A very human reaction. Should we have expected super-human self-control from a 15/16 year old person? To hear that word directed with such malevolence toward a loved one, perhaps for the very first time, is a pretty much irresistible provocation. It is, perhaps, the moment when Nick first understands the depth of his affection for Charlie, and cements his decision to "go public". And yes, his mother also has it figured out, her son simply wouldn't react that way for any other reason. The scene in the car is one of the pivotal moments in the series - everything about it works: acting blocking, photography, lighting, editing, even the carefully considered shot of Nellie - Alice's and Mr. Lyn's symbol of unconditional love.
Yes. Talking to bullies doesn’t work 99% of the time. Harry is one of those people. Nick called him out multiple times verbally & Harry just got worse. Talking to a wall has limits when you are dealing with violent people.
This is an incredibly hard question for me to answer. The way Harry repeatedly shoved Nick and teased him about getting mad gave me the impression that Harry *wanted* Nick to hit him. Harry was itching for the fight. Should Nick have restrained himself? Perhaps. If he was trained in Akido or something I imagine he could have just laid Harry on the ground w/o striking him. But none of that is realistic. I'm not sure if Nick was right to hit him, but Harry deserved the punch.
That's a tough question. Maybe it would been better, if Nick wouldn't punched him, but I can totally understand him for doing that. It was a human reaction. Sometimes you just loose it, sometimes your patience reached the max and tbh, if I was in this situation, I would react just like Nick ... sooo ... Yes, in my opinion he had the right to punch Harry.
Ben’s behaviour is absolutely inexcusable. But under the surface, he’s also a scared & insecure kid who hates himself, and I think Bash’s performance captures the nuances of that really well. I think making you despise a character this much without turning him into a lazy caricature villain is an underrated skill
Very true. But at the same time, this is also a side of bisexuality that people go through. If you aren't surrounded by people that are nuturing and accepting of you, but you still have these feelings, you keep them supressed and it creates this toxic mindset. Ben knows that he likes boys but he doesn't feel comfortable or able to admit it, so he finds a vulnerable gay boy to snog secretly because that's his only out, the only way to satiate his desires without embracing his sexuality or really coming to terms with it. He completely goes about coping with his anxiety the wrong way and he treats Charlie like trash, but I can understand where he's coming from and it's not entirely his fault, he probably lacks the safe environment and confidence to express his sexuality in a positive way, no one's perfect
That moment when Nick punched Harry, every reaction I have seen has started with everyone saying "yes!" quickly followed by "I don't condone violence, except for Harry" he is sooooo universally hated. That actor did a great job!
You shouldn't have felt the need to apologize for shedding tears; I've watched the series multiple times, in full or in part, as well as numerous RUclips clips, and I still cried watching many of those scenes again here. Just shows what a kind heart you have 💜
Honestly never thought about how sad this episode is because I've always binged it with a happier one 🙃 At least the next one is all happy. I've heard that Alice is not making Harry a closeted homophobe but just a straight asshole. She doesn't want someone from the community to be the bully, and show that sometimes people are just assholes. I think it's a good choice, it's such a trope
Charlie didn’t tell Tao because he didn’t tell anyone but his sister. Nick is the one that told Tara, Darcy and Elle. Charlie’s not gonna out Nick to people.
I really like your comment about how telling someone something important last can be a sign that they were the hardest to tell, and/or that a negative reaction from them would be the hardest to cope with. That said, I kind of wished Elle had pointed out that it was actually Nick who told her at the milkshake cafe. Not only does that take the heat off of Charlie for telling her over him, but may have gone a long way in changing Tao’s perception of Nick. I agree with you that Tao should have been able to tell, but he’s a stubborn character, and I think the image he had of Nick (straight, and playing some long-con trick on Charlie) was pretty well cemented in his brain.
That’s actually an EXCELLENT point about the fact that Nick was the one who told Elle first. Well spotted, because I don’t think I’ve seen anyone else mention it.
Just in case anyone didn’t hate Ben before, they certainly do now. It’s really impossible to excuse his behavior, even if you can have empathy for his internal struggles. He just absolutely hates himself, and rather than have any sort of self-reflection or personal growth, he projects that hate outward onto the one person he knows it will hurt the most. He is so jealous that Charlie has moved on and that Nick is able to do things like hold his hand semi-publicly, because Ben was never able or willing to come close to that. He doesn’t want to see Charlie happy; he’s miserable because he can’t accept his sexuality, so therefore Charlie needs to be miserable too. If he can’t control his sexuality and his feelings, at least he can control Charlie. That’s why I find his behavior so much worse than Harry’s, because it’s specifically targeted to hurt Charlie in the worst possible ways, rather than Harry’s generalized homophobia and need for attention. Ben’s attacks are super-dangerous to Charlie’s psyche; he’s already damaged him with his past behavior and the more he continues to target Charlie, the more he chips away at his self-esteem and his inner strength. It’s emotional abuse, plain and simple.
Yeah Ben is a gas lighter he can't have Charlie how he wants so he wants no one to have him , I know their kids in it but when you think about the first episode it's really dark he literally sexually assaults Charlie.
There are absolutely points in the show where my eyes get a bit watery. But for me it tends to be more in the happy moments, rather than the sad ones. So Harry’s behavior doesn’t make me get weepy, it just annoys me (which is why it’s a relief to know that Cormac is actually pretty sweet and soft-spoken in real life). And as I said in the live chat, I think there are reasons behind Tao’s behavior that don’t become evident until later (in the next season).
