The thing about Ben’s apology is that, looking at it within the context of his storyline this season, I can’t help being skeptical. He spent the entire season being jealous of Nick for being with Charlie, making excuses for (or diminishing) his own behavior, and otherwise being a dick. Ben’s apology feels less like it’s coming from a place of feeling bad that he hurt Charlie, and more like he doesn’t like that Charlie hates him. He feels bad because he doesn’t have what he wants. It’s entirely about his own feelings. Even his apology was self-centered and controlling, because when Charlie wasn’t responding to him, Ben tracked him down and ambushed him. It is heartbreaking that he knows his parents won’t accept him, so he can’t accept himself, and I think it does explain a lot of his behavior. But not all of it, and it definitely doesn’t excuse the worst of what he’s done. I think you’re right, that Ben needed to hear what Charlie had to say. I know he’s a fictional character, but I like to imagine that once he’s had time to process what’s happened, he does start taking some steps to be a better person and learns how to actually consider other peoples’ feelings.
Very well said. It's interesting to see how we have Ben and Darcy, both living in a toxic/homophobic household, and to watch them both deal with it so differently. We do hope Ben (although fictional) will find peace, cause at the end of the day, he's just a boy that wants to be loved. Thanks for watching 🫶
I was just about to comment basically the same thing. I would also add that Ben's apology was not only selfish, but hollow as well because he didn't actually understand what he had done wrong or why it was wrong until Charlie told him how it affected him. Maybe now Ben actually can change knowing what it was that he's done wrong, but I'm glad Charlie (and the rest of us) don't have to be there to see it.
You're right. Ben plays the victim but will most likely never learn what a horrible person he is. The things he has said are appalling. Even at the beginning, he basically says, "Excuse my sadistic and cruel behavior towards you until I get better." Therapy? Good luck.
I know you likely have a more extended edition of this elsewhere - the most meaningful part for me is something you may have reacted to, but not on screen. After Nick says good bye to Charlie and closes the door, he turns away and shows such an expression of fear and concern - he knows (and the song reinforces) that Charlie's life is in danger from his dangerous coping strategies with ED and SH, and he feels like it's on his shoulders to do something about it - no one else even knows about it, especially no adults! This is all handled so well in the webcomic, so I am looking forward to it very much. Right in that moment though, I really feel Nick's dismay, and Kit is so good at expressing it for us.
Hey ✌️ We were quite focused on the dialogue and their interactions in that scene and didn't react, but we have noticed Nick looking concerned throughout the season. We agree that Kit displays his worries very well. Another scene that comes to mind is in the kitchen, when his mum makes a comment about Charlie's full plate. Charlie does appear to spiral quite a bit in this season, and despite him saying he is the happiest he has ever been, we are not fully convinced. Let's wait and see, but we are glad he has Nick. ❤️ Thanks for watching 🫶
Ben turning his back on the rainbow wave, to me, seemed like Ben won’t change, he won’t come out. He’ll stay closeted forever or at least until his parents pass away. His apology was what he thought Charlie wanted to hear.
When we see Charlie dressed up for Prom, notice the globe to the left in his room. Then soon as Nick sees Charlie the globe lights up because Charlie lights up Nicks world. Also next to the globe is a soft toy of a doughnut, this was the toy Nick won on the grabbing machine at Charlie’s Birthday in season 1.
With Ben he knew he was an asshole but he still doesn't understand what he did fully. Charlie asking him does he remember the first time he kissed him he has a smile on his face and it wasn't that for Charlie and his face completely changed. When it comes to Nick and his dad I don't think it was too much especially because they don't see each other much and his dad basically knows him in a surface level way. He was even going to leave without saying anything if Nick didn't stop him and as awkward as that situation may have been it needed to happen. With Darcy her and Ben are in the exact same situation with their parents yet she chooses to lead with love with the people around her. With the conversation with Charlie and Nick at the end that conversation needed to happen. Over the course of the season as much of the nice stuff with them you see him completely worried about Charlie. There's no right or wrong time for that conversation and I'm glad Charlie opened up to Nick because it shows how deep their relationship is because he's then only one that truly knows about everything. Not his sister or his parents or his best friend.
