'Heartstopper' Creator Alice Oseman and EP Patrick Walters Talk Season 3

SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers for the third season of Netflix Heart stopper.

Season 3 of Heart stopper With the television adaptation of Alice Oseman's popular graphic novels, he broke new ground in several ways.

The third installment of the Netflix coming-of-age series, starring Joe Locke as Charlie Spring and Kit Connor as Nick Nelson, announced several adult decisions for the main couple and their friend group, many of whom were considering the decision to go to college as the season ended came to an end. Oseman, who wrote the series' scripts, worked on volume five of the graphic novels while also adapting season 3, which differed from the structure of previous seasons.

“There was a point where I got to the end of writing season three and was writing the same scene in both formats at the same time. They collided right at the end, but when I wrote season three, I hadn't even planned volume six,” Oseman told Deadline. “Writing season three was essentially where the comics and the series met. They are at the same point now. In that sense it was scary because normally in previous seasons I gave the books to all the cast and all the department heads had the opportunity to read the comic and see what the scenes from the scripts look like in the original comics. But I couldn’t do that for book five because it literally didn’t exist as a book yet.”

Oseman initially thought that volume five would be the last Heart stopper However, she decided to split the story into two more novels – volumes five and six – to distribute all of the story's storylines. Volume six is ​​even more about highlighting Charlie and Nick as individuals who are “able to stand on their own” after Nick supports Charlie with his eating disorder and mental health.

“Towards the end of the season the seesaw goes in the other direction. “All of a sudden it feels like Nick is the one who's struggling a little more while Charlie's doing well, and that's a really interesting twist in the dynamic,” Oseman said. “Nick has been so supportive and loving and a great friend throughout Charlie's journey this season, but Charlie is his own person, especially now. Because he has taken so many positive steps in his recovery, he doesn't need Nick there all the time. This is important to see because they are their own people. I'm currently working on book six, which is what the next chapter of the story is about: the boys feeling confident outside of their relationship and how that makes their relationship strong enough in the long run.”

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“See-Saw” executive producer Patrick Walters praised both Locke and Connor's take on the TV versions of “Charlie and Nick,” highlighting one particular moment in Connor's acting that marked the second Billie Eilish pindrop of the season triggered.

“We did a collaboration with Billie Eilish where 'Birds of a Feather' from her album was on the teaser that we released and that was the first time anyone heard it. Then we were also in the situation where in episode four we had this one part where Nick tells Charlie he loves him, but he points it at Tao's video camera because Charlie's not there,” Walters told Deadline. “It's at a Halloween party and we struggled to find a bit of music to support that it would believably played at a Halloween party full of teenagers, but also had the emotional resonance that we needed. Because we knew Billie Eilish's team, it was an amazing thing where we thought, “Maybe we'll try one of these songs?” Which we wouldn't normally do because being a megastar like that could be pretty expensive, but we did At that moment she recorded a song from her album “BLUE”. This is one of my favorite music syncs of Season 3 because Kit's face and performance are so soulful and you believe it, but then again this song is so unique and brilliant.”

Walters, of course, found out about this through a mutual friend Bridgertonstar Jonathan Bailey loved heart stopper, which led to the actor making a cameo appearance in the sixth episode of the third season as historian Jack Maddox (Henry Maddox in the mini-comic, changed due to Nick's second dog named Henry in the series). Bailey only filmed his scene for one day on set, and Oseman recalled having to write him lines on the spot.

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“We hadn't actually written much of what we wanted him to say, and once we got on set we realized, 'Oh, we need him to say a little bit more.' So that day on set, I had to write him a whole paragraph of things about ancient history and literature that I could kind of hand to him and say, 'I'm so sorry.' Please learn that paragraph now,” Oseman said. “He really enjoyed doing it, so I was very grateful for it. He brought a lot of joy and sparkle to the day, which was beautiful.”

Haley Atwell brought another new character to life in Season 3 – Nick's Aunt Diane, and Oseman revealed that the Menorca scene where Atwell comforts Connor's Nick was the last scene they filmed for Season 3. In the comics, the exchange takes place between Nick and his mother Sarah (Olivia Colman), but Colman was unable to return to that role in Season 3.

“We said, 'Look, we have a situation where we need something, it's a really important story arc, and it changes slightly from what it would have been originally,'” Walters told Deadline of his pitch to Atwells agents. “And it just worked out because she had the time. She loves the show too and I think she’s fantastic in it.”

RELATED: “Heartstopper's Joe Locke & Kit Connor Talk Filming Show's First Sex Scene.”

Isaac and Elle also got big moments that didn't exist in the comics. Isaac's character doesn't appear at all in the comics, but Oseman, who identifies as asexual and aromantic, wanted to explore such a character in the TV show.

“In Season 3, it all leads up to this scene in the aquarium, which I was really looking forward to because Isaac's story this season is very much about his feelings of isolation and alienation from all of his friends because most of them are in one Relationship are “They're very obsessed with romance, and those are things that Isaac has absolutely nothing to do with,” Oseman said. “He feels like society is telling him that sex and romance are the most important things you can ever hope for, but he doesn't want that, and that makes him feel lonely and out of place in his friend group be. In the aquarium he can finally confront his friends with his feelings and express himself. It’s a truly beautiful scene and Tobie did an absolutely incredible job with it.”

Elle Argent actress Yasmin Finney worked with Oseman to explore the character's transgender identity, resulting in a pivotal interview scene for Elle that fit the current cultural moment surrounding transgender people.

“We see a lot more of Elle’s experiences as a trans girl. This season we see how she suffers from gender dysphoria and how that affects her relationship with Tao, but we also get a glimpse of the broader culture of transphobia that she deals with every day. It's on her Instagram. It's just constantly in the media, which is very realistic to see what it's like in the UK at the moment, and I'm sure it's the case in the US too,” Oseman said. “I want viewers to see that on the show, and it kind of comes to a head in this radio interview where Elle thinks she's there to talk about her art, but she's met with a lot of questions about being transgender faced, and I don't think that's the case. That's such a relatable feeling for trans people, whose identities are picked apart and used as a talking point and in politics, in journalism and in the news. It's very disturbing because Elle just wants to be a normal girl who hangs out with her friends, makes art and has fun with her boyfriend, but she can't because there's this culture around her that you just can't join can withdraw. I wanted to express that this season.”

Although Netflix hasn't renewed yet Heart stopper For another season, Oseman is on board for one final part.

“I would like there to be (another season). We don't have confirmation yet. I would like to adapt volume six. I think another season or another, whatever it may be, would bring the story to a close, wrap up all the character arcs and help us say goodbye to all of these characters. So yeah, I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

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