Ron Does Stuff

A new season (for me!)! I want to finish watching all three seasons before the movie comes out so I am hoping that I can do this more regularly. Let’s go!

At the end of the last season, Nick and Charlie were at a happy place, declaring they were each other’s boyfriend at a frankly subpar beach and Nick coming out to Academy Award winner Olivia Colman. It’s fun! We’re all having fun!

Nick and Charlie are definitely having fun as they flirt over Instagram, caught all up in the euphoria of young love. They’re messaging all throughout the morning and the ride to school and Charlie is lucky he doesn’t live in the ~Global South~ like me because that phone is getting snatched with how often he whips it out.

They meet up at school and they start making out in rooms and then they head to Charlie’s house after school and then start making out in Charlie’s room. My goodness those pants are going to chafe. Basically the first five minutes of this episode is them making out and I am so lonely.

Tao is me right now, feeling very single, but Tao may not be single for long because he and Elle are awkwardly flirting over apple juice. It’s very cute! Unfortunately, Tao does not have the mental fortitude to deal with Elle flirting with him right now.

Back at school, Nick is having trouble reconnecting with his rugby team friends but Imogen is more than happy to welcome him back. Imogen is also crushing on an entirely new guy this time around but she isn’t telling Nick about it. I wonder who it could be?

Nick is also having to deal with GCSEs, which I am assuming is something like the nationalized tests we have over here. I won’t reveal what it was called during my time because that will definitely age me. Nick has to attend GCSE review classes and he ends up being seated besides Ben. That will definitely age him.

Mr. Farouk also makes his first appearance here and because I’ve read the books I know what’s in store for him. But as of the moment, he looks like he’s not going to be helping out when it comes to Nick and Charlie’s relationship. He’s prohibited everyone in the review from using their phones and Charlie might misinterpret Nick not answering his phone. And it’s not like Nick is having an enjoyable time either. He’s reviewing for an exam which isn’t a happy event even if you like studying, and he’s seated beside someone who assaulted his boyfriend! Stress upon stress upon stress.

But it looks like we’re not going to get into drama just yet because Charlies rejoins the rugby team I think in a bid to make it easier for Nick to come out? But it doesn’t work out quite like that because Nick is having difficulty getting his rugby groove back and the fact that he’s also playing with Harry isn’t making things any easier.

Over at the girls school, Darcy and Tara are encouraging Elle to go for it when it comes to Tao and advises her to actively flirt with him and not do it unintentionally. She does that and I think Tao just short-circuited. Oh these two are going to be in trouble further down the line, I can just tell.

Meanwhile, Charlie hands over an Oreo Cadbury to Nick in the locker rooms to celebrate the anniversary of their second month being boyfriends and it’s cute and all but if this were Young Royals Wilhelm and Simon would be doing something gorgeous. But these two shows are telling two entirely different stories so it really just depends on what you’re in the mood for!

Since the two of them can’t make out in the school, Charlie and Nick definitely take advantage of the fact that Charlie’s parents are not at home for the weekend. They’re having a sleepover and not because they’re going to have sex like Wilhelm and Simon do in season 1 episode 4 of Young Royals but to help Nick come out. Which I feel doesn’t start off really well because Tao is being very dense when it comes to Elle literally telling him they can share a room together. Men.

The old friend that Nick is going to come out to is Imogen, who we all know is an ally.

Nick is having trouble just saying it and I think this is where the book and show are perfect for young people. It may not be showing anything new for ancient eldritch beings like me, but they present it for younger people in a “safe” way, which I mean in the most positive way possible. It lets young people explore some heavy topics for them at that age in a manner that doesn’t traumatize them.

While Elle probably isn’t traumatized, she is definitely frustrated because Tao does not get it. Tao’s even defensive when Nick tries to help the two of them out in his own way and…well, Tao, you gotta do something. You can’t be this dense!

Catching up to Tao in the dense department is Imogen. Yes, she’s an ally who has no problem at all with Nick being bisexual, but boy does she always end up picking the boys who like boys. Her new crush is Ben, who as well all know is pining for Charlie, whether he admits to it or not.

The little cliques within the gang have a debrief as the day ends and Elle admits defeat when it comes to Tao, telling Tara and Darcy that maybe she just has to get over Tao. Nick tells Charlie that he’s successfully come out to Imogen, but he doesn’t tell him about Imogen’s crush on Ben, which I think he should! But then again, it’s not his secret to tell so I kinda understand.

After the gang leaves — with a little kissy-kissy between Nick and Charlie — Charlie tells his parents that Nick is his boyfriend now and in what may be a sign of things to come, Charlie’s mother isn’t all that enthused about it. Charlie’s father also tells him there’s no sleepovers with Nick moving forward, which is fine, he’s your son, but I dunno, I think I wouldn’t object to my gay son having a sleepover with his boyfriend. But then again maybe that’s a bad idea and this is why I should not have kids.

Tori is a little worried that Charlie might get bullied again now that it’s clear that he and Nick are going to be telling people that they’re together, but Charlie is brimming with maybe misplaced optimism. He says he’s going to make everything perfect for Nick and you just know that sets up the rest of the challenges they’re going to face for the rest of the season.