it go well, Yeah 'cause
he's got that little. Voice in the back of his.
Head that Ben kind of planted there, you know.
Yeah, so. Yeah, so when?
Nick goes back. Inside.
Olivia Coleman is doing the dishes and he she mentions to
Nick that she noticed Charlie. Didn't eat.
Much. And this is when Nick starts to
look up eating disorders, yeah. Because it's been, you know,
Nick noticed that that was going on in Paris.
He had a full meal basically at the end of the meal in Paris.
And then also here there's a shot of, like, the plate and
it's a full plate. Like, Charlie did not eat
anything. He just like sat there.
So yeah, that that is definitely escalating.
So after that, we cut over to Darcy trying on the suit in
front of a mirror and she's like.
Taking a selfie to send to Tara and it's super cute and she's
like, we're gonna look so cute and she looks genuinely really
happy to be wearing this outfit and she does send.
Hit Send. Before mommy dearest barges in.
So. Tara does get this photo.
That's like, Tara, we're gonna look so cute at prom.
And she's in the suit. Yeah, yeah.
So her mom comes in yelling. At her to.
Take it off and that she can't wear it.
And that is when the ominous purple.
Fog. Comes in and basically, like
this scene is really sad for a number of reasons, but to kind
of like hit home the dissociation that Darcy has
going on, like the sound of the argument starts to muffle.
And so to me that that's a way of, like, showing that Darcy's
so tired of, like, this argument has happened, not.
The words. But this kind of argument must
have happened so many times that Darcy kind of, like, tunes it
out in a way and is just yelling back.
So that's become so normalized to her that she kind of
dissociates a little bit in these moments.
Yeah. So Darcy is arguing with her
because, I mean, she's not going to just sit there and take it
because no matter what I That's not Darcy.
No. So she's like fed up, but this
way, this. Is like a.
Breaking point. Like these arguments keep
happening. This one ends differently
because Darcy's at a breaking point.
Yeah, so Darcy's arguing. That she.
Likes. It and her friends support her
wearing it. Sure do, and her mom continues
yelling because of course, like, they can't have a calm
conversation. But she orders Darcy to get out
of the house. And like, I can't imagine what.
That. Feels like to be told to get out
of the house that you're supposed to be safe in.
You can't even live on your own. You're not old enough.
He's a minor. Yeah, so Darcy grabs a few bags
and. Runs out of the house.
And the sad part is, she's still wearing her.
Prom. Outfit.
And has no jacket and it's fucking cold outside.
Like you see the breath. Like the cold breath coming out
when she, like, huffs when she leaves that house.
And that's like how much of a fucking hurry she was to get the
hell out of there. Like, yeah, it's really
heartbreaking. But Darcy.
Does it without hesitating. Because she's just like this.
It's a house, not a home, you know, It's a place, not a safe
space. And she's just like, fuck this
and just leaves without thinking about it.
Just grab some shit, gets out, no jacket, no nothing, nowhere
to go and she just walks away. What?
Did we finish? Caitlin, you have one more.
Thank you. I'm so sorry.
I thought we talked about the dark clouds.
But the dark clouds are. Looming around the whole screen,
Yeah, like as she's as she's leaving, which I think is
important. Because.
'Cause Darcy. Doesn't feel safe at.
Home. And she feels suffocated
whenever she is there. Yeah, suffocated is the great
word for that. Like she can't breathe, can't
thrive. Like 'cause like the the fog or
clouds or whatever we're. Calling it is very.
Dense. Yeah, exactly.
Like, they're not spread out, like they're very lumped
together. So and it's kind of like you
know. Whenever they're in like.
In cartoons when there's like a toxic gas or something kind of
looks like that, no, totally. And I think it's significant
that it's worse here than the first in the first scene at the
beginning episode where she comes to the house, it's a lot
smaller cause like her mom's there.
So like that ever present toxicity is there but the
toxicity has gotten so bad like it's a bigger cloud now.
So I think that's also demonstrating that as well.
So it's really sad that that happened to to Darcy, but.
You know now, now we all know what?
Is at what has been. Going on with her this whole
time and why she's been having those like kind of like dark
moments intermittently throughout this the series, so.
I mean, I know this is like. Easy to tell.
I really don't like her mom. Well, yes.
Obviously her mom just. I wouldn't be response.
I wouldn't be surprised if she's like got substance abuse issues
or like. Something like that.
She seems like the drunk parent you know?
It doesn't care about their kids.
Yeah, I just get. That vibe, although it's not
confirmed. So yeah, it's.
Really shitty, but you know. This was the heavy, heavy
penultimate episode necessary so that we can get to the next
episode. I mean, the episode's called
Sorry. Yes, it is called, Sorry.
So it's the creator's being like.
Sorry for the pain you're about to go through.
We promise it's for a reason. Because.
Heartstopper is really good at having drama that is actually
necessary for character arcs, and is not just like Grey's
Anatomy, where they're like, everyone's getting on this
plane, It's just going to crash because drama, it's like, no,
there's actually a point to this and it's oh, you can't just have
one plane crash. There has to be multiple, of
course, because that show is insane.
But this one, actually, there's a reason we had to go through
this, so we're sorry if. Reliving this with us has made
you sad or down, but we promise the next episode is going to be
perfect. It's perfect.
So we'll talk about that next and we'll have our happy feels
and rate the season and what we thought about it.
So hope you guys continue with us.
If you want to check out the reaction videos.
Like Caitlin said, for the whole season they are on our Patreon,
so you can head on over to there if you want, If not.
We'll be back next time to talk about this season finale.
So, whoa. But before we leave, I do have a
word. Now you do.
What is it, Caitlin? It is curmudgeon.
You gotta explain. Why you're saying?
What's word, Caitlin? You asked me what the word was,
so I told you. Well, tell.
OK, so there's why I don't even. Know if we I.
Don't know if we have an episode yet in this.
I think we do that we give the words.
So just in case you don't know and this is your first episode
with us, I'm going to give, I'm going to give you a word that I
kind of already gave you anyway, but you're going to I I
challenge you to spell it without looking it up in the
comments. Put it in your comment.
Bonus points if you like actually comment and then use it
in your comment. Yeah, that'd be amazing.
And then if you, if you're not watching on YouTube and you are
listening to this lovely podcast, leave a review and
figure out how to put that word in there.
I I'm still waiting for some hero to take up that challenge.
It hasn't happened yet. Yes.
Because our goal is to have reviews with like random words
in there for like what and people are like.
And it's really random. Yeah.
So I. Try to pick ones that are
really. Random when you look at you
would not really understand how to spell it.
So today I'm picking curmudgeon which is a cuz I.
Don't know how to, I don't know what it means.
Or. How to use it So, oh, Caitlin,
it's actually a good word for this episode.
So yeah, maybe look it up after. So, all right, you have your
challenge next. Time everything's gonna be
perfect. And until next time, hydrate for
lesbian Jesus. I'm gay it up all over the
place. Bye, bye.
And with that, we've been big. Gay energy if you like this.
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