Heartstopper S2 E7 - Sorry [Full Unedited Reaction]

I am in agreement with you over Ben. Ben has a lot of internalized homophobia and he has trouble accepting who he is. I know a lot of people, including the author Alice Oseman has said that he doesn’t need or deserve a redemptive story arc, but everyone has reasons for why they do the things they do and even act the way they do. In the moment when Ben comes to apologize to Charlie, my heart can’t help but break for him. He struggles and is hurting, too. When Charlie says “Do you remember the first time you kissed me?” and Ben lights up and smiles, Charlie continues and says “You didn’t even ask…” and in that moment, he starts to realize the pain he caused Charlie. 😢 I have to say I’ve really enjoyed your reaction to Heartstopper, I can tell you’re a very sensitive soul. One slight criticism I have with you is the constant pausing. I think it would be better if you waited until the end and then you could discuss your thoughts and feelings because every pause takes you and the viewer out of the moment. I found myself getting frustrated after awhile.

Anthony Butler

Sorry if this has already been noted but I can't spot a comment about it. Having seen both series many times, I only noticed, Niall, while viewing your reaction, that when Darcy storms out of her home, the outside light on the brick wall suddenly and briefly looks like a prison cell.

Andrew Ellis

Thanks for your beautiful reaction to Isaac. You and Heartstopper shone a beautiful bright light in a very dark place. As an older woman who identifies as demisexual, this lifts my soul. There are very little asexual representation in pop culture and this is the reason why I only identified very late in life. I thought there was something off with me and I learnt to live with it. This will let kids know that nothing is wrong with them, they are just different. Thank you again for your love and compassion ❤️

Johanna Nel

Agree with a lot of this BUT I think the point of the dad confusing Edinburgh with Glasgow is that he's not really paying attention to David enough either. David has a better connection because he's so impressed by the dad but as someone who's in a similar position to David and Nick - I went on defending my dad for so long even though he didn't deserve it, probably because I couldn't really face the fact that he was so disengaged. Not defending David because he's still homophobic and mean and overall bad, I just think he's handling the dad's abandonment in this bad way where he hasn't yet realised what's going on.

Joanna

I think this line from the song “superdeadfriends” by Yungblud sums up our thoughts on Darcy’s (and any other piece of shit parents) perfectly; “when you’re making a baby in missionary, Be prepared to accept them what what they’re gonna be.”

em.grades

u are precious and have the courage i cant say to my mom cause shes like all knowing

The FLAWLESS acting in the dinner scene makes me wish I hadn't read the books. It was still profoundly cathartic, but I would've loved to have not already known the dialog, so that I could fall off my chair screaming, as nature intended. Nick's posture when his dad leaves is noteworthy. He's given up on his dad and is at peace with it. There is such strength in that. In the books that scene is a lot weaker and open-ended. Sarah's line "He must care for Charlie very deeply" is NOT in the books and is incredibly powerful here. It shows Charlie's mom what real support looks like.. And finally, in the books Nick's dad says "understand," not "entertain." The latter sounds so weird that I wonder if it's either an uncorrected flubbed line or a thick accent.

Mark100

I agree with you about Ben. You definitely want him to step into that wave and accept himself and the love from the community - but I think it’s realistic that he isn’t there yet. We haven’t really seen any personal growth from him this season at all, and I think this episode was just the beginning of that journey for him (off-screen). Seeing Nick and Charlie be happy made him realize how unhappy he is with his life. His apology (and excuses) to Charlie seemed like he was looking for a quick and easy way to feel better. But it isn’t that simple, and he needed to be faced with the damage his actions caused and he deserves to carry that with him - not just be let off the hook - because then he won’t actually learn and change. I think for Ben, a lot of his healing needs to come from learning how to build real connections with others and valuing them as people, not just a means to get what he wants. That’s what he messed up with Charlie. So hopefully he starts figuring out how to do that - otherwise, I hope that a well-meaning adult recognizes what he’s going through and steps in to help. Because that’s too much responsibility to ask of Charlie or any kid like him, to reach out and help someone who is so destructive and cruel to others. Ben needs help from someone he can’t hurt (like a therapist, ideally).

