Spoiler warning: Spoilers for Season 2 of Heartstopper follow. Heartstopper Season 2 dropped on Netflix on Aug. 3, and if you binge-watched all eight episodes in a single sitting like me, you might still be processing everything that happened in the finale. The characters went to Paris! And prom! And posted way too many Instagram pictures every episode, but it’s okay because they’re so wholesome I could cry!
Nick and Charlie are still very much at the center of the show, but this season places a lot more emphasis on the side characters’ relationships and individual growth. Elle and Tao’s friends-to-lovers arc, Isaac figuring out his sexuality, and Darcy and Tara’s relationship get almost as much screen time as Nick’s coming out journey and Charlie’s private struggles.
There are a lot of subplots to keep up with this time around. Luckily, Season 2’s finale ties them all together in a neat little bow… with a couple of loose ends. Here’s a recap of what went down in Episode 8 and what answers we’ll have to wait for next season.
Did Nick officially come out?
On the morning of prom, Nick posts a picture of him and Charlie on Instagram, officially confirming their relationship and coming out as bisexual in the caption! Though he gets a couple of nasty comments online and in person, he seems thrilled with his decision.
Coming out makes Nick and Charlie’s relationship stronger than ever, which means they’re ready to handle the tough conversations they’ve been avoiding. Nick voiced his concern about Charlie’s eating disorder earlier in the season, but when they’re hanging out in Nick’s bedroom after prom, Charlie tells him the full extent of how badly bullying affected him when he came out. Their heart-to-heart conversation nearly results in Nick saying “I love you” to Charlie for the first time. The final shot of the episode shows Charlie about to hit send on a DM that says “i love you” before the screen cuts to black. The cliffhanger is killing me.
Will Elle and Tao stay together?
Elle and Tao’s will-they-or-won’t-they relationship has an answer… for now. Tao asks Elle to be his girlfriend before prom, a high point in the honeymoon phase they’ve been in ever since they kissed in Paris. Unfortunately, the greatest love stories often have the worst timing. Elle accepted a highly competitive spot at Lambert School of the Arts, which means she’ll be moving away next school year. We’ll have to wait and see if her relationship with Tao survives the distance.
Did Darcy get kicked out of her house?
In Episode 7, Darcy’s mom kicks her out after seeing Darcy trying on a suit for prom, saying she “looks like a lesbian.” It doesn’t seem like the kicking out is a permanent decision; her mom expects Darcy will come back home when “she realizes she was in the wrong.” Ouch.
After going MIA for almost the entire season finale, Darcy reveals to Tara that she’s not out to her very unsupportive parents. She admits that she’s not as secure in her sexuality and identity as she appears to her friends. Tara affirms that she loves Darcy no matter what, prompting Darcy to finally say “I love you” back (!!!). They leave Nick’s house together, so it’s unclear whether Darcy spends the night at Tara’s place or goes back to her parents’ house. I predict she’ll have her own coming out arc next season.
Will there be a Season 3 of Heartstopper?
Nick and Charlie’s story isn’t over yet! Netflix renewed Heartstopper for its third season in May 2022. Alice Oseman confirmed in an Instagram post on July 19 that she is currently writing the scripts for Season 3 (since Heartstopper is produced by a British-Australian company, it is unaffected by the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes). There’s no word yet on what to expect from the plot; maybe Oseman will work in some storylines from the upcoming fifth volume of the Heartstopper graphic novels!