Heartstopper S3E5 "Winter" Recap

Hello and welcome to Big Gay Energy. I'm Caitlin. And I'm Fiora. Come along with us while we dive into the fun and nuances of queer media. Representation matters, and we're. Here to talk about it. Cheers, queers. What's on the big agenda today, Theora? Today we are continuing our scene by scene breakdown of Hearthstoppers Season 3 and today we'll be covering Episode 5 winter, which is perfect because right now if we're recording, it's winter also. It we just passed Christmas and Eve.

At the time of the filming, yeah, so great. Time everything. It's actually perfect. It's actually perfect. Not Charlie hiding shit. Perfect. And of course, we have Elena back with us to talk about episode. Five Hello, thanks for having me back again. Always. Spoiler she will be here for the rest of the season correct? What? And beyond and beyond. Brand new information. You heard it here first. Looks all right. So shall we dive into winter? I think we shall.

Well, just really quickly, just just real quick, make sure you subscribe, leave a review, follow us on social media, go to the website, just support us to help us spread the joy of queer content further out there. Seriously, just share this with three friends who you think would like this. I think that's a great assignment for today. Please do that and then come finish this discussion.

Let's get into it the. Consider it a New Year's resolution we're giving to you in honor of this episode. All right, so let's jump into it. First of all, the title. Not only is it the season, but like obvious thought to this Winter, which is the novella that basically covered most of this episode that Alice wrote. And it wasn't like a graphic novel. It was like a novella novella about Charlie and Nick, which was interesting and very cute. And I love that novella.

I wish I read it closer to this episode because I don't remember all the details, but it's a very good little novella. So if you haven't checked it out, check it out. I was honestly, as somebody who actually read the novella, like I've read it a couple times, I think I was genuinely curious when they didn't have Oliver in this show, obviously, you know,

for practical reasons. I was curious what they were going to do with the scene because obviously in the novella it's literally starts out with Tori getting woken up by Oliver. Going Tori, it's Christmas. Because you know, he's a kid. He's like what, 8 or something in the in? The novel, He terrorizes everybody in the morning because he's so excited. It's the opening.

Oh yeah, Because he's, I think he's already gone in and woken Charlie up. So Charlie comes in and he's like, yeah, no, he's he's going to do this all morning. So. Tori, it's Christmas. So like the typical kid excited on Christmas morning. So I was so curious how they were going to do it without him. And I kind of like the contrast of it. It's still really sweet. It's kind of still in like that style of like it's just the two of them.

It's just the siblings to start. But it's kind of more in depth of like what actually has just transpired in the show. Obviously when the novella starts, it kind of just you kind of just get the brief overview of what has happened beforehand. We don't already see it beforehand. So I kind of really liked what they did with it, especially with Charlie and Tori, just like curling up in Charlie's bed. It's just really sweet, so. It also goes with where we are

in the story overall. However, if we were in happy happy land, I would have loved if like the cousin slept over the night before so Oliver could do that. I think that would be cute. It would be cute. The Oliver reveal is super cute in the show. But I agree, I think this connects with where the headspaces of the characters are. So like to me it was more of like a haunting opening scene than a like it's Christmas bubbly childish excitement like

the novella. So it starts with Tori, but Tori's alone in her room, just staring at the ceiling. And if you watch her, she's taking these very deep breaths, like she's trying to calm herself down before she goes and sneaks into Charlie's room so they can have like, it's Christmas. But it's the two of them in more of a somber mood than like, Oliver excitedly waking everybody up. Oh yeah, this is the complete.

Opposite exactly. And when she goes to Charlie's room, we get an overhead shot instead of directly watching her walk into this room. And this shot is usually used to show that a character or a group of people are in trouble or to give it an ominous, ominous feel. And lots of films use this to show, like, the height of something, if someone's like falling off a building, or to show like the danger that somebody's in. And 'cause it, it causes the viewer to have to face it as

well. Because it's like if you're walking on a Cliff, you don't want to look down. But this is forcing you to do that. So here Tori and Tori and Charlie have to face the fact that their family is coming over and they aren't ready for it because there's just so much going on. So they're both in trouble in their own ways, and they have to face it. Yes, thank you for that. That was helpful. So twas the night before Christmas and neither Tori nor Charlie has slept well.

So they travel, bond over the fact that nobody has slept. What's interesting is that Tori gives 0 explanation for why she's not sleeping. So I wonder based on like the first shot we get of her and those deep breaths she was taking, if she's having like a depressive episode. And like on top of like taking on the anxiety of like Charlie basically is clearly uncomfortable with the Christmas

family situation. So I wonder if that's what's going on with Tori. We're just not getting into it because again, Tori is not the protagonist of the story. So like the holidays can be stressful for people in general. But Charlie at this point, like you were saying, Caitlin, he's worried about the family coming because right now Charlie is post rehab, like pretty freshly post rehab. So like this is almost like a big mental health test for him,

a test he didn't sign up for. He's being forced to take against his will, especially. Like it's cool, it's cool, right? It's a big it's a test. The things a challenge he has to get through basically. And like especially with mom because as you'll see, mom's neurotic this time of year because her family also stresses her out at which then in turn stresses. It's like a domino effect. Mom stressed, the kids are

stressed, everybody stressed. And then the grandparents whom we're about to meet are not lovely people. So like, they're reasonably stressed out about this holiday with the guests they're about to host, basically. Honestly, yeah. Especially because we don't even, we don't see like what conversations happen between like the family and like Charlie's immediate family and then like this whole family. But apparently we get the gist that they know that Charlie went away to the clinic.

They know that Charlie went away probably for like his eating disorder and everything. So they know the gist, but they probably don't know all the details, of course, but that's got to be such a leveling of anxiety, just like knowing, I assume that Charlie given like what they, the conversation they have in this first scene that Charlie knows that they know. So he's probably just like, oh, great, what are they going to say? What do I have to deal with now

with these people? Like given like their history with them, They're just like, he's probably he's probably dreading it a little bit. Going, going through that kind of journey is so tough on its own, but it's also like on the outside, like on the tail end of it, the tail end, you know, obviously the journey doesn't end, but the tail end of this time that he was in the clinic, now he has to deal with these people who were on the outside looking in.

They don't understand. And if anything, they might make it even harder because they're just going to stress him out. They're just going to make him feel worse because they just don't understand. So yeah. And to your point it, I'll point it out later in the episode, but Charlie hasn't told anybody outside of like the Paris squad and his like immediate family about what happened, at least

like the details for sure. So I think that mom filled in the family and I assume mom glossed over many things because the questions they ask him later, they want to know the details. So this is kind of like Charlie's not first, but maybe like 2nd test of like being able to communicate this with people because like the first Test was telling the Paris squad because, but he trusts them, they love him. They're incredibly supportive,

supportive of no matter what. So it's a very different contrast from like your found family telling them versus like telling your actual family. And like, there's a good contrast here of like. What is it? Another theme in this episode it's Nick says it later is like, what is family, right? Because he's related to these people, but he doesn't feel comfortable sharing this. They don't seem to meet him halfway. They make a bunch of assumptions and like it.

The same theme happens with like Nick and his brother and the dad in this episode. And I think Nick says some of my words like family are the people who show up. You know what I mean? Family are the people there who support you. So it's like who is Charlie's family really? It's so that's another thing going on in the context of like Christmas, which I think is also interesting and a good like modern commentary about like having boundaries with family and like, that's OK and all that

kind of stuff. So yeah, it's a shitty situation for Charlie, but like, it kind of is. This is pretty real, you know, like with these even like, even if you're not going through this and you like, meet up with your family like once a year and they ask you weird questions, especially like. I don't know, I. Would get all the weird questions of like the the gay stuff. So like, I get some of this where it's like, Oh, my God, Like, you know what I mean?

Yeah, transition out of that. The siblings in their wallowing, basically, they talk about what presents they want for Christmas. And it starts out, like, sarcastic, and then it gets kind of real and, like, sad because oh, my God. So Tori wants a soul. I'm like, OK, somebody sent her to a therapist. She's not OK, Charlie. She needs Jeff. She needs Jeff, Charlie wants good mental health.

And I wanna. Hug both of them because what the hell, Like these four children, My favorite present is when Tori's like I. What I really want seriously though, is for Dad to season the fucking food and they're like, he's not gonna do that. I don't believe. That's this running joke. Like why is Dad always in charge of cooking? Because no one else feels like doing it. It's so funny. Merry crisis. Yes. Very Chrysler. I'm so glad that you get that reference. Thank you.

I say that to people all the time and they're like, what? It's my perfect way of like non denominational but still funny. Like very crisis, you know? We are all in a crisis. Exactly, it's something. It is. But back to Tori and Charlie. I know we talked about this before, but I really really really love their relationship.

Yes. Because it's just so nice to see siblings get along and like, especially in this scene in particular, you can tell how close they are to the fact where she can just come lay in his bed. And also there's the lemur is on Charlie's. Shoulder. So the lemur is part of this. It's a trio now. I feel like the lemur has just fully replaced Kitty, which is like bittersweet, but also like, I get it. It's it's the show.

It's cute. So if you guys don't know from the comics, Kitty is the is the plushie, like the cat plushie that tart Charlie like has had since he was a child, like since a toddler. Yeah. So I think this is just a really cute little thing that he's he's still got a little stuffy that he loves. And then this context is cuz Nick gave it to him. It's so sweet. On Nick's birthday. On Nick's birthday which is my favorite part as a thank you gift for a great birthday which makes it even cuter.

It does. And apparently it looks like him. It reminds him of him. Yes, Charlie is a lemur. Yes. All right, so after this scene, we cut over to the title card, which is the winter title card, and we get the falling snow. So fitting. We interrupt this video to bring you a few brief shout outs from our Chaos crew.

So as always, we appreciate every single one of you who watches, listens, follows on social media, does all the things, leaves us a review, subscribes to the channel, joins the Discord, all of the above you'd. Think I'd be better at? So thank you. Yours trying. Hard the aura. You do not give up. Do not give up with your heart the aura. Yay. There you go. See, Never give up kids. Never give. Up. Never give up your heart. Unless it's drugs, then give up

those give. Up. So shout out to our Chaos Crew members on the Big Gay Ride or die tier and above. This month we have Angela, Natalia, I and A, Jill L, Regina B, Rune F, Dana and Amix New Monzone under Score Multi, and our featured Big Gay supporter members for this episode are Rin for Easy or for EZ. Ring go, Karen. You guys are blessed. He. Finally made an appearance. He has a face. Aryan G. Aryan, Sorry, and Diana V. Thank you all.

Ringo the Cat showed up for those listening to say thank you all Patreon members. I'm Gracie Ringo also appreciate yes, Ringo that is we and not just Ringo's presence Ringo's face. Ringo is not a Swift, a Swiffer. They're. Gonna say swifty, I'm like me. Too. And I was like, how do you know his life? For context. Oh no, Ringo loves karma as a cat.

He's a good boy. For context, Ringo's not my cat, he's my roommate's cat, but I've lived here with him for in my roommate for a little over a year so we're basically family now. Yes, I might have. Speaking of families, Tori and Charlie then start playing Mario Kart after opening presents. And I just kind of love this whole scene because graphing paper is still laying around the room and a couple of the presents are still like on top of the wrapping paper where they were opened.

And it's as if they were tearing through presents as quick as possible. And just as soon as they figured out what it was, moving on to the next thing. Kind of like when you're a young child. But it's hard. It's hard to believe that their mom allowed this because this this whole situation feels a little odd right now because she seems like the mom who would hand the kids or everyone one present at a time and everyone has to just stare at that person until they open it.

And then we move on to the next. And it's just like this long drawn out thing. And then she's like standing over top of everybody with a trash bag for all of the wrapping paper. So nothing is a mess later. Or if you were my mom and it's pretty paper, you get told to save it carefully, open it carefully so we can reuse it. That just might be being poor, but who knows. Anyway, Carly is beating Tori in Mario Kart and so is a computer apparently. Because Tori is in 3rd Or Tori.

Is that the Oliver placeholder for this scene? Oh yeah. That is Oliver. Oliver is playing at his house right now online. They could be doing, yeah, they could be doing online play. So it's possible he could be like literally in the car playing right now if he's got like, well, as I say, if he's got Wi-Fi, but wait, do you have Wi-Fi in the car hotspot? That's true. You could maybe he's got a hotspot and he's just playing it in the car all the way there.

Yeah, they're, they look like the type of family was like, oh, as long as it keeps you quiet, do whatever you want because he's always, like, has to be in a corner and like, so anyway, we'll get there. OK. So the siblings are having a great time until their mom interrupts them. Dun, Dun, Dun. And she immediately brings down the mood by saying that they have to get ready because, you know, impending doom is coming.

Yeah, this was interesting to me because like, this is just kind of how I grew up. Was like if family members were going to come over, we didn't necessarily have to change out of our PJS. And maybe that was just my family, but that was just kind of like a, Oh, well, that's kind of sad, but Oh well, I don't know what time of day it is at this point when the mom comes over and she's like, you need to get ready. Like maybe it could be like noon

or something. But I'm just like, I, I liked being able to stay in PJS all day growing up. That was like my favorite. Maybe this is just like the We have to be presentable. We have to look. Perfect. We have to be a model family, so my parents can't can't say anything to me. Yes, like this all reflects on me right now. Who? Does this remind you of this is like Charlie's thought process too? We got to make it all perfect. Him and his mom are very

similar. Also like you mentioned, all like the wrapping paper everywhere. I wonder if she's also be like, we got to clean this up. Like we're going to have like a bunch of people in here. We can't have trash out the floor. That's totally fair. Yeah, that's totally fair. Yeah, I get that. I would. I get that too. Yeah. Also, like, you know what, like Oliver to come in and like fuck with your presence and like, you know what I mean?

Like, yeah, he's a kid, you know, that kind of stuff too. Got a baby proof the house like. Again, I'm surprised that rock and paper is even there right now. That's why I wonder if like dad distracts her in the morning and then like lets her relax and then like now she's like, oh fuck, back into neurotic mode. We have to clean this up because people are company's coming, which is understandable. Yeah, I wonder if Dad at this moment is like cooking the the lunch or whatever. So maybe.

That's where he is. That's her in the kitchen. And he's like doing stuff like distracting her, you know, because I'm sure, you know, he, as we see in the comics, he's her. So, you know, he has her support system and knows her pattern of behaviors. I feel like he probably finds ways to like, give her, like distract her to give her a mental break from like all of this anxiety. So I wonder if like, the kids get to relax while that's happening.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, Tori even makes like the comment after the mom walks away. She's like, she's always grumpy when grandma and granddad come around. And Charlie says, and yet she still invites them every Christmas, which is like, yeah, he's got a point. But also I do. I do get why, you know, it is family. There is like that whole idea of like family is everything and. That's what you're told. Yeah, and Jane, probably. Make amends.

Yeah, and Christmas is like the one time of year that's full of love and you should, you know, let you should love your family unconditionally or whatever. Like the the constructs are about Christmas. And so I get totally where Jane is like feeling obligated, especially like because it is literally her parents. So like, I get it. Right, they're her parents. Yeah. And so it's like I get where she's struggling and where it is tense for her. But Charlie does have a point.

It's like, and yet, but it's tough. I. Hope they can get to a point where they don't see the family on Christmas or like maybe they don't host cuz I think hosting is also putting a lot more pressure on Jane and causing a lot more anxiety and issues for the family. So maybe go to the cousin's house so they can leave whenever they want instead of, you know, having to deal with this and just take it because they're stuck in their house. That is the best thing, yeah.

They could also just do something on the weekend and then actually have the day just to be themselves and relax. Yeah. So like it depends on what their family structure kind of looks like because somebody who grew up in more of a like I guess traditional ish structure. I don't even know. Culturally we have like role like I'm Italian American culturally we have roles for things like this for holidays. And so hosting is like a daughter's responsibility, especially like a big holiday,

things like that. Like basically in my family, we had like assigned holidays that we were because in my mother's family, as I'm Speaking of, we had assigned holidays. We were responsible for hosting for everybody, not just like your parent. It's everybody comes over

because Italians, big families. But it's a. It's a. Role it's a duty it is your responsibility as a daughter to do that so like Jane, I think is a is Jane her only child or she have a sibling I. Think she has like at least a brother. I think the there's the guy who talks to Charlie later that might be the uncle like her brother I think. OK, so then in that structure, like she would be the one who's responsible because she's the woman, she's the daughter.

So it's her responsibility. She would she would be seen as like it's your responsibility to host. Like mom and dad hosted this when we were kids. And then as the daughter once you get married, it's now your responsibility. So like there it could be an element of that where she's pressured into it because of like the expectation of being a daughter in this family structure. Like that's sometimes part of it. So like, yeah, mom doesn't want

to do this. But like, I think like, you know, like familial role wise, she's probably pressured into doing it. So and setting boundaries like that is hard because guilt does play into it where it's like, well, I raised you, I did all these things like it's your turn now. It's kind of like a paying it forward thing with family, which and there's, you know, a double

edged sword to that for sure. Like we're seeing here, like, yeah, no one's happy about it. But like, anytime you force families to be together, like, yeah, nobody's happy because it's like everybody's going out of their comfort zone for the day to spend time together. And then like, you'll see that like everybody has their own creature habits so that when they come to other people's houses, they're like, this is

not like my house. Like the grandmother comes in, she's like, I don't like the wine here. She'll like, people do shit like this regardless of who they are. You know, it's just like, that's what happens when you get people together. And it kind of sucks. But like, this is the one time of year everybody spends together. So it's like, you know, and then like Nick and Tori, they're having their Christmas time now together. That's relax and chill.

But then the family comes later and then the family's going to leave at the end of the day. It's not like they stay. My Christmas is everybody stayed like we were together for days. So. But we saw each other a lot more often. So it was very, it's different people like hanging out. But anyway, so that's good. Yeah, we saw each other all the time. Yeah. So I feel like with Jane, she's preferred into doing this as the daughter in the family. OK, I see that. Makes total sense?

