Ron Does Stuff

I’m back watching these gay British teenagers! Let’s get back into this!

In the last episode, Tao and Elle overhear Nick agreeing to go on a date with known ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, Imogen. But we’re not going to deal with that right now because the episode opens with Charlie’s friend group playing Monopoly, and Elle is already over it.

Also did somebody say Monopoly?

After that game, Tao and Elle are discussing how they’re going to break the bad news to Charlie, especially since Tao’s very obvious dislike of Nick makes it hard for him to sound objective. Even Elle’s over Tao’s dislike of Nick, which thankfully derails Tao enough to make him do an interpretative dance for her. Charlie and Isaac walk in on them doing this and before the two of them can even share what they saw, Charlie tells them that he’ll be inviting Nick to his birthday party. So much for breaking the bad news to Charlie!

Back at school, Nick tries to break off his date with Imogen but is stopped from doing so by the fact that Imogen’s dog died the night before and to be fair to Imogen, it was a beautiful dog and I’d be heartbroken as well. And I also get Nick getting discouraged from breaking off the date because Imogen is going through a lot. Although it does seem that Imogen is always going through a lot.

In class, Nick totally forgets that he’s going on a date with Imogen because he agrees to go to Charlie’s birthday party when he’s invited, only remembering when Harry reminds him of it later on in the day. Also, props to the actor playing Harry because he really is irritating, especially when he picks on Tao and Charlie in the literal school yard. And I get Tao’s irritation here! Why are you siding with Nick’s friend group when they’re the ones who’ve historically picked on you and your friends?

At Nick’s home, Academy Award winner Olivia Coleman just smashes it as Nick’s mom. She’s just great, what else can I say? Truly feels like the mom you want to have. And I even thought that this was going to be the bisexual coming out scene from the books but it isn’t so my tear ducts are safe.

Nick makes an appearance at Charlie’s birthday party at the bowling lanes and I am living for Tao’s eye rolls throughout. You go sassy Asian king! He also decides that this is the right moment to tell Charlie about Nick and Imogen and again, I am on your side, sassy Asian king. Why would you be lying for fun? And as we know from the books, Nick overhears their discussion and okay, my heart stirred a little when Nick hugged Charlie outside of the restroom. And props to Tao for being a good friend and still getting all up in Nick’s face despite how easy it would be for Nick to pummel him.

Nick comes clean to Charlie by the claw machines and maybe it’s just me being old and uncharacteristically positive in my old age but I like how Nick is written as a good person, full stop. I get it that this may not be some people’s cup of tea and understand where you’re coming from, but at this point in my life this is what I need so I don’t lose my mind. Also, I know I’ve been focusing on Nick and Charlie because they’re the main characters but I also love how Elle’s been falling in love with Tao and how great the actress is.

Nick meets up with Imogen the next day and people really gotta give Kit Connor props for how well he does in this role. I’m not articulating this well because I don’t know what the technical terms or the actor terms are but his acting is as “controlled” as Nick is with his emotions? He’s keeping things internal the same way Nick is and is conveying it externally in these small gestures and facial expressions that work for me as a viewer. I’m a Nora Aunor fan, what can I say!