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Episode Information

Airdate

October 3, 2024

Written by

Alice Oseman

Directed by

Andy Newbery

Run Time

39 min

Episode Guide
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Home is the second episode of the third season of Netflix's Heartstopper, and the eighteenth episode of the series overall.^[1]

Synopsis[]

On holiday in Menorca, Nick worries about Charlie, who is struggling more than ever. Isaac starts to feel like a third wheel around Elle and Tao.

Plot[]

Nick hugs his Aunt Diane who refers to him as his favorite nephew, and Nick jokes that she probably should not let David hear that. Diane then mentions how it is a shame his mum had to pull out from going on the trip, and all Nick says is that there is always next year. A few seconds later, Charlie texts Nick telling him that he loves him a lot. Nick also says he loves Charlie and texts that he really likes saying those three words. Some time later, Charlie is doing some work as he waits for Nick to text him once he lands. But is dissatisfied when he sees he has yet to receive a reply. As he is waiting for Nick to respond, he accidentally writes I love you on his worksheet and imagines Nick is sitting next to him. He pictures saying I love you over and over again as he kisses his boyfriend.

In Menorca, Nick arrives safely and texts Charlie, who texts him to come back but that he also can’t wait to see pictures of the villa Nick is staying at. He begins texting Charlie if he ate today but changes his mind and doesn’t send the text.

In the Spring household, Tori asks her brother if he went through it and said I love you to Nick. To which Charlie says he did and then tells his sister that Nick said back as well. Tori points out that she did tell him this would happen, and all Charlie can muster is a healthy hearted shut up towards his sister. Things turn serious when he is about to confide in Tori about Nick noticing his lack of eating, but is interrupted by a call from the man in question. The two boys try to have a conversation but cell reception is bad and the call disconnects.

Eventually, Charlie’s mom tells his son they need to have a serious talk about Nick as she thinks Charlie is too young to be having sex. Charlie tries to get a word in, but his mom continues by saying how she believes that her son is putting a boy above doing well in school.

In Menorca, Nick asks his aunt if she has the password to the WiFi and asks if he is trying to message his friends. Nick admits to her that he was trying to message his boyfriend, and Diane just smiles as she says they have a lot to catch up on.

Later, at Truham Grammar School for Boys, Mr Ajayi and Mr. Farouk are the first teachers to arrive with the GCSE results. The two teachers get close to one another but their romantic moment is cut short when Mr. Lange drops off another box of the GCSE results. Mr. Ajayi tells Mr. Farouk that the other teacher is playing a dangerous game, to which the latter states that is half the fun. One by one the Paris squad finds out their scores and most do really well. Darcy sees their scores and just crumples the piece of paper.

In Menorca, Nick continues to have fun and eventually sees Charlie’s text letting him know he passed all his GCSEs. He lets his aunt and Uncle know the good news and they both cheer for their nephew. Diane then tells Nick that they really need to meet Charlie and see what he is like. His uncle jokes that he needs the family’s approval and Nick should bring his boyfriend over for Christmas. Diane follows along and says that Nick could always bring Charlie with next year to Majorca and that the real test can be if he survives one of their hikes. Nick then smiles as he imagines Charlie is with him now but things sour when he imagines Charlie’s reaction to all the food.

At Truham, Isaac asks the Paris squad if they are going out to Nando’s but they all quickly realize that they had forgotten about the original plan and each was going to be their thing . Later, Charlie is sitting at home scrolling through his Instagram when he comes across one of Jack Maddox’s stories where he is promoting his new book Ten Things I hate About Plato.

Later, Tao and Elle go on a date to a petting zoo whereas Imogen enjoys a dip in her pool and Darcy finally moves in with her grandma.

In Menorca, Diane calls Nick a lovesick puppy and jokes that she is diagnosing him with a severe case of smitten, and growing symptoms of head over heels. Eventually, Nick asks his aunt if as a psychiatrist, she treats people with eating disorders. She replies how it is not her specialty but that it tends to go hand in hand with other things, so sometimes she does.

