Charlie's first sight (?) of Nick

 

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 person. The foundation of the relationship, from Charlie's point of view, is raw attraction, but it goes on to become so much more.