And it’s a wrap on Heartstopper Forever with the final installment finally out on Netflix. Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring are no longer the shy people we knew from the first time we were ever introduced to the plot. As of today, they have a lot of their platter. There is an impending adulthood, university waiting, and all of this at a thought: can their love survive? This time around, there is a different kind of worry that surrounds them. Now the matter is no longer about being in the closet. Rather, now it’s the fear of growing apart due to the distance that might come between them.
While I do understand that this is the kind of plot we have seen many times, I am all up for watching it again. This time, the plot is more serious with the kind of themes chosen. This gives you a good reason to watch Heartstopper Forever. There are important conversations, such as mental health, and thankfully, it has been picked up well.
Coming to the cast, Kit Connor and Joe Locke are the heart-stoppers, quite literally. Their on-screen chemistry is something that I have always adored ever since I first saw them. They deliver such powerful performances that you end up understanding their characters even more. The character development till now has been remarkable, and a big credit for that goes not only to the writers for writing a wonderful development but also to the actors for bringing them to us, the audience. Not even once will you feel that someone has overacted or underacted in Heartstopper Forever. Even the supporting cast deserves big praise for whatever screen time they have had. Each of them, Tao, Elle, Tara, Darcy, Isaac, Imogen, and Tori, has had their own small stories going on in the show, and by the time the credits roll out, you cannot help but remember their plots as well, apart from the main leads. Yes, there could have been a little more justice done to them, which I felt wasn’t properly done. But even with that, the plot is great.
As I said, a majority of us might find Heartstopper Forever slightly predictable. Certain elements in the story scream repetition from some of the most classic romantic plot lines we have seen so far. That can be a bit of an issue for those who want to watch something new. However, having said that, the plot does have moments that aren’t exact copies. Yes, there is a lot of bluntness that one can expect even in this repetition, which is nothing but the truth for many couples who enter the phase of adulthood. There are a lot of new themes explored and presented to us. In a way, one can say that it’s a mix of both new and old.
The pacing is moderate. In fact, I felt that Heartstopper Forever moves at an even speed. It doesn’t drag out the scenes unnecessarily, and that’s the best part. The makers have ensured that the plot isn’t too over-dramatic, which is why it doesn’t feel too stuffy. So all in all, this sure was a befitting farewell.
Final Score - [6/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times