"I got to be what I never got to have." What a wonderful way to put it and a great way to share how it made you feel.. Also love your observation that sometimes the people who are the hardest to tell are the people you care about the most because you're afraid of their possible reaction.
Joe Locke is amazing. When he sees Nick after the fight and says "Nick, you didn't have to do that" . . You could feel the love and heart break in that moment.... I burst out crying....lol
I’m so excited to see the reaction! Episode 7 is basically a Horror Movie. It’s terrifying and I have faced a similar situation where I was made to feel less than everyone else. I should’ve stayed but I decided to run because I was in no mood to engage with s**tty behaviour.
Oh good lord, your comment about being in school and locking yourself away watching films and finding comfort in the alternative worlds films provide, resonated with me a lot.
Yeah, this show did bring out some familiar feelings from school. Definitely avoided social interaction at school, likely because if people didn’t get to know me they wouldn’t find out I was gay. 😞 Certainly did develop some positive aspects of my personality however, again love a good movie and TV show to immerse myself in. 😌
It was the hardest episode to watch for me. I was bullied at school and it's still triggering twenty years later. Even if it got better after I watched 13reasons why and worked on topic with my therapist.
Exited to see ur reaction. And also this episode broke me on manny levels. Also Harry is irridemable at this point. He allready was, but this was the episode that got me like yeah ur not gonna redeem urself
I've read Tori's book because she was my favorite secondary character and I hope they show some of what happens to here later on the show as soon as I saw the episode name and the broken glas thing I knew sh*t was bout to go down I'm happy there's two more seaons coming and can't wait for the reaction finale!
Hey Courtney, I just wanted to share that you were the older sibling I needed when I was figuring out my sexuality in college and to see you on this show that is just everything I wished I had and am so thankful exists now comes full circle, thank you ❤ This show is such a lovely thing to have for younger people but even if you re older, it feels like it heals something in you idk if i m making sense haha
@@antplant37 I feel like it's the closure we all needed during our coming our journeys , just knowing that there are others that think just like us. Thank you for a very sweet message ❤️
CJ you look great. ( I really love short hair on a guy…😂👊) I’m so happy for you to be a part of this wonderful show. I really wish I had this back in the day but I am so happy that it’s out now for everyone even if I couldn’t have it in my youth. Luv ya bud. I will keep this channel for all time! 😘👍
Yay new video! This episode was so hard to watch, but there are still the wholesome moments of holding hands in the cinema and Nick calling Charlie 'Char' 🥺 thanks for getting this video out so quickly!
My unfauvorite episode. Always take all my strength to rewatch it. But these few things that I like in it. Char moment so cute, so caring. When Nick say "you not allowed to say s word" and a his speech, I always dream that something sad it to me. Because people always said bud stuff about me, they said I am loud, I take too much attention, I too bright, always make me miserable. And Charlie's monologue in next episode it so fit me, I understand every word he said. Thank for your reaction, I also be happy if you do video about why Heartstopper so important for queer society and especially bisexual
For better or worse, there will always be knobs - whether from insecurity, embarrassment, stupidity, arrogance or plain wickedness. They also cover every area of life, from driving, littering, general insensitivity/inappropriateness, to plain garden-variety bullying. Unfortunately many of us expect that everyone will live up to some minimum level of decency. We can react in a number of ways (none particularly healthy) when our fellow humans fail, purposely or not. Many, like Charlie, blame themselves for the shortcomings of others; Some react with anger or even violence (Nick); Others with resignation (Elle); A few deflect their disappointment in the wrong direction (Tao). Alice has given us an encyclopedia of reactions to bad behavior, and shown some of the consequences of each of them. Perhaps Imogen has illustrated the only reliably positive reaction to disappointment with the bad behavior of others: listening, empathy and understanding.
The character I probably feel most sorry for in the entire series is Ben. I mean, he’s probably grown up surrounded by that group of friends who are clearly homophobic, which must have left him terrified when he discovered he might be gay himself. All that homophobia probably fueled his self loathing which he then projected onto Charlie. He then looses his single connection to his authentic self and is subjected to even more blatant homophobia, at the risk of losing all his friends which are at that age crucial in a teens life. He’s sort of stuck with no place to run to except within, and will only find more self loathing. I do wish that he finds a way out in future seasons and comes to terms with the fact that it’s useless to hide yourself to please other people and you only get one life and it shouldn’t be wasted because of other people’s opinions! ❤️
If future seasons closely follows the source material (I'm looking at Alice's novel Solitaire in particular), (warning: SPOILERS!!!) I'm not so sure there will be a redemption arc for Ben.
💯% in agreement. Ben's actions and words are inexcusable, but part of my heart aches for him. Sebastian Croft makes him more than a cardboard villain and that is a testament to his talent. Ben wants desperately what Charlie has, but is not equipped yet in knowing how to get it for himself. The sad thing is, Charlie could have been that catalyst if not for Ben's internalized hatred. Ben's single tear in his eye when Charlie reads him the riot act after their Sports Day run, slays me every time. 😔😥
@@seav80 I know! But there is a lot in the series already that we didn’t get in the books. In the books Elle mostly appears from book 3, and we get the entire cycle of events that leads up to them “finding eachother” so maybe we can now get Ben’s story because in the books he mostly disappears really… I’m quite curious what Alice would think that his path might be. If he learns to embrace himself and every part of himself and eventually does find a relationship that is his equal and not just to his convenience…
This was so not the right episode rewatch I should have watched today with my mom just going to the ICU! I almost bawled twice watching you cry! But thank you for being part of the show and for your great videos. I can only imagine what it’s like to come out but this show is beautiful.
