Nick and Andrew’s friendship has been a central focus in Big Mouth. The two teenagers’ struggles with puberty and the pressure of growing up - and growing apart - have been important themes that are explored more in the third season.
Season three of Big Mouth ended on a sour note for Nick, as Andrew made it clear that he did not want to be friends anymore as he doesn’t consider Nick to be a good person. Whilst some of the criticism is understandable, Nick has still demonstrated redeeming qualities throughout the series. Here are five reasons why Nick is a good friend and five why he’s not.
Good Friend: Going Back For Andrew’s Pillow
There was a lot of emphasis on the boys’ relationships with their pillows in season one’s sleepover episode. Jay reveals his strange activities with his pillow to Nick and Andrew when they dare to venture to the Bilzerian household for one night.
When Jay’s bullying brothers return home early, Nick and Andrew flee Jay’s house. However, after realizing Andrew has left his beloved pillow behind, a determined Nick goes back to retrieve it.
Bad Friend: Making Andrew Steal The Car
Nick made several bad decisions in season three. After being given his sister Leah’s old cell phone, he becomes unhealthily attached to his phone and social media, neglecting his friendship with Andrew.
After hearing of a party online, Nick convinces Andrew to drive his parents’ car so they can go and share the experience on social media to look cool. This inevitably ends in disaster, as Andrew crashes the car and brings Nick’s mother Diane’s wrath down upon his sassy-tongued cell phone.
Good Friend: Listening To Jessi
Having a female Hormone Monster has given Nick a unique perspective when it comes to gender. Despite making several mistakes in season two with Gina, in season three when the boys and the girls begin warring, Nick is the only male student to try and understand the girls’ perspectives.
This is evidenced by his ‘argument’ with Jessi, in which both characters agree they don’t have all the answers but it is good to still have an open discussion. Nick and Jessi reconcile after this, slowly bringing the rest of the students back together.
Bad Friend: Ditching Andrew For His Phone
Nick has a toxic relationship with his phone Cellsea in season three. After inheriting Leah’s old cell phone, Nick becomes addicted to social media in a satirical storyline that explores and parodies modern society.
Despite inviting Andrew to his house to hang out, Nick instead ignores his friend, choosing to prioritize Cellsea and rudely rebuffing Andrew’s attempts at conversation. It’s not hard to see why Andrew would not want to be friends anymore with this version of Nick.
Good Friend: Understanding Jay’s Homelife
Nick is originally jealous when his classmate Jay comes to stay with his family during season three. After the Bilzerian family “Home Alone” their youngest son, Nick’s parents take Jay in for a while, embracing the neglected boy with open arms.
Jay adores the attention, but Nick has a tough time at the beginning with sharing his parents. However, after visiting Jay’s house and seeing how bad his home life is, Nick becomes immediately more sympathetic and the two friends reconnect.
Bad Friend: He’s Openly Stated That He Doesn’t Care About Andrew
Andrew is far from a perfect character, but despite his flaws, he has been Nick’s best friend since childhood. When Nick is given a new cell phone, not only does he completely ignore his friend but he openly states to the sharp-tongued Cellsea that he doesn’t care about him.
This explores the isolating effects of his toxic relationship with his phone and how it has impacted his life. However, it is hard to question Andrew’s decision to walk away from their friendship after comments like this.
Good Friend: Reuniting With Connie
When Nick discovers his new Hormone Monster is the girls’ Hormone Monstress Connie, he is understandably upset. Nick spent the first two seasons of Big Mouth with subpar Hormone Monsters and is the only male character to be depicted with a Hormone Monster of the opposite sex.
This causes Nick to panic about his own identity, but in “My Furry Valentine,” the prepubescent boy realizes how lucky he is to have Connie as she does genuinely care for him. The two reunite and share a loving embrace before embarking on further mishaps throughout the rest of the season.
Bad Friend: Telling Everyone About Gina
This proves that Nick is not only a bad friend but also a bad boyfriend. During season two, Nick begins a tentative relationship with classmate Gina which ends in disaster after he tells the entire school about a sexual experience the two shared.
This is a massive betrayal of trust that has dire consequences for Gina, as the rest of the school turn on her whilst celebrating Nick. Nick does ultimately learn from this mistake but his relationship with Gina is promptly brought to an end.
Good Friend: He’s Not The Only Character Who Has Made Mistakes
All of the characters on Big Mouth are struggling with the societal politics of growing up and it is through their mistakes that they learn and become better people. Andrew tells Nick that he does not think he is a good person at the end of season three, though in the same season Andrew struggled with toxic masculinity and accidentally attended a Nazi rally.
There is hope for Nick to learn from his experiences as the rest of the characters on the show continue to do. In that case, Nick and Andrew will likely become best friends once again.
Bad Friend: He Can Be Selfish
Although Nick has demonstrated that he is capable of being a good friend, he has also shown himself to be capable of great selfishness. Throughout most of his actions, Nick always puts himself first and considers his feelings before anyone else’s.
Nick clashes with his mother Diane in season three as a result of this, although Diane is not completely blameless. Nevertheless, Nick still has brief moments of selflessness that spell hope for him yet.