Absolutely. OK, so then we cut to Nick's house where we get the wonderful review of Henry. Woo Hoo, he's a pug. Yeah, I loved it. Nick like sends that photo of him to Charlie and then like as he gets the message back. I don't know if this was on purpose or but the timing of it was just really cute. As soon as like the text tone pops up that Nick gets the reply Henry like pause the phone and it's just really cute.

It is very cute. I recently I recently saw some like BTS clips because they're at the time of filming that they started releasing bloopers. They released bloopers from this episode and the pug would not cooperate with kit. Like this pug was like hard to fill with like so I'm surprised they got as many shots as they did with this little pug because

like Echo was really good. Like Echo plays Nelly and Echo is really good at I mean, what part Australian Shepherd like those dogs you can train for this dog does not cooperate. So like poor Kit was like kind of like wrangle this dog that had a mind of its own. So I think I remember, I think I remember hearing that they had to switch pugs, if I remember right, at some point during filming.

I think Kit and Joe talked about that in an interview once that they had to like switch out the pugs, which I think one of them, I don't remember which one it was, but one of them was named Mango, which I think is really cute. That's hilarious. But yeah, because they just were so restless and couldn't film. I I don't know if it was this pug, but that'd be really funny that. 'D be really funny. This one's like moving around and stuff. I wouldn't be surprised if this

is the first pug. That's so funny. But yeah, poor kid. Pugs just want to have fun. Back to Charlie and he's getting ready and trying to like mentally psych himself up to be able to deal with everything that he knows is bound to happen. His mind's running like what if this happens this is probably going to happen. I really don't want to do this and you know what I don't blame you.

And when he turns to go sit on his bed, he grabs a bigger sweatshirt to put on. And I'm assuming it's like hide himself more so he can like kind of drown in the clothes so maybe he won't get as many comments from his family. Unfortunately that doesn't work. But like, the anxiety for him

right now is just too much. And then he gets a voice message from Nick. And Nick is letting him know that he can always come over to his house if he needs to and wants to, and there is a little guy who needs a hug. And he totally meant that. That was meant Henry when he said that. Only Henry. Only Henry. Yeah, I think also Charlie likes he puts on that that specific jumper because it's Nick's jumper too. I think he definitely and I noticed that it was like literally on his floor.

He picks it up off of his floor. So it's possible it's just he, like, threw it away and he's like, I need comfort. This is this is my boyfriend's, which means it's mine now. But, you know, which is really sweet. Yeah. So the next scene, oh, boy. It's when the grandparents arrive.

The grandparents and the relatives, they come for family Christmas and immediately the grandfather does exactly what Charlie said in the beginning of the episode, which is he comments that Charlie is looking real skinny. And he says, I thought you were getting all that mess sorted out. Oh boy. They didn't even get their coats off yet before they start making comments, so this just confirms that the fears and anxieties were. That justified.

Yeah. Justified, but also like think about this immediately they start going in digging in at the whole the whole family right and pulling apart why it's not perfect. This is why mom is so neurotic like this like remember these are the people that raised her so like for those out there who like are on that I hate Jane train like look at look at this. This is the environment she grew up in. Like imagine being criticized constantly, like trauma Mama has trauma.

Like you can see, you can see like. Trauma. That's Jane spin off. Mom was like the milk show that I want because like, everybody's got trauma constantly anyway. I'm just throwing that out there. That's nothing to do with hearts. But it's like you got to put Jane into context is all I'm saying. Like this is her parents. I feel bad for her. Yes, I feel very bad for. Her because they're not warm and fuzzy people. I also want to give Jane a hug but like I feel like we would hate it.

She'd be like, what the hell are you doing right? She has major I want to give Jane. I want to give Jane a therapist. Yeah, yes, it may be a nice hot cup of tea of her favorite tea. Yeah, if. We got Janey. 'S a day off, is what we're saying. Or. Like cozy off. Yeah, cozy blanket. Like one of those. Like, like giant blankets and just like cozy tea and her favorite TV show. Whatever. You know what she needs?

She needs to spend the holidays with Isaac because that's basically what he's doing, right? Now and Olivia Coleman, all three of them. Yeah, I know. She needs to be better friends with Olivia Coleman. They. Need to hang out? All right. Yeah, so like, OK, so anyway, like they dig into Charlie 1st and then immediately the grand's like, Tori, what the fuck with your hair? And it's like girl, like they it's so rude, like. And there's no hello either.

First of all, their jackets aren't awful. He's like Kayla, there's no hello. How are you? It's immediately like, Charlie, why do you look so skinny? And then like, Tori, why did you cut your hair? They're immediately like, why are you different? Like. It's. Like it's been a year. What do you mean, first of all? But like, wow, it's just rude immediately. No hello, just rude immediately. It's it's very awful, yes, no wonder they do not care to see

them. But there it I noticed the difference between the grandmother and the grandfather because like the grandfather did seem like interested and actually curious where the grandmother was just like fully like ridiculing Tori and attacking her. Yeah, maybe we should unpack that. So what's the difference between Charlie and Tori? A boy and a girl, right? So Jane and brother, the girls always criticize. And what is she criticizing Tori about? She's like, why do you look less

feminine? So like it is the traditional household, like Tori's being criticized for looking less feminine. Charlie, there's more of a concern there as the boy because boys are seen as more human in that like and autonomous and that kind of structure. So like this is probably how Jane and her brother were treated. The her brother was probably treated more like a human being and Jane was treated as like this person occupying a role that needs to look a certain way

to fit the gender role. Like that's how they're treating Tori and Charlie. And like, I understand because I had that kind of stuff put on me as a kid too, Like me and I have a younger brother. So like I had a very similar dynamic to this growing up with like relatives. So I get this. It's like that's why the questioning is very different. And it's like the grandmother attacking Tori for not fit fitting the gender role.

It's like women enforcing the gender role whereas like granddad stalking a Charlie. Well, what's wild? The grandma's hair is short too, and so she's saying for it. So is James. Yeah, exactly. It's like, is it because Tori's unmarried? Is that like the the reason? It is you. Haven't pulled a man, like specifically she hasn't pulled a man yet. So like she's got to stay feminine so she can please a man. Like get out of here. Get out of. Here it's Maiden, Mother Crone, right?

Maiden has to have the long hair. No, I'm not even kidding. Like. It's a. It's a. Role. For the Agatha. People, the throwback to the Agatha, yes. Yeah, no, usually when you get older, like you can't, your hair doesn't grow as much anymore. So like older married women, widows cut their hair off and that's seen as fine. You're past your like baby making prime.

So like you go into a different role in as like the Crone versus like mother is like, I don't know, I feel like mom criticizes Jane over her hair, but she's like, I can't with I see you once a year. I feel like Mom just puts up with it, to be honest. But yeah, the irony, Jane rolls. Her eyes, not actually, but like on the inside, bites her tongue and then her husband has to deal with it later.

Probably, Yeah, Yeah. I think it, it says a lot too that like, you know, Jane is standing right there as this is happening and she doesn't even she doesn't tell her parents to stop. She doesn't tell them off. I think that just says a lot about like how she was raised and like the, the mindset that's been drilled into her since she was so young. And it, it says a lot about how she approaches parenting and just perfectionism and everything about her. So that just in that one moment,

it says a lot right there. Because like you, you would, you would think that ideally a parent would tell their parents, Hey, stop talking to my kid that way. But it's, it's complicated. It's it's tough, this dynamic, it's, it says a lot. So. Yeah, I totally agree. It says a lot that she around her parents defaults into like performing and it's very people pleasing, which is the complete opposite of what actually goes on in the household outside of the eyes of the parents.

So it's like she strikes me as one of those people who performing takes a big toll on her. And so because of that, I think that this people pleasing stuff like trying to like put out fires before they start because I she's terrified of her parents. You know, I feel like her inner child's being triggered. And so she's doing everything she can to like not let fires break out basically because she knows their tempers. Like you can see them getting mad immediately.

And she's like, OK, let's let's calm everybody down. Meanwhile, like when it's just her and her family, I feel like Jane has is 0 tolerance for performing and she just when she's triggered, she just is angry. That's why like I think Tori said something of being this episode. Like I wish mom could emotionally regulate better, but it's like I don't think she like has ever fully processed any of that.

And like can't she just like the performing and the reining it in is takes too much of A toll on her so that when it it's she's alone, she just it's she's a loose cannon because she just can't do it. It's just too much effort, I guess. So that's what. She strikes me at the very least here. The good thing is that she's not agreeing with the grandparents and like attacking the. Kids as well. Because that could also happen to be like, oh, see, I am trying

to fix this. Like I am trying to take care of it because like that's, that can be more annoying because it's like, you know that that's not your mom, but they're pretending to be one way in front of people and then another behind the doors. Yeah, it's true. Yeah. At the very least, she does try to, like, pull them away from the situation. Be like, let's go here, let's get you a drink. So which of course that her, her mom immediately goes none of

that cheap stuff from last year. I'm like, wow, OK, first of all, if you're on, if you can't, what'd you bring? Get Yeah, get your own then. Like if you don't like it, get your own. Like what? It's wild. Again, it's one of those things where like the some people like being in power because like mom is the grandma's the matriarch now.

So she's like as matriarch. I've made it to the point where I can criticize my daughter for not being as good at at this as me. And it's like some people get off on that shit. It's so annoying. That's the vibe I get from the scene. Poor Jane. And then on a more positive note, we get Oliver. Finally, Oliver has arrived, surprise. And he is adorable. And he immediately comes up and he's so excited to see Charlie. So in this in the comics, Oliver is Charlie and Tori's younger

brother. But for practical reasons, the complications when they first started the show of trying to bring in a child actor, the, you know, child labor laws and everything. And also just like practicality and time constraints and everything and the budgeting for season 1 at the time, it just wasn't really practical to have Oliver in the show, this literal like 8 year old child. And so they have left him out of the show.

And in this context, they brought him in as Tori and Charlie's cousin just so we can have a little taste of the comics and the dynamic and how cute he is and his energy because he is just such a pure soul. That really just adds a little bit of light to the story in even in like dark times like this. So we're it's very exciting that Oliver has made an appearance. And of course he's holding a tractor. I think it's. It's so funny.

To me, I think this is just like how it was shot, but the fact that Charlie immediately goes Oliver and he picks him up and he goes, you're getting really big. And then right away, he puts him back down. It's so cute. I think that's just maybe how it was cut, but it just was really funny to me that he just was

like, oh, you're getting big. Yeah, no. No, yeah, no. I also love when he comes in the door and they I think they asked him what did he get for Christmas and he's like, I got loads of tractors. So plural. This is just one tractor that he brought, which is very cute detail like Oliver and his tractors. It's so. Cute. It's so cute. I hope he got a cardboard one too. Like in solitaire. Yeah, yes. Yes. I bet he did.

Yeah. So they all, like, go into the kitchen and they all sit down for their Christmas lunch or dinner. I think it's lunch. It seems like it's lunch given the time of day, especially because it's, you know, this is winter, this is December, and it's still light out. So my assumption is probably lunch. It's probably dark for dinner. And of course. From the get go, Charlie's parents are just like nervous for him about dinner.

It's a big dinner. It's probably, it might very well be the very first like big dinner in this scenario that he's had since since coming back from the clinic. Obviously, like we know in the comics it's different because the chronology of how things are different in the comics, right after Charlie gets out of the clinic is when he meets Nick's

dad for the first time. Obviously they switched that up in the in the show a little bit just for story's sake, which was very well executed on, I feel like. And yeah, so in this story, this is probably the very first time he's had like a proper dinner, especially with more than just like the media family and Nick and everything.

So this is probably stressful as hell for him just in his own brain, but he's trying to not worry about it too much because obviously, like, worrying about it's just going to make it worse. So he's trying to focus on the good side. And his parents are immediately like, worrying and they're trying to talk him through it. Like, I have to wonder, like, what communication happened before this scene, if there was any communication.

Yeah. So Charlie's dad is, like, doing his best to be calm, trying to be like, we can work on breathing exercises if this stresses you out, remember, your therapist said this. So he's trying to keep it more calm. And then Jane comes in. She is obviously still on edge, and that energy is probably not helping. She is obviously very stressed. She's visibly stressed. She's not even, like, trying to be calm. She is just stressed so. Yeah, is the season 2 Be stressed.

Yeah, I mean, hosting is hard. I get it. It's tough. Yeah. I will say though, I I agree with all that. When? So yeah, this is probably Charlie's like first time, like being in this scenario, you know, in a very long time, I would imagine with food, etcetera. But I do love that when he sits down, first of all, he sits down at the table and it's crowded. Like it's a very crowded table. There's a lot of people and he starts eating without much hesitation.

I think he hesitates for like a second and but he then he starts eating. So it just goes to show, like, the progress that Charlie has made over the last few months has been enormous, that he could even just sit down at this table and just calmly eat. It's amazing, honestly. And like, if you notice, like, Tori doesn't look stressed because Charlie's not stressed. So like, which is a good thing. Yeah, Tori's emotions are very much dependent on how Charlie's doing, right? Yeah.

Tori needs more help. I love someone to notice. It probably helps Charlie a lot that like first of all, Tori's next to him, yes. And then like, I don't know if maybe like because the cousins are on that side, because obviously like the adults are on one side, all of the younger kids are on the other side. Could it be like partially because literally Tori's right next to him and like his parents, his parents are like on the other side.

So like is that separation plus the grandparents are on the other side? Does that maybe help as well? Because I feel like I know for if it were me in that situation, this is me completely talking in a way that I've never been through this. Like hypothetically, if I were in that situation, I feel like if like that those people were sitting in front of me, I would feel like I'm putting on a show. And that's a lot of pressure right there.

But like these cousins, I don't. I think the cousins know too that like Charlie was in the clinic, but they don't ask anything about it. They don't make any comments about it. They literally just start talking to Nick or to Charlie about his boyfriend. So I wonder if that like is a lot less stressful just because that's what they're that's what their minds are. They're teenage, they're teenagers are presumably these girls are teenagers or around teenage age, like younger.

And they're just like asking about dating. So and of course, Charlie's in a happy relationship, so he's more than happy to talk about his boyfriend. So I love what's so funny is the fact that they asked Tori like, first of all, Nick and Charlie have been together for eight months at this point, which I was just like, Oh yeah, I forgot. There's a time jump. And also, holy cow, 8 months. That's almost a year, y'all, They're almost a year. They've made it.

They've made it so far from season 1. Oh my God. And then I asked Tori, what about you, Tori? Are there any men in your life? And Tori just looks stone faced and she just goes no I. Love Tori no Marie. Is the best. She is the. It's it's the perfect, it's perfectly Tori like that is Tori. Yes, it's perfect. The best delivery of that line. Just just no. No, the best choice of answer and just best delivery. No, like that's all you need to say. So funny.

No, it's a complete sentence. It is. But it's funny, these cousins, then they start asking, like they start, they start saying like, oh, straight men are the worst. Let's hope that Oliver turns out better. And then the other cousin I, I could not for like me remember their names to me either. But Oliver's the only one you need. Girl one. Girl 2. Yeah, I'm just like, I knew their names Once Upon a time, but I'm like. I don't know, I'll have to.

Read the novella again. But they're just like, we don't know if Oliver's going to turn out stray. We have no idea. Charlie, when did you, when did you realize you were gay? Like they, they have like this conversation like, oh, they're being so open minded. She's like, oh, you're so right. He might not be straight, Charlie and I just think it's so funny, but it's like, I don't know, you could tell what they mean. Well, like they're, they're the younger generations.

They're probably a lot more open minded because they, you know, they go to school, they're probably surrounded by queer people. I'm assuming they go to to a school that they're like, they're not, you know, private school or not home schooled. So when they go to a public school, they probably are around queer people. So they're probably like whatever, but it's just.

So it's like I just like. Out of the mouths of babes kind of thing where it's like like it's like they're they are being honest, but it just comes off like probably like, OK, wait a minute, like this is kind of offensive, but you're asking me that. Yeah, it's also like probably one of the first times they're talking to an openly gay person about that gay. So they're just like wanting, wanting the tea. But also it's it's like one of those kind of almost like Imogen in Season 1.

I'm not homophobic. I'm an ally. To the lesbians, just. Like we thank you for your service. Congrats. It's just funny. They mean well, but it's just funny. Sorry Caitlin would be to cut you. Off. No, go ahead, just continue. All right. But yeah, so out during this conversation, Jane comes over and we're still like, part of the way through the meal. So it's like kind of like, I think she's just coming and checking on to make sure that Charlie is eating, which is

fine. She comes over and she asks, is everything OK? How's everything doing? But she does make a point and you can see it visibly that she looks down at Charlie's plate and to see how much he's eaten. And Tori and Charlie kind of answer at the same time. Tori in a very like trying to just like steer away from them is like, we're fine. But Charlie visibly is like irritated and he goes, I'm fine. He like he he like, I just

noticed this. He drops his fork down and it like hits the table and he goes, I'm fine. Like, get out of my face kind of vibes. Yeah. It's like. And the mom immediately is just kind of like, OK and walks away. So. Which is great, great job, mom, for just ignoring it and just walking away right now because addressing it, first of all, we're in front of the entire family. So that's not going to go well

and this is not the right time. But it also the answers from Tori and Charlie show who they are thinking about South. Tori is always thinking of the both of them, or at least just like it. Charlie always has to be in her mind. Sometimes she doesn't even think about herself. But right now she's like, we're both fine. Charlie only is considering himself and his struggles, which we do see play out in this

episode. Yes. So again, poor Tori, looking after him and no one's looking after her, Yes. No, Well said. Yeah, Tori. And after she walks away, Tori's like, I think she's just worried. And Charlie goes, can't I just try to have a normal? And he trails off with a sentence. But given his body language and like his tone and then also he sighs. You can tell like where he was going with that sentence. Like you can kind of get the

idea. Like for me, it's just like, first of all, A+ acting on Joe for the delivery of this line because of like you just can tell where his mind is because he doesn't even know like what exact word he's looking for. So you're saying, can I just have a normal, Can I just have a normal existence? Like I just want to have a normal Christmas. I want to have a normal dinner time with my family. I want to have a normal life for

God's sake. And he just wants, he just wants to have a normal time, so. One day that it's not about his mental health. Seriously. Yeah, so. Yeah. It's, I mean, to the good part about this, like so far in Christmas, is that he knew this was gonna be like a tough day for him. And like, so far, he's handling it all pretty well. Like the fact that his cousins came and were at the dinner table and we're asking him normal teenage questions Like that right there was pretty

normal, you know? I mean, they were being like, you know, I'm an ally about it. Like you said Elena, but like. That was pretty. That's pretty normal teenage like cousin questions like that was all very normal. So and like to be fair to mom, like yeah, she did come and hover a bit, but like as the Hostess, like she would come over and be like, how are you doing? Like is everything OK? Can I get you anything? That's part of her job. So like that also was pretty

normal. But like I still think that like Charlie just gets triggered by mom and like I feel like mom's anxiety triggers Charlie's anxiety, whether they mean it to do that or not. And because I feel like that's just a reaction he has to her based on their the entirety of their relationship. So like I think she like peaked his anxiety without meaning to because like she was doing Hostess shit and and yes she is clearly worried about Charlie but like also that was just a Hostess move.

