Sex Education

Sex Education

2019 - United Kingdom

‘Well-written, well-acted and sensitively portrayed’

Sex Education review by Jennifer AJ 

Equal in parts daring and relatable, the British teen series Sex Education offers an honest look at Gen Z and their relationships with sex. This series has captured a massive fanbase thanks to its candy-coloured coming-of-age comedy with a side of raunchy hijinks. Packed with a memorable cast of characters, it’s easy to get sucked into the world around Moordale Secondary School and find out how this crazy bunch navigates their sexual awakenings. 

Sex Education TV series

The series follows Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield - Merlin), an unpopular high schooler at Moordale with a surprising amount of knowledge about sex (theoretically) thanks to his open-minded sex therapist mum, Jean Milburn (Gillian Anderson – X Files, Bleak House). His skill is accidentally discovered by rebellious classmate Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey - Barbie), who proposes that they join hands in offering sex consultation services to fellow students for money. Their underground sex clinic proves to be a success, but with it also comes emotional complications. With raging hormones, horny teens and soul-searching abound, there’s never a dull moment at Moordale.

Sex Education TV series

There’s no question that Gen Z is the most forward-thinking generation when it comes to sex and sexual identity. The show displays the many facets of teenagers’ struggles with this aspect of their lives. From difficulties getting off, and confused sexual orientation to STDs, Otis and Maeve’s clients have gone through it all. Despite their openness, it becomes clear that they’re still just kids with all the insecurities and self-doubt that come with puberty. Sexual problems often turn out to be an extension of problems at home, lending the subject matter the kind of sensitivity that older teen sex comedies never really touch on. They’re just kids and life is a nightmare – no wonder these frisky adolescents feel so relatable. 

Sex Education TV series

The acting in this series is exceptionally great for a high school show. Somehow, British youth series tend to have a more skilled cast than their American counterparts and this one’s no different. Former child actor Butterfield shows his maturity as an actor in the role of the socially inept but sensitive Otis. He serves as the heart of the show, the everyman to everyone else’s eclectic crazies.

Sex Education TV series

Mackey is great as Otis’ foil Maeve, a troubled teen who’s in many ways more worldly than him but just as vulnerable inside. But the show’s two scene stealers are Ncuti Gatwa as Otis’ best friend Eric and Connor Swindells (SAS Rogue Heroes) as Adam Groff, school bully turns softie himbo.

Sex Education TV series

Gatwa – who’s about to become the 15th Doctor – capably juggles Eric’s many dimensions: being bullied for being openly gay, facing difficulties finding love due to living in a bigoted small town, struggling with his ethnic heritage – he’s truly been through a lot! Meanwhile, Adam could easily fall into the mean jock stereotype but his transformation – aided by Swindells’ nuanced portrayal – is definitely one of the most compelling arcs of the series. With how good they are, no wonder so many of the show’s young stars quickly get roped into bigger and bigger productions!

Well-written, well-acted and sensitively portrayed, Sex Education is an excellent series that fulfils everything a coming-of-age story needs to be. Catch all three seasons of Sex Education (season 4 is upcoming) on Netflix.

Published on August 20th, 2023. Written by Jennifer Ariesta for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

The x-Files

An FBI investigator assigned to the X-Files, a division tasked with the solving of cases for which there are no explanation is teamed with a Special Agent, a shrewd medical doctor, who is assigned to debunk his work

Also starring Gillian Anderson

The Umbrella Academy

Based on the comic book series of the same name, 'The Umbrella Academy' revolves around a dysfunctional family of adopted siblings who are trained to be superheroes in order to stop an impending apocalypse.

Also released in 2019

Following the Time War, the Doctor, the last survivor of the Time Lords, is left to wander all of time and space. Along the way he/she picks up some new companions and meets some old enemies.

Also starring Ncuti Gatwa

SAS Rogue Heroes

Six-part BBC drama series based on Ben Macintyre's book of the same name, charting the creation of the famed Special Forces unit

Also starring Connor Swindells

The Name of the Rose TV series

Based on the international bestseller by Umberto Eco, the story, set in 1327, revolves around an enlightened friar and his young apprentice who investigate a series of mysterious deaths at an abbey - risking the wrath of a powerful Inquisitor.

Also released in 2019

Auf Wiedersehen Pet

Comedy drama about unemployed construction workers forced to seek employment in Germany.

Also tagged Comedy Drama

Watchmen

Set in an alternate history where masked vigilantes are treated as outlaws, Watchmen embraces the nostalgia of the original ground-breaking graphic novel of the same name while attempting to break new ground of its own.

Also released in 2019

Years and Years

A frighteningly believable look at the near future.

Also released in 2019

The Flint Street Nativity

Squabbles arise when a class of seven-year-olds put on a nativity play at School. Herod won't stop waving to his mum and dad and the subversive Innkeeper is determined to liven up the traditional script.

Also tagged Comedy Drama