‘Heartstopper’ Season 3 & LGBTQ+ Discussion | Across The Queerverse Podcast

October 23, 2024 Brian Kitson Heartstopper, LGBTQ+, Netflix, Romance Films & Shows, Social Commentary 4 min read

Representation is important, especially in media. I think that is a fact that everyone can agree on. As a queer man, I want to see stories that are representative of me and my identity or those from my community. It’s for this reason alone that I was drawn so intensely to Heartstopper when I binged the first and second seasons last year. For the first time in forever, I experienced a queer story of young love that made me feel seen and crave that experience for myself. So naturally, when Heartstopper season 3 was announced, I was ecstatic. Another outing with these characters and their relationships was high on my list of needs. With the release of season 3, we couldn’t wait to turn on our mics and load up our computers in the first episode of our newest podcast series, Across the Queerverse.

In this episode, hosts Brian Kitson and Izzy Friedman break down all the excitement and heartbreak from Heartstopper season 3! Listen as they discuss how the series tackles the top of mental illness, explores growing older into an adult world, and how a confrontation with the real world brings about some excellent conversations for both audiences and the characters in the series. The hosts also discuss how their own queer experiences align with those in the series, and how Heartstopper balances the light and dark tones perfectly in this newest outing. You can find all this in more in our first official Across The Queerverse episode!

What are your thoughts on Heartstopper season 3 and our discussion? Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus or in The Cosmic Circus Discord. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider sharing it with friends, following us on social media, or joining our Discord. You can listen to it here or find us most places podcasts are available, such as Spotify, Apple, and more.

Timestamps: Heartstopper Season 3 Review & Discussion of LGBTQ+ Issues

[Warning: Spoilers from season 3 are discussed within this podcast]

00:00 – Intro to Across the Queerverse podcast
02:10 – Spoiler alert for Heartstopper season 3 going forward
02:44 – Comparing season 2 vs season 3 of Heartstopper?
05:00 – Dealing with real life problems, mental health, and problems with both friendships and romantic relationships
08:49 – Building friendships and how you define family and build your community around you as a queer person
11:25 – Aromantic & Asexuality, not feeling the need to explain yourself as a queer person and understanding that if someone cares about you they should put in the work and effort to try to understand. The wide array of what being queer means.
18:00 – Characters in Heartstopper season 3 no longer having their friends and support groups around them as much, struggling with that and not being as protected, being politicized. (Elle scenes discussed, Transgender bias and attacks discussed)
24:30 – The world outside not being as forgiving or understanding as their friendship group and dealing with those outside of that group, even family, not understanding mental health struggles.
27:45 – Tori being ace, Darcy (non-binary), talking about responses to feeling such as butterflies and that it might mean something different that some might think
33:05 – Some Like it Hot the Musical discussion about the transgender storyline with Jerry/Daphne, in the musical
34:00 – Clothes as self-expression
35:16 – Nick scenes, not feeling comfortable in your skin, Nick’s insecurities, wanting to help Charlie, the idea that you can’t cure someone else’s mental illness with love. Nick wanting to be there for Charlie, but Nick also really needing to be there for himself too.
42:10 – Exploration of having security and confidence in relationships this season
43:30 – Healing messages in Heartstopper
47:50 – LGBTQ+ adults as role models in the series
51:27 – Is season 3 a comfort show like seasons 1 & 2?
54:45 – Talking more about characters not being comfortable in their own bodies, teenagers, sex, and reality vs the show.
01:01:05 – Heartstopper season 4
01:01:50 – Outro