Body

Episode Information

Airdate

October 3, 2024

Written by

Alice Oseman

Directed by

Andy Newbery

Run Time

36 min

Episode Guide
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"Winter"	"Together"

Body is the sixth episode of the third season of Netflix's Heartstopper, and the twenty-second episode of the series overall.^[1]

Synopsis[]

Elle's art going viral on social media lands her an interview. Charlie tells Nick he's ready to go to the next level and Tara suffers a panic attack.

Plot[]

Geoff commends Charlie for doing so well since leaving inpatient care four months earlier. He reminds Charlie that he has come a long way, and thus, should do something to celebrate it. Geoff asks Charlie to name three bits of progress he has made over the last four months. To which, Charlie recalls in settling back at school and having Mr. Farouk and Coach Singh at different times tell him they are there for Charlie, if he ever needs the extra support. Or the rugby team being happy to see him back. However, Charlie feels a bit down since despite all the support, he still relapsed after 2 weeks . Geoff reminds him that self-harm relapses are normal, and they don't negate the progress he has made thus far. Moreover, since that first relapse, it has been three months since that first relapse. Charlie also mentions how his relationship with Nick has gotten strong since the night of their argument. Charlie admits how feels they are even closer, because Nick has seen him at his absolute rock bottom, and has not run away screaming. Geoff tells Charlie that he is not surprised that his progress has allowed Charlie to deepen his connection with Nick. At the end of the day, since his intrusive thoughts have lessened, it is only natural that he has more energy to devote to his relationship.

Geoff comforts Charlie by telling him how it is normal to feel like he has a long way to go, since he experienced trauma. This frustrates Charlie though, as he doesn’t want to forever be defined by the fact that he was bullied at 14, and had one toxic ex-boyfriend. Geoff then reminds Charlie that while trauma doesn’t define him, it also doesn’t vanish in five minutes. So he needs to give himself some grace. He also reminds hims how he has people who love and care about him, so he should focus on that and enjoy them as well.

Elsewhere, Elle is praised for one of her paintings, and is told by her teacher that a local radio station contacted them to inquire about her. Word of Elle’s social media blowing up got to them, and they want to interview her. She tells Elle that it is something that is up to her, if she decides to do it, and wants to make sure she is comfortable with it.

Meanwhile, Nick arrives at school and goes in search of Charlie, who is practicing on the drums. He yells out happy birthday, as he spins him around and after putting him back on the ground, gives his boyfriend his birthday present. Charlie opens up the gift, which contains tickets to see Jack Maddox, an Instagram-famous historian that Charlie likes. Since he is having a book signing on Sunday, Nick suggests that they could go after the sleepover. Afterwards, Charlie asks for a birthday kiss, which Nick happily grants, but it quickly turns into a steamy makeout session that Charlie eventually is forced to halt from going further since they are at school.

At home, Charlie tells Tao and Isaac how it happened again with him and Nick, and his two friends laugh about it. Tao asks Charlie if he has stopped to realize that maybe this is a sign that he and Nick are ready to take things further. Isaac clarifies that Tao is talking about sex. He admits to his friends that he feels self-conscious that he won’t know what to do, and is scared that Nick might not be ready to take that step with Charlie. Eventually, he kicks Tao and Isaac out of his room, so that he can get dressed in peace. He tries out a short-sleeved purple shirt, but changes his mind, and instead wears a long-sleeve shirt and cardigan to make him more comfortable.

At Charlie’s party, Imogen admits to Nick that things have been awkward between her and Sahar since New Year’s Eve. To which Nick suggests that Imogen should talk to her, to work the issue out. After he blows the candles, Charlie gets a piece of cake and eats some of it. Later, there is a knock at the door, and Tao answers. It turns out to be a friend of Tory’s. Charlie tells Elle and Tao that Tori met Michael a few months ago, but won’t confirm nor deny if he is her boyfriend or just a friend.

Meanwhile, Elle tells Tao she will do the interview, since it is a really good opportunity. Whereas Imogen and Sahar finally talk, and the blonde tells the other girl that while she doesn’t feel like she knows a lot, one thing she doesn’t want to do is to keep hurting Sahar. Intentional or not. Sahar smiles at Imogen, and tells her that she doesn’t think she could ever hate her. But laughs and tells Imogen that the two of them would be awful as a couple. Imogen agrees, and tells her how they are better off as friends.