2:15 - Yes I do agree. Charlie Spring's dad is brilliant. Possibly one of the first dad's I've seen in LGBT Media that is actively supportive and caring towards his gay son. I now crown him Mr. Spring the King. 😀
When Charlie went back to the art class to have lunch on his own, I just wanted to come and sit next to him and say that it will all be alright. Don't worry. And give him a hug. He just looked so alone there.
Courtney, for some reason maybe the haircut or angle of the camera or whatever, you're looking good! I mean you look great before, but damn sir you're fine! :) Sorry just wanna say it, we appreciate you!! Looking forward for more content from you
I've seen many reactors joke about running Ben over in that moment in parking lot when Charlie's dad arrives to pick him up, so I think your response was tame in comparison lol
Tao's reaction bothered me because technically, Charlie didn't tell ANY of his friends he and Nick were together. Isaac may have guessed when he saw them together in medical, but no one officially told him. And was Nick who came out to Tara and Darcy, and it was Nick who told Elle at the milkshake cafe. Charlie is so worried about protecting Nick that he didn't tell anyone except his sister. The scene where Nick punches Harry is amazing. I love how Nick verbally stands up for Charlie even though he knows it will cost him this friend group. And when Harry goes too far, Nick reacts viscerally. I teach middle school and there aren't many kids who could stand up to a friend like that. The scene where Nick tells Charlie he shouldn't "have to be used to it" is my other favorite. Nick is so great about defending Charlie but also being vulnerable. When he lays his head on Charlie's shoulder, my heart just swells. They are such a beautiful pair that work so well off of each other. Can't wait to see your reaction to Ep8!!!
The moment when Harry asks Charlie, what is like to be gay? If Charlie was good at comebacks, he would say. "I don't know Harry, what is like to be an A-hole?"
Who’s in love with Courtney-Jai raise your hand! 🙋🏻♂️❤️ but I’m mad at you cause I already cried all my tears for Heartstopper (so I thought) and you made me cry again! 🥹🥰
Ok - what I was referring to in your last video about this particular episode is at the 2:10 mark on your video here. To me Charlie’s Dad calls him ‘Joe’ and not ‘Charlie’. It clearly sounds like a one syllable word which sounds like Joe to me. I’ve read up on this and there is a difference of opinion with this where others hear the word ‘Charlie’. What do you think? I thought that the actor who plays Charlie’s Dad clearly made a mistake and called ‘Charlie’ by his real name instead!
Joe is a very sweet young man from what I have heard. He is not as shy and adorable as Charlie and he admitted that in an interview. Joe really is much more sassy, open, he wears great clothes, check his Instagram and you will see. So yes he is like Charlie in some ways, but not as shy and certainly Joe is much more confident in himself.
I related to this episode it made me hurt even typing this thinking about the whole thing brings back memories, Ben just makes me so sad. He's going through stuff I get it but he's jealous and comes across controlling and just a nasty piece of work. I've delt with that in my life and it's toxic and horrible. Harry is just a piece of work forgettable in the end, Ben seems to be able to do more damage than Harry ever will.
Alice Oseman stated that Harry is not queer and she hates the idea of people projecting that trope at him. He is a simple bully who feels pushed at home so much that the only time he can feel like he has the upper hand is at school or simply when his parents aren't around.
The homophobes who are closet cases are actually the exceptions. The vast majority of hate towards queer people is from cishets, and it’s twisted blame shifting when people call every homophobe a closet case.
I think this was the "heaviest" episode but those things needed to be shown too. Not everything is rainbows and happiness. Harry is awful and Ben needs to sort his shit out and work on accept himself (and leave Charlie alone because it's kind of obsessive and creepy)
Ep. 7 Theater scene In English: Nick, "Char." In Spanish: Nick, "Chiquito." 😭💙💖💘 HATE HARRY & BEN The actors did such a great job though Charlie has so much to deal with Foreshadowing : When Charlie says he hasn't hungry or doesn't eat his lunch 💔
Ben saying Charlie just let bullies walk all over him makes ZERO sense. What is Ben - if not a bully? A different kind than Harry, granted, but he's still a bully. AND he's abusive...🤔🤔🤔
one thing i don't understand is that they said the bullying stopped. it obviously hasn't and it seems obvious that the same lads from last year are all mostly still here. so that doesn't really make sense to me. the thing i hate about Charlie's protectiveness about Nick is that Nick is perfectly capable of protecting himself. he doesn't need to torture himself as Nick will be just fine. especially after his year of bulking up. have you seen the thirst pics of him? he'd crush them.
To be honest, for the bad guys in this series, I prefer Harry than Ben, because at least Harry is consistently annoying and hateful, he’s not two faced. But Ben on the other hand, is so toxic and manipulative. You don’t have to be a dickhead to hide your sexuality or secret relationship. Anyone who’s using the excuse ‘I’m figuring out’ to justify their nasty behaviour is unacceptable. You can even hate yourself, but don’t drag more innocent victim to your self-hate journey (Charlie and that girl Ben kissed at school).