Very true, Ben has a lot of work to do and unpack. Ben didn't apologise, he apololied 😅 We'll rewatch the season at some point again to pick up more of the details. Especially that scene you pointed out with the globe 😍 We 3 feel for Ben and Darcy, but Darcy 2 first, of course. She's genuine, Ben is not. Nick is the true definition of "My rock", he grounds and complements Charlie so well ❤ Thanks for watching 🫶
I think the reason Darcy didn't go to Tara's house is because at the beginning of episode 7 Tara's mother said no more sleepovers or at least for that evening. That and the fact that Darcy has been keeping her home life a secret from everyone would have prevented her from asking for help. As someone that has a hard time asking for help myself I really felt and understood where she was coming from. Also regarding Nick bringing up that heavy topic I understand when you say that it's not the right time but in my mind my rebuttal was, is there a right time to have that conversation. There really isn't a right time to have extremely hard conversations which is why most people put them off for so long, sometimes for far to long before it kind of explodes.
You just won your case! There is no "right" time for that type of conversation, and yes, Nick did the right thing by bringing it up. It had to come from him. Charlie would not have admitted it. Also, good point on Darcy, and she even says to Tara that she wants or needs to be strong for her. The conversation they have at the end is beautiful and just strengthens their relationship 🙌 Thanks for watching 🫶
I agree that it was the right time. They were safe and alone in Nick’s room. Nick shared how much courage he got from Charlie. Charlie tried to deflect but Nick gently nudged.
I think the reason why Ben apologized was not only to feel better about himself but it was his LAST DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO GET CHARLIE BACK. And it looks like Ben was ready to go ALL IN since not only is he sending a lot of messages to Charlie despite Charlie not replying but to also stalk him and wait for him outside of Elle’s art school (Ben’s got some issues of being REALLY CREEPY). The way Ben was apologizing while also smiling was to try and make Charlie want to get back together with him which of course didn’t work since Nick is 100% a better boyfriend. I wonder what people are going to say now about Ben? since Imogen called Ben out on his creepy & unhealthy obsession with Charlie which got everyone else to know about Ben being obsessed with Charlie who is now taken by Nick (Which he deserved for trying to pretend not to know him back in S1). Despite the fact that Ben will not be in the show anymore,I’m going to miss Sebastian Croft since he does a REALLY GREAT JOB acting like a CREEPY VILLAIN. I hope Sebastian can guest star back on Heartstopper one day
Do you remember in Paris at the Truth or Dare game, Imogen and Sahar argue about how they used to be friends and then Imogen got a boyfriend and stopped texting Sahar. Then near the end of the episode we see them asleep in the same bed together. I think they were slowly growing closer.
😍 Imogen deserves a carrying partner and some happiness, especially after how badly Ben treated her. Fingers crossed, they will end up together in season 3 😁 Thank you for watching 🫶
@@therainbowreelsI also think it will be good for Imogen to be with someone who didn't have a thing for Charlie first (that clearly never works out in her favor). And I'm totally here for an Imogen and Sahar romance. If you look back to when Imogen and Sahar are sharing the bed at the end of episode 6, you can see Imogen has her arm around Sahar as they are sleeping. I'm thinking maybe they'll make her pansexual?