Meanwhile, Darcy is enjoying their new room as they’re accompanied by Tara and Elle. Eventually, Darcy‘s grandma lets them know their mom called and that it is okay if they don’t do anything about it now, but that she felt it was important to tell Darcy. Once the three friends are alone, Darcy states that their mom is probably throwing a tantrum because she realizes Darcy is not coming back this time. Tara reminds Darcy that they don’t have to talk to their mom if they don’t want to. Eventually, Tara catches Elle texting Tao, and she along with Darcy point out how Elle has been very Tao-obsessed as of late, and they have not hung out just with them in a while. Elle tells them how Tao has been taking her out on a date every day. She confesses that it feels like he is trying really hard and that it is as if he is scared Elle is going to abandon him.

Elsewhere, Charlie tries to halfheartedly play his drums but quickly puts them down. He then gets a text from Isaac which he ends up ignoring. Shortly thereafter, there’s a knock on his door, and in an out of character moment, Tori sits next to Charlie and hugs him as she tells him she loves him.

Whereas Tao and Elle are making out but they stop when Elle finds an old camcorder. Tao explains that it used to belong to his dad and that even though his mom is trying to get rid of some old things, he decided to keep this one. He recounts how his dad always had it around him when he was younger. Elle wishes she could have met him, and Tao tells her that he would have loved her as he was also quite the creative type. Eventually, Isaac arrives but quickly feels like a third wheel. Isaac brings up how Charlie has not been replying to the group chat in a while. Tao has been so wrapped up in his relationship with Elle that he didn’t even realize Nick was on a holiday and thus Charlie would not be hanging out with him. Their love-dovey interactions eventually become too much for Isaac who decides to leave movie night early.

Isaac ends up going to Charlie’s to ask him if he is okay. He mentions how their friendship group is all over the place and that they have barely done anything as a group summer. He confides in Charlie that he is feeling quite left out. Charlie apologizes for not being around all summer for Isaac, but then lies to him by telling his friend he is indeed okay. Instead, he tells Isaac that he has just been missing Nick a lot and that things have not been great with his mom as of late. So he has not felt like doing much of anything. Eventually, Isaac asks if Charlie wants him to go, but he tells him to stay and the two watch the latest adaptation of Emma.

Later, Jane asks Tori to ask Charlie to come down for dinner and she notices that once she opens his door, he quickly closes his laptop. Their dad then asks Charlie if he can help him set the table, and her younger brother quickly leaves his room. She debates for a bit, but eventually steps inside and opens Charlie’s laptop, which is on a website about eating disorders. Tori then messages Nick asking him when he is getting home from his trip as she is really worried about Charlie.

On the last night before she goes to Lambert, Elle reminds Tao that even though he lost his dad, she is not going to lose her. Eventually, she tells him that she loves him and Tao says it back as well. All while saying he didn’t want her to think it was too soon. Elle thinks it might be but at the end of the day she doesn’t care.

At dinner, the Spring family has some roast with steamed vegetables but Charlie can’t bring himself to eat it. Tori watches in concern from the sidelines. He eventually excuses himself to go to the bathroom.

In Menorca, Nick finally sees the DM Tori sent him about being worried about Charlie. Now worried as well, he gives Charlie a call and through some tears, Charlie admits that Nick was right and that he actually might be suffering from an eating disorder. Nick tries to get Charlie to talk to his parents about it, but Charlie states that his mom is not like Nick’s. So instead of listening to him, he just gets mad at him. Later that night, Diane brings up how Nick has had something on his mind the entire holiday. So Nick finally confides in his aunt about what Charlie is going through, and how helpless he feels. Nick tells his aunt how Charlie has an eating disorder And how scared he feels because he can’t force Charlie to eat and his lack of eating has gotten pretty bad as of late.

Diane states how that is a lot of pressure for a 16 year old to feel but ultimately he can’t be the one to fix Charlie. No matter how much he loves him, it is not his job to save him, and even if it feels like they are each other’s world, that dependency is not healthy for anyone. What Charlie needs is professional help from a doctor or a therapist. Preferably someone who understands the stunt disorders and knows how to treat them as well. Sadly, Diane reminds Nick that love can’t cure a mental illness. She then reminds Nick that there are other ways he can support Charlie like being there to talk or just to listen to him. Or cheer him up during one of his bad days. But also on those bad days, he can ask Charlie what he can do to help. What’s important is to stand together even when it’s hard. All while realizing that sometimes our loved ones may need more support than one person can give.

Elsewhere, Darcy blocks their mom’s phone number after seeing several missed calls from her and reiterating that they want nothing to do with their mom anymore.

Whereas Isaac texts Charlie inviting him to go out just the two of them, and being left on read.