Tao is someone that is a fierce protector, but his personal feelings have put up some large blinders to Charlie’s feelings and ability to make decisions for himself. However, from misinformation to Charlie spending more time with Nick, it’s understandable that Tao sees him as being replaced. Is it rational? No, but there’s times where his fears are validated. I think Charlie needs to face certain things rather than to bottle it all up until it explodes. Remember, these are teens and it’s a time where emotions are heightened and you’re still finding yourself. The two that are completely out-of-line are Harry and Ben. Not sure if Harry leans toward the queer side of the spectrum, but I do feel that he chooses to pick low hanging fruit to get the attention of his friends, and he does that by picking on people he feels are beneath him or different. Ben is a total sh*t for projecting his insecurities and self loathing onto someone who has a low self-esteem. Will there be a redemption arc for either? I don’t know, but I’m not holding my breath. For most characters, I feel you can empathize with to see things through their eyes to understand what drives them and make them tick. This is an episode where all these unresolved threads come to a head. I know I’ve teared up throughout the show, and I feel bad when I see someone cry. I enjoy your reactions and send you a big virtual bear hug 🐻🫂 and tell you that there’s a great reason why Heartstopper got renewed from two more seasons. Can’t wait to see your reaction on episode 8 😊.
I have a question for you. I am a gay guy obviously, if you were with a woman, can you be with her the rest of your life and forget ever being with a guy. And vise versa. Just wondering cause I've been with a bi guy before and was cheated on. He wanted both. Could you pick one and never think about being with the other for the rest of your life?
Well I actually do have a girlfriend and I've been with her for 8 years so I think thats answered your question, its the same principle if you're in a relationship with someone if you feel the need to cheat then you're just a terrible person regardless of sexuality. Being gay , bi straight and so on doesn't make you do things the individual does those things just ask your do people cheat regardless of sexuality , yes why because majority of the time their just bad people. Am I still attracted to men and women ofcourse but doesn't mean I want to be with anyone else I love my partner and that means more to me then anything.
I feel like, although yes, it would be the hardest to tell the person you're closes to in fear of their reaction, I wouldn't want to tell someone like tao either, even if he was my best friend. Eventally maybe, but not until I see that they would be accepting. I mean, why should I tell them I'm dating someone when the reaction I get when being "just friends" with someone is getting constantly "warned", told to stop "this thing" and that my crush (that can't be helped) is stupid. From the moment he saw charlie watching nick at lunch that first time, he's been super negative to the point where i actually got annoyed with him on my first watch through. And yes, I get that he just trying to protect charlie and all that, but seriously, where is the line between protecting someone and almost trying to control who your friend is allowed to have a crush on or date? I mean, when basically all your friends get along with him and he's been nothing but nice to you the whole entire time, you can at least try to give him the benefit of the doubt. And also, it was nick who told tara and darcy, nick who told elle and isaac just figured it out himself by walking in on them. getting mad at charlie for not being told last when it wasn't even charlie who told anyone else in the first place is just stupid and i'm sure if he was a little bit nicer to nick, nick would have told him at some point too. (or you know, being a little more supportive of you best friend would probably also help getting told earlier). Just wanted to add too: I'm not saying I wouldn't appreciate if my friends warned me of someone i was getting close to because i would, but i would also appreciate if my friends could at least try to be supportive and trust me to make my own decisions. give me all the warnings after, if you see they're really bad, but don't they'd have to be something other than "he's one of the "rugby lads"".
Thank you! I feel like all the reaction vids and reviews I've watched have missed this/haven't said anything on it. The only one Charlie told about him and Nick was Tori, his *sister*.
Was nick right to punch Harry 👊?
A very human reaction. Should we have expected super-human self-control from a 15/16 year old person? To hear that word directed with such malevolence toward a loved one, perhaps for the very first time, is a pretty much irresistible provocation. It is, perhaps, the moment when Nick first understands the depth of his affection for Charlie, and cements his decision to "go public". And yes, his mother also has it figured out, her son simply wouldn't react that way for any other reason. The scene in the car is one of the pivotal moments in the series - everything about it works: acting blocking, photography, lighting, editing, even the carefully considered shot of Nellie - Alice's and Mr. Lyn's symbol of unconditional love.
Yes. Talking to bullies doesn’t work 99% of the time. Harry is one of those people. Nick called him out multiple times verbally & Harry just got worse. Talking to a wall has limits when you are dealing with violent people.
This is an incredibly hard question for me to answer. The way Harry repeatedly shoved Nick and teased him about getting mad gave me the impression that Harry *wanted* Nick to hit him. Harry was itching for the fight. Should Nick have restrained himself? Perhaps. If he was trained in Akido or something I imagine he could have just laid Harry on the ground w/o striking him. But none of that is realistic. I'm not sure if Nick was right to hit him, but Harry deserved the punch.
do things without thinking act way your feeling and lashing out sometimes
That's a tough question. Maybe it would been better, if Nick wouldn't punched him, but I can totally understand him for doing that. It was a human reaction. Sometimes you just loose it, sometimes your patience reached the max and tbh, if I was in this situation, I would react just like Nick ... sooo ... Yes, in my opinion he had the right to punch Harry.
Ben’s behaviour is absolutely inexcusable. But under the surface, he’s also a scared & insecure kid who hates himself, and I think Bash’s performance captures the nuances of that really well. I think making you despise a character this much without turning him into a lazy caricature villain is an underrated skill
Very true. But at the same time, this is also a side of bisexuality that people go through. If you aren't surrounded by people that are nuturing and accepting of you, but you still have these feelings, you keep them supressed and it creates this toxic mindset. Ben knows that he likes boys but he doesn't feel comfortable or able to admit it, so he finds a vulnerable gay boy to snog secretly because that's his only out, the only way to satiate his desires without embracing his sexuality or really coming to terms with it. He completely goes about coping with his anxiety the wrong way and he treats Charlie like trash, but I can understand where he's coming from and it's not entirely his fault, he probably lacks the safe environment and confidence to express his sexuality in a positive way, no one's perfect
That moment when Nick punched Harry, every reaction I have seen has started with everyone saying "yes!" quickly followed by "I don't condone violence, except for Harry" he is sooooo universally hated. That actor did a great job!