But anyway. Yeah, I think the the fact that she literally, like, I think if she hadn't looked down at the plate, maybe if they hadn't had like that little pause, maybe it would be different. I agree. But yeah, it's just like I and I get why she's nervous because like this, she knows too, like this is a big deal. And I do. I do believe she genuinely cares that Charlie feels safe in this environment. Like she genuinely is concerned for him. It's just like she genuinely cares.

She just her execution sometimes isn't the best, but you know, she's human. Yeah. So she means well. I mean, her parents are very blunt. She hasn't learned how to communicate properly. She wasn't also the tools. Here's the other thing though, that would absolutely happen in this scenario. So like we saw it with the wine, like mom and dad are going to criticize her. So if Charlie's not eating, there's a high chance that they'll say something and be like, why isn't he eating?

I thought he was better and that's going to trigger Charlie more. So again, she's she's trying to put out fires before they start. So I think that's part of the reason why I said she comes back to her mom and what does mom do? Criticizes her immediately. Stop worrying. Like no matter what she does, she's always wrong with their her parents. So like she's, I think she's trying to take the heat. So like Charlie doesn't get it. And then it's like it's a clusterfuck because these people

are crazy. Like relatives are crazy sometimes. And it's just, you know, not in a derogatory way, but in a way that like we harm each other without meaning to. It's just a mess anyway. So yeah, and then Charlie goes, I'm fine. And she's probably just thinking in her head like, oh, great, now I pissed my kid off. That's great. Like she's in the wrong no matter what today and it just. I feel like she dreads Christmas to be honest.

God, poor Jade. I know, like it's just this is like, I don't know, this is typical, like shit. I get this. Being a mom's. Holidays. This is a lot of holidays. For a lot of people, right? Exactly. Yeah. OK, so now we've explored what's going on in the spring household, let's go see what the Nelsons are doing. So meanwhile over at the Nelsons, David is being a Dick classic while Nick, the best boy ever, is cleaning up after the dinner table. And I love that he does this for his mother.

What a sweetheart. Because he loves and respects Olivia Coleman, whereas David is David. Yeah, Nick drinks his respects women juice and David does not. David like he literally like he's out of just because he lives out of the house now he's at university or wherever he is now. He thinks that Oh well, I don't live here so I don't have to take care of shit anymore. It's like bro, because he did this in season 2 when they were

having the dinner with his dad. He's sitting on his ass watching the the football, the soccer game, whatever it was the was it soccer? I don't know it. Was rugby, was it rugby? I don't know. I don't remember. Sports, they're watching the. Sports. They're watching some kind of sport and, and he's just sitting on his ass with his dad drinking a beer instead of helping his mom with dinner. So she's doing everything. So it's like that that on its own, but instead of like doing anything.

This is what the part that frustrates me is he is literally just sitting on his ass moping. He's just moping about the fact that his dad isn't there yet instead of hanging out with his relatives or maybe, I don't know, helping his brother clean up. He's doing nothing like, do you? I mean, OK, so David is David and terrible, but like, in his mind, he's been abandoned in a sense.

Like he's kind of whenever he thinks of his dad or his dad's around, he becomes a little child basically who wants to, who idolizes his father. And now it's like, oh, but he forgot about me. And so like he's kind of in a depression, but he doesn't know how to process things either. And he he not processes but reacts with anger. So that's, this is what's happening with that trauma because the dad really did abandoned them. Yes. He never comes around.

No. I think we've talked about this before, like the, the fact that David kind of seems like he got a lot of the dad's qualities, whereas Nick got a lot of their mom's qualities. I think, I think we talked about this like, and also to that sense that, yeah, David greatly feels abandoned by his dad. But, and we don't, we don't know at what point when they were kids that the the parents separated or whatever. So we don't know how much more of David's life his dad was around.

So so yeah, you got, you do got to kind of feel bad for him just because it's like, you know, that that's probably where a lot of his his shit is from is just from like wanting his dad to just love him and always coming up short because his dad just never shows up. So but then he like takes it out on everybody else. And I think we've also talked about this. David's like the prime example of growing up with toxic masculinity. He literally just is like. He is toxic masculinity.

You see him, you see him turning into his dad. Like that's what's happening in the scene. He's turning into his dad. Yeah. Because like you all said, he hero worships dad. So he's butt hurt that like dad's not here because he clings to the whole probably every year that dad's going to show up and he never does. Meanwhile, like like you're saying, he's ignoring everybody else in this house. So he's just like kind of like Charlie's situation, not to

compare the two of them. He's so focused on him. He doesn't see anything else. And like that leaves Nick to like fulfill like all the familial roles basically happening in this because they're hosting Christmas and he's like, you know, cleaning the table, Milo's brother's moping at the table and like helping his mom. You see Nick interacting with all the the guests. Like, he's like kind of the host here.

Whereas like David's the sad boy in the corner because he can't get over the fact that dad's not here. And it's like, bitch, dad never comes. Like you need to get over this. But like, what's the what's the masculine response? You don't get sad, you get mad. That's the only emotion you're allowed to have. So that's why he does what he does and he doesn't process things because that's not masculine. You just project it onto other people.

So he is toxic masculine and he's like turning into his dad because he's he's pulling away from the family, which is exactly what the dad did. Like you see it happening in this kind of scene. And like Nick tries to like be like, bro, look at the writing of the wall, but like he refuses to, you know, he's either he's too triggered or whatever, he refuses to see it. And Nick has been dealing with this his whole life too. Well, from the time that all

this happened. Yeah, who knows what David was worth it prior to the divorce? Like, who knows? But like, yeah, Nick's been dealing with this for a while. Like people could say that Nick could be a little nicer in the way, but like he is showing that he cares a little bit at all because he is telling him like he never comes. Like reminding him like this is just what happens and we have to accept it. And he does.

He does look understanding in a way, but he's also like, I'm just sick of having to deal with this because I know it's just going to be taken out on me. Right. Well, it's like there's no getting through to somebody who's not willing to accept reality. Like David is living in the fantasyland in his brain. He's not accepting reality. So like, Nick's like, there's nothing I can do. Like I'm not fighting with you over this. You need to figure your shit out. Yeah, David deflects hardcore.

Like he really deflects. He did it. He did it. So like majorly in season 2, especially after the dinner when Nick calls him out on his shit in front of everybody. What is it with the end? He bitches on the phone to a friend of his. What is what was the guy's name Tom or something?

I think he like just calls Nick like overreacting and his boyfriend's a drama queen and everything and obviously not understanding that, hey, maybe I actually was kind of an asshole during dinner, which, you know, kind of the same as the dad probably did raising him, which is interesting that his dad is in season 2 kind of more on that we see on in in the show, like on the side of like now in his own personal. I want to say growth, but did he grow at all?

I don't know where he he is saying like I want to be better, but it's all empty words. He's at that point in his own journey as a person. He makes a bunch of empty promises, whereas David is at that stage where he is purely deflecting all of his problems. So it's very interesting how different they are with that. But yet we see it. We see that again with David in this scene specifically.

Like him deflecting instead of acknowledging that hey, dad isn't coming, he takes it out on his brother and his brother's boyfriend. So. Yeah, yeah. We'll get to that parallel in a second. One thing I want to mention in this scene, just when you thought you couldn't like David anymore, he tried to grow a mustache too. So he made himself more unlikable in the scene, like immediately you see him and you're like, you're such a douchebag looking guy like a kid.

Even with you, there's the visual walls. Annoying annoys me. And anyway, so yeah, in this scene to your points and he deflects. So what does he do? He instead of like processing reality, reading the writing on the wall the Nick's pointing to, he's like, Nick, what about you and your savior complex? And which isn't wrong, like Nick definitely has a savior complex, but the way David goes about it is with malice.

And he's so he starts, he starts, you know, taking it out on Charlie, whom he clearly doesn't like. And he calls Charlie deranged and like attention seeking. He's like, oh, so you have to go save him every time. He like uses his mental health basically to like for attention and all this stuff. And Nick rightfully tells him to fuck off, most respectfully, because like, Nick's not going to put up with his brother's bullshit anymore. Like he's not people pleasing him.

He's like, fuck you, David, get the hell away from me. Like because like I feel like for David, it's one of those things where like, for him to feel better, he has to like beat up somebody else. He's a bully. And so he's like, oh, if I could beat up Nick and like get the win, then I'll feel better. But Nick is like, no, I'm not fucking doing this with you. Get away from me. So like, it Robs David of like, the satisfaction of like, you're worse than I am. So he could feel superior to his

brother. But like Nick's like no fuck. Off bitch. And This is why Nick got the good deal in this that he has his mother because he has learned to be like I. My power is not letting you affect me. Yeah. Right. They, yeah, learn different lessons Speaking of their mother. So we don't see Olivia Coleman in this scene because of filming reasons. So let's fan fiction for a second. While this fight is happening, what was Olivia Coleman doing off? Because she's off screen. OK.

So I think that she there's always so much she could take of her mustachioed oldest son and it's like, I think she went outside to like do a do a task and she's like having a really long smoke break just to get out of that house because like there's only so much of this walking disappointment that she can take before she like needs to get out of the house and pour next covering for her in the scene. That's why she's like, she's like.

You need to do the. Dishes like I need to go like chop firewood or some shit and she goes outside to just have a smoke break. She just can't. I wonder if maybe Nick just does it as like a gift for his mom on the holiday. Be like, hey, I see how much you do for me and everybody. You just take a break. And I'd like to think that Olivia Coleman has this holiday thing down like, everything's figured out. And she's not like, Jane running around trying to make sure

everyone likes her. And she's just. Able to. Relax. That's why that's true, because she's A and she can just relax in an armchair and like sipping a little tea. Or whiskey. Having and, and like Christmas cookies, you know, the teas. Well, it's fine. All right. So I mean like a hot tub. She can she can drink what Santa drinks. Emerald and eggnog. There you go. That's what my mom taught me growing up because that what emerald and eggnog was gone, but the milk was still there.

Great lesson for a kindergartner anyway. Yeah, So she's just enjoying the company of her family because, you know, this family is actually decent. Not every family is like Charlie's. There are some families who do love to be around each other and do have fun on the holidays, believe it or not. If you don't have one of those and she's just not even thinking about David because why would she? She's too like he's a lost cause. That's that's his dad's problem. I've tried.

She's like when he wants help, he can come to me and I will be there for him. But I think she would be like. Nick, Nick should bring Henry over to the spring family house because I think that definitely also is a bonus. Like the fact that they're all distracted, but distracted by new dog. It's a new party. So I mean, obviously like the party itself is great because the family is great. But yeah, Nick should just bring. But well, I say that.

Jane would be like puppy the dog a puppy like oh, don't, don't dog's not allowed on the couch, the dog's not allowed. Nelly, there we go. Nelly would be good Nelly's. Because Nelly's trained. Yeah, I feel like Nelly still. All the pug would have to do is pee on one thing or chew one thing and like Jane would flip out and like. Yeah. So what you're saying is Jane needs to go over to the Nelson family house. So it's not her house. She's not host. She. Yeah, then she won't be.

Stressed. Yeah, that's really the the real thing is that that Jane just needs to actually like, get more experience with Nick's family. Jane just needs to have more time with them. She needs to see what a a nice like loving family is like. Which would probably be the weirdest shit for her. She's just like what the fuck is this? You all are actually talking about your feelings. The fuck? I could see them. Playing games after dinner too. Yeah, and she'd just be like, what?

Basically, Charlie and Nick just need to get married and then host Christmas for both the families. Yes, agreed. I mean, we know at some point. And together they will have US OK Christmas. Yeah, because the nice Christmas and the terrible Christmas balance each other. I feel like I don't think that's. The good one needs to be balanced. I feel like Nick would take over

hosting Christmas for his mom. So then by default, yeah, the springs could come over and then Jane could get a break that I think Nick would take that responsibility on and be like, Charlie, we're doing this. Yeah. Because that's his way of taking care of everybody. Right. Savior complex, Yeah. There is there is like this art that Alice did a while back that was of Nick and Charlie. There's like some of them in like in their first apartment together at Christmas.

And then there's like some of like canonically they do at some point in like their 20s spend Christmas just the two of them. So I assume that's like Christmas Day. It's just the two of them. So I'd love to think that like maybe in the future. Yeah, they do either host or they just like, I don't know, like maybe the family all gets together somewhere else. I don't know, but it would. Just be cool. To think. I don't know, I. Destination.

My first thought is like, something happened in Charlie's family, no? That. No the. Tradition. Maybe not their relationship, but like someone. Maybe the dad finally convinced Jane to like, go on a cruise with him for the holiday. He was like, all right, kids, we'll celebrate Christmas later. No, she gets kidnapped by her husband and he's like, all right, we're doing this.

We're video chatting for dinner. He yeah, they, they get kidnapped by the Nelsons or something and the husband like is in on it. He's just like, yeah, OK, let's go. My wife needs to get out of this toxic environment. Let's go. Seriously. Yeah. My theory for this is so this is so dumb, but this is just what I thought of my theory for where Olivia Coleman is.

So I've got I've got two I've got 1 theory that she's currently in Paris. She's given the dad Stefan a good talking to. She's handing his ass to him right now about being a neglectful father, not not being there for his kids. And then my second theory which is just shit posting. Haley Atwell AKA Aunt Diane is literally just a 2. Olivia Coleman's in a trench coat. Because she's there the whole time. The whole. Time we just. Can't. That's why they're so similar I. Love that.

That's a good one. I love it. I love it, I love it. If you have a theory out there or listener at home of what Olivia Coleman is doing off screen during Christmas this year, let us know in the comments. I would love to hear it all. All of those were valid. However, I refuse to accept that she wasn't there because yeah, no, she's only there. She's on the. Screen. She's in a trudge coat, That's fine. Yeah, exactly. She's there.

What was she doing? All right, anyway, so that was what the Nelsons are up to. And then we get a quick montage of the Paris squad and what everybody's doing for their holidays. So Isaac is currently living my dream holiday, which is a book coziness and like a hot drink. So like Solid Jane should be there as we've stated. I know the the snowman mug is classic, classic snowman mug. It's my favorite. It's so cute. And then I love this is just such a cute little thing.

The the little Christmas village on his end table. This is so adorable and I want it. Like where can I buy that? I actually want that. It's so simplistic, but it's so cute. It's so cute. I love the way they decorated all of the houses for everybody for like the holidays. It was very cute. I love the way they did everything. That was a very Isaac like. Little Touch Isaac would have a very cozy, cozy area. He does. It's his book Nook. It's cute. All right.

Then we shoot over to Darcy and the world's best grandmother, and they're having a gay old time in the apartment or house. I think she owns a house and Darcy is trialing a professor. Look, they got like suspenders and this green coat, which I'm confident has elbow patches. So like, that's what Darcy's doing. And Grant is like, you look handsome and like, what a perfect response and just so cute and supportive. And then I love that Gran's

like, you look great, kid. And then like start shaking her martini or whatever the hell. Like Gran's just living life right now. I just love. This granny's the best. It's the best. I you know I love more Darcy and Gran adventures like a bubble cock. With that like. Yeah. Oh my gosh, no. It would be amazing just to see like Grand taking Darcy out on the town and showing them. Around you know what I want Darcy's gap year, but it's her and Grant just having an

adventure. I was like, you know, about to say yes. Transcontinental and travel. Yeah, travel around the world together. I think that would be so fun. It would be amazing. Was that on purpose, Theora? Yes. I thought so. But like, OK, I want them in the little car that Grand has, just like drive it around. It almost like one of those, if you guys know who Jack Whitehall is, Jack Whitehall traveling the world with his father.

Yes, he's a British stand up comedian and his dad is like the most like dry humor, witty guy and it's so funny and they're British, so it makes it even funnier for US Americans. I need, I need a show like that. But it's them, yes, like traveling the world. I would love that. I really want it. Oh my God. See this is the trouble with like fan fiction type things that we do because. I really want to see it. And I don't want. To write it, I want to see it.

Viewers write the fan fictions. Yes, we have so many requests out there. Please. We do, one person did something and tagged us on true AO3. It was amazing, I forget what it was. Me too. But they did it. They did it. So thank you if you're listening to this. Fan fiction is so underappreciated. I mean, it's more appreciated now in this day and age, but it's still so underrated for what it is as a creative outlet. I agree.

