Joe Locke and Kit Connor on Heartstopper Season 3’s “Normal and Natural” Focus on Sex

Samuel Dore/Netflix

The Heartstopper kids are officially growing up.

Adapted series creator and writer Alice Oseman’s wildly popular webcomic of the same name, the Netflix teen dramedy has become a streaming sensation thanks to its unabashedly earnest yet clear-eyed story about queer British teens navigating all the excitement and awkwardness of first love. The comic-accurate cartoon panels and an infectiously catchy, Gen Z-heavy soundtrack only add to the show’s charm.

While Heartstopper is unmistakably an ensemble affair, it’s the boy-meets-boy romance between shy misfit Charlie (Joe Locke) and school rugby star Nick (Kit Connor) that anchors its world. It’s only fitting, then, that season three’s newfound level of maturity largely rests on the young couple. As the gravity of Charlie’s eating disorder becomes more apparent, Nick finds himself struggling to be there for his boyfriend without putting pressure on himself to single-handedly solve all his loved ones’ struggles.

At the same time, Nick and Charlie — whose teenage affection has thus far been limited to sugary-sweet makeout sessions and (gasp!) a poorly placed hickey — are ready to take things further. Questions about sex and university ambitions also unfurl within their friend group at large, including Elle (Yasmin Finney), who is deepening her relationship with her boyfriend Tao (William Gao), exploring the unique contours of trans intimacy and dysphoria in the process.

That these more serious topics can co-exist alongside classic wholesome Heartstopper misadventures like beach trips and band performances is a testament to Connor and Locke’s abilities as leading men, which they’ve shouldered since they were teenagers themselves. This season, the two hold their own alongside buzzy adult actors like Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey, who makes a cameo as Charlie’s favorite author; and Hayley Atwell, who plays Nick’s Aunt Diane.

In between Broadway and Marvel gigs, the duo’s star-making Heartstopper roles have cemented their place in the queer coming-of-age genre. Ahead of the season three premiere, Them caught up with Connor and Locke to chat about the show’s more “adult” tone, their favorite songs from the soundtrack, and all things Nick and Charlie.

This season really grows up with the characters as they deal with more quote-unquote “adult” issues, like mental health, sex, university prep, and more. What were your conversations like about making that more mature shift?

Kit Connor: I think that it felt like quite a natural [progression] for the story, but also for us as actors to take that step and deal with these slightly more challenging and nuanced issues. That was something that felt quite natural, positive, and exciting as actors.

Do you tend to read ahead in terms of the webcomics, or do you prefer to just go through it as you get the scripts year to year?

K.C.: I try not to, but it’s impossible to avoid because there are so many references. When you’re on set, [people] will talk about things that are happening in the comic. So, yeah, I normally try to keep it a surprise.

Joe Locke: I read them all.

“I think it’s important not to patronize the characters. They’re teenagers. It’s very normal and natural for them to be thinking about sex and that state of their relationships.”

You can trade notes. A lot of the season obviously centers on Charlie’s mental health and how Nick learns to support him without feeling totally responsible for the wellbeing of everyone around him. How did the two of you prepare to tackle that subject matter?

J.L.: Obviously it’s a very heavy topic to go into, and I think we all wanted to make sure that it was done properly and not glazed over. It’s a hard thing to talk about, but I’m really happy with the way that it turned out. I think we haven’t really shied away from anything, but [we have] also kept it positive in a Heartstopper way. You see Charlie at his lowest point, but you always know that it’s going to be okay, which I think is good for the audience to know.

K.C.: Yeah, there’s a real feeling of community and support and love, not just for Charlie, [but] for everyone. Although Charlie’s struggles are the main focus of certainly the first half of the season, there’s a real focus on Elle’s struggles being a young trans woman. That’s a really beautiful storyline, and having Tao there, and having her family and having her friends. [There are] a lot of elements of the season that are about family, found family, and community.

As the Heartstopper gang gets older, sex becomes a new and important part of their relationships and conversations. Why do you think that season three was the right time for the characters to start talking about taking this next step?

J.L.: I think it’s important not to patronize the characters. They’re teenagers. It’s very normal and natural for them to be thinking about sex and that state of their relationships. And so I think it’s only right that we portray that in a really positive and real way. It’s not an easy thing.

In an interview for the show’s official podcast, Finney said the filming experience was “emotional.”

A lot of Heartstopper’s appeal is that it’s able to tackle all these things that teenage audiences are grappling with in their own lives. What do you hope that young queer viewers specifically take away from season three?

K.C.: That it’s really important to ask for help, I think, is a really crucial message. And that it’s better for everyone, really. It’s better than suffering in silence. It’s better than piling it all on one person and taking someone else’s trauma and struggles and trying to fix them all yourself. A resounding message would be that four, five, or six hands are better than one. It’s better to share the load a little bit.

The Heartstopper soundtrack plays such a big role in setting the mood of the show. I’m curious whether there are any songs that relate to your characters and their season three arcs?

J.L.: Suddenly every song I’ve ever heard has escaped my mind.

K.C.: I mean, I just always think of [Orla Gartland’s] “Why Am I Like This?” from season one, whenever I think of Nick and a song. Because it still feels true.

J.L.: I can’t think of one for Charlie right now. My brain’s not working, I won’t lie to you.

That’s okay! A lot of fans were excited that Jonathan Bailey came on board for season three. What were those days like having him on set, especially knowing that he has talked about how he wished he had a show like Heartstopper as a kid?

J.L.: I mean, Johnny’s a wonderful, wonderful man, a wonderful actor. It was really great to be able to watch him work and get to work with him briefly. He’s just a really great guy. It was really fun.

K.C.: I think everyone on set felt very, very happy to have him and very chuffed to be able to just sit and watch him.

This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Heartstopper season three streams on Netflix October 3.

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Originally Appeared on them.