You shouldn't have felt the need to apologize for shedding tears; I've watched the series multiple times, in full or in part, as well as numerous RUclips clips, and I still cried watching many of those scenes again here. Just shows what a kind heart you have 💜
Well wait till you see the last react I was crying start to finish
@@Courtney-Jai I cried tears through that whole episode too; I'll make sure I have tissues for that last react video!
Honestly never thought about how sad this episode is because I've always binged it with a happier one 🙃 At least the next one is all happy.
I've heard that Alice is not making Harry a closeted homophobe but just a straight asshole. She doesn't want someone from the community to be the bully, and show that sometimes people are just assholes. I think it's a good choice, it's such a trope
Charlie didn’t tell Tao because he didn’t tell anyone but his sister. Nick is the one that told Tara, Darcy and Elle. Charlie’s not gonna out Nick to people.
He is sooo good at keeping secrets... he has not even outed Ben!!!! 😟
Very true but Charlie is that nice a person he's willing to take everything to protect the people he loves
I really like your comment about how telling someone something important last can be a sign that they were the hardest to tell, and/or that a negative reaction from them would be the hardest to cope with. That said, I kind of wished Elle had pointed out that it was actually Nick who told her at the milkshake cafe. Not only does that take the heat off of Charlie for telling her over him, but may have gone a long way in changing Tao’s perception of Nick. I agree with you that Tao should have been able to tell, but he’s a stubborn character, and I think the image he had of Nick (straight, and playing some long-con trick on Charlie) was pretty well cemented in his brain.
That’s actually an EXCELLENT point about the fact that Nick was the one who told Elle first. Well spotted, because I don’t think I’ve seen anyone else mention it.
This is definitely the heaviest episode but it also gave us "Char", one of my favorite scenes of season one.
Yeah char is pretty cute
@@Courtney-Jai did you notice the other time Nick said "char"?
@@gratitude.5696 I didn't notice, what other time?
Just in case anyone didn’t hate Ben before, they certainly do now. It’s really impossible to excuse his behavior, even if you can have empathy for his internal struggles. He just absolutely hates himself, and rather than have any sort of self-reflection or personal growth, he projects that hate outward onto the one person he knows it will hurt the most. He is so jealous that Charlie has moved on and that Nick is able to do things like hold his hand semi-publicly, because Ben was never able or willing to come close to that. He doesn’t want to see Charlie happy; he’s miserable because he can’t accept his sexuality, so therefore Charlie needs to be miserable too. If he can’t control his sexuality and his feelings, at least he can control Charlie. That’s why I find his behavior so much worse than Harry’s, because it’s specifically targeted to hurt Charlie in the worst possible ways, rather than Harry’s generalized homophobia and need for attention. Ben’s attacks are super-dangerous to Charlie’s psyche; he’s already damaged him with his past behavior and the more he continues to target Charlie, the more he chips away at his self-esteem and his inner strength. It’s emotional abuse, plain and simple.
totally agree with you, and I think Ben will be back for season 2 so I don't think it's all over.
Any sympathy I had for Ben evaporated when I read ‘Solitaire’ b/c of what he does to Charlie.
Yeah Ben is a gas lighter he can't have Charlie how he wants so he wants no one to have him , I know their kids in it but when you think about the first episode it's really dark he literally sexually assaults Charlie.
Harry is a bully, but Ben is a domestic abuser, the most dangerous kind of person.
There are absolutely points in the show where my eyes get a bit watery. But for me it tends to be more in the happy moments, rather than the sad ones. So Harry’s behavior doesn’t make me get weepy, it just annoys me (which is why it’s a relief to know that Cormac is actually pretty sweet and soft-spoken in real life). And as I said in the live chat, I think there are reasons behind Tao’s behavior that don’t become evident until later (in the next season).
"I got to be what I never got to have." What a wonderful way to put it and a great way to share how it made you feel.. Also love your observation that sometimes the people who are the hardest to tell are the people you care about the most because you're afraid of their possible reaction.
Joe Locke is amazing. When he sees Nick after the fight and says "Nick, you didn't have to do that" . . You could feel the love and heart break in that moment.... I burst out crying....lol
I’m so excited to see the reaction! Episode 7 is basically a Horror Movie. It’s terrifying and I have faced a similar situation where I was made to feel less than everyone else. I should’ve stayed but I decided to run because I was in no mood to engage with s**tty behaviour.
Oh good lord, your comment about being in school and locking yourself away watching films and finding comfort in the alternative worlds films provide, resonated with me a lot.
I didn't really have a social life in school sadly 😪 but I now have a huge love for movies 💗
Yeah, this show did bring out some familiar feelings from school. Definitely avoided social interaction at school, likely because if people didn’t get to know me they wouldn’t find out I was gay. 😞
Certainly did develop some positive aspects of my personality however, again love a good movie and TV show to immerse myself in. 😌
Same, I spent most of my time in high school doing the same
Same 😔
When Charlie says, "Tao." Joe Locke's tone of voice and how he expressed that one syllable. Beautiful.
I had a “Harry” bully me for 10 years of my childhood. This episode really brought back memories of how weak and miserable that bully made me feel.
I've been there but what I always do is look at who I become and realise everything had to happen for me to be where I am now
It was the hardest episode to watch for me. I was bullied at school and it's still triggering twenty years later. Even if it got better after I watched 13reasons why and worked on topic with my therapist.
