Genre: Comedy, teen drama, sex comedy
Sex Education, the groundbreaking series that captivated audiences with its vibrant characters and frank exploration of intimate subjects, has concluded its four-season journey with a final season that will cement the show in the annals of comedy history.
Premiering in 2019, the show follows the lives of teenagers and adults in the fictional town of Moordale as they deal with dilemmas, often related to sexual intimacy.
Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield), starts a sex therapy clinic at school, with the help of his best friend Eric Effiong (Ncuti Gatwa) and on-and-off partner Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey).
Otis is able to help many students with their intimacy issues, despite being a virgin for most of the first season.
His ability to assist his peers with their issues may be attributed to the close relationship he has with his mother, Jean (Gillian Anderson) who is also a sex therapist.
The show addresses issues faced by young people from LGBTQ+ relationships to slut-shaming, bullying, family dynamics, abortion, sexual assault, self-discovery and sexuality. Each topic is handled with care and sensitivity.
Each character has a backstory, which is explored throughout the four seasons, giving the viewer a chance to relate to them.
The young cast is brilliant, and diverse in both race and sexuality. The LGBTQ+ community is well represented as many of them identify as gay, lesbian, pansexual, transgender and asexual. The show explores the effects of sexual assault and PTSD, sexual experimentation, grief and inclusivity.
One of the things that sets Sex Education apart from other teen comedy-dramas, (aside for the multitude of nudity and sex scenes) is the willingness of the writers and directors to push boundaries and discuss topics that most shows shy away from.
Though this candor enables audiences to see and learn from real-life issues portrayed on screen, it can also become overwhelming for viewers who are sensitive to nudity.
The four seasons have been an interesting roller coaster and being privy to the characters’ journey will be a sorely missed experience for many.
All four seasons of Sex Education are available on Netflix.
