Performers of the Week: Kit Connor and Joe Locke
THE PERFORMERS | Kit Connor and Joe Locke
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THE SHOW | Heartstopper
THE EPISODE | “Perfect” (August 3, 2023)
THE PERFORMANCES | The scene that will have everyone talking after finishing their Season 2 binges of Netflix’s LGBTQ+ romantic dramedy is sure to be the finale’s next to last one. As the episode nears its happy-ish ending, series leads Locke and Connor go painfully deep as Charlie confesses to boyfriend Nick that the bullying brought on by his outing a year prior was so soul-crushing that he had at times cut himself. (Read the full recap here.)
Locke’s performance is quietly harrowing. “People would just… call me disgusting to my face,” he whispers, letting Charlie’s (unwarranted) shame at his admission shadow the shock that he’s yet to resolve. Connor, in turn, plays the intimate moment like an open heart that’s as strong as it is vulnerable. The raw emotion in his voice amounts to a promise that Nick is and will be there for Charlie. But the tears that well up in Connor’s eyes also reveal how intensely it hurts Nick to know how terribly Charlie has suffered.
The interaction is as close as it gets to the episode’s title (“Perfect”), especially capped as it is by a tonal shift that brings Nick thisclose to uttering the four-letter word that it’s obvious he feels. However, the scene is by no means the only reason that credit is due to Locke and Connor. Throughout the finale, they deliver innumerable reminders of why Charlie and Nick are so fervently shipped: a meaningful look, a kiss steeped in subtext, a shared expression of unbridled joy.
On one hand, it seems wrong to single out the leading men as a duo (as TVLine also did at the conclusion of Season 1). Each of them has done work that is more than deserving of distinct and separate accolades. On the other hand, it seems entirely right for them to be paired as inextricably as their on-screen counterparts. Individually, Locke and Connor are bright and brilliant stars. Together, they are something more: stars aligned.
Scroll down to see who scored Honorable Mention shout-outs this week…
HONORABLE MENTION: Vondie Curtis-Hall
Justified: City Primeval‘s Sweety was given a lot to chew on this week, and Vondie Curtis-Hall in turn enjoyed his best scenes yet. Heading into Episode 4, Sweety had a plan to parlay the murder weapon he had found stashed in his bar into A) overdue punishment for Mansell’s myriad crimes and B) immunity for himself. But when Mansell clued his cohort-of-sorts into Judge Guy’s little black book, Sweety’s wheels got turning. Curtis-Hall conveyed a cool, newfound pragmatism as Sweety suggested to Carolyn that this book’s secrets about Detroit power players represents “the keys to the city” — one of which might get her the judgeship she covets. Later, when Mansell aimed to cement a partnership, Sweety presented himself as well-wooed, remarking, “This is a nice view” as he regarded the skyline from Mansell’s digs. How does Sweety plan to get what’s due him and take down Mansell? Curtis-Hall’s nuanced, engaging performance has us curious/worried to find out!
HONORABLE MENTION: William Gao
Netflix’s Heartstopper became a heartbreaker in the third episode of Season 2 (recapped here), in large part thanks to Gao. From the moment that alter ego Tao began planning to ask out crush Elle, his portrayer was transformed into a bundle of intense energy. In fact, Gao kept his character’s hopefulness and anxiety so close to the surface, we could almost see Tao’s heart pounding when he took Elle’s hand to enter the cinema. Alas, as it became clear that she wasn’t impressed by his efforts to give her the perfect date, the actor visibly deflated. Upon realizing that Elle had invited her new friends to a post-movie party, Tao could no longer contain his hurt. “I don’t understand what I did wrong tonight,” he cried, his voice the equivalent of a sob. In Gao’s case, the answer was… absolutely nothing.
HONORABLE MENTION: Celia Rose Gooding
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds hit all the right notes in the franchise’s first-ever musical episode, which is a testament to its versatile ensemble. And while many impressed — looking at you Ethan Peck, Christina Chong and Jess Bush — Celia Rose Gooding’s powerhouse vocals as Uhura were truly the cream of the crop. As the talented ensign sought to resolve the crew’s song-and-dance anomaly, the actress belted out conflicted feelings of determination and insecurity in a showstopping number that we’ll probably have on repeat for the foreseeable future. Gooding’s last name almost feels like a disservice to her talent because what she produced in this episode was pure excellence.
HONORABLE MENTION: Sadie Stanley
As Megan discovered the ugly truth about what her so-called BFF did during Cruel Summer‘s season finale, her portrayer Sadie Stanley delivered a wordless reaction that was riveting. After watching security camera footage in which Isabella drowned her friend’s boyfriend, Megan was overcome with emotion at the shocking sight. Stanley’s performance ran the gamut from horrified surprise to overwhelming sadness, accompanied by gasping sobs at the awful revelation that had left Megan breathless. Then Stanley’s expression shifted to steely resolve as Megan silently vowed to get justice against Isabella for what she had done to Luke. With that final image, Stanley made Megan’s strength and determination known, and gave Season 2 an impactful sendoff.
Which performance(s) knocked your socks off this week? Tell us in the comments!
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