Oh yeah. I'm glad I finally found people who understand that too, because I was so embarrassed when I was younger for like reading and writing. I'm like, it taught me how to write. It's it's very. Great. I mean, if it makes you feel better, I used to write Glee fan fiction in high school. So I mean, yeah, there you go. Please visit online What is it online? I think it's still on fanfiction.net like the old archive. No no, my my current AO3 says it to me. My current AO3 is very

different. So that's that's all Zelda fan fiction. Read the Glee fan. Fiction. Oh my God, no, it's it's so bad. Could it be any worse than Glee? No. It's, it's 16 year old me writing it, so it's awful. Glee was. Glee was a mess. You are Glee was a masterpiece, OK? How to like forget about shit in your own show. Yes, it wasn't. How to be, how to be in high school when you're literally in your 30s. There you go. Yeah.

Why I hate why a stuff and that's made in America because it's so fucked up the way they actually make it. This is not hesitating ugly. I loved Glee. I really loved Glee. Special place in my heart but like the production of Glee was such. A death. I love Glee. You can't take it seriously. You can't. They have a. Full episode. It's not meant to be taken. Seriously, that's the thing. And then people took it seriously and it took itself seriously and it went off the rails.

So like, you're not meant to take it seriously, that's the thing. Yeah, they did. They did try to put in some very heavy topics in there. It was like, oh. No, that's not. This is not the place. The shooting star episode was pretty. Rough that was. I was not. Yeah. Oof, yeah. We. Can talk about that later. Maybe we should do an after dark with Elena. And we should. Talk. Just. Talk, talk. We should do that, Yeah, we should do a Hangout session. I'll be down.

Let's play to do that. Talk about talk about Glee in its dark ages or whatever. My my residual trauma from Glee. Oh. My God, we have 3 Glee episodes. We do. You know Elena's here now so we have to talk more and I am always here to talk about it. Yes, always. Anyway, back to. The theme, our first Glee episode. Hold on. Just to go on themes ending with this, our first Glee episode is titled The Good, the Bad and all the trauma in Between. So like, there you go.

Yeah, Speaking of trauma, trying to segue back, if we remember the trauma that Darcy had in season 2 from their mom kicking them out of the house because she literally walks in on Darcy putting like wearing the suit for prom, trying it all on, taking pictures for Tara, getting like super hyped. And the mom gets all pissed off. And it's just like, take that off immediately. Then ends up Darcy stands up for themselves and the mom kicks him out, says get out of my house.

And of course, obviously later blames Darcy for having a tantrum. Wow. So the fact that in this scene it's the polar opposite. The grandma literally just tells them you look handsome and literally just like has that moment. And the fact that she says now those strong muscles can help me move the table. And while she's while she's shaking the the Margarita or the martini shaker. Is So what a badass? It's. Perfect Grand is iconic. It's. Iconic. It's so perfect.

Grand. Grand is, I was about to say. America's grand is the world's grand. She is. Can can America have like a clone of her? I was going to say can we have her? But I'm like, no, that's greedy. Can we have? That is. Her, but can we have part of her or like does she have a sister or something? I don't know. Right. Could you imagine like three sisters and they're all like the same personality and they're just like bickering back and forth but in a fun way and they

know they all love each other. What if they made The Golden Girls having much British version but it's literally just grand and three other versions of her? Grand and grand. It's just 44 grands and a trench coat. The Golden. Grands the tragic coat. That's the the Golden Company for the show. But in the scene, Darcy looks so happy. And it's we've seen Darcy happy, but this is like true happiness for them, the biggest smile that we have seen from them in so long.

And when Gran is saying all these things like use your big muscles, Darcy looks bashful. I don't know if that's the right word, but it's like a little embarrassed but loving it because they haven't had this experience. They finally have a parent who loves and accepts and encourages them. And I think this, this moment in particular, will always stick in their mind in the future, just like thinking back, being like, oh.

This I was accepted by. Gran and I think this just really shows how much Grand accepts Darcy, and Grand doesn't even explicitly say it. It's just the way that Grand naturally behaves around Darcy. It's just normalizes it, and that's what Darcy needed. Yeah, Darcy finally has a safe space for the gender expression exploration. Whereas like, to Elena's point, the parallel, thank you for pointing that out with mom last season. Like Darcy was kind of like doing that behind closed doors,

like in a room. This is Darcy out in the open, just with Graham celebrating Christmas. Like in very, very poor opposite, and in a good way for Darcy. Especially because she's already out to her or they they are already out to their grandmother as a lesbian. And the grandmother immediately was just like, oh, I don't know that that that's all that her

response was to that. So the fact that that was like the stepping stool for Darcy to be open about them being a lesbian and then to come to this part where they're exploring their gender identity and their grandma just immediately is makes them feel so safe. So I think that that already said a lot from the beginning. The fact that she was so open from the beginning about. Darcia the lesbian. So yeah, gran's the best. Gran is the.

Best. Yeah, if you learned anything, we love this Gran. Gran Gran and Susan from the last episode, yes. To be friends. Also, Susan. I would. She should be one of The Golden Girls. Susan should be 1. Of The Golden Girls with Gran, yes, I agree. For the reboot we've just made-up, yeah. OK, after dark at. The best? So while Darcy and Gran are getting their Christmas on, we shoot on over to Tara, who's with her mom and is like in her mom's lap basically like hugging

mom. And mom's gushing about how successful Tara is, like becoming and how she's going to make everybody so proud. And like, you know, Tara is like hugging mom and smiling, but like, you can just feel her anxiety because like, this is the pressure to succeed. That's like been building and escalating inside of Tara and like mom is being loving and genuine about it, but like it's stressing Tara out. You kind of tell.

I get the vibe that the mom is, it is not the type of mom who's like, you have to be good at all this. She's just very proud. And the way that she's showing it is making Tara feel like she has to keep doing that when she really doesn't have to. But I think that's just Tara's also like wanting to be good, wanting to make people proud. She's the people pleaser in that sense too.

And when her mom is saying this after the mom let's go slightly, you do see Tara's face fall for a second, and then she immediately distracts herself with the phone and messages Darcy. Yeah. Yeah, the anxiety is for sure there. I think Tara, like to your point is putting the pressure on herself basically. That's kind of the problem. So after Tara, we shoot on over to Sahar and Imogen and we're going to be here for a minute because I want to say about this. OK, So Tara, I'm sorry, Tara,

the names are rhyme in my brain. OK, Sahar is composing in her room That's queer AF and like I love it like there's like it's first of all, this would give me a headache the way how clutter like the cluttering of the decorations. But like it works for so hard, good for good for so hard and like buy pry flag colors. All of this room go queen.

Love that for you. Meanwhile, Imogen is in the middle of, like, sending selfies, like super straight girl selfies where it's like, get that high angle, the puckered lips, arched back, super straight girl pose, right? And she sends it to the group chat. And at first, it's so hard because, like, they're all group chatting each other. That's kind of how the montage

is all connected. And at first, Sahar looks at it and is like, and like, throws the phone on the bed because, like, these bitches haven't talked since Halloween. And we're now at the end of the year. OK. But then after a minute, she, like, gives in and then does text. Like, you look cute. OK, So that's where like, Sahar. Sahar's not over the Imogen crush, OK. And but Sahar's at a place where she's like, OK, whatever. I'll just give in I guess. Because Sahar has self respect

too. Correct. That's part of it. We'll get there, but you're right. Then we get this cut screen, kind of like the comic book panels where you have Sahar on one side, Imogen on the other side. So when Sahara sends the text, OK, and then Imogen is in the middle of composing another super, super straight selfie, right? And if you notice, Imogen is all alone when she's doing this. It's not like she's at a party. She's by herself doing all of this, OK?

And she's in what looks like, to me, a closet. So, overt metaphor much for the seat. And in the. Closet there is an obnoxious amount of pink. Not hating on the color pink. Pointing out though, pink recently very much symbolizes heteronormative femininity. So she's like smothered in this color basically in the closet, and she's posing. So this is like a perform. Everything about this is a

performance. The closet, the way the closet looks, the way it's covered in pink, her posing for selfies for who? For what reason? OK, by herself. It's not like she's at a party. She's just doing this for the performance of it, for the selfie like which she told Nick at the Halloween.

Party right yeah and it takes her so long to like get to take the photo because she's like trying all these different angles and like moving her head she's the only one who does this correct she's performing like she's not saying the word like Charlie does but this is her an example of her doing the IT will be perfect thing like got to look perfect everything will be fine if I play that role she's. Projecting so hard into the photos. She's overcompensating.

That's what she's doing. But. When when Sahara sends her the text that you're cute because Imogen's alone in this closet again, metaphor. She processes the text OK, and her face goes on a journey like a truth journey. So we get surprised at the text, some fear and then excitement. OK, because she like does process it and there's all the things in there was like, Oh, I can't believe I'm reading this and the reflex coming from herself, hatred of like, Oh God, this I'm getting this text.

And then she's by herself so she can actually like process her actual emotions deep buried beneath the fear, which is the excitement stuff. So I like the sequence. Good on you actor for the face journey. It was perfect. And to your point, Caitlin, I find the reactions that Sahar and Imogene both have with this very short sequence to be pretty revealing and pretty interesting. So because Sahar is out as bisexual, she's not shy about the way she feels about Imogene.

Like she just, she's annoyed, rightfully so, like because she was rejected. So like her initial reaction is totally justified based on where the characters are out because Imogen basically made her a stereotype without realizing it. Like she was just like oh people do that when they're drunk. Like turning her into like some experiment. Like drunk experiment, which she has every Sahar has every right to be pissed off. Like truly. But Sahar is also alone in this scenario.

As far as we can tell, nobody else is in the room with her. So she does like. Pretty quickly process the positive feelings, the crush that she has and like does express them by sending the text. It's much faster for Sahar because she's processed her sexuality part already. It's more so dealing with the crush who's hot and cold basically, which relatable, you

know? Meanwhile, we got Imogen who is alone right now and therefore has permission to feel what she's feeling with a lot less shame than if she was in front of an audience. OK, so either way, even if she was in front of people or what it or alone like she is right now, Imogen will never respond to that text, not right now. But what we do get to see is her processing the feelings from

from Sahara's text basically. And that alone is pretty huge for somebody like Imogen who's currently battling internalized homophobia basically and like indoctrinated heteronormativity basically. That's really hard to like even see the truth of the force kind of thing. So you know what I I just realized when we're talking about Imogen being fitting into the perfect thing, I don't think we talked about this. The choice from last episode that she for Halloween was Barbie.

And Barbie is like a figure of perfection and has been for like for like since the conception of the Barbie dolls like Barbie in like media go. Sorry, he just decided to use a scratcher right this second. The fact that Barbie has been depicted as a symbol of perfection and like for a lot of younger girls has been like what they want to be.

They want to be skinny. They want to have big boobs like Barbie. They want to be pretty like Barbie. The fact that Imogen chose to go as Barbie for Halloween, it just kind of like adds to that whole she wants to be perfect mindset. Like holy shit I just realized that like that choice for her. It's very true, but then without knowing it if you watch the Barbie movie.

Exactly. Jen very accidentally was like embodying a character who goes on a journey of self discovery and ultimately rejects the heteronormativity that was imposed on them. So works on many levels and was very brilliant. She's a really Eilish song. She she symbolizes like Barbie from like from like the traditional dolls, but she accidentally becomes Margot Robbie's Barbie. Yes, yes, exactly. Heading over to. Tal's house.

He is changing in front of Elle because he has no body image issues whatsoever and he teases her about enjoying the view. She she likes what she likes. Then they start making out and they move it over to the bed. OK but wait before they get back into it, Tao has to remove her glasses. Do you think that this is going to make him fall more in love with her because he'll be able to see her eyes without glasses in the way? I hate this trope. I hate it so much. No, because is the best and

doesn't need to do that. I like to think that that's just a nod back to season 2 when they're at Tara's party and she took off the glasses before they kept making out. I like to think that that's all it was, but I hope so. Maybe it is a trope, I have no idea, but we've just been. Watching a lot of Thai shows where they don't see their attraction to them until the glasses come off. And all of a sudden it's a new person. Very early like 2000 slash like 90s trope.

It's so like. That's what I mean. It's a. It's a. Trope to like, demonstrate oh I'm seeing the real you, but it's like people can be hot with glasses on. I just can't. I don't think the. Towel is more practical where it's like I don't want to break your glasses. I think it was. All the towel, I was like, I don't know about you guys, but I think people with glasses are attractive so. I think it makes people more attractive. I totally. Agree.

I think towel's like I don't trust myself around these things, right. So that's. Very fair, yeah. And then Towel's hands start roaming and when he touches, who keeps saying Tara? When I was doing my notes, I kept writing Tara by accident. OK, terrible. With names for some reason. OK, so when he touches Elle's breast over her clothes, Elle starts to get uncomfortable and immediately stops it.

Which? Tau. Goes into sorry, I didn't mean to sorry and just keeps apologizing because this is the last guy who would want to pressure or push Elle into doing something that she doesn't want to do. Like he's he's appalled like oh shit, I shouldn't have done this. Which you're you're good dude. You're you're OK, Tal, but Tal's such a good. Guy. Yes, the best. Straight dude. He's the best straight dude ever.

I love Tal. He's the he's the token straight friend, so. But the best 1 though, like all the straight friends, he's the best straight person ever. He is the token straight friend, and he is also the actual supportive straight friend. But everybody thought Nick was. Fun. He's the Papa bear. Yeah, everybody thought. Nick. Was you're right. Well, actually. Well, yeah. So to figure out everything that happened and just process things. They go for a walk. But Tao does let Elle have a few

seconds alone. Like he just leaves the room. I think they're he was like, I think we just need a second to just process what is happening right now. And she's trying to process 'cause I don't think that she understands what's happening in her brain. It was just something that was just like, no. And so it's, it's a time where this is something this work through something that's never come up before. And they are, their relationship is growing. They are growing as people together.

Yeah, I really enjoy this plotline with Elle. We'll get into it more when they actually like kind of talk about

what happened. But it this is it had to have been a jarring experience for Elle because, like, how did the scene start where she's, like, undressing Tau with her eyes and then, like, has this reaction that I don't think she knew she was going to have To your point where, like, something was triggered in her and she just, like, froze and just, like, suddenly felt really uncomfortable. And like, I think this was as surprising for Taos as it was for L But Tao handled it like a perfect boy.

Like, he was just like, oh, OK, I don't know what I just did. I don't know what just happened. I'm sorry. Let's go for a walk and cool off and maybe just talk about what just happened in a minute. Like, perfect way to handle that. But like, yeah, or because you got to see her processing at the end and she's like, what the fuck? Even just had like, yeah, I think she's as Jarred by it by Tao is, which is really

interesting. Yeah, I love that Tao doesn't, like, try to separate himself from her. He doesn't try to, like, just get up and walk away from the situation because I'd like probably be part of the anxiety. It's just like, oh God, we just totally ruin things. Yeah. Is he abandoning me? You know what I mean? Yeah, or like in his case, he probably thinks, Oh my God, I just totally fucked up. Whatever, like, and then he has to leave or whatever.

He actually just tries to be like, oh, OK, so this is not good. This is not the energy that we want, so let's go do something else. OK. The fact that his ideas, let's go for a walk instead, something that they probably do all the time. So he knows that it's something she's comfortable with, obviously. So it's like. Let's go do that. So I like that's like what he resorts to. It's very sweet. Yeah, I know.

And then we cut back to the freaking Spring family after this God. And of course, here we are in the living room. The uncle is like asking Charlie about how he's doing the his time in the clinic. First of all, Granddad is now completely passed out in the corner. He is like, he is just like sleeping like out like a light. Probably just from one single beer. Man can't hold his liquor. I bet not. Probably for the best given this conversation. That granddad's passed out.

Oh my. God, yeah, yes, I. Just. Want to point out why am I literally just now noticing Oliver is like right on the far right of the scene? I have never noticed him until now and I feel so bad that I've never realized he was there until literally yesterday. When I re watched it I was like oh but he'd like. If anything, it's just kudos to Jensen. The little actor who plays him does such a great job just blending in. He doesn't like try to stick out as the character.

He's just doing his thing. He's playing with a tractor. Like he's he's in character, but he's not like trying to steal a show. He's just he's doing his thing. And then it's like that just shows like he's doing a great job as an actor, like being part of the scene but not stealing it. So the fact that he's he's just he's hanging out, he's there, but he's doing his own thing.

But the fact that the uncle, like, asked Charlie how he's doing, and then he doesn't even really give Charlie much time to answer. He just kind of immediately jumps into conclusions that he has about those kind of clinics. Like, oh, you, you just hear horror stories. So the fact that he's like, you kind of can't imagine being in a place like that for Christmas. And Charlie, all he can think of is just like, well, they decorated it.

So I mean, that was nice. And he goes, oh, well, yeah, of course. But you just hear horror stories. It's like, yeah, Charlie probably did hear the horror stories. Nick, Nick heard the horror stories that we saw in last episode. He read about them. Charlie probably had heard about them at some point. So yeah, it sounds like the uncle is doing like the stereotypical thing. He's playing a person that acts like they know what they're talking about when they don't.

Ignorance, if you will. I think if I remember right, this is probably Jane's brother. I think you're probably right. If it is, it makes so much sense why he is the way he is given who raised him and Jane. It's very just very ignorant talk. Very much honestly, he's just kind of talking out his ass about this kind of shit, so. And confidently, too, yeah, which is the annoying part. Yeah, he clearly doesn't know anything about how it actually works. He just knows what he's heard.

He's never done any actual research on it. It's what he saw on Facebook, you know. Yeah, that. Kind of thing. Yeah, it's definitely like the 3rd, 4th, 5th hand telling of the story and it's like 3 lines. Not even like looking to see if it's accurate or if someone's joking. Yeah, And the fact that he lists white walls and straight jackets, he probably got that from, like, movies and shit. Like, yeah, that's probably where he got that from, which is

just like, OK, yeah. You heard horror stories, it's called. It's a movie. Wow. That's good job, buddy. Yeah, and of course the cousin again cannot remember her name because it doesn't matter. She asked. Did you meet anyone, like really crazy in there? I'm like, personally, I think Tori had the perfect opportunity to make a sarkier mark about her being crazy or something. Boy did that girl hold her freaking tongue. She probably just wanted to have a good Christmas.