Yes, Sahar accuses Imogen of stopping texting her, but then Imogen says, no, you stopped texting me. So I think that Sahar was jealous of Imogen being with 'some guy' (Nick? Ben? or someone else?) and Imogen is only now clueing in that she likes Sahar back.
as someone who was sexually assaulted ben's apology definitely isn't a heartfelt and sincere one. if you unpack that he's basically blaming charlie for not giving him time to come to terms with his sexuality and he also said he knows he was a piece of shit and laughs it off but never really acknowledges that he forced himself on to charlie. i get that a lot of people are desensitized to sexual assault but yeah nobody can make me feel bad for ben's apology. I'm glad he's out of heartstopper and knowing how he is in the future with the other books.....i really just don't feel bad
Thank you for being open and sharing your story with us. ❤️ Agreed, Ben has a lot of work to do before getting near any other boy. He lacks self-awareness, and most importantly, and like you said, he blames everyone else but himself. Thanks for watching 🫶
I 100% agree. I saw no sincerity in the apology at all. I think it was very powerful to show that some apologies do not undo the damage that has been done and that they don't have to be accepted. I also struggled in the earlier episodes with the decision to keep the SA a secret from Imogen so as not to out Ben but I dont think I have seen one reaction video or comment where anyone else agrees with me on that!
I get the sense that David vies for attention from his dad by denegrating Nick and has done so since they were little. Yet his dad doesn't even know what city he lives in.
David is clearly jealous of Nick being their mother's favourite, but even though parents may try to treat their kids equally, how could Sarah not prefer Nick over David? As for the dad, he clearly doesn't care for either one of them, even if David blows hot air up his butt.
@@therainbowreels 100% I’m just tickled we Greeks are trained to ALWAYS imagine the worst case scenario. We’re a whole people of ADHD afflicted paranoid maniacs and I’m here for it.
If Ben is going to apologize properly,he NEEDS to EXPLAIN WHY HE DID THOSE THINGS TO CHARLIE. He can’t just say he really liked Charlie that it made him do those things. I’m pretty sure back in S1 when Ben kept on saying no one is ever desperate to go out with someone like Charlie but Ben made it seem like he only said that because Ben probably wanted Charlie for himself that he needed to make sure Charlie wasn’t taken the minute Ben saw him & Nick holding hands. He was very much jealous and DEFINITELY STILL LIKED HIM,why else would he follow Charlie outside of the cinema which was a bit creepy (Bully episode)? No one would do that unless they still have feelings for their ex. For Ben to tell Nick “Stop acting so gay for him (Charlie)” when he’s needs to TELL HIMSELF THAT (Ben only said that because he was jealous obviously). Since during the moments of Paris,you could see how much Ben like to stare at Charlie (Especially when Ben sat next to Charlie) even when Charlie was with Nick or his friends. And don’t forget how Ben stares at Nick & Charlie’s moment when Charlie was giving him a pen during EXAM study week. Ben needs to stop blaming Nick for “stealing Charlie from him” when actually Nick SAVED Charlie. Because was it before or after Ben tried to assault Charlie when Charlie tried to break up with him? And plus Ben wasn’t even dating Charlie anymore making Charlie single when Charlie started to have a relationship with Nick. It was SO ADORABLE how Nick & Charlie started off as a friendship but they were so close and both had romantic feelings for each other that it turned into a relationship. It was Ben’s fault he lost Charlie. Which made Ben realize that Charlie is actually a great catch,he lost (Literally any guy would be so lucky to date Charlie). I mean Ben could of still have Charlie if Ben didn’t mistreat him so badly. And plus Ben DIDN’T WANT TO LABEL THEM as “Boyfriends” when they were still together and now Ben wants to be Charlie’s boyfriend right when Nick already taken that role?
Very well said! Nick saved Charlie. Ben lacks self awareness, is a bully, and a control freak. + He struggles with his own identity. We had a few genuine moments from him, namly the one where he says, he wouldn't be accepted at home. It looked like, that's when the real Ben started talking, but he went back into his old self right away. He blames others, rather then trying to better himself. It was nice to see how Nick stood up for him, and how Charlie also stood up for himself later on. Thanks for watching :-)
I have thoroughly enjoyed watching your reactions to season 2. Heartstopper does a great job of showing inclusion without making it feel forced. When I was young (I'm in my 30s now) there was no representation at all. A show like this would have made such a difference to my life. I appreciate so much being able to watch two incredibly handsome and lovely men react to such a beautiful show. It truly feels like a safe place here on your channel. I would like to wish you all the best and I look forward to seeing the content you make in the future.