Kat

I am currently rewatching your reaction to this episode and I really want to point out how much I appreciate what you are saying about Asexuality and Aroace. Unfortunately there is so much Aphobia even within the LGBTQIA+ Community and it's definitely affected my mental health a lot, so I really do appreciate your reaction to Issac's Storyline it's giving me hope to see such a supportive/positive reaction.

Selena Strieter

Very true but it was sad to see. In so many situations Nick is the first to open his arms but his Dad has pushed him away one too many times.

Diane Furlong

It's worth noting that Nick isn't about to hug his dad either -- he's standing with his arms *folded* and who can blame him. I almost feel like, at this stage, a hug from his dad would actually feel gross.

Mark100

Niall! What do you mean saying that you're so stupid. there's nothing stupid about you having feelings, it shows that you're a human being. You're sounding like Charlie :). I'll have to send Nick round to give you a Nick hug.

Pip

Another great reaction!! I agree with what you have to say - Charlie does not have to forgive Ben when Ben asks for forgiveness. Ben has a lot of work to do and clearly he’s not a happy person and it is sad to think that sadness and bitterness are in his future if he can’t heal himself. As a parent, I 100000% agree with you. If you can’t accept your child for all that they are, don’t have them. It’s a miserable existence for you and especially for your child.

Laura Ibarra

Omg i can't believe I didn't catch that! Thanks!

Cattyanaaaaa

OMGGGGG!! Wait… maybe I’m kinda clever 😂👀

NNC

I had the EXACT same reaction when Niall pointed it out; I can’t believe I missed it with all the rewatches 😭

Sheridan Berry

Two things about this one! First of all, Nick's dad doesn't say he doesn't "entertain" these things. He said he doesn't UNDERSTAND them. Imo this is a huge difference. Also I didn't wanna comment this on episode 5 because spoilers but I've seen the season a few times already and it didn't click for me until you said "oh is elle gonna be inspired?" in episode 5 when she looks at the painting that the painting she does for the exhibit is inspired by the one in the louvre that she pauses at! I truly didn't notice until watching you haha.

Skylar

Imogen's slogan is "well, she tried and meant well. "

Elisa H.

I know, but you said Charlie would probably feel better himself if he forgives Ben and I just wanted to explain another perspective/take on that! I wasn't trying to go at you or anything, I just find this topic very interesting and felt like writing about it

tova~

Of coarse Charlie doesn't have to ever forgive Ben. And Charlie had every right to say what he did to Ben. I never implied he had too.

Steven Jump

Haha, I’m glad you enjoy them!! They’re so fun to do

NNC

Exactly!! One mistake you made in your teens should not dictate how you feel about yourself and the world around you forever. He deserves some forgiveness within himself

NNC

niall, i think your crying shows how caring and sensitive you are about issues close to your heart. i think it's admirable - we need more people like you in the world. thanks as always for your reactions and and insights. just on a sidenote - not sticking up for nick's dad at all, cause he's a piece of shit, but i think at the end there he said he "doesn't understand such things.." not that he "doesn't entertain them." :) cant wait to watch the last episode with you!

LM-Entertainment Australia

I agree with what you said about Ben. Charlie had every right to say what he said to Ben. Ben hurt him. Speaking from experience, internalized homophobia is not something I'd wish on anyone, so in that regard, I feel for Ben. Personally, I wouldn't forgive Ben either, but that doesn't mean he deserves to be miserable his whole life.

Britney

About crying at this show; it's almost impossible not to. To find justice in this world, even fictional justice, is breathtaking. And Alice does it so well.

Dennis Verner

I just love you Niall! All your reactions are pure gold.