Didn't want to start shit so. But yeah, girl had so much self-control in that moment, you could tell. So oof. Good joke would be yeah, I met myself. That would that would have been funny too. So they they would know. What to do with that comment? Yeah, to. Be honest, they would have shut the fuck up. Yeah, if anything, that would have been perfect because I would have shut them up. Yeah, Charlie had a perfect opportunity. But our baby, yeah, he's.

Triggered right now. I wonder if, I don't know if Charlie is up, is he at that point where he can make those kind of jokes like and is it in Charlie's nature? It's hard. I don't know if it's in Charlie's nature to make those. I don't think Charlie would be the type of person Tori, yeah, Corey would. Absolutely say that. So do it for sure, Charlie Probably not, but yeah, I could. Tory 100% would do it.

Yeah. And meanwhile, CC doesn't do much in the way of, like, standing up for himself to the family in this scene, which is a stark contrast considering how he has stood up for himself in the past by people, two people who have hurt him, especially Ben, like he has. He did somewhat to Harry last season for bullying him mostly. He mostly stood up to Harry for bullying Nick. But. He really set up to Ben for the

way that Ben hurt him. And so it's it's a very interesting contrast here that he doesn't really say anything partially probably just because he wants to have a good Christmas. He doesn't want to start drama just like Tori. But also standing up to your family is hard. It's like one of the hardest things. So plus, Charlie probably doesn't get the best example from his from his mom about

standing up for yourself. So yeah, Charlie, of course, getting to a point in this, he feels genuinely very uncomfortable by these questions. He gets up, says I'm going to I'm going to go get a drink. He leaves. The fact that the uncle just goes, well, he's he's back to normal. It's almost like nothing ever happened. And Tori, just the look on her face, you can just see everything that she's thinking in that moment. I'm just like, so almost like nothing ever happened.

Wow. Yeah, for you, maybe for you, for you, nothing ever happened because you weren't even here. First of all, I, I had like such second hand rage for these two in this scene. And I think that just goes to show like how well the scene was made because I think that's what they wanted us to feel. So absolutely. So well done. Yeah, Yeah. So obviously, like in this next scene after when Charlie goes to the kitchen, things kind of start to escalate a little bit.

The tension between Charlie and his mom. He she like, tries to apologize for people, like saying shit. She goes, not everyone understands what you've been through. And Charlie has the perfect answer. He just goes. So I have to put up with ignorant comments from my own family. Like, for real, dude. Like I get it and the answer is no, you shouldn't, but it's so

hard. Like family is hard to stand up for to stand up to, especially because he is trying to have a good time with his Christmas, but it's obviously not happening so. Yeah, I get it. But I really hate when people say things like that because it's like, OK, fine, they don't understand, but they could try to or be aware that, you know the person that they're talking

to is uncomfortable. And like not just they're so self involved and like some other like typical things that along this line are like they are from older generation. That's just the way they are. And it's like just dismissing the fact rather than helping the person, like, first of all, process what's going on and like, figure out a way to get through this interaction rather than just be like, oh, get over it. That's just the way that this person is. You know what it's like.

But why are we taught to tolerate it rather than stand up for ourselves? And because it's just dismissing his feelings to make Jane feel more comfortable in this situation because it will just create less friction in the family, which is what Jane is anxious about. So really, she's looking out for her own self here instead of her son. Yeah, yeah. After that, she's like, she says, how about we, how about a snack? We're not going to have tea for a couple hours. How about a snack?

Immediately jumping into trying to make things about food. And you could tell where her brain is with Charlie in that regard. And Charlie, of course, immediately is triggered by this. And he goes, can can you stop pestering me about food? Like, and he, he gets like visibly irritated by this. And it seems like she's, she's been doing quite a bit of it tonight where she is focusing on food.

But, and understandably so, of course, but it's definitely not helping Charlie. She, The thing is, is that she, she is trying. She really is trying And she she wants to not make things worse. And so the fact that seeing him get so progressively angry, I gotta imagine what she's feeling like she's she's like spiraling. She doesn't know what to do. So she's probably feeling so helpless. But my thing is like, has she ever?

This is probably partially to blame because of her upbringing too, but has she ever tried to ask him what he wants? Because that's kind of The thing is, I think it seems like there's a lot of assumptions about, oh, you need this. And I think maybe that's just kind of part of like being a parent. Like one of the things that a lot of parents do. It's very common.

It's just like assuming you know what your kid needs and sometimes having to acknowledge that you don't always know and sometimes you need to ask because your kid knows. And like being able to trust your kid to communicate that. In her defense, I don't know if Charlie has those tools to be able to communicate that. If she did ask, I don't know if he would know, like how to express what he needs or if he would even be able to express it with his constant, like struggle

to feel like he's a burden. Would he even be able to express what he needs? But it says it does seem like there is a lot of assuming going on so. I don't think people are really like taught that they can ask other people what they need because that was like a huge revelation in like group therapy in general too. Like, oh, you can just ask them what they want, what they need from you. And then just do that instead of

trying to guess. We very much as a society are just like we're just assuming like how people think of us, what they need, what we should be doing and not just actually talking about it. Yeah, we, don't we. No one's really great at communicating, but then on the. Flip side in America with the rugged individualism shit you're also taught to that asking for help is weakness.

So then like on the other side the other person is taught and indoctrinated to not respond to that question cuz that shows weakness. So then there is miscommunication happening cuz like. Yeah. So it's always like, I'm fine, I don't need anything, right? I can. Handle it actually with Charlie. What does Charlie do every time? You're like, Charlie, what's wrong? How can I help? He's always like, I'm fine.

Like he shuts it down. So like, I think mom is just like, you're not going to talk to me. So I have to make assumptions. So it's like we reinforce bad behavior by nobody really communicating or people shutting down. And it's like, it's not bad, good or bad. It's like sometimes like it's hard to talk about stuff. You're not ready for it. And like you do shut down like Charlie does. So it's like, and this is just kind of what happens when people

are in those headspaces. Like it's not good or bad, it's just humans do this. Yeah, I don't even think I was introduced to the phrase what can I do until like I was in like high school or college even maybe like somebody asking what can I do to help you? Can I, can I help you in some way? I don't even know if I was introduced to that mindset until I was like, older.

So that's just such a wild idea. Well, it also makes sense because like as you grow, like, you know, when you're an adolescent into pubescent, like you're, it's very much me, me, what I want, what I need, my needs and communicating that to other people. Like we don't really transition into helping other, like thinking about other people and empathizing in a way that can be like, you know, constructive like this until we're adults really.

Because like a lot of that is just like you're very you focused until you get into like middle school, high school, and then you have to like start interacting with other people and like forming different kind of relationships. Then it becomes like, oh, what about the other person? Like is it part of becoming an adult really? And like Charlie is a slow child, you know, So he's still very much in the me. That's part of this whole episode too. It's very much he thinks about

him. He's not really thinking about the other people, which again, he's in this, he's in a situation where he's uncomfortable. Like he's not thinking about making his family comfortable. He's thinking about him. He's being triggered. He's focusing on him. But like there are other people existing outside of Charlie. And my favorite thing about this scene in particular is when they're having the argument,

who's the specter in the room? Tori, and the way the like camera is framed as you have Charlie Jane. And then in the middle is Tori, who's out of focus. So like nobody is taking Tori into consideration of how all this shit is actually traumatizing her. So it's like, there's no right, there's no wrong.

We just, you know, we're social creatures who like, when we get too much in our heads, we do affect other people and we don't see it. And it's like Tori is the prime example of the person being ignored, put on the sidelines during this whole thing. Again, how do we start the episode? Tori seems like she's depressed today. Nobody's acknowledged Tori. Like Charlie didn't ask. Hey, Tori, why are you sleeping? Doesn't even ask his sister. Like, that's weird.

Why are you not OK? Like, no, Charlie's so much about me, me, me, me, me right now that like nobody else. It's just which annoys the shit out of me. But like, I understand where he's coming from. I really do. But like, there's other people here too, you know? To your point of her being like in the background but she's still in the middle of them too, like she's. She's in the middle of all of this drama. And I mean, Spector as in like ghost, nobody sees her. She's a she's a ghost.

Like nobody acknowledges Tori and the shit she's going through. Nobody. Unless they need her to bridge the gap, which is why I think she's in the middle and not off to the side. Yeah, she's trapped in the middle, but nobody notices her. Like like she's a ghost. I feel bad for her but. Yeah. The one time that she tries to step in while things are escalating, she's trying to suggest that like, oh, maybe we could go play Mario Kart.

Oliver wants to, but because she knows that that would take Charlie's mind off of this, it would be able to be like a good distraction. She knows it's something Charlie enjoys. It's something that Charlie's good at, and they like Oliver wants to play. And so it's like, it'd be a really great thing. And immediately the mom cuts her off and is like, look, I, I know it's been stressful. You only ate half your dinner. Again, bringing it back to the food aspect, which again is

making Charlie feel even worse. And I don't think Jane realizes at this point that she, that all that she's doing is doubling down on the way that she's stressing Charlie out. Because I think she in her own mind, she is spiraling because again, she feels like she is like she's just fucking up and she doesn't know what to do. But she's also stressing him out because she's not hearing him because she's so in her own

spiral. So when he says you're making me feel worse, it's just like kind of a pinnacle of like, it's to the point where she's like, fine, I'm sorry, I tried. And then she storms off. I wonder if she has OCD now that you've mentioned all that stuff, because this feels to me like, like she's losing control of the situation.

And so because of that, she's doubling down and like Charlie's doing the same thing because like he's spiraling and losing control of like this was supposed to be normal. So then they both double down and then they don't communicate or can't, can't compromise. And Tori's like, let's compromise and they're like, no, because they're both triggered in the scene. So I I wonder if she has undiagnosed OCD now that we're like talking about this.

Very possible. Yeah. Yeah, and I get where she's coming from when when she like says fine, I'm sorry, I even tried. I get I get where she's coming from big time. She probably has like that feeling like she is failing so hard, especially especially with her parents in the other room. Good God. But like the fact that she feels like she's failed as a daughter because she'll never win with her parents. But now she feels like she's once again failed as a mom because yeah, and but, but it's

not just an excuse to walk away. So it's kind of like, yeah, it definitely could have been handled better. But I I understand why she feels the way she does so. And to your point, she's like learning how to, like better communicate with Charlie. And she is trying to your point, but like, it's a process for her to learn how to deal with that because like we keep mentioning, she has shit that she needs to process that she hasn't processed personally.

So it's like affecting her relationship with Charlie. And I don't think she realizes it, but yeah, like they're on a journey to like repair their relationship. And it's like it takes time. It's not, she's not magically going to like, know how to communicate with him immediately. Like it's just going to take time too. And they're still in that

transition period. So it's like they're going to have good days and bad days with their communication as they like learn same thing with Charlie, like learns how to deal with his mom better. Like they, they it's kind of like it's just going to take time. And this is like a. Bad day, basically. Yeah, I mean, she could also be blaming herself for his issues totally. So like, he just got home.

So now like all the things that he learned how to like handle things, how to handle like his emotions and like what's happening, she isn't actually helping with that. She's kind of hurting that with the way that she's speaking. So basically both of them just need to take a break and you know, not talk about this right now until they are able to just take a deep breath and not be triggered. Of course, naturally Charlie after the mom walks away,

Charlie also walks away. Charlie decides he's had enough of this shit and he decides what does he always do? He he runs to Nick for what he needs, so he leaves her next house and Tori, of course, instead of anybody else in this family, it's Tori who follows him and tries to stop him. So. And this is we have arrived at my Tori rant because this scene breaks my heart. Because. She follows them to the door because what is Charlie doing? Charlie's trying to go to his

safe space, right? Like, to your point, Caitlin, they need to diffuse that. They need to calm down. So Charlie is like, I need to physically leave. So he tries to leave, and then Tori follows him to the door and then breaks my heart with her plea of can't you at least spend Christmas with me? Because in his quest to like better his mental health, he's like abandoning Tori basically in this scene. Housing her more.

Distress correct? It just shows even more that Tori's alone because again, in the previous scene that we were talking about in the frame, she's so small and far away and like it's showing that even when she's with her family, she's alone, yes. Nobody sees her. She's the ghost, the spectre, nobody sees her. And so in this scene, basically once again, Tori, her well-being is put as being put aside for Charlie's. And with that line of can't you at least spend Christmas with

me? It seems to me that she is reaching some kind of breaking point with her mental health slash well-being. And so after she delivers the line, Charlie turns around and the way he's looking at her, it's almost like he's seeing her for the first time. Like the ghost became Capore. I was like, oh, and I think their sibling relationship, and this is not judging any of these characters. This is just my outsider

perspective. I think in their relationship, the fact that Tori is my big sister and looks out for me is something that Charlie, it feels so familiar to him that he doesn't even notice it anymore. And that happens when things become so familiar, you just don't notice them. And because of that, I think Tori feels super alone in their relationship in particular. And you see that how much she loves her brother. And so it's really sad.

And because she points out in this conversation, Charlie's like, I'm going to Nick because Nick treats me like a normal person. And she says, so do I like she points out that she's like, I'm also a safe space for you. I'm I've always been a safe space for you even longer than Nick. And yet you're ditching me. And consistently, Charlie chooses Nick over Tori every

single time. Yeah, which is heartbreaking when you think about it because like, obviously Tori is literally, she's literally his older sister, which means she's known him literally since the day he was born. She knows Charlie inside and out as much as any person can because she's been with him literally since the first day he came into the world, way before Charlie met Nick. Ever Nick. He's known Nick for like maybe a year, Not even a year, not even a year at this point.

Like still a little under a year. He's known Nick at all. So it's like the fact that Tori knows him so well and yet he chooses Nick. That's got to be. Heartbreaking for her. I mean, Tori's just being taken for granted because she has been there. He just expects her to be there so he doesn't have to worry about that part of his life.

Like she'll just be there. But he's not seeing that he needs to reciprocate that and see the other person again because like you said, like he's still in the me, me, me phase of life, but he really needs to reciprocate, especially right now because she's literally pleading with him. Like can't you at least stay with me? Like when someone's telling you like, why can't you just choose me? Like. There, she never asked for anything either. No. No, except diet lemonade.

You know what this relationship reminds me of? This is Agathan Rio. With the with the way. Agathan takes advantage of Rio always being there until you get to the breaking point where it's like, yeah, no, enough, I enough. That's kind of what's happening with Tori. And because Tori embodies the role of eldest sister so well, Charlie has like never seen her as really anything other than this formidable protector that's

always there for him. And I think their roles as like protective older sister, younger brother really blinded Charlie from seeing what's right in front of him. And so and which really, and what Tori really is in this moment is somebody that needs his support as much as he needs hers. And so it really breaks my heart

that he leaves her behind. He actively chooses not to be with her in the scene because he's leaving her to a fate of being trapped with all the same relatives that were making him uncomfortable. And the sad part is that Tori does not have a nick to escape to you. She's trapped in this house. Like there's nowhere for her to go like. And I hate that for her. And he willingly left when you can clearly see that she's about

to cry. Yeah, now he just, he sees her, sees her getting upset and then chooses himself over her like again. And it really makes me upset for Tori. And I have a lot of. Feelings she deserves. Better. She deserves so much better. Like she's just actively ignored constantly. Like pisses me off. Anyway, so that's that. So Charlie does ditch Tory and then goes to next and by the time he arrives it's raining and I really hope they got these shots pretty quickly and poor

Joe wasn't like all in the rain. Because that sounds. Terrible. They always filled them like completely soaked in rain or whatever and he was outside coming in so like I imagine. He was cold. Like. Poor Joe. And we all know this was all filmed in the winter, like in the in the fall and winter months. So it's just like, Oh my God. I feel so bad for him so I hope this was quick and they got this very quickly because like that's I hope he was OK. Anyway.

So Nick is obviously worried when he sees Charlie all wet as door. But Charlie explains this and I got into an argument with my mom. So naturally he comes to a safe space that's why he's here. And Nick's like OK. And he like, comforts Charlie in the doorway and they make out for like a hot 2nd until like cat calling happens and they turn around and Nick's entire family is like not so suddenly being like yeah, is this the boyfriend? Like Oh my God.

The way they were like 9th Wheeling them was so adorable and cute. Dan's like, I take it this is the boyfriend like girl. I sure hope it is, or else Nick's got a lot of explaining to do. Oh my God, Can you imagine it? Like, well, she's like. Boy so. About Charlie, We're not together anymore, ha. Sit down now that be a plot twist. Yikes. Oh my God, this family, though, the Nelsons are fucking adorable. Let's say that. And what are they? They're the foil to the springs,

right? Because they accept Charlie into the family immediately with like a giant hug and like pull him into the room, right into the festivities. And one thing I love about this is like when you get the shot of the Nelsons, like in the background, there's all this golden light bathing them, which is like gives you like this warm, safe kind of feeling because like, they're the happy, loving family that just ask no questions. And they give Charlie the normal Christmas that he's so much, you

know, he was craving, right? You get that right off the bat. Oh man, you say that, Theora. And the fact that like on the opposite end of the hallway is literally the dark and the rain. Oh man, what? What a great shot. What a great. Shot again. You guys geniuses put this together. I love it so much. Artists, artists. So OK, so Charlie soaking wet little puppy dog. Nick's like, let's change that. So he takes him into his room to like change, right? Cuz freezing.

And he's like, here's a jumper, it's mine. You'll love this. And then Charlie's like, OK Nick, but I'm going to need you to turn around cuz like body dysmorphia and pour in it. And then we get this like Nick respect is confused, but then he's like, OK, yeah, respectful boyfriend. So he turns around because like we know Charlie has body issues, like, but Nick, I only Nick knows that really he's getting a kind of a taste of this, but he with no explanation. So I think Nick's a little like,

am I making him uncomfortable? Like what's? I don't think Nick fully understands what this is, but he's respectful about what Charlie asks of him in this in this moment. Yeah, he like he when Charlie like, goes to like, grab a shirt, Nick's just like smiling at him. Like, yeah, OK, this is whatever. And so like, I think he's under the impression from like given, like they're they've been in rugby together, so they probably, yeah, in the changing rooms. And also just like from episode

1 of the season, like the beach. And like they're he was teasing Charlie Bell, peeking at him while he was shirtless and everything. Like given that level of comfortability, Nick probably just assumed like it's reciprocated. That's just both ways. Like, whatever. I don't care if you change in front of me. And he just assumes that Charlie doesn't mind. And so when Charlie asks for him to look away, he's like, genuinely surprised, confused. But then he just kind of goes, oh, yeah, OK.