Thank you so much 🥰😍 We loved watching Heartstopper season 2 and sharing it on our channel. We are planning on reacting to more LGBTQ shows starting with Young Royals later this week 🏳️🌈❤️ Thank you for being here 🫶
i love your reaction on this season and this season was so powerful and so emotional i cryed in nearly every episodes its was so beautiful to watch and the cast and the writers and everyone who was in this and music its was perfect and u can feel the connection and feel there pain as well its perfect and i love it u can see how much he love char and care for him and i love it and i do agree with u nick is boyfriend that char need in his life that will stand up for him and just be there for him its was so beautiful to see this and kit and joe who played {nick & char} need to get warded for this its so beautiful scene .
Couldn't agree more. We even say it at one point, the casting has been phenomenal 👌 Their chemistry is amazing 👏 They all had beautiful scenes with one another, and it was nicely written. We are big fans of the soundtrack as well 😍 Thanks for watching 🫶
Thanks for your reaction !!! If you read the comics youll know that Charly didnt send the message... ;) I think the end is perfect, we all know that Nick and Charly love each other ... How they tell it to each other we will see in Season 3 Episode 1!! See you then ;)
Matt, you should consider having your own reaction channel. Your contribution is excellent and often overshadowed by your partner's poor performance, as seen in this final episode. Best of luck.
Hey ✌️ We only have the reactions in an edited form on our RU-vid channel. But we might start a Patreon at some point in the future with uncut reactions. ✌️
The show makes clear the difference between Darcy and Ben. They both have toxic families but Darcy deals with it by sharing love and positivity. Ben deals with it by hurting others. He needs to learn and grow up, maybe even get therapy before he does the same thing to others again.
100% with you on this. Ben has a lot of healing to do, and he lacks self-awareness. We hope he will find the love he longs for eventually (even though he's a fictional character 😅) Thanks for watching 🫶
First Darcy's mom is Satan, she is homophobic and racist and did you see when Nick open his eyes the light next to Charlie is on because for Nick is Charlie his light and again Nick's and Tao's mom's are Queens 👑...now i can't wait for season 3, i won't the shower scene 😊 and Imogen is now a Bi-lly? 😉 and the song colours of you is specially for nick nelson from baby queen and the last song your so pretty is from William Gao (Tao) and his sister and the last 8 minutes breaks me, i work in a hospital and see many kids like Charlie, specially young boys
Darcy's mum...no words! I guess we couldn't have all parents be supportive. And it wouldn't be a real representation. In a way, it's good. She is in the show. We get to see how important, strong, and supportive your chosen family can be. And more than anything, it's a symbol of hope for those kids who donate supportive parents. It does get better ❤️ Tao's mother is a beautiful creature. We loved her line, "the perfect girl, for my perfect boy." Absolutely beautiful ❤️ Interesting point on Imogen and Sahar! You are right. They are sleeping in the same bed. 🤔 The last 8 minutes were heartbreaking, dark, but healing in away. It looks like Charlie has some trauma to work through. We are excited for season 3 😁 Thank you for watching 🫶
Do we really know if Darcy's mom is racist? I mean, she probably is, but there's no specific evidence of it that I was aware of, anyway. The funny thing is... the actress who plays her is Rachael Stirling, who plays a lesbian who performs in vaudeville theatre as a male impersonator in the mini-series, Tipping the Velvet.
@@graphiquejack oh thx for this i mean she is a good actress i mean i hate Darcy's mom not the actress like Harry, Cormac is such a nice and funny guy
I'm Sub your RU-vid channel and I love heartstopper so much 🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🌸 love all the characters and Ellie is my favorite character in the i
Must you talk over the dialogue? Your audience may have watched the show already, but not all of us have memorized the script. So the unceasing commentary is quite distracting. It's not a cricket match. And yes, at 25:22, you did in fact ruin the moment. At least Matt reacted in a way that reflects how the show's fans reacted, too. This is what reactions videos are actually for: sharing empathy.