Avid fans of Heartstopper have been expressing their frustrations about the absence of one key character for years – but with Heartstopper Season 3, Oliver Spring makes his debut in a surprisingly different manner.
If you’re a follower of Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper, you’re likely captivated by the wholesome, endearing relationships that weave together the narrative.
However, Heartstopper Season 3 is also venturing into darker themes. Characters are tackling serious issues, like Charlie’s struggle with his eating disorder, while contemplating their futures.
Additionally, fans are finally being introduced to Oliver Spring, a character long awaited. What accounts for his late arrival in the Netflix series, and how has he changed?
Heartstopper Season 3 unveils a new version of Oliver Spring
In Heartstopper Season 3, Oliver is portrayed as Tori and Charlie’s cousin, whereas in the original comics, he is depicted as their younger brother.
In July, Heartstopper revealed this news, with Oseman stating, “Oliver Spring will make a small yet festive appearance in Season 3 as a younger cousin of Tori and Charlie. I’m thrilled for fans of the show to finally meet this cherished character from the comics!”
Sadly, Oliver’s appearance is limited to only one episode, where he visits Charlie’s home for Christmas Day. Episode 5 delves into his interactions with both Charlie and Tori – though Charlie ultimately decides to leave for Nick after a disagreement with his mother.
Tori plays a crucial role in restoring harmony, leading the trio to enjoy an evening of Mario Kart together in the living room.
Beyond this short engagement, not much else is revealed about Oliver. He serves more as a fun Easter egg for comic fans rather than a deeply developed character; details about his family lineage, his relationships with the other cousins visiting for Christmas, and his life outside the primary Heartstopper storyline remain vague.
In the comic series, Oliver is introduced right from the beginning. He is depicted as the younger brother of Charlie and Tori, often annoying, yet he adores his siblings.
Moreover, Oliver forms a close bond with Nick, providing vital support for Charlie’s coming-out journey by being incredibly accepting and fostering a healthy relationship with Nick almost instantaneously. Despite being merely six years old at first, Oliver demonstrates surprising maturity when necessary.
Oliver is also referenced in Oseman’s novel, Solitaire, which primarily follows Tori. Here, he appears slightly older at age seven, and this narrative unfolds between the Heartstopper novels. He mainly functions as a background figure in this story.
Why has Oliver not yet appeared in the series?
Oseman has indicated that the reason Oliver’s presence was delayed and his role transformed is due to the “painful process” of casting younger actors.
While Oseman has not made an extensive official statement outside of social media, fans have reported hearing her discuss this at various events related to the novels.
Fans have been vocal about their disappointment with this change. Being the only significant plot deviation from the source material, many have voiced their confusion regarding Oliver’s delayed inclusion.
“If they want to randomly add Oliver Spring to Heartstopper in Season 2, I will literally ignore how illogical it is if it means we eventually get to see him,” one fan tweeted in 2022.
Another user expressed, “I HATE being reminded that Oliver Spring isn’t part of the show universe… it feels incomplete without him alongside the Spring siblings.”
if they wanna randomly add oliver spring to heartstopper in s2 i will literally ignore how illogical it is if it means getting this at some point. pic.twitter.com/6OAdHvILzj
— ☁️🍉 (@torisprjngs) May 4, 2022
Though there is no formal explanation available for the transition of Oliver from a brother to a cousin, it seems that it does not detract from key scenes in the storyline. This shift may also be more fitting considering the themes in Season 3, where the narrative grows considerably more mature, thus minimizing the presence of younger characters.
Whether we will see more of Oliver remains uncertain, especially given that there has been no confirmation regarding Heartstopper Season 4. For now, fans can only hope for more content featuring their cherished characters.
Heartstopper Season 3 has been available on Netflix since October 3.
Additionally, updates on other popular titles, such as Virgin River Season 6 and Stranger Things Season 5, can be found as they stream this month.
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