David Nelson, portrayed by Jack Barton, is a supporting antagonist in Heartstopper. He is the eldest son of Stéphane and Sarah Nelson, and the older brother of Nick Nelson by four years.[1]
Appearance
Despite being the older brother, David is significantly shorter than Nick, standing around 5'11" (about the same height as Charlie), and is less bulky. David's face is more angular and pointy in comparison to his brother's roundish facial features. He has blue eyes, and like Nick, he has short, mousy blonde hair.
Personality
David is smug, cocky, pompous, entitled, rude, trouble-making, and extremely biphobic and homophobic towards his younger brother. He takes every opportunity to make Nick's life miserable, teasing Nick for his sexuality and his boyfriend. He says that Charlie had "turned his little brother gay" and believed Nick was using the term "bisexual" to cover up his true sexuality. David is shown to be illogical, arguing with his mother that Nick shouldn't have hidden his sexuality from him, only to invalidate Nick's sexuality right to his face. His entitled and spoiled attitude appears to stem from Sarah being afraid to choose sides between her sons, attempting to be neutral and simply shushing David when he makes fun of Nick. However, Sarah snaps when David calls Charlie "clingy", putting him in his place and telling him to stay home if he kept up his nasty attitude, causing David to sulk. When Nick was shown to be nervous telling his and David's estranged father, Stéphane, that Charlie was his boyfriend during dinner, David cruelly took it upon himself to tell his father how Nick and Charlie met. Before he can fully tell him, Tori, Charlie's older sister, dug her nails into his arm and threatened him to stop. Nick finally stood up and told his father that Charlie was his boyfriend, but he didn't care what he thought since he never attempts to have any relationship with him. Turning to David, Nick tells him to "fuck off" for making his life difficult every chance he got and to mind his own business. As he left, David turned to his parents for help, but Sarah once again told him to be quiet, and Stéphane, despite being in the wrong as well, tells his son he is disappointed that he isn't the man that he had hoped David would be. Later on, when Tori steps out from the bathroom hearing David talk down about Charlie on the phone, she silently kicks the phone out of his hand and tells him he's pathetic and threatens to "end him" if he ever talks about Charlie again. Though he did come around to Nick's sexuality eventually, it doesn't erase David's cruel personality and actions.[2]
Trivia
- He treats girls rather unkindly – according to Alice Oseman, he ‘charms them and dates them and then cheats on them with relatively few qualms about it.’
Gallery
