British gay people are after my soul
They're meant to be.
This is actually a really interesting way of low-key admitting you're a bad, lazy and unimaginative writer who can't actually handle or process having flawed characters in your own narrative.
If your characters have to be either wholly GOOD or wholly BAD with no nuance or consideration given to the wider context you invented for them.....you're a shitty writer. Sorry.
Orrrr maybe sometimes a character can do very bad stuff that inflicts trauma on someone, and that someone doesn't HAVE to forgive them for it for the sake of a "redemption arc"🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
no one is saying characters can't be flawed. there is a shit-ton of flawed characters in heartstopper, but just because theyre flawed doesnt mean they're owed forgiveness for their shitty actions.
if i was charlie, i wouldn't have forgiven him either.
My point isn’t whether Charlie should forgive him within the narrative or not. I’m not debating that.
What I AM saying is that the way Ben is handled exposes that Alice Oseman is a weak and lazy writer. If they didn’t want to give Ben a redemption arc, then what was the point of bringing him back once his plot purpose was resolved at the end of the first season? If they wanted him to be this boo hiss villain then fine, but why bring him back for more?
It feels like Oseman simply brought the character to hammer home their message that if you’re not out at 16 years old and completely comfortable and free with your sexuality, you are secretly monstrous and a BAD person. It’s not about whether Charlie can or should forgive him, it’s about questioning the intentions of the author in their use of this character.
I’d also say, if you wanted a homophobic character for the audience to hate on sight, don’t add the extra layers of them being in the closet. Not only is it an outdated and offensive trope, it murkies the waters for a show like Heartstopper where I would wager a lot of people relate just as much to Ben not being ready to come out as they can Nick and Charlie being ready to. It’s a very dangerous message to send out to the core audience.
no because let’s talk about this.
- ben does not, in any shape, way, or form, deserve a redemption arc in the story. whether he is in the closet or not.
i honestly don’t even know where to start with this one. but let’s start with the facts. ben ASSAULTED charlie. was he incredibly confused and hurt throughout his relationship with charlie and trying to find his way throughout life as someone who identifies as queer? yes, we are not denying that. but it was the blatant disregard for charlie’s own feelings and consent that charlie (and the audience) are upset about.
i honestly think his character is clever to write this way. sometimes, and i have witnessed this firsthand, people act out and do terrible, horrible things when they are dealing with internalized homophobia. that’s what alice is trying to get at. it doesn’t justify the persons actions, at all, but it shows a level of insecurity and pain that isn’t widely talked about, especially in this show. it’s the result of systematic homophobia. it’s a topic that desperately needs to be addressed in order to create change.
but say it with me now: JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE IN THE CLOSET DOES NOT MEAN YOU GET A FREE PASS TO BE MEAN.
- charlie, being comfortable enough in his relationship and sexuality to stand up to ben was a turning point in the season and was a dire need for his character development
charlie’s character development has been amazing to witness. from going from this freshly outed, shy, and taken advantage of boy to someone who knows what they are worth and what they deserve is awe inspiring and is a journey many people are under.
it takes GUTS to stand up to a bully. and charlie needed to exhibit that strength at this point in the story.
and the thing is, he ACKNOWLEDGED that ben was apologizing. he saw him trying to make a conscious effort. but just because you are apologizing, does not mean you deserve forgiveness. forgiveness is earned. that is a MAJOR lesson alice is trying to hint at here. charlie doesn’t HAVE to forgive his abuser. if i was in charlie’s position, i wouldn’t have forgiven him either.
the ben plot line was brought back so charlie had the chance to stand up for himself, something many queer kids struggle with.
it isn’t lazy writing. it’s realistic writing.
y’all freaking out abt the ending, but i don’t think you get how much i need the ‘you said it to me while i was in the shower’ to survive.
I love how much Heartstopper emphasises queer COMMUNITY and how important it is to see other people like you. Nick finding the courage to hold hands with Charlie after seeing an older gay couple. The rainbow ocean reaching out to Ben at the queer art exhibition. Coach Singh telling Nick about her wife and promising to protect him from homophobes on the rugby team. Nick watching Tara and Darcy kissing on the dance floor and realising he can be both happy and queer. Elle meeting other trans people at the art school and feeling at home.
Heartstopper constantly shows that surviving as a queer person is a group effort and it’s not only accurate, but comforting to queer youth. It’s a plot point that only a queer person could have the conscience to write.
“Truth / Dare” — Heartstopper (2.06)
i’m not saying “imogen i know what you are” i’m saying “imogen it’s okay if you like girls in a bisexual way and were using ‘im an ally haha’ bc you felt like an outsider among queer friends only that you weren’t actually an outsider in that way you just hadn’t realised it yet-”
charlie: "do you remember the first time that you kissed me? you didn't even ask, you didn't pause to wonder whether it was what i wanted and I went along with it because I had a crush and I didn't know any better. I didn't realise that you had all the control. When I eventually did realise, I thought this must be what I deserve, someone taking whatever he wants from me, whenever he wants treating me like I'm nothing the rest of the time. Now when ever, anything good happens in my life, there's a voice in the back of my mind, telling me I'm worthless, and that I don't deserve it, and now you want me to forgive you so that you can feel better about yourself? I'm glad you realise what you did was wrong, but you don't get to ambush me into forgiving you. 'Sorry' doesn't make up for everything you did to me. I really hope you become a better person so you don't hurt anyone else, but I don't wanna be there to see that happen. I don't wanna see you ever again."
me:
this is how it went right
there is just . so much queer joy and representation this season it makes me want to scream and cry and love !!! a toast for gays for bisexuals, for lesbians for trans and disabled queer folks, for not one but TWO canon aro/ace people, for late-in-life-feeling-like-you-missed-out gays, for queer friends with platonic friendships, for understanding consent even in queer relationships, for love and freedom and life
charlie being like 'everything is perfect, we're out and we're a couple and nothing can ruin it' and nick is googling eating disorders bc he knows charlie is sick and he wants to understand and help bc he's really worried and you know season 3 is going to go deeply into this and charlie eventually being admitted into the mental health facility
imogen asking how nick met charlie and the others, and nick struggling to explain the phenomenon of gays just naturally gravitating towards one another without outing himself
actually I need to give kit the biggest hug of his life for acting his ass off for a character who got to come out in a way that he should've gotten to do too
"they were all idiots for assuming you were straight." friendly reminder that tao was talking right through the tv screen to YOU GUYS for what y'all did to kit it's literally a gut punch to see nick coming out handled with so much love in this show while the very fans of said show ruined this kid's life
heartstopper + tumblr text posts
We get to experience the golden age of gay television in our lifetime we are so lucky