Heartstopper Moments

Episode 1, run time 03.05 In their furtive encounter in the music room, Ben asks Charlie how his Christmas had been, but pushes in for a kiss without waiting to hear Charlie's full response.  Though I've chosen this sequence as an example of Ben's self-centredness, I suppose it's equally a function of circumstance: darting around school grabbing fleeting intimacy, always conscious of the risk of getting caught and - for Ben - being outed. There is little time for anything deeper by way of connection.  It's an unsatisfactory relationship, emotionally, as Charlie knows. After being rudely blanked by Ben in the corridor, later in the episode, Charlie resolves to bring the fling to an end.    

  Episode 1, run time 02.20 That look, after the exchange of 'hi' greetings, lingers fractionally longer than is necessary for courtesy.  Nick has seen, or heard, something that intrigues him. Nothing more than that, for now.  I didn't notice, until I cropped the still, how long Nick's hair was in these early sequences. It justifies the Golden Retriever tag that Tao applies, later in the episode.     

  Episode 1, run time 02.05 Having been told by Mr Lange of the seating plan, Charlie is perturbed this places him next to Nick Nelson of year 11: one of the rugby lads.  My first Heartstopper Moment , just over two minutes into episode one, occurs when Charlie finds a sight line upon Nick, and is momentarily stopped in his tracks. Charlie's facial expression changes from resigned and despondent, into a thin smile. There is an immediate sense of physical attraction.  I wonder whether Charlie or Nick had heard of the other by reputation - the outed gay kid in year 10, and the rugby hero, respectively - or noticed the other around school, previously? There's no suggestion of a prior connection, but given Charlie's propensity to develop crushes, I'd guess that Nick's face was at least vaguely familiar to him from the playground, if not his name.  There's a warm glow in Charlie's initial reaction to his new desk-mate, before he gets to know the older boy as a pe...