One of the most terrifying aspects of being a teen is the continuous change. Young people are expected to navigate high school, friendships, romance and mental wellness before making major decisions about the future trajectory of their lives. Since its debut four years ago, Netflix’s “Heartstopper,” based on Alice Oseman’s novel and comic of the same name, has captured the magic, energy, joy and terror of this time. Now, in the series finale film, “Heartstopper Forever,” Oseman ushers her characters and the audience toward a new chapter: the heartbreaking and enticing unknown.
“Heartstopper Forever” opens in the fall. It’s Nick’s (Kit Connor) final year of high school, and a lot has changed. No longer a wallflower, Charlie (Joe Locke) is running for Head Boy, and trying to form a club for queer students. He is still working through his eating disorder and his desire to self-harm, but his transparency about his feelings and the work he does with his therapist, Geoff (Eddie Marsan), have allowed him to blossom. Nick is ecstatic to see Charlie bloom, but he doesn’t feel as central to Charlie’s life as he once did. As a result, Nick struggles to show up for this new version of his beau.
