Is Sex Education losing its touch?

By Georgia Webb 31 October 2021

Image Courtesy of Netflix

After receiving much critical acclaim in its first two seasons, the highly anticipated third season of Netflix’s Sex Education has finally been released.

The BAFTA award-winning teen comedy/drama series is centred around the lives, and ongoing romantic struggles, of the students, parents, and staff at Moordale Secondary. Key characters include introverted and awkward Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield), his eccentric best friend Eric Effiong (Ncuti Gatwa), and the ultimate rebel girl Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey).

The show sets out to do exactly what it says, to educate you, but not just on sex. A variety of topics overlooked or disregarded by the UK government’s high-school curriculum are discussed throughout the show’s three seasons.

Much to the credit of writer and creator Laurie Nunn, genuine depictions of abortion, as well as heartbreakingly realistic portrayals of sexual assault and self-harm have all been approached with a commendable level of sensitivity and respect.

New Additions

Season three takes a slightly darker tone (literally), with the introduction of drab, grey school uniforms. Previously, the students’ used fashion as a fun and unique form of self-expression, filled with bright colours and glaring patterns that have become synonymous with the show’s aesthetic.

But with the introduction of the new headteacher Hope Haddon (Jemima Kirke), we watch as the students are stripped of their individualism and forced to conform to strict, outdated rules in order to save their school’s reputation.

Moreover, this season explored non-binary identity with the introduction of new student Cal Bowman (Dua Saleh). The show has continuously excelled in representing a wide range of characters within the LGBTQIA+ community and continues to do so by casting a non-binary actor to play the role.

In a topic that hadn’t been touched upon in previous seasons of the show, we witness the struggles non-binary students face within the education system. The prejudice against them from students and staff alike makes it painfully clear how underrepresented the non-binary community is within most aspects of our society.

Overcrowded

Sex Education excels in its ability to create complex, three-dimensional characters that expand beyond the clichéd stereotypes that typically surround teen dramas (Riverdale, Pretty Little Liars, Skins, etc).

The evolution of Adam Groff (Connor Swindells) is an exemplary example of character development within the show. In season one, Adam is introduced as a workshy, apathetic antagonist - the stereotypical bully that enjoys the misgivings of others. But as the show progresses, the audience is introduced to the variety of factors that contribute to his behaviour.

His strict, disappointed father, the breakdown of his parent's relationship, and the coming to terms with his own sexuality all heavily impact Adam’s character. It is through his conservation with these external factors that fan-favourite, Adam, blossoms into an empathetic, funny, and even romantic character.

However, with around thirty main and reoccurring characters, all with distinct personalities and continuously developing narratives, it’s easy for some of them to be fade into the background.

In the latest season, Tanya Reynold’s character Lily is shamed for her ‘weird’ fashion sense and love for sci-fi, alien erotica by headmistress Hope Haddon (Jemima Kirke), something that greatly impacts her mental well-being. With all the other storylines unfolding alongside Lily’s, it’s easy for this iconic character to be overshadowed and forgotten.

Season Four

A week after season three’s release, Netflix announced that Sex Education will be returning for a fourth season. Despite the show’s ongoing success, there are concerns that it will fall into the pattern of surpassing a natural ending point in order to exploit its popularity.