So doesn't question it. But I also love the teenage boy aspect of Nick because he keeps going like jerking his head because he's like, he's like, I want to be respectful, but I also want to, I want to peep because it's allowed. You see him like fighting himself. Like it's very like very teenage boy.

I love it because yeah, I think Nick didn't does not know about Charlie's like body dysmorphic because I don't he never really put it together because even when they were at the beach and he's like, let's go in the water and Charlie's like, I don't want to take my shirt off. Nick was like, whatever, like, leave it on. Because the excuse could be like in Nick's brain, he's like, I burn. So like, Charlie wouldn't want to burn. Yeah, that makes sense. Let's go.

Like, I don't think he's putting those things. Yeah, like he doesn't have sunscreen on, so maybe he doesn't want to. That makes sense, yeah. Right. Like I think he would brush that off mentally, but like this was like a 00. And to your point too, they've changed in front of each other. But Carl's like different context. Remember, he told Isaac so like. Yeah. So. This was pretty dry, but Nick was very funny and when he's like, I want to look at that.

So you know what? You know what that scene reminds me of is in the second Spider Man movie, this Tom Holland Spider man in Far From Home when he's like changing in front of Mary Jane. Or like she turns around, but she tries to peek and then at some point she turns all the way around and Ned is standing in the doorway. Like, what are you doing? You remind me so much of that. I'm just like, what? That's so funny. What if somebody was like in the like, what if it was just Nelly?

If it was literally just Nelly or. That would be so funny if I was just. Like you're like, oh, Nick. It's so. Funny, it's like, damn it, Nelly judging me. Caught. Busted. What are you doing? So Charlie gets the jumper on and then Nick insists. You look real cute in that salmon sweater. I love it. Nick asks Charlie. He's like, listen, before we go downstairs, do you want to talk Like we're we're alone? Do you want to talk about because you're upset?

And Charlie declines because he just wants to have a nice day, which, like, understandable. He just came from a stressful environment. He's like, I just want to be happy right now, which totally fine. And he, like, hugs Nick like a lifeline. Then we get this montage of Charlie just like having fun with the Nelsons. And he meets Henry for the first time. And it's really the first time in the entire episode that Charlie looks relaxed and happy.

And so I'm glad that this is in here to kind of break up or transition out of the stressfulness that we were with with a lot of this episode. Yeah, like definite highlights of this montage, especially like, first of all, getting to properly meet Aunt Diane was really cute, especially because she knows like about everything that Charlie's been through.

We don't, I don't know if she knows anything about like the aftermath about him going to clinic or anything, but like, she knows like what he was dealing with and everything. So just getting to properly meet the boy, the boyfriend after all his time, probably very exciting for her. But also when Charlie gets to actually properly meet Henry is really cute. He goes up, he licks Charlie's face. And I I feel like this moment

was unscripted. I feel like that was completely unintentional because the reaction looks very genuine. That seems like a genuine like stunned reaction from Joe like, oh, hello, that was very funny. And then after that, it looks like they go up, back up to Nick's room. The fact that they like went up and disappeared to Nick's room again, then eventually come back down and then go back up to his room again or whatever. It's just really funny to me.

The fact that they just keep disappearing in Nick's room. They're like, oh, we probably should go back before they ask where we are. So that's just funny to me. But it looks like. They this would never happen at Charlie's house. No, absolutely. They wouldn't even let him leave. So it seems like they probably they might have exchanged gifts, but they definitely looks like they exchanged cards, which is really cute that one of the cards is it.

It looks like they're pinkies like when their pinkies were touching in season 1. It looks like a drawing of it. Maybe Elle did it or something. I don't know. I just thought it was really cute, really cute attention to detail back to season 1. And they're like it cuts to them like full on making out on Nick's bed like and Nick or Charlie pulls away and he's like, we haven't kissed like that in so long. Which boy it could literally be like 3 days and you would say it's been so long but.

Listen. Yes, but to be fair to him, it's probably been like months. It's probably literally been months since they've actually gotten to like properly kiss like this. Like just alone. So and then we cut to the next part where they're they're playing games. Nick and Charlie are sitting like eating toast. And it's really cute because they're just like talking, they're laughing.

So I found out from an interview that they were like saying, because apparently they knew that there was going to be music played over it. They were going to dub over it. So Kit was purposely saying like very inappropriate things. And if you also watch the bloopers from the scene, it's also really funny because like, we're kids, like as Nick was just like saying like really unhinged stuff. And Joe's just laughing and he goes, this isn't funny, Joe.

I mean Charlie, I meant. Charlie, I think you're talking like. Dildos. At one point while I was eating toast, it was like really random shit that kit was saying. A. Super funny dildo at some point and they had to dub over it so it sounded like something else. So yeah, he had to do like an ADR over that so that it didn't sound like. That word, it was just funny. It's so funny. It worked pretty well like the ADR did. Did a good job, but yeah. Yeah, it was just funny knowing

that. It's just like, Oh my God, these boys. It's funny knowing especially from, I think it was from that same interview, one of the directors notes they got a lot was this scene. Like the way that they were acting, it seems more like Kit and Joe than it is Nick and Charlie. So the fact that, I don't know, just where's the line between these two besties bantering and saying shit just to make each other laugh and then two boys in love who just are comfortable

with each other? Like, if that's not what this relationship literally is, it's just two best friends laughing together, what is it? It's just Nick and Charlie. It's just Nick and Charlie. So but yeah, that that scene, after knowing all that context is incredibly. Funny. It's so funny. If you haven't seen the bloopers, go check them out, they're really good. They're so funny. They're longer than the last two seasons too. They made them longer so because everybody was asking for it.

So they're so funny. I haven't seen them yet. So after the montage, Nick and Charlie are watching Doctor Who with Nick's cousins on the couch. It's 10, my favorite. It's it's David Tennant. OK, I will do that. If you guys haven't seen the comic, there's a mini comic that Alice did a while back of Nick and Charlie were watching Good Omens and he says David Tennant's kind of hot. And then like literally they go to bed later that night and he goes CC.

I think I realize why I love Doctor Who so much. I think David Tennant's really hot. It's so funny and it makes the scene even funnier just knowing that like when in when in their relationship did that scene happen? But also. Yeah, a good point. Is this where Nick realizes, hey dude, that is kind of hot cuz Oh my God. So I, I genuinely, when this scene came on, I cackled.

I was just like, Oh my God. So also the fact that when Charlie gets the text from Tori, like you just hear in the background the doctor go like you want to talk about a slap in the face of nostalgia because like I, I, I think I watched that when I was in like high school, like so over 10 years ago, like talk about making me feel old.

My God. I know interesting choice as that's the Christmas special they're watching because like that's not the current Christmas specials that would be airing. So I to your point, I think it's a nod to all the David, the David Tennant stuff. From the David. Tennant stuff. Oh look, he's best Doctor. Like, I love it. Yeah. Charlie has Henry on his lap, so the little guy definitely got a

hug. He. Did but something I'm a little sad about, like so far in this episode up to this point, we're kind of seeing Henry replace Nellie and like, it's just a lot of focus on Henry, which I get, but we haven't seen Nellie at all. Yet we do, We see. And Nellie? Eventually. No, I said yeah, yes, but we need a scene where like Nellie met her new brother.

I thought that. Would be really cute, be really cute to like involve Nellie. So it wasn't like, oh, I have this new dog now this is who's here anyway. But Charlie then gets Instagram messages from Tori. I believe it's Instagram. Of course it is. It's always Instagram. And it's basically Tori's saying that she's coming over to Nick's and she's walking there now. She's almost there, so get ready.

And then, while they go to wait for Tori at the door, Nick and Charlie find David dramatically leaning against the doorway with the door open, waiting for his no show father while also racking up Olivia Coleman's heating. Bill, Literally what a bitch. I can't stand. That why why do we have this door open? He's like. Stand outside still. Yeah, he's the. Worst but like he wants the coziness of the inside. I hate him. This is just the trend, not not shutting the door behind them.

So people, this happens in movies a lot. People just don't shut the door behind them. That's true. Oh my God. But for Nick, I don't think he understands why David is hung up on this because Nick has never been close to his dad, so he's just like, all right, good riddance. If you want to come back, fine, but. I'm good. Yeah, Nick probably, at least at this point, doesn't like he couldn't care less about the

validation from his dad. Yes, it does seem like at some point, like back in Season 2, we did see a little bit of a disappointment. Like, he felt very hopeful when he got to Paris about spending time with his dad and

immediately got disappointed. So I wonder if he's kind of just at that point now, especially like because he's, he knows he's happy with himself now and having gotten to that point where he's happy with his bisexuality and everything, he he knows who he is, at least to that degree. He has a very supportive partner. He has a very supportive mother and a very now a very supportive

group of friends. He has a whole ass community now that he didn't have last or didn't have as like strong last season. That's kind of been progressively more strong. So I, I can kind of understand why he, he doesn't see the point because he doesn't, he hasn't needed it at all. So. I think Paris was the breaking point for him to be like, OK, there's no relationship really here.

Yeah, All he knows is Nick likes rugby and that's it and assumes that Nick likes girls and that's it, which he does. But, you know, it's a lot deeper than that. Yeah. He he says something about you have a whole family in this house who are wanting to spend time with you. And David immediately goes, dad is family. And it's like, OK. Sure. But Nick in retort says, I think family are the people who actually give a shit, which that's the part where it's like you can't choose who was defined

your family at birth. Obviously you can't necessarily define that, but you can choose who you call your family. And so I think that's a big thing that Nick has kind of been able to grow into it, especially like having this friend group. He knows who his found family is. Charlie is basically his family as like the supportive partner. And then I almost feel like even Charlie's fam, Charlie's family is kind of becoming like part of Nick's family really.

Tori. Yeah, Tori especially is becoming probably like the sister he never had. Yeah. So which I love. So, yeah. And of course, Speaking of Tori, Tori appears, She she like goes full Wednesday Adams on this shit. She like just appears in that the umbrella like like from the the Wednesday promo art from the the TV, the Netflix show just like full on Jenna Ortega appears with a black umbrella goes Merry Christmas and David David just he nopes out. He's like, OK, bye.

Because he remembers what happened last season. He remembers the phone. He remembers. He remembers what she did, as he should. Right. So yeah, never forget, dude. Never forget phone gate. Taught him nothing, but he won't forget it. Never. That was so funny. What a little bitch. He is really the core of it. Well, Tori gets invited in.

She didn't give him a choice. But so now Tori's sitting on the couch with Nick and Charlie and they're all talking, and Tori says to Charlie. You left me to fend for myself against our cousins and Oliver is upset because no one will play Mario Kart with him. I had to add that Oliver won because you know, that's a big deal. Oliver just wanted one thing. He is so good with his tractor in the corner. All he wanted to do was play a game of Mario Kart and we couldn't even give that to him.

Anyway, the the most important part of the sentence was you left me to fend for myself and like, props Satori for telling Charlie what he is doing to her because she could have easily just been like, fine, I'll take it. I know he's struggling, but she's like, no, he needs to know that he did. He abandoned me and that. Yeah. So like, that's how she's feeling right now. He needs to figure that out because, you know, Tori needs him.

He needs she needs someone. OK, at least now we get the dogs together. They're very much separated. I wonder if there's some animosity between the two of them or if they like to play too much. Or, you know, that's just a blocking. Either way, we do get to see both dogs and that is nice. However, I think we need to include Nelly and Henry together more. But Tori is holding Henry now, so I think Tori is now the little guy who needs a hug.

Definitely. And I think that Olivia Coleman is going to get Henry registered as a therapy dog as soon as the holidays are over because, you know, Henry's just really keeping everyone together right now. That's fair. It's very true. Yeah. Tori like Tori like full on like calls Charlie out and I appreciate it, but she does it in a way that's like she she doesn't like attack him. She doesn't like say hey, you're a piece of shit brother for

doing this. She's just like, hey man, just so you know, we're constantly worrying about you. She's like she's she just she cuz that's it like it is. She's just like, I worry about you all the time. Did you know that? And Nick, of course, fully backing up Tory in the situation, he goes, I know you're scared of being a burden. We just want to be here for you and you have to let us. And it's like, that's so true.

It's, it's, it's really hard for people like especially like somebody like Charlie who constantly does struggle with that constantly feels like a burden, constantly feels like asking for anything is just like absolutely unacceptable because then he's weak or because he's selfish or whatever reason. It's hard to push away from that, to break out of that mindset. But he ends up pushing people away by doing so, which we saw in the last episode.

He started pushing his friends and he started pushing Nick away. And it is hard to break out of that mindset that you are a burden by doing that. You don't always see how much harder it's making it because then they can't support you. And so I think that's where Charlie kind of went through that journey in the last episode at first when he realized that he actually was making it worse for everybody else by him pushing people away.

And now I think he's seeing that that's kind of happening again in a way. He is like understanding now that like once again, he's pushing them away. And Nick, Nick is Nick's saying it in such a way that I love the way he approaches it. He just says you have to let us like and it's, it's very warm. It's very loving. Like he says it from a very loving standpoint. It's not at all just like you need to do this. It's like we want to be here for you because we love you.

It's also like. The language he uses empowers Charlie. He's like it's in your control basically. That's why he's saying you have to let us like you're in control of this Charlie also, which is important for somebody with OCD who like controls important like the language is very good for many reasons, but also that it's not triggering to Charlie. Yeah, but I feel like. Even if he did let people in like he'd still be thinking about well is it too much now? Am I relying on them too much?

Did I say too much? Should I be fine now and they are annoyed that I'm not? Will they tell me if I'm annoying or being too much like? It's. Never going to stop. He's going to be overthinking everything no matter what, but I don't know. We do on end on kind of a hopeful note in the scene where Charlie's like, I just want to start this day over and Nick goes, well, there's always New Year's Eve. Like even if today kind of sucked, tomorrow's a new day.

There's always another holiday very soon so we can try again. So that's kind of how we end this scene and then we transition into the next part, which is kind of the aftermath of of the awkward encounter that Tao and Elle had at Tao's house. They basically have a talk about what happened earlier. And Tao immediately like tries to apologize again for what happened and how he says this is really funny. And also this is just kudos to Will's execution, acting the

scene out. He says, I think about it all the time, not all the time respectful amount of time. One thinks about one's girlfriend in that way. Such a teenage boy. I love that response that. Is so funny. It's so it's so perfectly tall. And it is like, oh, yes, I'm a gentleman. I promise. I'm not being weird. I promise. It's just so perfectly tall. But I do also appreciate that Elle doesn't like dwell on it.

She doesn't like like you would think that he's trying to like defuse like whatever awkwardness he's feeling. And Elle Media is just like, no, we need to talk about this. I want to talk about this and Tao Tao basically says, I don't really think about you being trans cause Elle says basically that like this their whole situation where they were about to get intimate and she freaked out had a lot to do, just like

with her own dysphoria. And when he says I don't really think about you being trans, she goes, I know, but I am trans. It's a very big part of me. And she and she says, like I had never imagined during my transition, I'd ever find a boyfriend that I felt comfortable taking my clothes off in front of, which is it shows like how just I mean, it says a lot about Taos as like her friend, as her best friend, but also just like how much like how safe she feels with him, but

also just how far she's come in her transition because like she didn't even like consider it until that moment because of where they were at. So the fact is so sweet, especially because Tao, he says he's sorry because he made Elle feel that way. It's incredibly sweet. And then he proceeds by saying, I love you, I love everything about you. I'm.

So. Cute, which is probably like one of the best things that just like, say, like just put a ring on it already, my God. OK, like just one of the sweetest things. Oh my God. Obviously no, because they're teenagers. But like, that's just the feeling. Yes. The vibe. In like. Five years or. Whatever, Like fucking marrying me already, Oh my God. Like if somebody said that to me, my God.

So and then Tao Tao just basically says just like everything, everything that any person wants to hear a person say, like a straight guy especially say. And he says he still will want to be with Elle regardless of what level of intimacy they ever get to in their relationship. He's like, it doesn't matter. I will still want to be with you

because I love you. And instead of kissing her, he hugs her, which I think it's probably probably like the best thing ever because he purposely, after having this conversation about her body and how she doesn't feel like she's in her right body because she's still struggling with her dysphoria. He basically just takes her and envelops her whole body in his arms, basically just emphasizing the fact that he just said he loves all of her. He loves everything.

And so they wrap up the scene by he basically says, can I walk you home and we can talk about what you're comfortable with doing and not doing. And of course, Al agrees. And Tao once again wraps his arms around her like fully like I think he like fully wraps him around his her shoulders. As they walk. So it's, it's like he heard her say she doesn't feel secure in her body. She's having her dysphoria. And he's like, can I help?

I'll can I can I, can I offer you a hug in these trying times? It's so true. It's very Tao and Ellen. It's very sweet. And I just want to go back to the line where Elle says, where Tao says I don't like basically think about you as being a trans person. And then Elle says, but I am. So I really like that piece of dialogue because like I understand where Tao is coming from and why Tao is he's like to me, yours L, like yours L. And I love everything about L, like the person, like

everything. And Elle's kind of saying like, but that is part of LL is trans. Well, you know what I mean. And so I like the I like that dialogue. Because like this is. Part of L's journey as like as a trans woman. And I think it's important that, you know, she said that because, you know, obviously I'm not speaking. I am not a trans person. I can't speak on the trans experience and at all, but I

liked it in this conversation. Elle is basically, this is my experience kind of as a trans person that I had this reaction that I didn't know I was going to have. And so for me as a person who's not a trans person, like this helped me empathize with the, you know, with Elle's experience because it's, it's like like kind of like the way it's framed a lot in, you know, media is that, you know, it's like you come out and that's it kind of thing. It's like you transition and it's over.

