Sex Education (Season 1) Review: Honest, relatable and thoroughly engaging drama peppered with some quirky moments

Sex Education (Season 1) Review: Honest, relatable and thoroughly engaging drama peppered with some quirky moments

A must-see show that presents teenagers as relatable/realistic human beings navigating the confounding world of sex, peer pressure, and identity
Rating:(3.5 / 5)

Created by: Laurie Nunn
Directors: Kate Herron (4 Episodes), Ben Taylor (4 Episodes)
Cast: Asa Butterfield, Emma Mackey, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Kedar Williams-
Stirling, Connor Swindells, Alistair Petrie


Moordale Secondary has every possible character type you’ve seen in high school teenage comedy-dramas before. There’s Otis (Asa Butterfield), a socially awkward yet highly intelligent teenager struggling with an unconventional upbringing thanks to his loving yet mildly overbearing sex therapist mother. Then there’s Otis’ sidekick/best friend, Eric (Ncuti Gatwa), a sometimes-over-the-top Black gay kid looking to express his sexuality. Jackson (Kedar Williams-Stirling) is Moordale’s star swimmer and head boy. Adam (Connor Swindells) is your typically dim-witted jock/bully, and happens to also be the headmaster’s son. Finally, there’s Maeve (Emma Mackey), the incredibly bright misfit who wears dark mascara, has pink highlights, and sports a nose ring.

There is also the usual set of popular kids obsessed with looking a certain way and spreading rumours about the others. The social hierarchies are in place, but it’s all about fitting in, deep down, isn’t it? When Otis inadvertently counsels Adam after he has taken one too many Viagra pills, Maeve (who is living alone due to the absence of her addict mother) devises a plan to get the former to utilise his skills to render sex therapy sessions for the students at a cost. It’s simple: Maeve handles the business side of things (acquiring clients, etc), while Otis will provide counsel. And, they will share the profits 50-50. 

Sex Education leaves no stone unturned when it comes to the subjects it chooses to tackle. From teenage pregnancy/abortion and deep-rooted family dysfunction to masturbation anxiety and sexual pressure/identity, the show chooses a no-holds-barred approach to the exploration of school-going teenagers’ lives. It does not just dig deep into the heteronormative behaviour of young adults, but has the courage to view sex and sexual identity through the prism of homosexuality as well. This is one of the primary reasons the show is so watchable. Asa Butterfield and Emma Mackey are quite brilliant in their lead roles, but it is the supporting cast of Ncuti Gatwa, Kedar Williams-Stirling, and the inimitable Gillian Anderson (among others) that adds weight to Sex Education’s seen-it-before premise. 

Scenes switch from the main characters’ lives to that of their parents, and their screwed-up relationships, providing ample insight as to why certain kids turn out a certain way. Adam, for instance, is a highly neglected child being brought up rather dreadfully by his strict headmaster father. It’s no surprise that the boy acts out to get his old man’s attention every once in a while.

The character arcs are so well thought out that the writers need a special mention for their efforts in creating kids that are very relatable and realistic. And Sex Education would not have had the same impact had it not been for its wonderful music. The web series pays homage to a host of 80s icons like INXS, A-ha, and Billy Idol, in addition to being influenced by the blues (featuring such acclaimed artists as Muddy Waters).

Perhaps it would be fair to call the show a teenage drama peppered with some quirky moments, instead of how it is marketed — a comedy-drama. Because, truth be told, the parts designed to elicit laughter aren’t all that strong. But the honest drama that it showcases will make you want to come back for more. It will be a real shame if Sex Education does not get renewed for a second season.

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