Ben Hope (Sebastian Croft) was a key character in the first two seasons of Heartstopper, but in season 3, he’s gone, leaving some viewers to wonder where he went, and without even a redemption arc. A British coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama series that premiered on Netflix in April 2022, Heartstopper is based on the graphic novel series of the same name by Alice Oseman (who is also the show’s creator). Heartstopper follows a group of friends at Truham Grammar School as they explore relationships and the facts of growing up.
Ben Hope is one of the main characters in Heartstopper seasons 1 and 2. He’s a complicated teen who struggles with his own bisexual identity. It’s an internal crisis that causes him to lash out at others, and he’s one of the biggest bullies in the series. One of his first targets is the gay student, Charlie (Joe Locke), who he bullies mercilessly. That is until they begin a romantic relationship, one that the closeted Ben insists be kept secret. Their love is marked by extreme toxicity from Ben, who throughout their relationship demeans Charlie.
Ben Didn’t Return To Heartstopper Season 3 Because He Is Leaving Truham For The Next School Year
Charlie Refuses To Accept Ben’s Apology
Before Ben departs from Heartstopper for good, he nearly redeems himself when he tries to apologize to Charlie for everything he’s put him through. For nearly the entire series, Ben has been an all-around awful character, but in season 2, episode 7, “Sorry”, a heartbroken Ben finally corners Charlie and offers him a heartfelt apology. He explains that he really liked Charlie, but he could never be who he really was, the same way Charlie could be. It’s a sobering look at Ben, and his externalized bigotry is put into context.
The usually shy and deferential Charlie does not accept the apology, reminding Ben that from their first meeting, he’d used Charlie.
Charlie’s response to the apology is just as important. The usually shy and deferential Charlie does not accept the apology, reminding Ben that from their first meeting, he’d used Charlie. It’s the last time Ben appears, as he is leaving Truham. Alice Oseman saw it as the right time for Ben to depart (via Netflix),
“Ben’s role in Heartstopper is now complete.”
Ben’s arc is over and Oseman thought it was very important that he not receive a “redemption moment”,
“Ben can become a better person, but Charlie should not have to witness that, endorse it, or offer any forgiveness. And so he won’t.”
Oseman’s words ring true, and it’s not on Charlie to be responsible for making Ben feel any better. He doesn’t have to twist the knife into a penitent Ben, but he certainly is not obliged to help his tormentor get through a difficult time. Charlie suffered at Ben’s hand and, on a human level, he may want Ben to be a better person, but on a personal one, he no longer wants anything to do with him.
How Ben’s Departure Changed Charlie’s Heartstopper Storyline
Charlie Knew What He Wanted After Ben Apologized To Him
Ben’s departure from Heartestopper left the door wide open for Charlie. Not only did he finally stand up for himself in a critical and difficult moment by refusing Ben’s apology, but now he has the specter of a painful past finally gone from his shoulder. In Heartstopper season 3, Charlie resolves to tell Nick (Kit Connor) that he loves him.
It’s a big step forward that Charlie may not have been confident enough to take if he had not found that inner strength within himself. He knows what a toxic relationship looks like, and so he knows what a healthy one looks like too, and that’s what Nick offers. So Charlie seizes it.
Where Ben’s Actor Sebastian Croft Is Now
Croft Has Continued Acting In Notable TV Shows And Movies
Oseman said about Sebastian Croft,
“I feel we found that line and I am so proud and honored that Sebastian has been a part of Heartstopper. I know that he’ll go on to do incredible things, and I will be cheering from the sidelines all the way.”
So they’ll be happy to know the Heartstopper actor has gone on to some cool projects. In 2024, Ben Croft appeared in two movies, Get Away as Sam and How to Date Billy Walsh as Archibald Arnold. He is also set to star in the upcoming six-part historical miniseries Dope Girls as Silvio Salucci.
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Sebastian Croft’s Notable Performances |
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Title |
Character |
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Game of Thrones (2016) |
Young Ned Stark |
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Penny Dreadful (2016) |
Boy Familiar |
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Doom Patrol (2021) |
Charles Rowland |
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How to Date Billy Walsh (2024) |
Archie Arnold |
Heartstopper is an LGBTQ+ coming-of-age teen romantic comedy based on the webcomic/graphic novel created by Alice Oseman. The show is viewed through the eyes of a young gay British teen named Charlie Spring, whose crush on a classmate grows into something more meaningful as they slowly get closer throughout the series. The show navigates the challenges of LGBTQ+ youth during tumultuous adolescent years.
- Cast
- Olivia Colman , Kit Connor , Rhea Norwood , Yasmin Finney , Cormac Hyde-Corrin , Stephen Fry , Tobie Donovan , William Gao , Sebastian Croft , Kizzy Edgell , Chetna Pandya , Joe Locke , Jenny Walser , Corinna Brown , Fisayo Akinade
- Release Date
- April 22, 2022
- Seasons
- 2
- Showrunner
- Alice Oseman