That's why I don't finished first season so sad and bring so many emotions
Exited to see ur reaction. And also this episode broke me on manny levels. Also Harry is irridemable at this point. He allready was, but this was the episode that got me like yeah ur not gonna redeem urself
Yeah he was a full on bully this episode without remorse he didn't even apologise to Charlie afterwards
@@Courtney-Jai yes that is how I felt as well. Also before I say this have u watched the last episode or read the commics
I've read Tori's book because she was my favorite secondary character and I hope they show some of what happens to here later on the show
as soon as I saw the episode name and the broken glas thing I knew sh*t was bout to go down
I'm happy there's two more seaons coming and can't wait for the reaction finale!
Another amazing video, Courtney. Keep smashing it. ❤️🍂
Hey Courtney, I just wanted to share that you were the older sibling I needed when I was figuring out my sexuality in college and to see you on this show that is just everything I wished I had and am so thankful exists now comes full circle, thank you ❤ This show is such a lovely thing to have for younger people but even if you re older, it feels like it heals something in you idk if i m making sense haha
@@antplant37 I feel like it's the closure we all needed during our coming our journeys , just knowing that there are others that think just like us. Thank you for a very sweet message ❤️
CJ you look great. ( I really love short hair on a guy…😂👊) I’m so happy for you to be a part of this wonderful show. I really wish I had this back in the day but I am so happy that it’s out now for everyone even if I couldn’t have it in my youth. Luv ya bud. I will keep this channel for all time! 😘👍
Yay new video! This episode was so hard to watch, but there are still the wholesome moments of holding hands in the cinema and Nick calling Charlie 'Char' 🥺 thanks for getting this video out so quickly!
so much joy as well to seeing your reaction 😆😆😆 can't wait to see your next video reaction
My unfauvorite episode. Always take all my strength to rewatch it. But these few things that I like in it. Char moment so cute, so caring. When Nick say "you not allowed to say s word" and a his speech, I always dream that something sad it to me. Because people always said bud stuff about me, they said I am loud, I take too much attention, I too bright, always make me miserable. And Charlie's monologue in next episode it so fit me, I understand every word he said.
Thank for your reaction, I also be happy if you do video about why Heartstopper so important for queer society and especially bisexual
For better or worse, there will always be knobs - whether from insecurity, embarrassment, stupidity, arrogance or plain wickedness. They also cover every area of life, from driving, littering, general insensitivity/inappropriateness, to plain garden-variety bullying. Unfortunately many of us expect that everyone will live up to some minimum level of decency. We can react in a number of ways (none particularly healthy) when our fellow humans fail, purposely or not. Many, like Charlie, blame themselves for the shortcomings of others; Some react with anger or even violence (Nick); Others with resignation (Elle); A few deflect their disappointment in the wrong direction (Tao). Alice has given us an encyclopedia of reactions to bad behavior, and shown some of the consequences of each of them. Perhaps Imogen has illustrated the only reliably positive reaction to disappointment with the bad behavior of others: listening, empathy and understanding.
Welcome buddy Courtney with beautiful video its really good i enjoyed it stay safe and healthy happy
love your new hair btw :)
Thank you 😊
@@Courtney-Jai 🙂🙂
The character I probably feel most sorry for in the entire series is Ben. I mean, he’s probably grown up surrounded by that group of friends who are clearly homophobic, which must have left him terrified when he discovered he might be gay himself. All that homophobia probably fueled his self loathing which he then projected onto Charlie. He then looses his single connection to his authentic self and is subjected to even more blatant homophobia, at the risk of losing all his friends which are at that age crucial in a teens life. He’s sort of stuck with no place to run to except within, and will only find more self loathing. I do wish that he finds a way out in future seasons and comes to terms with the fact that it’s useless to hide yourself to please other people and you only get one life and it shouldn’t be wasted because of other people’s opinions! ❤️
If future seasons closely follows the source material (I'm looking at Alice's novel Solitaire in particular), (warning: SPOILERS!!!) I'm not so sure there will be a redemption arc for Ben.
💯% in agreement. Ben's actions and words are inexcusable, but part of my heart aches for him. Sebastian Croft makes him more than a cardboard villain and that is a testament to his talent. Ben wants desperately what Charlie has, but is not equipped yet in knowing how to get it for himself. The sad thing is, Charlie could have been that catalyst if not for Ben's internalized hatred. Ben's single tear in his eye when Charlie reads him the riot act after their Sports Day run, slays me every time. 😔😥
@@seav80 I know! But there is a lot in the series already that we didn’t get in the books. In the books Elle mostly appears from book 3, and we get the entire cycle of events that leads up to them “finding eachother” so maybe we can now get Ben’s story because in the books he mostly disappears really… I’m quite curious what Alice would think that his path might be. If he learns to embrace himself and every part of himself and eventually does find a relationship that is his equal and not just to his convenience…
This was so not the right episode rewatch I should have watched today with my mom just going to the ICU! I almost bawled twice watching you cry! But thank you for being part of the show and for your great videos. I can only imagine what it’s like to come out but this show is beautiful.
Hope everything turns right with your mom 🙏❤️
@@franciscojustiniano8585 Thank you!
Hope everything is okay with your mum
@@Courtney-Jai Thank you! We should know more soon. Just send positive thoughts her way! 😊
Another great reaction, I love it so much. Make me happy watching your videos. Good content!! You’re the best bro.
