It’s clear from the first seconds that Sex Education will indeed be about sex. While the opening R-rated scene shows the most skin of any in the series, most episodes kick off with some sort of sexual union or attempt at one. The teens of Moordale Secondary School in England are consumed by sex: thinking about it, dreaming about it, doing it, trying to do it, and talking about it. Self-satisfaction is a fulfilling discovery; “wankin’” as they say in their British accents is a common activity.
Ok, now that we got that out of the way, while Sex Education is about sex, you can’t really call it sexy. The students are awkward, cringe-worthy, hilarious, and honest in their sexual discoveries and pursuits. The series addresses sexuality not as an issue to be avoided or scared of, or just a horny itch to scratch, but as a key to wellness and health. Standing in the way of achieving healthy sex are anxiety, misinformation, and an out of touch educational model. This is where Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield, Hugo) and his mother Jean (Gillian Anderson, X-Files, The Crown) come in.
Jean runs her sex therapy business out of the home. A day in the life of Otis is likely to include a strange man wandering around in a robe (Jean’s therapy sessions seem to include sleeping with her clients), sexual anatomy books all around, and embarrassingly frank sexual inquiries or statements from his mother. One day he randomly provides some relationship counseling to a struggling young couple at school…and it works. “Hey, maybe this is something I’m good at.” Super-smart friend Maeve (the outstanding Emma Mackey, Death on the Nile) sees a business opportunity. She is enticing, yet removed, practical, yet emotional, and held back by life’s circumstances. Soon, Otis is following in his mother’s footsteps and providing sexual advice to his schoolmates although he is socially awkward and has no sexual experience. Maeve handles the scheduling and finances.
The business is a huge success on campus until it gets too big, and the two proprietors start to have feelings for each other. In Season Two, new students arrive, Otis gets a girlfriend, and Jean becomes the school’s sex therapist which has a negative impact on her son’s business. It doesn’t end well. In Season Three, Otis gets another girlfriend, Hope (Jemima Kirke, Girls) becomes the new headmistress, and Jean is expecting a baby while simultaneously trying to figure out the relationship with the father.
The wonderful ensemble brings to life a diverse mix of bawdy, heartwarming, and realistic characters, with a bit of whimsy thrown in. Ncuti Gatwa is a delight as Otis’ best friend, Eric. He is gay and lives with his religious family of Nigerian descent. Eric oozes vitality and is not the usual lame best-friend sidekick. Aimee (Aimee Lou Wood) gets the biggest laughs as Maeve’s funny, genuine bestie. The headmaster’s son is a bully transitioning to a caring gay man. There’s a champion swimmer, popular mean girl with posse, and an oddball girl fixated on alien erotica. It all sounds crazy, and I suppose it is, but the students are so endearing that you become very engaged in their lives.
The sublime soundtrack is all over the place, in the best way possible. It introduced me to a startling American musician/songwriter and also provides an anachronistic mix of songs perfect for this eccentric show. First, Ezra Furman is the musical thread of Sex Education playing her back catalog, songs written for the series, and appearing with her band in a Season One cameo. After the first few episodes I kept thinking, “who is this?” It sounded like a new take on the familiar. A refreshing melting pot of classic rock and indie pop with some glam and punk thrown in. Second, the soundtrack is a steady roll call of glorious songs from the 80s and 90s mostly, but some 60s and 70s gems sprinkled along the way: Generation X, The The, The Smiths, Talking Heads, Devo, The Mighty Lemon Drops, Psychedelic Furs, The Cure, Ultravox, Thompson Twins, Roxy Music, and many more. The deep-track highlight for me: David Bowie’s “When I Live My Dream” from his folky psychedelic 1967 debut album.
Sex Education is truly one-of-a-kind. The rare show that doesn’t dismiss young love but treats it with respect. Its sexual message is responsible, not patronizing. The parents and school staff have their own problems with relationships and intimacy. The adults of Moordale could also learn a thing or two. The series is sex positive at its best.
(If you haven’t enjoyed this series yet, catch up with the first three seasons, 8 one-hour episodes each; a 4th and likely final season is on the way later this year.)
D² Rating ◼◼◼◼☐
Trivia: Asa Butterfield starred as an eight-year-old boy in what 2008 holocaust drama?
Answer: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (I’ll never forget his impactful performance, along with that of his friend on the other side of the fence).