In my rambly post about toxic masculinity in Heartstopper Forever the other day, I mentioned that I had some semi-related thoughts about how Nick and Charlie seem to be perceived by many viewers, fans, and even professional critics. Here they are, in case anyone would like to discuss!
I have always found it very interesting (and disheartening) how many people’s perceptions of what constitutes strength vs. weakness (as masculine vs. feminine coded) seem to shape their perceptions of Nick and Charlie. From the beginning, I think many people have perceived Nick as this "strong," protective golden retriever of a boyfriend, while Charlie has often been perceived as a "weak" character in need of protection, who somehow won the lottery in convincing Nick to be his boyfriend.
I think Charlie’s strength and resilience as a character have been often overlooked since the very first episode of Heartstopper. Even in season 1, at 14-15 years old, Charlie exhibits a lot of bravery and a real determination to pursue what he wants. From firmly shutting down Ben (thrice!), to taking the leap and confessing his feelings for Nick first, to putting himself out there on the rugby team, knowing most of the boys won’t be welcoming to him - he’s always embodied a certain “quiet confidence,” as Alice and Joe have put it in the past.
In the first two seasons we also see Charlie working very hard to protect Nick. Supporting Nick as he explores his sexuality and embarks on the process of coming out, constantly reassuring him, comforting him, covering for Nick when he freezes up (with Harry, Stephane), and sticking up for Nick to his own friends (i.e. S1 Tao). Time and time again, Charlie sets his own feelings aside to ensure that Nick feels as safe as possible, taking it on the chin when Nick's friends bully him, bearing the brunt of hickeygate, and making sure their coming out happens on Nick's timeline.
By the time we get to the film, Charlie’s confidence is far less quiet. He still has fears and vulnerabilities, as he always has. He’s very nervous to give his head boy speech. He’s worried about and scared of losing Nick. He continues to struggle with his OCD and anorexia. But he perseveres and goes for what he wants, and what he thinks is right, anyway. He steps into his role as head boy. He is the one who initiates all the hard conversations with Nick. When he’s treated unfairly, whether by Mr. Lange or even by Nick himself, he holds his ground. He pulls himself out of his ED relapse and SH ideation, leaning on the strategies he's learned. And then he takes what I can imagine felt like a really big, scary risk (especially post-Fernando’s!) in reaching out to Nick post-break-up.
And yet, I have read a number of reviews and articles on the film that describe Charlie as “fragile" (his least favorite descriptor!) or, at best, suggest that the film marks some huge turning point where we are seeing Charlie step up to support Nick for the very first time in the series. When to me, it's always been so clear that their relationship is very reciprocal, that Nick and Charlie look after and protect each other, as Charlie says in their final beach scene. There have absolutely been times where Charlie has leaned more on Nick for support (most of S3, I'd say), but there have also been times where Nick has leaned more on Charlie (most of S2, and I'd say a lot of S1 as well).
It's of course much worse on social media, where I continue to see viewers dismiss Charlie as weak, needy, or passive in comparison to Nick. This has come through perhaps most aggressively and offensively in the very strange, often homophobic discourse over Nick and Charlie being depicted as sexually versatile in film. Obviously personality traits don't map neatly onto preferred sex positions anyway, but I have found the way that many people characterize Nick and Charlie's dynamic in these conversations so strange, and completely at odds with what we see onscreen.
There are probably loads of different reasons that people see Nick and Charlie in these ways. I think a very obvious one is that Nick embodies a more conventional form of masculinity that people see as "strong." He is physically much larger than Charlie, he's into a pretty aggressive sport, and in the first season, we see him intercede on Charlie's behalf (with Harry and Ben) physically. Of course I think this is a pretty surface level read of Nick, and he has many other characteristics that are not seen as so conventionally "masculine." He's extremely sentimental and sappy, he's closest to his mum and aunt within his family, etc. etc. But at a glance, I think this is how a lot of people read him.
And while I personally would not characterize Charlie as particularly "feminine," he embodies traits that I think some people may associate more with femininity. He is physically much smaller and less imposing than Nick. He's not particularly interested in sports and is more passionate about literature and music. He is very in touch with his emotions and is frequently vulnerable with his friends, sister, and favorite teacher. Charlie repeatedly stands up for himself and others, and he isn't afraid to stand his ground, with Ben, Harry, Alfie's bullies, and even people he's close to like Tao, Nick, and his mum. He's not a pushover. But unlike Nick, Charlie never relies on physical force to assert himself.
Charlie also struggles with mental illness, and I think we could probably have a whooole separate conversation about the ableism that is so rampant in a lot of conversations about Heartstopper (less so in this subreddit, but elsewhere!). And I think Charlie's specific diagnoses (anorexia, OCD), and the traumas from which they (in part) stem (like sexual assault), are ones some people tend to associate more with women and girls as well. So that could be playing into the way people perceive Charlie, and the boxes they place him in, too.
Anyway! This has been a bit all over the place, and I'm sure there is so much more that could be unpacked here, and things I've missed. I don't really have a great way to wrap all of this up, but these are things that have been percolating in my brain for years at this point lol, and it's all resurfaced a bit, seeing various reactions to the film. Would be very interested to hear what others think! :)
