by: Jordan Park
Website Editor

After two years, Netflix’s Heartbreak High is back for a third and final season. Inspired by a 90s Australian TV series with the same name, this reboot follows a new generation of Hartley High students and the chaos of their day-to-day lives.

This time around, Ameria Wadie (Ayesha Madon) and her classmates are taking on senior year and getting ready to face impending adulthood. In the new season, we see what starts off as a harmless prank war quickly spirals when a rival school, St. Bruno’s, steals the head of Hartley High’s mascot. In response, the group decides to get even by stealing a sculpted bust from St. Bruno’s and attempts to display it on top of a carnival ride. Unsurprisingly, things don’t go as planned, and the situation gets out of hand when a carnival worker gets seriously injured. Suddenly, the group is forced to cover up what happened or face the consequences of a police investigation. Of course, this is all happening along with everything else that comes with senior year: relationships, shifting friendships, and the quiet but constant pressure of figuring out what comes next after graduation.

As a long-time fan of the show, I’m definitely sad to see it go, but also content with how it ended. Season three contains much of what made the first two seasons so chaotic and unpredictable. From impromptu water gun fights to a cuckoo (their word for throwing a party at someone else’s house without them knowing), the Hartley High seniors are clearly making the most of their final year.

Underneath the fun, there’s also a shift in tone. The stakes feel a little higher, and their decisions feel more permanent. It’s not just about high school anymore; it’s about what happens after. The show does an excellent job of showing that there isn’t just one right path. Some characters take gap years to travel, others go to trade school, and some head straight to four-year universities. The show also doesn’t frame one option as better than the others, which is honestly refreshing. It’s a subtle reminder that not everyone’s life has to look the same after high school. The show also tackles real-life issues throughout its run time. One of the strongest examples is Quinni Gallagher-Jones (Chloe Hayden), whose character offers a meaningful and authentic representation of neurodiversity. Beyond that, the show weaves in storylines about mental health, abortion, sexuality, gender identity, diversity, and sexual assault. It makes these important topics a part of the characters’ lives. Such an instance is when a police officer assaults Malakai Mitchell (Thomas Weatherall) and struggles to navigate his emotional trauma.

All in all, the show stands as an ode to growing up. It reminds the audience that high school is full of ups and downs. It’s messy and confusing, but it’s also made up of small moments that matter more than you’d expect.

(Source: USA Today)