After binging all 8 episodes of 'sex education' I knew I needed more of this series. It's wonderfully witty humour won me over pretty much from the start. You've got the classic shy boy taken in by the 'rebel girl' with a dark past and coloured hair, sounds like an 80's American high school flick. It's nothing too out of the ordinary, apart from the underground sex clinic. As strange as it sounds, the sex clinic in this show is helping to normalise the problems that seem to be so hush-hush in society.
The storyline is new and truthful, it deals in depth with problems many of its viewers face and possibly struggle with. That's the beauty of the series, there's no holding back. You get to see people talking openly, awkwardly none-the-less, about a previously quite silent topic. Kids talking about their feelings towards sex, loosing their virginity, and the social pressures to 'be good' at it or even just 'do it'. It also looks at the characters struggles with mental health, exploring sexual orientation, identity and how their families (or lack-there-of) impact their lives.
Not only does 'sex education' show people that problems they can face are perfectly normal but it talks about sex properly and shows there is always help, though it is probably best to see a therapist with a license. The storylines followed in the series are important and show in depth how certain things affect different characters lives, without objectifying them or patronising anyone.
One of my favourite aspects of the show is that it hasn't got a star studded cast, the newer faces give a fresh feel to the show and almost make it more realistic that these actors are actually their characters. There has been commotion about the British-Ness of the show, lots of the sportier or more 'popular' characters wear varsity jackets and typically 'American' clothing. The school building and homes that the characters live in in the series aren't very similar to typical British architecture but personally I think it look more interesting compared to the grey school picture I would go to.
The main cast gives a compelling performance and holds a lot of chemistry. Asa Butterfield plays the main character Otis. His mum is a sex therapist who doesn't give a second thought about boundaries and they have their ups and downs. His main story line follows his childhood trauma which gives him troubles through the more intimate scenes, it's a lovely contrast between his relationship with sex and the advice he gives while running the school 'clinic'. His almost love interest Maeve is played by Emma Mackey. The pink haired, troubled teen suffers through family problems, a mum with drug problem and the growing problem of teenage pregnancy and abortion. The way the show portrays her pregnancy story is very raw and true, something most shows don't get quite right.
Ncuti Gatwa plays my favourite character, Eric. He is a black, gay teenager who has to face ridicule from his parents and peers, I was worried that his story would be overlooked in the show but you get to really know how he's feeling and what he is thinking as his character develops. Jackson, played by Kedar Williams-Stirling, was a really interesting character, he starts off as nothing more than a jock but as the episodes go on you understand his anxieties and the pressure he's under from parents to be their perfect child. The school bully Adam, Connor Swindlles, is introduced to us as, to put it plainly, an asshole but seeing his struggle with girlfriends, his parents and his identity you begin to feel sorry for him and want to see him come to terms with them properly.
It hasn't been confirmed wether 'Sex Education' will get another season or not, but the writers have suggested that they've already started working on it. This is one of the most relevant and easily relatable shows I've binged for a while, I will be extremely disappointed if I don't get to see more.
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