Alice taking Charlie's speech to Harry at Tara's party and instead having him say it in his final scene with Ben where he's able to finally tell him off.

CHEF'S KISS

Me reading Solitaire, realizing that Ben Hope is there:

I don’t know if this is an unpopular opinion, but I REALLY don’t want Ben to continue to be on Heartstopper. It is no offense to Bash, as he seems like a really nice guy and I get why Alice and the cast like him, but imo, that is not a good reason to keep the character around. He completed his arc in s1, he doesn’t stick around in the comics except Solitaire in which ***spoiler alert*** he is no better and in fact physically beats Charlie. Other than that, he is Charlie’s piece of shit ex who has no arc outside of the first comic, which has already been covered.

Ben humiliated, manipulated, hurt, and sexually assaulted Charlie. It was dealt with throughout the season and concluded with the scene between them on the football field. There is no more point to his character. He isn’t going to get a redemption arc, and we already have an antagonist in Harry who actually DOES appear in the other comics and DOES get some actual character development. 

Nick sitting next to Charlie vs Nick sitting next to Ben

Nick Charlie and Imogen get behind me. Ben I am exploding you with my mind.

Imogen, get behind me!

“I hate you because you literally assaulted him” DRAG HIS ASS. BEN NOPE HATER FOR LIFE!

I need to rant once about this issue because it bothers me a lot. I think I have tweeted about it a bit but twitter have word limits.

It's weeks I keep thinking of the side of the fandom who likes the actor who plays Ben so much they want Ben to have a redemption arc and I genuinely don't... Because it would go against what the character is and stands for, and sometimes it's ok to have people who are bad not realizing how BAD they are and keeping being bad if not maybe... 10 years later in therapy, when they understand they're shit? It's ok for some characters to not be able to see how wrong and toxic they are, because there are people like that, people who get to feel better one or two moments just by bullying the other person, but deep inside feel like shit because they're unhappy yet they're aren't able to break free of that mechanism that works for them. They're toxic and the only way to feel ok is by controlling others, controlling their partner, and seeking their own happiness and satisfaction over the other person's needs.

I don't want to see Ben more than necessary, to be fair he already had more scenes than the comic but they worked ok in the context of being a shit to Charlie until Charlie stands up for himself and his newfound happiness in his new relationship! I genuinely don't wanna see Ben have a redemption arc because at what pro? He doesn't show any sign of regret or understanding, the show has already short eps anyways and I don't want to see Charlie deal with him more than necessary,, if he reappears in s02. I don't want any romanticization of what they had, either, or his feelings for Charlie, because even if he might have had some, they have been far from healthy... The way he treated Charlie leaves no excuse or doubt, as he always prioritized himself and his needs, hurt Charlie when he didn't do what Ben wanted (i.e. The assault), and when they "broke up" he didn't wait a minute to gaslight him "who would even want to date you?" and belittle him (imo that was the worst part of the whole thing, or him saying things like yeah it's impossible for nick to be serious about Charlie because Charlie is a pathetic loser)... He keeps talking shit about Charlie, denying he even felt attraction for him, saying that Charlie isn't worth of love. That's the harshest thing to say, a spiteful remark that might be considered ok in other shows were the bully gets a redemption arc because deep inside he was ✨gay✨ and everything is forgiven now that he knows himself, but not in Heartstopper, the show that tries to show what's a good healthy romantic relationship, with their ups and downs but nonetheless spurring from genuine love and care.

In addition, I think the show made me hate Ben even more than the comic did because it clearly presents how his words and action have affected Charlie, even in his happy relationship with Nick, when Charlie has doubts about them being boyfriends... Ben has traumatized Charlie, gaslit him, made him believe that you can't ask too much from a relationship, can't have that sort of happiness or understanding, and I honestly won't forgive him, and I hope the show never does and never goes down that unnecessary path for the sake of fans.

Sometimes it's ok to look at your bully and say "you don't get to have an opinion on anything I do", and just leave and live your life at your best. Sometimes forgiveness isn't the answer either!! And it's ok!! You don't owe your forgiveness to homophobic toxic exes and bullies 👁️👄👁️

Ben really had the audacity to say that Nick was just like him.

BITCH WHERE?

"If I were Devi, I would've picked Paxton."

Well, you're not Devi. She didn't love Paxton and she moved on from him.

Paxton didn't pick her, either. He moved on from her.

Ben never moved on from Devi. Devi never moved on from Ben. They dated other people to distract themselves from each other, but they were always drawn to each other.

In the end, there wasn't a choice. There was only Ben for Devi and Devi for Ben. You don't have to like it, but that's how it is.

If they’re gonna make changes from the heartstopper comics, why does the change need to be keeping Ben Hope? 😭

Could you imagine if someone said something like “ATLA would’ve been a better show if Zuko was tempted towards joining team Avatar and fighting to end the war but instead chose to pursue evil and staunchly rejected any chance of redemption . Wouldn’t it be so compelling if after the Crossroads of Destiny, Zuko just became more evil? Yeah, I mean fully embracing fire nation nationalism and becoming like his father. I would love it if the narrative presented us with the possibility of his redemption only for it to subvert those expectations and have him begin and end as an ontologically evil villain who remains static for all three seasons. What an amazing character arc that would be.”

This is what “Ben Solo should never have been redeemed” discourse sounds like to me. I know people have their interpretations, but I am genuinely so baffled by the idea that his character would’ve been improved if they had done what is essentially a retread of Anakin’s arc in the prequels. It’s complete and utter nonsense and I’m so annoyed by all of the people talking about that idea as if it’s SOOOOOO DEEP when in reality it’s probably the shallowest storyline you could come up with.

Imogen ily but please raise your standards 😭

B*n messing with Nick? Time to bring back the anti-homophobia bin