Who is Oliver Spring? Heartstopper Season 3’s new character explained

As a dedicated Heartstopper fan who has been following this series since its inception, I must say that I am both excited and confused by the introduction of Oliver Spring in Season 3. On one hand, it’s fantastic to finally see this beloved character from the comics make an appearance. However, his role as a cousin instead of a brother feels like a bit of a letdown for those of us who have grown attached to the Spring siblings over the years.


Fervent followers of the series “Heartstopper” have been expressing their frustration over an absent character for quite some time, but with the arrival of Season 3, the character of Oliver Spring is introduced in a fresh and unexpected manner.

If you’re fond of Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper, it’s probably because the narrative charm lies in the fact that regardless of the plot, it’s the heartwarming, endearing relationships that hold everything together.

Nevertheless, Heartstopper Season 3 seems to be heading down a more somber path. Charlie grapples with his struggle against an eating disorder, while the group as a whole ponders deeply about their respective futures.

A new development has arisen – the audience is now catching glimpses of the previously absent character, Oliver Spring. However, one may wonder why his appearance didn’t occur until Season 3 of the Netflix series, and what sets this from previous instances.

Heartstopper Season 3 introduces a different Oliver Spring

In Heartstopper Season 3, Oliver is depicted as Tori and Charlie’s cousin on screen, however, he is actually their younger brother in the original comic books.

Who is Oliver Spring? Heartstopper Season 3’s new character explained

Heartstopper announced in July that Oliver Spring, a younger relative of Tori and Charlie, will be making a cameo appearance in Season 3. Alice Oseman shared her excitement about introducing this much-loved comic book character to the series’ audience!

I’m really disappointed that we’ll only get to see Olivier in a single Christmas-themed episode (Episode 5), as he drops by Charlie’s place. This installment delves into Olivier’s connections with both Charlie and Tori, but things take a turn when Charlie decides to leave the house after a spat with his mom and heads off with Nick instead.

After a difficult day, it’s Tori who turns things around by organizing an enjoyable evening for the trio. They spend the night bonding over a game of Mario Kart in the living room instead.

Beyond this point, Oliver remains rather enigmatic. He seems to be more of a humorous nod (like an Easter egg in a comic) than a fully developed character. Details about his familial background, interactions with other family members during Christmas, and aspects of his life beyond the initial Heartstopper narrative are mostly unknown.

Who is Oliver Spring? Heartstopper Season 3’s new character explained

From the outset in the stories, we meet Oliver who is Charlie and Tori’s little brother. Despite being somewhat bothersome at times, it’s evident that he holds a deep affection for his siblings.

Beyond just taking a liking to Nick, Olivier is deeply fond of him as well. He significantly supports Charlie’s journey of self-discovery by being incredibly understanding and forming a strong bond with Nick swiftly. Despite his young age – he was around six years old when we initially met him – Olivier demonstrates maturity when needed.

In Oseman’s book “Solitaire,” Oliver is another character who appears. This novel delves into Tori’s main storyline. Here, he’s slightly advanced in age at seven, and the narrative unfolds during the gap between the Heartstopper series of novels. Primarily, he functions as a secondary, or background, character in this work.

Why has Oliver not been in the show before?

As per Oseman’s explanation, the fact that Oliver has not appeared so far and his role seems to have significantly evolved could be attributed to the challenging nature of casting younger actors, a process that might have caused changes in the character’s portrayal.

Who is Oliver Spring? Heartstopper Season 3’s new character explained

Beyond what’s posted on Instagram, there’s been no formal public statement from Oseman regarding this matter. Nevertheless, fans claim she’s spoken about it before, possibly during one of the numerous novel-related events.

Despite not being a minor detail, fans have found it quite noticeable that Oliver hasn’t appeared yet in the storyline, as this is the main plot point that varies significantly from the original content. As a result, many viewers are puzzled about the reason behind Oliver’s absence up until now.

If someone suggests including Oliver Spring as a character in Season 2 of Heartstopper, even though it may seem irrational, I’d be willing to overlook the illogic if it means seeing that eventually.

Another comment expressed sadness about not having Oliver Spring as part of the show’s universe, as the Spring siblings feel incomplete without him being there. They seem to be missing a vital piece with his absence.

If Oliver Spring could be unexpectedly included in Heartstopper season 2, I’d happily overlook any perceived illogic if it results in that happening.

— ☁️🍉 (@torisprjngs) May 4, 2022

Although no formal reason has been given for Oliver’s change from brother to cousin in the series, viewers won’t miss crucial moments due to this alteration. From a narrative standpoint, it seems appropriate as the storyline matures in Season 3, and we might not want young characters unexpectedly present during more adult scenes.

It’s still unclear whether we’ll meet Oliver once more, or if Heartstopper Season 4 gets the go-ahead, so for the time being, supporters can only hope for the best by keeping their fingers crossed.

Additionally, you’ll discover updates for Netflix’s Virgin River Season 6 and Stranger Things Season 5, along with various other TV series that will be streaming throughout the month.

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2024-10-03 11:23