*This article contains spoilers for season 2 of Sex Education
If, like us, you’ve spent the entire weekend binge-watching the brand new series of Sex Education, you’ll also be living vicariously through Maeve Wiley, and still *totally* annoyed that after 16 whole episodes, her and Otis still aren’t an item. (Thanks a lot, Isaac)
Not only that, but you will also by now be familiar with the issues addressed in the show – some of which, you’ve probably never even considered before – including pansexuality, asexuality, consent, assault, bisexuality and dating as a disabled person.
Following the life of Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield) and his baby-steps into the world of romance as a teenager with an erratic sex therapist for a mum (Gillian Anderson), season one left off with Otis capitalising on his second-hand sex knowledge, offering an advice clinic to kids at his school and finding a new love interest in Ola…the daughter of his Mum’s new boyfriend.
In season 2, we’re introduced to new characters, including wheelchair-bound Isaac, who takes a shine to Maeve, and immediately comes across as a sassy, intelligent being – a far cry from the pity party we’re used to seeing portrayed in shows.
That’s not to say it didn’t end with us wanting to lightly slap him in the face, but it was so refreshing to see a disabled person greeted with humour, dignity and the realistic concept that…get this…not only able-bodied people can date?
We also saw Ola and Otis drift apart as he realised he was still in love with Maeve, and Ola had recurring sex dreams about fellow-classmate Lily – which led her to believe that perhaps there was more than one reason as to why their relationship was coming to an end.
Lily’s initial reaction to Ola turning up at her house and kissing her out of the blue was a true-say for many people who have been in this situation – she was left isolated by Lily, who didn’t want to be convinced that Ola could reveal a side of her life that she’d never considered before – bisexuality. Obviously we got the happy ending we all deserved when they have a massive snog at the end and realise their feelings for each other.
Adam and Eric’s relationship also gets taken to the next level this season, when following their detention make-out session, Adam returns from military training (after being kicked out for covering the backs of two gay peers) to find Eric already moving on with new exchange student, Rahim. A character we started out *hating* for his bullying mentality, Adam has quickly becomes someone we start rooting for when we see the toll hiding his sexuality while dealing with his masc-head teacher father is having on his mental health.
In the light of post-MeToo, the show also touches on the very timely issue of sexual assault, with all-round-HILARIOUS Aimee, getting into an awkward encounter with a man on the bus – which despite her laughing off, leaves her mentally scarred, and not able to get back on, before we see Maeve convince her to go to the police (with NO judgement, hallelujah!) and her friends rally around her to help her conquer her fear of using buses.
But of course, a special mention has to go to none other than Gillian Anderson.
When Jean Milburn sets up camp as the *official* sex therapist at Moordale (while non the wiser to her sons capitalist ventures, obviously), we see students who are concerned they’re not attracted to anyone, with body confidence issues, and it even touches on the modern issue of slut-shaming, when her notes from the clinic get leaked around the school by Headmaster Groff – as revenge for counselling his wife about their lacklustre romance.
Despite being a legend in her field, Gillian’s character is so outstandingly written, with humour and an educational aspect that makes everyone feel safe around the conversation of sex – a subject that even season one had us squeamish at.
While we don’t know what season 3 holds for the relationships we’ve become more emotionally invested in than our own, one thing’s for sure – Netflix did good, and it’s about time other shows started following suit.