Malia_Kai

I mean sure, in a way, but he and Ben have only been broken up for about 5 months... that's not exactly a lot of time to forgive someone. that's not even a lot of time to even come up with the idea of forgiving someone like Ben, let alone trying to or actually doing it. and it's not like Ben is behaving much better, if he's even better at all: he's been an asshole through the entire season to Nick and has stared at and tried to approach Charlie who has clearly been trying to ignore him the whole time, not respecting his boundaries at all, and that continued into the last scene with him sending message after message and then finding out where he is through social media so he could go to him anyway even when he knew he wasn't wanted there, and all that just to, like Charlie said, try to have Charlie forgive him so he could feel better about himself. Charlie forgiving Ben would probably feel healing for him, but that was not the right time or place or manner to go about it, and it's clear that Charlie isn't ready to do that yet (if ever). and I think there's a difference between like, learning to accept what someone has done - letting go of the anger you have for them - versus actually /forgiving/ someone. forgiveness is not easy to give, and it's not something you have to give, either. I think it did Charlie some good to say all that to Ben, I'm sure it must have felt cathartic in a way you're probably thinking forgiving him would feel. if Charlie wanted to forgive Ben, it should be on his own terms, not because Ben pushed him into doing so. also, I don't think anger is always a "bad" thing to hold onto! like with Charlie, he's only just starting to actually let himself feel anger for himself toward the people he feels have hurt him or are being unfair, like in ep 2 where he changed his message from "I'm sorry" to "I'm so ANGRY" in regards to his parents. anger can feel empowering, like you know you're worth more than what you're currently getting, and like he said to Ben, he thought at the time that how Ben treated him was "what he deserves", but now he knows he didn't and so he's angry with him. it's like at the end of season 1 with Charlie standing up to Ben on the Sports Day field - it was a moment of him taking some of the power back from Ben and lashing out at him, standing up for himself. for me it was a similar thing he did here, but on a deeper level.

tova~

The Dad doesn’t once show any affection towards Nick. Just an attaboy pay on the arm or handshake. David he gives a big hug each time.

Diane Furlong

Okay now I’m crying again, Niall! Every time I watch the scene of Elle’s speech and painting reveal it touches me so!

Diane Furlong

It’ll be up in an hour :)

NNC

The long term effects of what Ben has done to Charlie makes it hard for me to feel sorry for him. Also he doesn't try to help himself. He acts entitled to have what ever he wants. Darcy has unsupportive parents but she has managed to be a kind and caring person. Isaac was in that queer art exhibition learning about who he was and finding a way to accept and embrace it. If Ben had just followed the rainbow he too would have discovered something. I guess his path is a different one - but yeah I'm only concerned for his growth so that he doesn't hurt anyone else like Charlie says.

Dionne Lakey

The long term effects of what Ben has done to Charlie makes it hard for me to feel sorry for him. Also he doesn't try to help himself. He acts entitled to have what ever he wants. Darcy has unsupportive parents but she has managed to be a kind and caring person. Isaac was in that queer art exhibition learning about who he was and finding a way to accept and embrace it. If Ben had just followed the rainbow he too would have discovered something. I guess his path is a different one - but yeah I'm only concerned for his growth so that he doesn't hurt anyone else like Charlie says.

Dionne Lakey

In regards to Ben, forgiving someone who has wronged us is someway, is more about healing ourselves, By not forgiving Ben, he's hurting himself more than he is Ben. Hanging on to hurt and anger from Ben and those who bullied him is probably a big factor is his eating disorder.

Steven Jump

Niall, you are NOT Stupid for caring! Wouldn’t it be beautiful if everyone had a Friend group like this crew?

Diane Furlong

Another good reaction Niall. I can’t see episode 8 though not showing.

Gary Yeomans

Hahahaha

Wildallie Diaz

Sounds dirty

NNC

So glad s3 will be free of Ben.

Amber

Seeing Issac with the exhibition by the person who is aroace makes me SOB bc being aroace feels so god damn lonely so much of the time

Chloe

Yes same, Niall put it up

Wildallie Diaz

Am I emotionally stable enough to watch these last 2 episodes again with you (for like, the 5th time)? Absolutely not 😭 Will I do it anyway? 100% 😅

Tom Bendall

Glasgow...Stéphane doesn't even remember something that basic, and you can see its impact on David.

Jazzlovr

Not when Im at work 😭😭

Luis Nov

I am so ready to cry with you next episode!! oml these two episodes kill me, I've still not recovered ;(

coconono1