2:15 - Yes I do agree. Charlie Spring's dad is brilliant. Possibly one of the first dad's I've seen in LGBT Media that is actively supportive and caring towards his gay son. I now crown him Mr. Spring the King. 😀
When Charlie went back to the art class to have lunch on his own, I just wanted to come and sit next to him and say that it will all be alright. Don't worry. And give him a hug. He just looked so alone there.
The episode allready makes me cry, since I read the commics. And Courtney u crying got me crying with u
We all cry to together bring you tissues for the next episode because guess what more crying 😢 😭
@@Courtney-Jai So true. And with season 2 and 3 comming I cried while reading the commics
Courtney, for some reason maybe the haircut or angle of the camera or whatever, you're looking good! I mean you look great before, but damn sir you're fine! :) Sorry just wanna say it, we appreciate you!! Looking forward for more content from you
Well all I can say is I appreciate the compliment 😌
thanks so much for your help and kindness.
I've seen many reactors joke about running Ben over in that moment in parking lot when Charlie's dad arrives to pick him up, so I think your response was tame in comparison lol
Great analysis…and very moving. Thanks, Courtney, we needed this from you.
No problem glad you liked the react
I really liked your reaction and comments on this episode.
If I took anything from this video: Some of us have had our eyelashes getting wet.
We certainly do
Technically Charlie never told anyone. Nick told Tara and Elle.
Not true... he told Tori 🤔
Tao's reaction bothered me because technically, Charlie didn't tell ANY of his friends he and Nick were together. Isaac may have guessed when he saw them together in medical, but no one officially told him. And was Nick who came out to Tara and Darcy, and it was Nick who told Elle at the milkshake cafe. Charlie is so worried about protecting Nick that he didn't tell anyone except his sister.
The scene where Nick punches Harry is amazing. I love how Nick verbally stands up for Charlie even though he knows it will cost him this friend group. And when Harry goes too far, Nick reacts viscerally. I teach middle school and there aren't many kids who could stand up to a friend like that.
The scene where Nick tells Charlie he shouldn't "have to be used to it" is my other favorite. Nick is so great about defending Charlie but also being vulnerable. When he lays his head on Charlie's shoulder, my heart just swells. They are such a beautiful pair that work so well off of each other.
Can't wait to see your reaction to Ep8!!!
A+ thumbnail!
Thank you
The moment when Harry asks Charlie, what is like to be gay? If Charlie was good at comebacks, he would say. "I don't know Harry, what is like to be an A-hole?"
Love your reaction to this episode & showing your emotions. Especially, when you said "my lashes are wet." Well done. Thanks.
Who’s in love with Courtney-Jai raise your hand! 🙋🏻♂️❤️ but I’m mad at you cause I already cried all my tears for Heartstopper (so I thought) and you made me cry again! 🥹🥰
My teenage years included secluding myself and immersing myself into Pop Culture. We’d be great childhood friends although I was majorly chaotic lol
I Love These Heartstopper Videos & Can't Wait For Many More Reaction's
Love having you here really looking forward to love victor reacts
@@Courtney-Jai i say bring them on
Ok - what I was referring to in your last video about this particular episode is at the 2:10 mark on your video here. To me Charlie’s Dad calls him ‘Joe’ and not ‘Charlie’. It clearly sounds like a one syllable word which sounds like Joe to me. I’ve read up on this and there is a difference of opinion with this where others hear the word ‘Charlie’. What do you think? I thought that the actor who plays Charlie’s Dad clearly made a mistake and called ‘Charlie’ by his real name instead!
No … he clearly says Charlie not Joe. Turn up the volume and you’ll hear him say Charlie
I would say that you are not allowed the s word for crying 😉🙃
Charlie is really a kind person. Is Joe Locke kind? Anyone know? Never met the guy but would like to.
Joe is a very sweet young man from what I have heard. He is not as shy and adorable as Charlie and he admitted that in an interview. Joe really is much more sassy, open, he wears great clothes, check his Instagram and you will see. So yes he is like Charlie in some ways, but not as shy and certainly Joe is much more confident in himself.
Love your haircut!!!!
I related to this episode it made me hurt even typing this thinking about the whole thing brings back memories, Ben just makes me so sad. He's going through stuff I get it but he's jealous and comes across controlling and just a nasty piece of work. I've delt with that in my life and it's toxic and horrible.
Harry is just a piece of work forgettable in the end, Ben seems to be able to do more damage than Harry ever will.
LOVE NICK!!
Hes great he's my bi baby 👶
Alice Oseman stated that Harry is not queer and she hates the idea of people projecting that trope at him. He is a simple bully who feels pushed at home so much that the only time he can feel like he has the upper hand is at school or simply when his parents aren't around.
The homophobes who are closet cases are actually the exceptions.
The vast majority of hate towards queer people is from cishets, and it’s twisted blame shifting when people call every homophobe a closet case.
And even those exceptions who are closet cases almost certainly have hateful cishet families, etc. that made them the way they are.
@@blakej1892 both are tbh
This episode is sad but still a good one.
Don't forget to like everybody 🌈
Also like this comment cuz they are amazeballs
LOL Charmander. 🔥
Love your reacts :D
I think this was the "heaviest" episode but those things needed to be shown too. Not everything is rainbows and happiness. Harry is awful and Ben needs to sort his shit out and work on accept himself (and leave Charlie alone because it's kind of obsessive and creepy)
Please don't cry... It makes me so sad. :(
Well just preparing you for next episode I cried alot haha
Episode 7 triggers my so bad that I sometimes skip it entirely on rewatch. It is absolutely necessary for the plot, though. But it kills me.
Ep. 7
Theater scene
In English: Nick, "Char."
In Spanish: Nick, "Chiquito."