But it's like, it's part of the journey. Like this is also a piece of that journey for Elle specifically. And so I like that the conversation is framed like that too, from that storyline that we're in with Elle specifically. So I did like that dialogue.

Yeah, I think it is definitely easy for Tao to like to say like, I don't think of you as trans, especially because it's like he's been through her whole journey and he's loved her through all of it. He's seen the shit that she went through and he under like he completely empathizes with like whatever bullying she went through, whatever, like self doubt she was having and all that because he was there for all of it. And he was this one, one of the

supportive friends, obviously, who was like fully in on it, just like, I don't care. I love you regardless of whatever you're dealing with, whatever you're struggling with, and it's still you. So why would I love you less? So I think that's that's why it's so easy for him to simply say, I don't think of you as trans because I just think of you as yourself. And I love every part of you because I always have, because that's just who you've been to me always. I think that's, that's one of

the beautiful things. It almost, it almost like almost made me emotional like watching this the first time because it is like that beauty of like being best friends first. It's just like seeing even if like you don't go through a bunch of shit together, like even if you haven't gone through a rough time. Like I heard, I heard this thing that somebody said once that was probably really funny.

Like, but also like a very well, the way of saying is like, if somebody knew you, if you're like in your 30s now and somebody knew you when you were in your teenage years and they're still your friend, that's a real one. Cuz even if you guys didn't go through shit together, you saw each other through some of your most awkward phases. You've seen each other through so many different phases of your

life. And if they still stick with you regardless of how much you've changed, that's a fucking real friend. So. It's really true. So, but I love, I love that about these two and the fact that they literally they were like each other's best friends, confidants, everything before they even before either of them even considered a potential romantic interest in each other. Like it just kind of came up naturally as they were best friends already.

And so I think that's just like the most beautiful friends to lovers. I'm also a big sucker for friends to lovers. Like it's just one of my favorite romance trolls. It's such a good. Troll. Yeah. But also this is Prince delivers, then add fake dating. I love fake dating. That's also especially because that can get really funny, so. Yes, it can get really.

But I do love the scene though with Tao because Tao, remember how we started with Tao where he's like trying to force the romance into their summer, but like here he is creating this winter of romance without even trying. It's just Tao being Tao, which like, I love that about him. Character growth. I know. Is they're just able to just be themselves and be silly. It's sweet. If you can't be silly together,

what's even the point? So I agree I I think I heard somebody there was a post on Tumblr once that was my love language is being obnoxious in museums with my partner. And it was funny because I immediately was just like, that's, that's really just how an L Season 2. Literally. That's so true. I want somebody can be an annoying in museums with like, Oh my God, yeah, Oh my gosh, we're I've been on such a tangent. OK, so.

Charlie. They wrap up that scene and they walk home together, which is really sweet. And we go back to CC has now gone back home with Tori and he hugs both his parents, who we presume that there there's an apology that has either already happened or it is currently happening in this moment. We don't actually hear any of the dialogue that happens in this moment.

It's interesting also that I, I think it is sweet that the dad does come over and hug him as well, because it's like, it feels like the dad doesn't really have anything to apologize for necessarily. But also, I, I mean, just because we didn't see like any interaction that would have warranted it because there was no argument with the dad. But also like, like, I feel like the thing with Charlie's dad is he definitely feels a significant level of responsibility for Charlie's condition.

Because it feels like he he might have had like signs that he has seen since at least since season 2, if not since season 1, that he just kind of didn't think about. Because like we see in Season 1, he said like he knew about the bullying, obviously, because he like when he's leaving for Harry's party, he goes call me if you need me. And then when they go to the movies, he's like, if the boys say anything, you call me, I will come get you.

And he's very aware. And then it's season 2 when Charlie's upset, he's like, do you want dinner? And Charlie's like, no, I ate at Nick's. Does the dad really believe him? It's hard to tell. So he looks very worried. So I have to wonder if Julio or Julio, I don't remember how to pronounce his name, if his father feels like he has a lot to make up for because of. That, yeah, the dad's interesting, especially in the show, because we rarely get him. We get more Jane than dad.

And the thing about the dad from the show is that his like crime against Charlie is that he doesn't act like he's the passive 1 to a point where it is detrimental. So so it's like that saying where like inaction is an action in and of itself. And so like dad doesn't act. And like, so all these things with Charlie keep escalating because like dad doesn't intervene and then mom tries to come in and like do all the action for both of them and it blows up. So like dad needs to apologize

for not intervening sometimes. Not that that's like inappropriate all the time, sometimes that's what's needed, but like, Dad rarely acts in the show and I feel like that harms Charlie sometimes. That's true. And in this team especially, it probably was like in this situation, it's probably very hard because it's not even his family, it's his wife's family. In laws trying to tackle in laws

like, oh boy. Yeah. But it is great that they do have like that moment of like they hug and it's like, you could tell that there's like a genuine like, I am sorry for what happened today between between all parties involved. I feel like there, even if it's not like a I'm sorry I did this. It's a I'm sorry that this has happened today kind of feeling. So, yeah. After that, we cut back to Nick, who is in his room back home.

He is sitting on his bed and he grabs the the jumper that Charlie brought over with him that he was like soaked from in the rain. And because it is his jumper, of course, it's back with him. And he holds it with this look of concern. He like clutches it to him. And my, my assumption was that this is probably like he's thinking about the fact that Charlie had asked him to turn around while he changed. Nick's realizing here that there's there's still some stuff that Charlie obviously is

struggling with. It's not that Nick assumed once Charlie was out of the clinic that he was cured, that he was healed, that he was fine because I think he even talked about it in last episode. He's like, obviously it didn't magically fix him, but it has definitely helped. So but I think it kind of does bring to light just like right in front of his face he's seeing right here. Oh, this is actually still a thing that he's dealing with.

OK, probably. And like connected to his like eating disorder and his OCD and everything. Like his body dysmorphia is definitely connected to all of it. Also, I just big shout out to Alice for her writing in all this and her like depth that she has clearly put into Charlie. I mean, especially because Charlie is a character that she wrote like years and years and years ago. And also just this is me going off about Charlie because he's like my absolute favorite

character. So I wonder why Charlie is a character that has never been oversimplified just because of like his mental illnesses. He's always had such a depth to him. He's not just defined by his mental illness and it would be very easy for us to only see like his only character arc could be his progress, him getting better and that's it. But that's not how real people are. And I love that this show proves and the way that it was tackled in the comics as well.

There's more to Charlie than just his mental illness and his trauma. Charlie is a person, so. Yeah, that is such an excellent point. And like that is the strength of Heart Stopper in general is that the people are people and people are not good or bad. People are everything all at once. So I do love the way she grounds the characters and they are, they feel so real. Yeah, that's something that this whole show, I think we've talked about this before.

This whole show does so well is let's us see both sides. Like whenever there is an argument between two people, we can honestly empathize with both sides or sympathize or whatever. We can kind of see why they act the way they do and where they're coming from. So yeah, I will forever die on the hill. That point of view is so important. It's all about point of view and and that's why I like consuming media like this. The way we're we break it down because really it comes down to

motivation. So if you're just like you, it's so easy to cast off Jane as the villain, as Charlie's mom, as the villain, but like, is she or is she traumatized? Like what's her point of view in all of this? Why is she like ask why, like, why is the character doing this? Like, and it's not good, it's not evil. There's there really is no villain and no hero. It's just these are people. People are messy. All people are even CC the protagonist, like he just like

harmed Tori a minute ago. So like people are people. And that's important to realize. I think Disney did us all a disservice by making everything so black and white. And when it comes to like good versus evil. And it's like, no, that is such an oversimplification of literally everything. And if you view the world that way, like, you really miss out on a lot of what's going on. Especially in shows like this. So I think again, Alice, great job Alice. This was a fantastic show.

And what it when we say we want complicated characters, we mean Charlie. Like Charlie is a complicated, well like well designed character who's just has strengths and flaws just like literally any other human being. And I love that. And you still love him. Like Charlie's still great. Like Charlie is Charlie, and

that's beautiful. Yeah. And then on the other side of it, you see, like Joe's execution of Charlie, yeah, he's even said in interviews like he, he doesn't necessarily consider himself like the same as Charlie in any in like too many ways. He sees parts of himself and Charlie. But Charlie is kind of a whole character that is not like him. Like he does actually.

He has actually had to really put time into understanding Charlie and his mindset and everything because he is a different person than who Charlie is. So just says a lot right there as well, like the amount of the amount of time and love and care that everybody has put into this show, especially like including the actors just into their characters like it. It really shows like it really does. You know it.

Really does. It's a lot of love, even like the one off characters like you have Oliver come in and the kid is Oliver. Like he's just in it for this episode and the actor destroyed it. Like that is exactly Oliver. Like it was perfect. This is why open calls are so special, like they're so good casting new people because they might be perfect. Anyway. I will, I will die on that soapbox of like open calls are amazing.

Open calls do so much more for the artistic community and opening up like opportunities for newer actors. So like, yeah, Speaking of Oliver, Speaking of precious boy, one off character who we need we should have more of. But obviously, yeah, we end this transitional scene, like this whole little montage with Charlie Torrey and Oliver are playing Mario Kart in the most Charlie and Tori way, where Oliver is now trying to sabotage Charlie and Tori's going yes,

yes, Oliver sabotage that's. Really funny. God that was so funny. And I love it. This one was definitely for the comic fans, people who've read this winter so. And it was necessary. 100% it was so cute. All right. So then after that we are going to transition to New Year's. It would have been better if like we ended the Christmas with Nick being like there's always New Year's. Then we transition, transition. That would have like the perfect setup, honestly. But it's true.

It's, you know, it's the work. It's the work. Yeah, I think it's really cute that we literally start out with Nick. Just he's getting all ready, making himself look all nice and handsome for Charlie. Even though they've been dating for almost a year at this point, he's still like wants to make himself look nice for his man. He poses in front of the mirror with Henry specifically. Like we don't see him pose by himself.

We just see him pose with Henry because this is like the presentation that he wants to give when Charlie walks in the door is he's. Holding him free, it's so. Funny it even says you ready and Henry just goes what I I love the facial expressions from Henry. This this little pug who has no idea what's happening, the cutest thing. So cute. And of course, when Charlie comes over, he's like, how's my tiny boy? Which is adorable, Charlie.

So Nick has his license now. Nick has passed his exam, so he is now able to drive. And Charlie teases him. He's like, you do know that you're not going to be my taxi driver from now on. And Nick, typical Nick fashion says, lucky me. Because now this means Nick and Charlie don't have, they have so much more freedom to go wherever they want together. They don't have to necessarily take the bus. They don't have to necessarily have to walk to each other's place anymore.

They don't have to ask a parent for a ride or anything. They don't have to coordinate anything. They can literally just, they can get in the car and go if he really wants to. So that was really cute. And then they get to the party. This is something that, OK, this is a moment that I thought was a really interesting and really good choice. So they get to the party and Nick and Charlie are sitting together and they share a look

and Charlie takes Nick's hand. And it it almost seems like you would think that it would have been the other way around, that it would have been Nick taking Charlie's hand in the sense of like, like the typical pattern's been like Nick going, I'm here for you. I know you're nervous, but this is like, this is Charlie asking for support, which is kind of like literally trying to honor what Nick said in the last scene, which is you need to let us be there for you.

And that is exactly what Charlie's trying to do here is be like, I want, I want you here with me. And he takes his hand and it's like the it's like the best little detail. And I love, I love the choice that Charlie is the one who does it and not Nick. So, but that was such a good. Read on that scene. Thank you for that. Yeah, Thank you. That was fantastic. Yeah, I agree. Yeah. I no, no, it's that that is Canon. That's what that was happening

in that scene. OK, so with his his emotional support boyfriend, Charlie and Nick then enter the rager and like, immediately the friends spot them and they're like, yeah. And they pull them into like the festivities happenings. And the friends at this stage are El Tao and Isaac. And so Elle and Charlie are having like a little sidebar and they're like catching up because you know, Elle's way at school. So like they you know, their catch up sessions are like few and far between now.

So they're catching up. And Elle reveals that her art is blowing up on Instagram even more. And now she has 20,000 followers where I think last time she had like 10,000. So like Elle's gaining like notoriety as like an artist, which is pretty cool and will become a plot point in another episode. So pin in that and then the rest of the gang shows up. So like Imogen, Sahar, Tar and Darcy then show up and now the whole para squad is there and they break it to like this

dancing montage because party. I just want to know how this is just the cutest little thing, how much Imogen seems to sincerely adore Charlie. I just, I don't know what it is about it. I just think it's the sweetest little thing. Like she literally she sees him, she squeals and she runs up and tackle hubs him and she pulls him into dance. And I just, I love it's like

such an underrated little thing. And I, I want to see more interactions between Charlie and Imogen in the future because I just, I would love this to be a friendship, especially being so full circle with like Imogen having that little crush, that crush on Nick. And the whole thing about her not knowing about Nick and Charlie at the time in season 1 and then Nick coming out to her in the beginning of season 2.

And now she's like, now her and Charlie are like buddies and, and this would be such the cutest thing. It's almost like, what is it like the like your ex, like your ex's become best friends or whatever. Like, kind of like really. Funny, it is kind of like that. Like cute story so I would love. That I would like more of those scenes too. So after their little reunion, they all, they all dance because like party time and they're

having like a gay old time. And then Tara at some point like sneaks away and tries to like, drink away her feelings basically. Because. She's been stressed the whole season basically and tries to go get a drink and then some randos like corner her and they're like, hey, you're a prefect, help us with something school related. And it's like, children, this is a party, not fucking classroom. Like what are you doing?

Leave this woman alone. And she freaks out because like here's Tara trying to like have a normal day, like what Charlie was saying. And like, here's all the scholastic pressures, like physically coming at her in a party when they're not supposed to be. So like Sara's like, for fuck's sake. And like, I feel so bad for her. So she gets real stressed out when she's trying to have fun. And so like, she's going to isolate herself for the rest of the party because she's just

stressed out. And then we cut away from Tara and like, we get another Imogene and Sahara scene, but they're in person this time. So Imogen, Sahara is like doing whatever. And like Imogen approaches her to grab, quote, champagne off the table that's in front of Sahara. And then they start flirting for like a hot 2nd and it's all smiles and giggles or whatever.

And then some Brando dude shows up and Imogen immediately throws herself with the dude and the dude whisks her away and the bitch literally twirls to go dance with this guy and I'm like girl. And like once again, poor Sahar is personally victimized by the comp head agenda multiple times. Actual agenda. But let's focus on what happened before that because that was very, very cute between the two of them. And they both looked like just so light and easy going together.

Like there wasn't a bunch of stuff going on behind them. But yeah, of course a heart because the her face when Imogen leaves is like, I can't believe I'm still falling for this shit. Yeah, again, it's it's terrible. But feelings are feelings like you can't escape them. They just exist. So I feel a bad first of heart in the scene. It's just sucks. So after that nonsense, then we cut over to Darcy and Darcy is having a bro session with one of Elle's art schoolmates and I forget.

I don't know either of these character names, but. This one's fair. Chill. This one's Felix. OK cool I forgot the names, sorry guys. And so Felix and Darcy are bonding over their gender non conforming journeys, which is really great that Darcy has like a comrade that they can talk to. And I love the advice Felix gives, which is you don't have to come out as anything, just have fun with it and just chill.

I know. And Darcy's response is, yeah, I will have fun with it. Thank you very much. And it's really sweet because like, that's basically the scene with Darcy and Gran. Like Darcy was doing gender expression and having fun with Gran. And like, I'm glad that like, Darcy got the validation there,

which is really great. Then we kind of heard of Nick and Charlie and they're just chilling when some rando comes by and it's like, hey Charlie. This is like the scene of rando and some rando comes by and it's like, hey Charlie.

Why weren't you in school? For like 500 years and Charlie starts panicking because I don't think anyone's confronted Charlie really with this question or Charlie's really had to answer in depth about this to anybody outside of his immediate family and friend because we just saw that at Christmas. Like he like clearly the his like, you know, second removed relatives don't know the details. Definitely people at school that aren't the Paris squad definitely don't know this and so.

Before. Charlie can even like come up with an answer. Nick's like, Oh yeah, fireworks and pulls Charlie away. So I think that like Charlie probably still isn't comfortable with fully divulging everything to any like most people at this point. Nor shouldn't he have to be, because like that. You don't have to share. Everything with people. True, but also if someone hasn't been in school. For a while. And you aren't in their immediate friend group. Don't ask them about it,

especially again at a party. Is it weirder to be like, where were you versus like, hey, I have a prefect question for like, what the hell was that question? That was so weird. You're at a party. Why? It's like, bring it up. Work outside work. It's like, can you stop talking about work? We're at a bar. Just shut the fuck up. Get over yourself. Yeah. You know, Carly doesn't have to answer. But like, I don't blame the kids for being curious because, you know, they could be worried,

too. They'd be like, where were you? Like, are you OK? He's not wrong for them to ask, but like, you're right. Charlie owes them nothing. And so Nick didn't even give him the chance. He just pulled Charlie out of there. Then we cut over to Ellen Tao and they're like flirting hardcore and they start dancing and it gets very electric, shall we say. And we get the animations and electric butterflies. So like, I love that.

And once Elle is like very close to Tau, I think Elle recognizes what's going on with the electricity and sexual attention and so she likes like Tau. I'm going to go get a drink because this is her version of like I'm going on a walk. So she goes to get a drink and runs into 2nd art bestie whose name I also forgot. Do you remember Elena? Naomi is her name. Naomi, thank you. But before we get to that conversation, can we just talk about Tao's face when she leaves?

