Heartstopper Season 3 premieres on Oct. 3, welcoming fans back into the cozy embrace of Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) and Charlie Spring (Joe Locke). The last time we saw the couple, in the Season 2 finale, they were each on the precipice of saying those three special little words. But the first person we encounter at the start of Episode 1 is none other than Tori Spring (Jenny Walser), seen in the video above. 

Creator and executive producer Alice Oseman knows it’s a bit of a “curveball” to begin the season with anyone but Charlie or Nick. (Don’t worry, they share a very cute moment at the end of the sneak peek.) But Heartstopper’s creative team was excited to introduce Tori as a main character in her own right — especially because she plays a key role in supporting her brother, Charlie, in Season 3. (The upcoming episodes explore more mature themes, including mental health.) 

“We all decided we liked that [starting with Tori] was something unknown,” Oseman tells Tudum. “Tori has a much bigger role in this season, particularly related to Charlie’s mental health journey. Tori is really affected by that, because she cares about him so much.”  

Locke looks back happily on his scenes with Walser. “Jenny is a wonderful actress, so it’s been great to have some really meaty scenes with her and expand that brother-sister relationship,” he says. “It’s a really beautiful arc throughout the season.”

We get to glimpse one of those scenes in the clip. Although the video begins with Tori alone, it’s only a matter of seconds until she’s sitting in Charlie’s room, discussing his relationship with Nick. Charlie has been practicing saying “I love you,” but he’s nervous about how Nick will react when he finally summons up the nerve to say it to him. Oseman calls their heart-to-heart “adorable.” 

“We know by the end of Season 2 that Nick and Charlie love each other,” they say confidently. “But when you’re a teenager, I think saying the words ‘I love you’ holds so much weight. It’s a big declaration of commitment to someone. This isn’t just a teenage romance anymore — this is a real relationship.” 

This is a big step for Charlie, Locke says. “In Season 1 and 2, we see Charlie is quite shy. He’s quite quiet and not very confident. So for him to feel like he’s met someone he can say ‘I love you’ to — and think they might be able to say it back — is huge for him.” 

As Charlie and Nick embark on a more serious relationship in Heartstopper Season 3, you can expect the heat to turn up. “Season 3 is showing more mature and electric things,” Locke says. His co-star and on-screen love interest, Connor, agrees. “There’s sparks, tension, horniness, all of the above,” he adds with a grin. Connor teases that the passion isn’t limited to Nick and Charlie’s love story. 

“There’s a quite tense moment at a New Year’s Eve party between Tao and Elle,” he explains. “Sparks fly, and they get really excited and nervous.”

You can watch (animated) hearts fly between Nick and Charlie in the sneak peek video above. After all, as Connor promises, “In some ways, Heartstopper is still just the sweeties saying ‘Hi’ to each other.” See for yourself. 

Watch all of Heartstopper Season 3 when it debuts on Netflix Oct. 3. Until then, keep coming back to Tudum for all your Truham and Higgs news. 

Say “Hi” to the First Episode of Heartstopper: The Official Podcast