😭💙💖💘
HATE HARRY & BEN
The actors did such a great job though
Charlie has so much to deal with
Foreshadowing : When Charlie says he hasn't hungry or doesn't eat his lunch 💔
Yeah I know about the foreshadowing and also takes a special actor to be able to be a bad guy
Ben saying Charlie just let bullies walk all over him makes ZERO sense. What is Ben - if not a bully? A different kind than Harry, granted, but he's still a bully. AND he's abusive...🤔🤔🤔
one thing i don't understand is that they said the bullying stopped. it obviously hasn't and it seems obvious that the same lads from last year are all mostly still here. so that doesn't really make sense to me.
the thing i hate about Charlie's protectiveness about Nick is that Nick is perfectly capable of protecting himself. he doesn't need to torture himself as Nick will be just fine. especially after his year of bulking up. have you seen the thirst pics of him? he'd crush them.
But just because someone gets bigger doesn't mean they want to fight I know plenty of big guys who want to avoid fights then start them.
To be honest, for the bad guys in this series, I prefer Harry than Ben, because at least Harry is consistently annoying and hateful, he’s not two faced. But Ben on the other hand, is so toxic and manipulative. You don’t have to be a dickhead to hide your sexuality or secret relationship. Anyone who’s using the excuse ‘I’m figuring out’ to justify their nasty behaviour is unacceptable. You can even hate yourself, but don’t drag more innocent victim to your self-hate journey (Charlie and that girl Ben kissed at school).
Tao is someone that is a fierce protector, but his personal feelings have put up some large blinders to Charlie’s feelings and ability to make decisions for himself. However, from misinformation to Charlie spending more time with Nick, it’s understandable that Tao sees him as being replaced. Is it rational? No, but there’s times where his fears are validated. I think Charlie needs to face certain things rather than to bottle it all up until it explodes. Remember, these are teens and it’s a time where emotions are heightened and you’re still finding yourself. The two that are completely out-of-line are Harry and Ben. Not sure if Harry leans toward the queer side of the spectrum, but I do feel that he chooses to pick low hanging fruit to get the attention of his friends, and he does that by picking on people he feels are beneath him or different. Ben is a total sh*t for projecting his insecurities and self loathing onto someone who has a low self-esteem. Will there be a redemption arc for either? I don’t know, but I’m not holding my breath. For most characters, I feel you can empathize with to see things through their eyes to understand what drives them and make them tick. This is an episode where all these unresolved threads come to a head. I know I’ve teared up throughout the show, and I feel bad when I see someone cry. I enjoy your reactions and send you a big virtual bear hug 🐻🫂 and tell you that there’s a great reason why Heartstopper got renewed from two more seasons. Can’t wait to see your reaction on episode 8 😊.
I have a question for you. I am a gay guy obviously, if you were with a woman, can you be with her the rest of your life and forget ever being with a guy. And vise versa. Just wondering cause I've been with a bi guy before and was cheated on. He wanted both. Could you pick one and never think about being with the other for the rest of your life?
Well I actually do have a girlfriend and I've been with her for 8 years so I think thats answered your question, its the same principle if you're in a relationship with someone if you feel the need to cheat then you're just a terrible person regardless of sexuality. Being gay , bi straight and so on doesn't make you do things the individual does those things just ask your do people cheat regardless of sexuality , yes why because majority of the time their just bad people. Am I still attracted to men and women ofcourse but doesn't mean I want to be with anyone else I love my partner and that means more to me then anything.
I feel like, although yes, it would be the hardest to tell the person you're closes to in fear of their reaction, I wouldn't want to tell someone like tao either, even if he was my best friend. Eventally maybe, but not until I see that they would be accepting. I mean, why should I tell them I'm dating someone when the reaction I get when being "just friends" with someone is getting constantly "warned", told to stop "this thing" and that my crush (that can't be helped) is stupid.
From the moment he saw charlie watching nick at lunch that first time, he's been super negative to the point where i actually got annoyed with him on my first watch through.
And yes, I get that he just trying to protect charlie and all that, but seriously, where is the line between protecting someone and almost trying to control who your friend is allowed to have a crush on or date?
I mean, when basically all your friends get along with him and he's been nothing but nice to you the whole entire time, you can at least try to give him the benefit of the doubt.
And also, it was nick who told tara and darcy, nick who told elle and isaac just figured it out himself by walking in on them. getting mad at charlie for not being told last when it wasn't even charlie who told anyone else in the first place is just stupid and i'm sure if he was a little bit nicer to nick, nick would have told him at some point too. (or you know, being a little more supportive of you best friend would probably also help getting told earlier).
Just wanted to add too:
I'm not saying I wouldn't appreciate if my friends warned me of someone i was getting close to because i would, but i would also appreciate if my friends could at least try to be supportive and trust me to make my own decisions.
give me all the warnings after, if you see they're really bad, but don't they'd have to be something other than "he's one of the "rugby lads"".
Thank you! I feel like all the reaction vids and reviews I've watched have missed this/haven't said anything on it.
The only one Charlie told about him and Nick was Tori, his *sister*.
This is my least favorite of the episodes since it is so negative but it's still great and is the low allowing for even bigger highs in the finale.
Yeah I feel like it's the perfect set up to how great the final episode is
Just got Nick & Charlie, the book, and its so weird to read about Harry in it. Spoiler: He comes around. But is still 'irritating'
Fair enough I actually own the boom but I'm getting round to reading it
1 year today
The days just fly by
i think harry likes tao deep down
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
You are so lovely
Thank you thats very sweet of you to say