Later that night, while Nick and the other older friends in their group discuss university, Darcy states they are thinking of taking a gap year to spend more time with their grandma. Sahar admits to wanting to study at an old university and live out her dark academia fantasy. Whereas Nick states he wants to stay somewhere local, and Imogen mentions how they at least know they want to study either business or politics. However, when it comes to Tara, she ends up freaking out, and bolts from the conversation. Charlie sees Tara come inside, and realizes she is having a panic attack. So he ends up using some of the exercises Geoff taught him on his friend. She manages to calm down after a few seconds, and is then comforted by Darcy, when they come to check on their girlfriend. Eventually, a drunk Charlie admits to Nick that he is ready to have sex with him, and that he thinks about it all the time. Nick admits he thinks about it all the time as well. While he was not ready when they went to Paris, he is definitely ready now. However, he tells Charlie that it won’t be tonight, as his boyfriend is incredibly drunk.

The next morning, Charlie tells Nick he feels so ill, who then asks if he remembers what he said the night before. After Charlie recalls the conversation around sex they had, Nick admits how he is glad Charlie brought it up.

At the Jack Maddox book signing, Charlie laughs and tells Nick he is so jealous after his boyfriend asks him if he is ready to meet the love of his life. When Jack comes out to the cheers of the crowd, Charlie says how hot the older man is. Jack talks about his book, and eventually asks if anyone has any questions. Charlie raises his hand, and when he is called, he asks his celebrity crush if he has any book recommendations on queerness in Ancient Greece. This question excites Jack. Afterwards, during the actual book signing, Charlie tells Jack how big of a fan he is of him, and that he was a big inspiration for him. To the point that he wants to study classics in uni. Jack tells Charlie how that is great to hear, and admits that classics, if it was not obvious already, was his favorite subject at school. As he signs Charlie’s copy of his book, he tells the young teen to continue studying hard, but jokes that he should not ignore his latin vocab.When his attention shifts to Nick, the older boy ends up getting tongue-tied. Once they are out of earshot from the author, he tells Charlie that Jack is indeed very hot.

Meanwhile, at her interview, the woman interviewing her asks her about her transness. Elle admits she is very proud to be trans, as it is a big part of who she is. So she likes to explore that side of her in the art she creates. However, when the woman interviewer asks Elle what her opinion on the trans debate is since it is such a hot topic, Elle is initially caught off guard. But quickly recovers and states that trans people aren’t a debate. At the end of the day, they are human beings. Outside the recording booth, Elle’s parents are furious at seeing how uncomfortable their daughter looks. Mariam tells one of the workers how inappropriate this whole situation was, and that it was very manipulative of a radio station to use a teenage girl like this. Tao asks if they should go in and stop the interview, but eventually Elle has had enough and walks out on the verge of crying. As they walk out with their daughter, Mariam warns the radio station they will be hearing from her.

Back home, Charlie and Nick make out and things get quite heated until Nick asks Charlie if he can take off Charlie's clothes. Which makes him stop for a second, and Nick, sensing the apprehension decides to stop. Before Charlie can say anything else, there is a knock on his door, and his mom walks in asking if he had a nice time today. The two boys are out of breath, and seeing that for herself, Jane doesn’t stay for long, but leaves the door to her son’s room open. Once she is gone, Charlie admits to being nervous about taking his shirt off in front of Nick. Especially with the scars he has on him. But Nick chuckles softly as he tells Charlie how much he fancies him. Which he jokes is infinitely more than Jack Maddox.

At his next session with Geoff, Charlie tells him how all he can think about is how disgusting Nick will think he looks because of how skinny he is and the scars he has from his self-harm. He admits to Geoff how he knows deep down that he is not disgusting, and that Nick won’t think of him that way. But, he can’t help but feel anxious about it. Geoff thinks this is because it is one of those moments when Charlie feels like he does not have control. But part of intimacy is trusting someone enough to let go of some of that control. Which can be quite scary, but he reminds Charlie that as long as he and Nick respect and trust each other, that they communicate and listen to each other, then he will feel safe, and the wave of anxiousness will dissipate.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest-Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Catherine Bailey as Katy Newnham
Amber James as Producer

Quotes[]

To be added.

Trivia[]

In this episode, Isaac is seen reading: Last Night at the Telegraph Clubby Malinda Lo.^[2]
“Good For You” by Olivia Rodrigo is one of the songs that plays during Charlie’s birthday party. In reality, Locke is good friends with Olivia.^[3]