Perfect

**Perfect** is the eighth episode of the second season of Netflix's *Heartstopper*, and the sixteenth episode of the series overall. It also serves as the season finale.

## Synopsis

*The gang comes together for a memorable prom with a fitting theme: "Summer of Love." But with someone important missing... it feels incomplete.*

## Plot

Nick comes out to everyone by posting a photo with Charlie on Instagram. He cutely captions it ‘Boyfriends <3 (I’m Bisexual, actually!).

Tao and Elle also officially accept that they are boyfriend and girlfriend.

At the prom, prep Tara is unable to get things up in time because Darcy is absent from all the action. So, she calls in the gang for help.

Nick talks to Tao about how the bullying that happened to Charlie had left a permanent hole in his life. He says that it has affected him so much that even now, he feels affected by all the attention that he is getting, and it’s especially hard for him because Charlie doesn’t express those things to him. Tao tells him that Charlie never ever told about his bullying experience to him as well, and since he has been carrying all of it in his heart, it is slowly affecting him.

Everyone arrives at prom except for Darcy. Nick and Charlie go in together, and as expected, they see a mixed reaction from people. After Tao and Elle go on the dance floor, and the rest of group spreads out. Tara is worried about Darcy and decides to go find her. So, when Darcy arrives fashionably late and the group decides to leave, she gets to know that Tara is not at the prom but has gone to Darcy’s home instead. When she reaches her house, she realizes the reason why Darcy acts the way she does. She understands that her mother comes from a rather regressive mindset and doesn’t accept her daughter for who she is.

Nick then calls Tara to his house, where the entire group is, along with Darcy. They all share a hug, and then Darcy and Tara discuss why she has not been telling Tara about what is going on with her at the house with her mum.

She confesses that she has been hiding who she is, even from her parents, and that has been really tough for her. Both of them say I Love You a million times after they resolve the fact that they can’t be perfect.

After having a nice time hanging out, all of them leave except Charlie.

Charlie and Nick get into bed and kiss each other before Nick tries to bring him to a point where he opens up. He is sensitive towards Charlie’s stand but also wants to know how he feels because his obsession with being ‘perfect’ is slowly affecting him.

Charlie slowly begins to open up. He tells him that after someone overheard Tao speaking about Charlie being gay, he realized how homophobic people were, even in modern society. He says that people would call him disgusting to his face, and because it was so relentless for so long that he started believing in what they were saying. He confesses that this bullying made him hate himself so much that he would often cut himself.

The confession makes Nick emotional, and he cries while hugging him. He makes him aware of the fact that he will be there by his side and not feel burdened if it ever gets bad for him again.

Nick is about to say ‘I love you’ to Charlie before his mother returns home and Charlie has to leave. As Charlie walks back home, he types out ‘I Love You’ to Nick, but it is unknown if he sent it or not.

## Cast

### Starring

* Kit Connor as Nick Nelson
* Joe Locke as Charlie Spring
* William Gao as Tao Xu
* Yasmin Finney as Elle Argent
* Tobie Donovan as Isaac Henderson
* Jenny Walser as Tori Spring
* Sebastian Croft as Ben Hope
* Cormac Hyde-Corrin as Harry Greene
* Fisayo Akinade as Mr. Ajayi
* Chetna Pandya as Coach Singh
* Nima Taleghani as Youssef Farouk
* Leila Khan as Sahar Zahid
* Stephen Fry as Headmaster Barnes *(Voice only)*
* Olivia Colman as Sarah Nelson

### Guest-Starring

* Evan Ovenell as Christian McBride
* Araloyin Oshunremi as Otis Smith
* Bradley Riches as James McEwan
* Rachael Stirling as Amanda Olsson
* Laura Hanna as Mariam Argent
* Habib Nasib Nader as Richard Argent

## Music

* Colours of You - by Baby Queen
* Run Away With Me - by Carly Rae Jepsen
* Young - by Neon Capital
* Happy New Year - by Let's Eat Grandma
* Seven - by Taylor Swift
* Ur So Pretty - by Wasia Project

## References

1. ↑ Watch the opening scene of ‘Heartstopper’ season two - NME