Charlie seeks medical help and begins the long road to recovery. Nick starts keeping a journal, and Tao makes a video to support his absent friend.
Months transpire in the span of a single episode. The new school term just started. And now, everyone is preparing for the holiday season. "Journey" breaks the format of how the narrative is typically told. It starts at one place and then revisits the past from Nick and Charlie's separate perspectives. Nick is encouraged to write in a journal by Tara. It's a way to help him process what the last few months have been like. Meanwhile, Charlie is told by his new therapist Geoff that journaling can help him process his thoughts. They both seek out meaning in the written word. However, their experiences are vastly different. It's a fascinating dichotomy. For Charlie, it's all about putting in the work to get better. It's hard. He didn't feel like talking to his friends for awhile. At times, it felt like it wasn't even worth trying to improve. For Nick, it was focused heavily on his anxiety about Charlie. He didn't know how his boyfriend was doing while he was away at a treatment center. He was essentially lost. He suddenly couldn't exist in a world where Charlie wasn't present making everything better. The two light up each other's worlds. And yet, that can't be their sole motivation for existing. They need passions and personalities outside of this bond too.
Nick's story goes first. It's very matter-of-fact about what Charlie was like after admitting his issues to his parents. Things got worse quickly. It wasn't driven by their reaction. They took him to a doctor right away. The system failed as he couldn't see a specialist until the new year. He spiraled into the darkness. His self-harm compulsions started again. Nick thought the only way to be there for Charlie was to offer reassurance. It's still a heavy burden to place on someone - especially a 17-year-old. Charlie doesn't understand why he behaves like this. Moreover, he refuses to confide in the rest of his friends. They don't know about his eating disorder until he starts receiving in-patient care. He goes away for two months. That's the only way he can get better. He's grateful his parents have the resources to make this an option. It's absolutely the right decision. Nick is still left in ambiguity for awhile fearing the worst. He sees the bad headlines online about what happens in these facilities. He didn't know if anything would work to treat Charlie's mental illness. He's ultimately grateful in the end. It was still a journey arriving at that point. It also offers no guarantees that he has been cured. Instead, this is something everyone will have to acknowledge and deal with moving forward.
Nick's words still have power. When a camera is pointed at him, all he wants to tell Charlie is "hi" and "I love you." They aren't surprising or shocking declarations. They communicate so much. This bond is unbreakable. They sum up all that Nick needs this relationship to be. Of course, it's more complicated than that. He saw Charlie pulling away from the friend group. He looked out for him. He was concerned. He's still that way. He's grateful Charlie is coming home. He beams with happiness once he opens the door. That comes after the sadness around Halloween. Nick attends a party. He's not an active participant. He cares for Imogen after she drinks too much. He chats a little bit. But all he really wants to do is leave the party to spend time with his boyfriend. Tao steps into that role for him. That breakdown is the most vulnerable Nick has ever been with someone other than Charlie. His friendship with Tao has grown a lot. Tao provides that comfort and stability. Everyone is there for Nick as well. He's grateful when Charlie eventually calls. He gets to interact with his boyfriend again. Charlie is desperate for kisses and gossip. Everyone is still adjusting to this new normal. Charlie received help from professionals. The other teens are left behind coping the best they know how. They deliver that uplifting spirit even as they acknowledge one of their own has been missing for far too long.
Charlie is shocked by his diagnosis of anorexia and OCD. The eating disorder made sense because those were the symptoms he was looking up. However, the compulsive obsessions inform why his behavior around food and self-harm developed. It was all about trying to exert control. He hated needed to go to the doctor. That was the only sensible solution. He could no longer handle this by himself. He had to step away to get better. That provided him with clarity. He still talked about Nick a lot. He made Susan feel alone by everything he said about his relationship. Yet he also had to be strong enough to make that call. He shared his vulnerabilities with his boyfriend. He put Nick through the ringer trying to cope with all of this. He needed this treatment to be worth it. All of this had to have a point. He couldn't just immediately call and comment on how terrible everything still was. He needed to reach his breaking point before being able to confide in his friends. He needed them to know how sorry he was. That word remains banned in his conversations with Nick. His boyfriend won't let him slide simply because he has a diagnosis. They need to carry themselves with full emotional complexity instead of being completely derailed by this news. Charlie carried a lot himself. So many were left in the dark. He needed this treatment to realize how much love and support they can offer.
