As a middle-aged viewer who grew up watching “Gilmore Girls” and “The O.C.”, I can’t help but feel a deep connection with the adult characters in Netflix’s “Heartstopper”. Unlike the teenagers, who are busy living their own high school love stories, I find solace in the complexities of Nathan Araji and Youssef Farouk’s relationship.
In contrast to younger viewers who eagerly tune into Netflix’s Heartstopper, being an adult fan myself, I approach the series from a slightly different perspective. I wholeheartedly appreciate Charlie and Nick’s relationship, and I acknowledge the significant strides the show has made in LGBTQ+ representation on TV. Yet, I must confess, it’s challenging for me to connect with the characters as my high school romantic experiences were quite unlike their epic love stories.
Regrettably, in Heartstopper Season 3, the writers seemed to prioritize significant hurdles for Charlie and his companions, which appeared to overshadow the beloved adult couple on the series, resulting in significantly reduced screen time for them.
In case you’ve momentarily slipped your memory, Nathan Araji (played by Fisayo Akinade), is a compassionate art instructor at Truham who shares a special bond with Charlie. Youssef Farouk (portrayed by Nima Taleghani) joins the cast in Season 2 as a disciplined faculty member responsible for supervising study periods during GCSE exams. As time passes, they both lead the Paris trip together and eventually find themselves developing a clandestine romantic involvement.
Unlike Araji, who’s been openly gay throughout much of his life, Farouk didn’t fully accept his sexuality until he was in his mid-twenties. As a result, he struggled to connect with students because he lacked personal experiences in common with them. This narrative addition in the series last season might have detracted from the teen relationships, but it provided “late bloomer” adults with someone they could empathize with and cheer for.
It was quite disheartening indeed when Season 3 arrived on Netflix, as the characters Araji and Farouk seemed almost absent from the storyline. We did catch a sweet scene where they came to work together, discussing how to keep their relationship low-key so their pupils wouldn’t bother them excessively, but beyond that, their presence was minimal.
Despite understanding that they aren’t central figures, I truly wished there was more focus on them. At minimum, it would have been nice to see a sweet date scene unfold. I would have gladly accepted even a moment where Nick shares his feelings with the pair after Charlie departs for treatment of his mental health issues.
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Following the viewing of Heartstopper Season 3, I find myself compelled to discuss why Tori Spring has emerged as my most cherished character from this series.
Sure thing. I can see where you’re coming from. Araji and Farouk may not be the most captivating couple in terms of television drama compared to the witty teenagers, but their relationship holds significant value, particularly when it comes to portraying LGBTQ+ relationships on screen. It’s important to remember that not everyone discovers their sexuality during adolescence, and even if they do, not every journey leads to a grand romance like Nick and Charlie’s. Having a couple like Araji and Farouk on screen is refreshing because it highlights the reality that not everyone finds their partner in life during their youth.
Farouk’s story stands out as significant, given the series portrays numerous contented queer couples. It would have been revolutionary to delve deeper into his journey navigating an adult relationship with Araji, considering his limited experience in that area. The writers could have contrasted his experiences with those of the teenage characters for a more impactful narrative.
Here’s hoping that ‘Heartstopper’ gets renewed for Season 4, allowing Alice Oseman and her crew to offer additional heartwarming moments involving the charming teachers. In the meantime, enjoy watching the first three seasons on Netflix by subscribing to their service.
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2024-10-16 03:37