'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The highly anticipated season 3 of the coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama television series Heartstopper was released on Netflix on October 3, 2024. Similar to its previous seasons, this season also dealt with issues that concern youngsters these days, in addition to focusing on Nick and Charlie's relationship.
Season 3 of the show sheds light on Charlie's declining mental health, with a special focus on his eating disorder. Throughout season 2 of the show, Nick saw visible signs of Charlie exhibiting behaviors typical of the disorder. However, it was only in episode 1 of the third season that he was finally able to muster up the courage to take up the matter with Charlie.
Charlie, who at first disregarded the idea that he had an unhealthy relationship with food, finally recognized the patterns after conducting extensive research. He eventually decided to consult a specialist in episode 4 of the series who diagnosed him.
Trending
Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions and details of eating disorders. Please read at your discretion.
What kind of eating disorder does Charlie have in Heartstopper?
In season 2 of Heartstopper, the signs of Charlie's eating disorder began to manifest as he slowly reduced his food intake and began to develop a general aversion towards it.
Nick observed Charlie's negative attitude towards food and expressed his concern by encouraging him to eat more. However, as the series progressed, Charlie's relationship with food became increasingly unhealthy, prompting Nick to search for information on the symptoms of eating disorders.
After looking up the signs of the same, Nick realized that Charlie did in fact, had an unhealthy relationship with food. However, he did not know how to take the issue up with him.
In episode 1 of Heartstopper season 3 when Charlie and Nick were together vacationing with their friends, Nick told Charlie that he thought Charlie had an eating disorder. He dismissed the claims but could not stop thinking about what Nick said.
While Nick was gone for a few weeks with his family, Charlie began searching the web for symptoms of eating disorders and found that they were very similar to how he felt about food. This prompted him to finally visit a clinic in episode 4 of the show's third season to seek a diagnosis. Charlie was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (a form of eating disorder) and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
What are eating disorders?
Eating disorders are disorders that cause unhealthy eating patterns among people who are affected by them. The American Psychiatric Association describes the same in the following manner:
"Eating disorders are behavioral conditions characterized by severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviors and associated distressing thoughts and emotions. They can be very serious conditions affecting physical, psychological and social function."
It also points out the different types of eating disorders that can affect an individual including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, other specified feeding and eating disorder, pica and rumination disorder.
The perspectives of the cast regarding the sensitive topics being addressed in Heartstopper season 3
During a conversation with Deadline in October 2024, when Kit Connor and Joe Locke who play Nick and Charlie in Heartstopper were asked about how the actors approached the serious tone of this season of the show. Joe Locke said:
"Heartstopper is such a special show and that we can handle quite serious topics with quite a lighthearted tone in a way and the audience always knows that the characters are going to be okay in the end, which means that we can go to these dark places without feeling like we’re going to alienate the audience. So it was it was nice to be able to really delve into the darker sides and then the more serious topics."
Kit Connor also added:
"It feels like it was a very natural progression in terms of the characters and the story and the environment and the vibe of the show. It felt like, as the audience are growing up with the show the show should in turn, grow up with them."
All episodes of Heartstopper seasons 1 to 3 are currently streaming on Netflix.