Because he just kind of like, does this thing is like, I guess I'll just pretend I'm dancing. Especially after Tao does like the his signature dance move, which is the little this thing, the hands. It's like his signature dance move. And then Elle does it with him, which is so cute, such a nice touch. They're they're just. Dorks together and I freaking

love them. OK, so Ellen, Naomi have a conversation where basically I was like, listen, I want to like take our relationship further in a physical way with Tao, but like feels guilty about the body dysmorphia that she still has and is worried that that's going to be a barrier. Because that that was kind of like what happened in the previous scene where they were alone together and like Elle couldn't control it. It just happened. She's like, I'm just worried this is going to come up again.

I can't control it. And it's like going to be an issue between the two of us. Even though he says it's not, which like is a valid like thing to think, you know, totally get it. But Naomi basically gives Elle a sex pep talk about Tao that boils down to do things at your own pace and just know Tao's going to understand. And also, I'm here for you, even if he doesn't. Like, you have support in all the ways.

Basically, it's kind of like mirroring the Felix conversation where Felix was telling Darcy do things at your own pace. That's basically what Naomi's saying. Do things at your own pace, have fun with it and just chill. It's going to be fine. Like, you have support and like, honestly, this is just solid advice, period. For, like, life. Yeah, very. True, I love the choice of having Naomi be the one.

Especially because Naomi, who is also a transgender woman, like agreed, can obviously like empathize completely with that feeling. And the fact that she immediately, like when Elle comes over and says I want to have sex with Tao, she's like, Oh my God. And she immediately understands like what that means for Elle because she gets it. She's been there.

So whether or not she's been intimate before, we don't know obviously, but like she gets like what Elle's probably feeling because of her dysphoria and everything. So I love that that was the choice, if anything, just to have a good excuse to have a scene with Naomi because we've barely seen her this season. So I want more of her and Felix

because I love them both. So they're like the best supportive friends for Elle, especially like because they're the friends that she has at art school. So I love this little friend group she has. Yeah, they're very helpful to mentor the up and coming queers coming into their. The baby queers. The baby gaze. The baby gaze.

So from here we head outside where Nick and Charlie are sitting by the bonfire and Charlie tells Nick that he will probably be ready to leave after the fireworks, which Nick is completely fine with. So Nick leans on Charlie's shoulder and just says thank you and then tells Charlie that he is really glad that he is back because the last party that Nick went to was the Halloween one and he was alone for that one and he felt it he was that was that was rough for him.

It really was very rough. And now he finally has his person back and like, he's complete, like he's happy, and you just see how comfortable he is when Charlie's around. And that means that even though Nick is like worrying about Charlie, it's still giving him the sense of feeling complete, of feeling safe himself. And it's not just him worrying, even more. Like it's still better to have Charlie with him because he's just going to worry if he can't be there, yeah. That's true.

I. Think there's also an anxiety when you worry about somebody and you can't see them versus like worrying about them but they are right in front of you. Like there is a different kind of anxiety and worry about them because then you don't know what's going on and you don't know how to help because you're literally not there so. Yeah. That's true. So Speaking of not there, Tori's not there until she is and she.

Like a ghost. She so Tori shows up and asks how Charlie's night is going and Charlie's response is it's better than Christmas and then her face does this. I can't even explain what her face. Does. But she says that's pretty low bar. Right and. We're not, we're going to stop talking about Tori for a second and talk about Jenny because she's a genius with physical comedy. Like the first of all, comedic timing is great, so good. But the physicality is just

amazing. And it's because it's not over the top. It's just like very slight too. And Jenny doesn't have many credits because Heart Stopper is her main role. I'm just I'm very hopeful about her future and I really want her to get a comedy. Agreed. And some other great projects. Let's get on it people. I really want her and Derek, the guy who plays Michael to do another project like solitaire.

Solitaire spin off maybe. But like, even if it wasn't that, I would love for them to do something else together because they just do so well so. They need a comedy. Together they do. Yes. And praise be to Jeff because Charlie has gotten through the night without any breakdowns, which is huge. Notice that he's now better with groups of people as long as Nick's around and his family is not there. So you know, it's going great. A lot better than Christmas.

And then Charlie asks finally asked something about Tori. Like. She's like, oh, you know, my sister's here, I should probably check in on her too. So he asked where her friends are and she looks down and says that they are off being fun and cheerful. And I thought it was interesting that she says being and not having. And it shows that she's talking about the personalities of her friends rather than what they are doing and shows that she doesn't really know how to fit

in with them. Because she's like, I know I'm not like them and they don't want to be around me because they are cheerful. They know how to have fun. I I'm doom and gloom right now. Or at least that's how she's feeling. And like, that's not her fault either. Yeah, this is the solitaire journey with Tori and her friends. You know. And then again, Charlie is finally there for her in this moment, and he assures her that she will find someone who she actually enjoys being around.

Because like, someone who gets her, everyone needs that. And like Charlie found his. And I, it's probably hard for Tori to see that too. And like, Charlie, have a huge friend group like that because she doesn't have that. And maybe she doesn't necessarily want that big of a friend group, but you always want to be understood by someone. And again, she's alone right now. So hopefully that happens conveniently later in this episode.

Yes, but we first have to head to Imogen and Sahar waiting for the fireworks. So Imogen's like a cowering puppy right now, being like, I want to be next to you, but I know I messed up. Well, Sahara's like a lot more relaxed and fairly ignored, annoyed because, you know, the last time that they actually talked was Halloween, which means they're long overdue to have a conversation about what the hell happened on Halloween. It is filmed. It will forever be remembered in video format.

And so hard, like, rightfully so, like thinks that Imogen's just there to kiss her at midnight because I forget his name. It's not Henry, is it? Henry someone one of the the guys was like, it's almost midnight, find someone to carry. Perry Yeah. I was like, wait, Henry? I heard Henry. I was like the pug. What? Right. I know I wasn't Henry. Perry. I'm like, they wouldn't have two characters named Henry. I mean they're. In Auckland you could absolutely have two characters named Henry.

They did for sure. They did actually in the comics, but in fact, Jack Maddox is actually Henry Maddox in the comics. So they did change that for the show. So fun fact, we'll just call him Jonathan Bailey. Anyway, it's fine. Yeah, cuz yeah, yeah, Harry has to make at least one appearance, so. Listen. It was in Harry's season 1 contract. Any any subsequent seasons must have at least 5 seconds of screen. Time. Yeah, Cormac has to at least be in five seconds for sure.

He has to say at least one line. I mean, there you go. OK, so Sahar, Imogen starts, that's OK. Hold on. Why is that when Imogen goes up to Sahar? That. Is also interesting, like was in the back of her mind, like, oh, I do want to kiss her. I feel like that's just where she ended up, right? And then she's like, I guess we

should talk. Yeah, because like basically when Imogen's like Sahara basically is like calls her out in a second and is like, did you, of course you came over here and just as midnight it's going to happen because you probably want to kiss me or whatever. And Imogen's like, I don't know why I'm here.

I think there's a like, I think she's spiraling and like a lot of subconscious things are coming to the surface and I don't think she's recognizing her own behavior and feelings truly at this moment and is just like lost. And so she's like keeps gravitating to Sahar, but I don't think she knows why is the thing. And Zahar again, who's like processed her sexuality, understands a lot more of herself is just like, stop using me. I can see what you're doing.

And Jim's like, I really don't know what I'm doing right now. I'm lost. So I think you're right. It is subconscious to her. Credit, she does apologize for what happens and admits that she was being toxic, which is a very strong word and something that people never really say about themselves. So for the fact that she knows that that was messed up is huge character growth for her, for her to like accept something like knowing that like, oh, it's not OK to pretend like it's an experiment.

She doesn't know what's going on right now, but she knows there is something that she has to work through and that it wasn't fair to Sahar and Sahar's understanding about it. But again, she's Sahar and she stands up for herself and says that she doesn't want to be an experiment, which like, that's totally fair and no one really wants to be an experiment. And that's what Imogen was treating her as by not validating the kiss. Really. And then Sahar let's a bomb a bomb drop.

Because she says. And you know that you're the reason why I realized I was bi. And. Imogen's mind explodes. Sahar, did you tell her this or did you like make that up in your head that you told her This is my question, no. Seriously, didn't she didn't even know that she was bi last year or like last season? How would she know that she was the reason that you? Realized that. Yeah. That's what I wanna know. Like I feel like Sahar made this up in her head or like, dreamed it.

And Mintons like wait. What did this? Happen. This was a very explicit. Dream that ended very nicely for Sahar in there. I mean, it's possible, no, at least literally when she says in season 2 I'm bisexual and she walks away, there's like there's this exchange that we don't see on screen cuz like Imogen follows her and you kind of can hear her say Sahara. I didn't know that. And then the dialogue kind of trails off cuz then we go to Tara and Darcy.

But so we don't actually know what the exchange was. But I'm curious if, like, Sahara was like trying to hint at it and she thought that Imogen got the message or something. I don't know. Yeah, like. You know what, with Imogen, she could have probably been distracted by something like trying to create the image of herself while Sahar literally told her. Oh my God. Because we don't even see at the after she says this to her. Like I didn't know that.

Like we could have went to the next part and they could have been like Sahar could have said. I. We literally had a conversation about this. That's true. Like where were you? Imogen's dial so deep at that point, it's possible that like Sahar flat out said it and she did not compute. Sahar literally was just like, I think you're really beautiful. And Imogen could have just been like, oh, thanks, bestie. Right. Exactly. So like that would make Sahar's energy towards energy make a lot

more sense. Where she's like, I thought we were on the same page and like, they're not. Yeah. So yeah, probably a conversation officer. Yeah, that makes sense. Which means that Halloween kiss meant a lot more to some heart, especially if she thought that Imogen knew about right her feelings, that fact. Oh yeah. Oh, those two are so messy and I love them.

I want to see more of that. I appreciate the compat journey, I really do, because it's so real for so many people and like the sooner we can deconstruct the comp head agenda because it's actually the one with the agenda, the happier people will be because it just does psychological damage to people. Yeah, poor Imogen. Another person we have to say poor. Speaking of psychological damage. Yeah, thank you. That's that's a better segue back with Tori.

She's walking to the party and just like has her arms in. Does she have her diet lemonade? Is that what that is? She has something in her hands that she's like holding and she's just like making herself small and walking through the party when she locks eyes with a new face who we know all too well. At least if you read solitaire. It's Mike Holden if you. Haven't. Why haven't you? Yeah, go read Solitaire. Solitaire's the best. OK, so Speaking of solitaire,

love this for them. Thing I also love about it is when they lock eyes in the particular room that they're in, it's bathed in this pinkish red color, which is the same color as the solitaire book cover. At least like the new edition where it's very pink and stuff because of the fire that triggers Caitlin into a rant, which we're not getting into. Wait, that's why it's. Pink. Yeah. Cuz there's some fire raging.

Yeah, yeah, girl. So. Anyway, no, we're not ranting about that, but I just love that like again, they're sticking with like, this is solitaire, everyone. You want the colors? Oh. My God, what's such a what? Started the whole journey. It's true. We know Nick and Charlie without solitaire. It is it. It was Alice's very first book, so Corey was her very first character, so. Here we are. Oh my God.

And it's such a meat cute too. Like in its own way, like obviously like those of us who have read solitaire, we kind of know the journey of like where this starts and where the journey goes. But this is like such a meat cute for them because the moment they lock eyes, so like you hear all the chatter of like the background noise of the poverty. As soon as they lock eyes, that music or the chatter is gone. It is just the music that is it is pure silence, no chatter.

And it's just the the music behind it and then the lyrics. And after that there's like this moment of pause where they just stare at each other. And then it cuts to a shot of like, Tori about to walk away. And there is this. She doesn't get the gay leaves animation. She gets a snowflake, which is really cute. Nice little touch because of the fact that this episode is literally called Winter. But also, is this meant to be a representation of something? Could this be Tori's asexuality?

Or is it just Tori as a whole in her belief she has no soul, that she's cold, that she's she has no love for anybody but Charlie? Could this symbolize something? All right, I have a take on. It give it give it Caitlin. So as we've mentioned previously, No2 snowflakes are the same, but here there's just one. And we know that Tori feels very different from everyone else. She is a snowflake. She doesn't. She's not the same as anybody else. Also, no one is.

But since there's only one snowflake swirling in the scene, it could be indicating that the two of them are alike, which means they share a snowflake. I like that to go off piggyback off the snowflakes as unique thing too. It's like Tori and Michael. Spoiler alert. I mean, not so much if you've seen the show form a very unique bond and unique relationship that's really unlike anything

else in this show too. So it's also that take too, that they're about to form this very unique connection and very like one that like is nothing. It's a connection that Tori doesn't have in her life that she kind of can't compare to anything else. So it's going to be a unique bond that they're about to have. So if you have any takes on the

snowflake, let us know. When Tori turns to walk away, her face she's just, there's this like a slight smile that happens and it's mixed with confusion, excitement, bewilderment, all the emotions all in one. She's like, she was just hit with an emotion bomb and she, it's like she in inside out. Like she had no, she had emotions, but like they weren't all there and then all of a sudden they all moved in all at once. And she's like, what the hell do I do with this?

But her, her life's changed now. And like no words are spoken between the two of them. And there, there was a connection there. And like, that's so Tory. It is. It was perfect, actually perfect. OK, but before we get to the very end, just we get a quick update on everybody while there is a countdown for the fireworks.

So Tara and Darcy. Tara went off on her own again, and Darcy finally finds her and it's showing that Tara can't even be with Darcy right now, which is the first sign of trouble when the person is isolating themselves. So Tara, we're getting to a dark place for Tara now, and we've really got to see these signs. And I think Darcy is, this is where Darcy's starting to see it and is there for Tara Moore.

And then we see James go up to Isaac and I guess Isaac starts panicking or something or. But James, like Amelia says, don't worry, I'm not here to kiss you. I just don't want to be alone at midnight. And I just. Think that's so sweet because it's just like, I just want to be near you and like I ship this friendship. Yeah. OK, so then Elle and Tao, as always, are doing their own thing. Elle doesn't give a damn about the countdown and she just pulls Tao into a bedroom.

Yeah, so they have sex for the 1st. Time and then then fireworks go off for Sahara and Imogen because they kiss. And now Imogen is going to have a harder time explaining this one away to herself, so she's going to face some facts. Yeah, and then we get like the Nick and Charlie kiss, and then the countdown happens. And then we get Tori the queen that she is walking away from all of this, making out with her diet lemonade in hand.

And then we get fireworks going off behind her, which I love. Yeah, that asexual flag firework production. Team I. See you. I see. That's right. Have you ever seen fireworks that color before? No, they literally did it for this show. I love it. It's. So awesome for the Queen. Tori. Perfect. You're so great. That's so great. But this episode is book ended with Tori as. It should be, and she deserves it. It starts with Tori and it ends with Tori. That's great.

Wait, it's like last episode where it starts with like Nick, not not Nick, Charlie. Well, it does start with Nick, but it's like Charlie's journey. This is Tori's journey. It would make sense considering the beginning to the end. We do start with Tori and the novella too. And like, she does narrate most like, a majority of the novella, so that makes sense, yeah. You go Tori, and that concludes winter. So we've made it to the end. So it's time to give out the Big Gay Energy awards.

I can start. I want to give the Big Gay Energy award to the conversation with Naomi and Elle because like you pointed out, Elena, I love that you had two trans characters talking about sex together and doing like a sex pep talk. Because like, you had two characters who have similar experiences, who actually understand each other, who can have this conversation, who created a safe space. We're very real with each other. And I love that. And I love that Elle and Naomi

have each other. Gran automatically gets an honorary gay energy award. I was going to give it to whenever. She's on the screen. Gran and Darcy. So like, that's a given because Gran's the best. Like you can't. It's like Olivia Coleman, like you always whenever they're in an episode, they get an honorary award. So we have to pick someone else, correct?

I think I'm going to say Tori because she's did communicate her feelings and stuck up for herself even though she was still worried about Charlie. True. I'm gonna have to give it to Isaac this episode cuz while he wasn't in like a ton, he was literally just a vibe the entire episode. Like the first part of the episode, he's got the cozy beverage and he's like reading

his book. And then we go to the New Year's Eve party and there's, OK, there's this shot that I just, I actually laughed out loud when I saw it. But there's the shot right before Ellen Tao that kind of heated with their dancing. And there's a shot of the group like all swaying to the music. And Isaac has on like these glasses. He's just. Going. Swaying to the music. I'm just like. He was such a vibe in that scene. It was so funny.

It just made me laugh for some reason because you could just tell Toby was having so much fun with it. And then when he is like in that circle at midnight, not kissing anybody, just dancing and singing. That was literally my New Year's. This year was like dancing around, singing New York, NY by Frank Sinatra, because that's what plays on Rock and Eve. We're all just in a bar, like singing and dancing. No one's kissing anybody. So Isaac was my vibe this episode. So he gets my award.

I love that. Yes, absolutely. This has been a very long episode as usual, so if you made it this far, we want to know. Here is your phrase for this episode that you are challenged to use in a review or a comment. However, reviews would be great. So today's phrase. Technically is Hashtag Tori deserves better. All right. Good luck with that. Because she did. Deserve better, but we love our Queen Tori. She's the best. All right, well, that concludes winter.

We'll be back next time to talk about episode 6. And in the meantime, hydrate for lesbian Jesus. And gate up all over the place. Bye. And with that, we've been big gay energy. Thank you for listening. We'd really appreciate it if you downloaded this episode and left us a review. No matter how brief, your contribution will help us reach a wider audience. We would love to hear from you

about everything and anything. You can find us on all social media platforms at Big Gay Energy Pod or e-mail us at [email protected]. Join our Discord server to connect with us and our friends who also love queer media. The link to join is in our episode description below if you'd like to support us. Check out our merch store on big gayenergypod.com or join our Patreon for early access to episodes, exclusive content, and so much more.

Until next time. Hydrate for lesbian Jesus and get it up all over the place.