Heartstopper season three ending explained as Nick could exit to university
Heartstopper season three has finally graced our screens but the finale has left viewers with questions about the central couple's future, here's the ending explained
*This article contains spoilers for Heartstopper season three*
Netflix’s hit dramedy Heartstopper has finally returned for a third season, with eight wholesome episodes available for fans to devour.
Based on the Alice Oseman graphic novels of the same name, the series sees protagonist Charlie (Joe Locke) navigating the ups and downs of friendships, mental health and romance in his teens - with a keen focus on Charlie’s budding romance with Nick (Kit Connor).
The latest season of the coming-of-age show follows Charlie, now in an established relationship with Nick, trying to figure out how to say ‘I love you’ to his boyfriend. The pair share the words in a sweet scene early in the series.
But the first ‘I love you’ isn’t this season’s biggest conflict. Across the eight-episode run, Charlie tackles his eating disorder, while the rest of his friendship group, Tara (Corinna Brown), Darcy (Kizzy Edgell), Isaac (Tobie Donovan), Imogen (Rhea Norwood), Tao (William Gao), and Elle (Yasmin Finney), face various teen struggles.
By the season finale, however, school is on everyone’s minds as Nick and the girls take a road trip to look at prospective universities. This leaves fans to ask if he will stay close to Charlie, who will still be in sixth form, or move away.
The episode, titled "Apart," starts with a cosy scene of the loved-up couple in bed. Charlie opens Nick’s laptop, finding that he had been looking at the University of Leeds website.
“Some of these [universities] are really far away”, Charlie observes. Nick quickly responds, “But my top choices are local. I’ve been kinda worried about being away from you.”
Charlie is reassured and jokes that he’ll help Nick study so that he gets the grades for his top choices.
As Nick and the girls (Tara, Elle and Imogen) head on their road trip, it becomes clear that Nick doesn’t like the universities close to home.
After visiting the nearby University of Kent, the girls question his top choices for uni. They each share that they want to move far from Truham, but Nick explains that he wants to study nearby for the sake of Charlie and his mum.
Imogen then asks: “What about when Charlie goes to uni next year?” And Elle quips: “Yeah, if he leaves, then you’ll still be apart.” Which leaves Nick looking unsure about his choices.
Once at Oxford University, Tara's choice school, Imogen and Nick share a dorm room and have a heart-to-heart about past relationships. She confesses she felt “pressure to have a boyfriend” and says “I don’t think I’ve ever liked a boy.”
Despite being slated to attend the top university, Tara admits she hates Oxford.
Meanwhile, back home, the gang are bonding during Sahar’s band practice and Charlie is coming to terms with the importance of platonic relationships. In his therapy session, he confesses, “Even though I love Nick, I need other people.”
As the uni crew close out their road trip, they visit the University of Leed which Nick instantly clicks with; it has a great rugby field and a welcoming team. He loves the school but becomes concerned about its distance from home, which is around four hours of driving.
After a successful road trip, Nick and the girls head back to the fair where Charlie and Sahar will be performing. However, they get stuck in traffic and arrive just before the performance ends. The group spends the rest of the finale enjoying the fair.
Elle then sparks a conversation with Tao, explaining her plans to go to art school in Berlin or Paris, and he is supportive. Nick overhears this conversation and seems inspired to be honest with Charlie about potentially moving away for uni.
The couple then head back to Nick’s house and spend some quality time together and the season closes with them laying in bed.
What does this mean for Nick and Charlie?
Viewers are left to wonder if Nick will take the leap and move to Leeds, leaving Charlie behind.
Netflix hasn’t confirmed a fourth season for the series yet but Oseman has shared that a draft of volume six of the books, the final instalment, is already written.
Oseman also revealed at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August 2024 that the final instalment will see Nick “going through a lot of stuff.”
Speaking to PinkNews, the writer teased: “Nick and Charlie [are] both heading towards the end of their school journey, and Nick is about to leave and go to university. So, the question is: what is their relationship going to be like when they’re not at school together any more? Are they going to be OK?”
The creator added: “Especially if Nick goes off to a university that’s quite far away and they can’t see each other every day, it’s going to be a really big change in their relationship.”
If the series is picked up for a fourth series, it seems the central couple will have to overcome some bumps in the road. Especially if Nick says yes to Leeds.
Heartstopper season 3 is available to stream now on Netflix.