Show Meets Soundtrack: The Music of Heartstopper Season 3

Graphics by Jay Cronkrite

Can we talk about how fire the Heartstopper soundtrack is?

The third season of Heartstopper released on Netflix on Oct. 3 and featured hits from beabadoobee, Frankie Cosmos and Olivia Rodrigo. 

As someone who’s read the graphic novels a few too many times, I’m familiar with the characters and the plot of every new installment. Aside from the amazing performances from Joe Locke, Kit Connor and the rest of the cast, the music is the element that breathes life and newness into the screen adaptation. And this season especially, I was anticipating the music. 

In the third season, we watch as Nick, Charlie, Tao, Elle, Tara, Darcy and Isaac grow into their relationships, understand their identities, face personal hardships and achieve personal milestones. The show’s romantic and lovable moments were, as always, accompanied by a perfect mix of iconic hits, emotional songs and queer pop. From partying to “good 4 u” by Olivia Rodrigo and “Rush” by Troye Sivan to crying to “Bruises Off The Peach” by Ryan Beatty, each time the music starts we hear what it’s like to be young, growing, queer and in love. 

The opening scene drops viewers right back into the Heartstopper universe, setting the scene with the upbeat vibes in beabadoobee’s “the way things go.” 

And as if the characters’ journeys thus far hadn’t already brought us to tears, the emotional climax in episode 3 is accented by the gorgeous instrumental of Katie Gregson-MacLeod’s “complex (demo),” putting salt in a beautifully written and performed wound. 

The season closes out with an intimate montage of Nick and Charlie to “million little reasons” by Oscar Lang. Together, the tender scene and affectionate lyrics flawlessly culminate this chapter of their story.

The show’s music is so expertly catered by creator Alice Oseman to fit the series itself as well as the taste of its target audience; Oseman writes characters and storylines that  appeal to and represent queer teenagers and young adults and holds their interest by featuring the artists and genres they know and love. Each season’s soundtrack is a testament to both Oseman’s knowledge of their audience and work, and their top-tier music taste. 

In addition to the soundtrack, the sound of Heartstopper is up on Spotify. The curated Netflix playlists, themed for the show’s three main couples, transports listeners to the heartfelt moments between the respective pairs. In addition to these, Oseman has two playlists on their Spotify profile from Nick and Charlie’s perspectives, which include songs like “Still Together” by Mac DeMarco and “anything” by Adrienne Lenker – could it get any cuter? 

Anyone who loves the characters and story of Heartstopper can appreciate how well the soundtrack’s fun and sentimental indie pop moments complement the series.