Tao's video tribute is a phenomenal way to deliver that message. Sure, it also provides updates to what's been happening in the lives of the other characters. Darcy has started using they/them pronouns. Elle's artwork has gone viral on Instagram. Imogen and Sahar had a drunken kiss at the Halloween party. These are moments in their lives that Charlie missed. Because Tao was there to capture the images, it feels as if Charlie was there participating in all of them. They want him to remain included in their group. It sucks that he isn't there. Yet they all support his decision. They recognize the importance of seeking help. They offer no shame or stigma. They wanted answers. They are saddened by the truth. They seek to lift Charlie's spirit up. That's how they can be of service to him. They showcase a life that awaits him. This is the future he can step right back into. They are worth all the hard work and sacrifices he makes. They cherish his friendship. Yes, this is largely the story of Nick and Charlie's epic romance. They have grown a lot over the course of three seasons so far. They've tackled serious issues. But it's also about the power of friendship. It forges these incredible bonds that make every single person stronger because they are proudly accepted and embraced. That's the most moving message throughout all of this. Obstacles still lurk ahead. Charlie has come out of the worst trauma he has endured so far. That resilience offers immense hope so long as everyone remains truthful and honest about who they are and what they need from their loved ones.
Some extra thoughts:
- Imogen and Sahar were positioned together as a couple amongst the friend group despite both of them being single. Their Halloween kiss finally features action on their evolving dynamic. However, Imogen plays it off as drunken experimentation. Sahar obviously read into it as more serious than that.
- Tao's first film project is true to who he is. He's obviously not an expert in editing. He showcases a lot of behind-the-scenes making of the project. It still communicates a message artfully. All of the pieces come together to deliver the message Charlie needs to hear the most.
- Nick still can't tell whether or not Tori likes him. The viewer receives clarity. He is Tori's favorite amongst Charlie's friends. She has always been a huge supporter of their love story. She has been a unique sounding board for all of her brother's anxieties in the past. She has spent more time with Nick now. That allows her to express her opinion more clearly even though Nick doesn't hear it.
- Nick tried to keep himself busy and distracted. His driving practice didn't go too well in that regard. Thoughts of Charlie creep into every moment for him. Now, the stage is potentially set for whatever he needs to feel supported and excited about his individual interests outside of this relationship.
- People at school notice that Charlie has been away for awhile. However, the Paris squad are the only people who are given a reason why. Nick hangs out with Sai, Christian and Otis. They are friends with Charlie too through rugby. And yet, Nick isn't comfortable sharing those details. They don't need them either. They support Nick because they recognize this is difficult for him.
- The door to the art room is open and Tao is easily able to film Ajayi and Farouk for awhile before they notice. Again, they aren't great at hiding their relationship. Several of the students now see it. But it's also amusing how they want to support Charlie while being adamant about Tao leaving.
- Darcy's gender exploration begins before Charlie seeks treatment. It starts with cutting their hair. It's an exciting gathering amongst the friends in the park. It's a huge step. Yet the focus centers on Charlie as he disassociates from the group. He was pulling away before he left. This is also an exciting and interesting journey for Darcy who was clearly heading down this road based on their comments so far this season.
- Charlie's friends are partly angry with him because he lied and refused to share his pain. They are mostly upset with themselves though for failing to notice. They don't want to make this situation about them. Their comments are included in Tao's video. They mostly just want Charlie to be okay. That's more important than anything else.
