Netflix's "Sex Education" Gets It Right
Sex Education, Netflix’s hit comedy-drama, released its third season in September to huge anticipation and critical acclaim. The show tackles present-day issues in a way that’s heartwarming and surprisingly wise, set against the backdrop of adolescence: a time that’s all about growing up, finding out who you are, and figuring out who you want to be in the world.
The creator and head writer of the series is Laurie Nunn, English screenwriter and playwright. In the third season, Nunn includes new focuses, for example: exploring relationship dynamics that are not often shown on television (including gender fluidity), representing relationships between able-bodied and disabled people, and representing the experience of being an “older” mother (being pregnant over the age of 35). On top of all that, the show is a complete riot. Season 3 includes a lot of hilarious moments, and is a genuinely fun, feel-good watch from start to finish.
Otis as “macaroni cheese” from Netflix’s Sex Education
Sex Ed does so many things well, and the people who make the show are dedicated to providing a realistic and safe experience for the actors who work on the set. This season really opened my eyes and heart to gender-nonconforming people and the instances they face when societal structures do not support them. I believe that this is why representation is so important; it can give us insight into lives that don’t necessarily look like ours, but as people we can feel empathetically and instinctively towards each other, widening our ability to understand each other and change the way societal structures can help support those who need it. That’s my little spiel, so read on to find out 4 times Sex Education got it right. (Warning: Spoilers ahead!)
Self Improvement: When Adam Groff took small steps to become a better person
In the first and second seasons of Sex Education, Adam Groff is a troubled teenager who hasn’t fully embraced himself. He acts out, often as a school bully, making himself larger-than-life (like a cat who puffs itself up to look larger, when in reality it’s just expressing fear). In Season 2, Adam starts to become a bit more introspective and accepting of himself, and he discovers that he’s attracted to Eric, a male student at Moordale Secondary School. In Season 3, at the start of his relationship with Eric, Adam slowly but surely changes the way he interacts with the world, sometimes falling back into old patterns, but more often than not, showing how a person can change who they used to be, and that there is always room for growth. Creator and head writer of the show, Laurie Nunn, said in a recent interview with Glamour, “I feel particularly strongly about Adam as a character because I think he represents a lot of men that I've known in my life who have been damaged by toxic masculinity. I want to explore that with this character and see him start to grow and change, even though it's in these really small increments.” And Adam does change, deciding to be a more supportive partner, through small actions that represent a desire to be a better friend, son, and partner. It’s heartwarming to see, and it shows that anyone has room to accept themselves and to do the work of healing.
GNC Representation: When Cal showed GNC individuals how to bind their chest in a safe way
This season introduced a new character to the Sex Education crew, a gender-nonconforming individual named Cal from the United States (the show is set in the UK). Cal attends Moordale as the school transitions and gets a new headmistress, one who is quite strict. Cal argues for their uniform to be a bit oversized, because tight clothing makes them feel uncomfortable. In a key scene, Cal demonstrates how people can use chest binding techniques that are less painful (and less dangerous) than simple tape across the chest, and in this way, the show demonstrates a safer way for GNC individuals to remain true to who they are without compromise. This season really opened my eyes to certain ways that life could be made more comfortable for people who do not fit into gender binaries. It’s (still) not often that GNC individuals are represented on popular TV shows, and with this step, I believe that gender fluidity can be further explored, in the next season of this show but also more widely in today’s entertainment industry.
Able & Disabled-Bodied Relationships: Maeve and Isaac
Characters Meave and Isaac leave from the previous season of the show on a note of tension, which is resolved early in the Season 3. The show’s creator, Laurie Nunn, spoke in an interview with Glamour to weigh in on their storyline and what it represents, saying that “once Isaac was able to fully apologize to Maeve and regain her trust, I wanted to explore sex and disability through their relationship. This was the natural next step for these characters but also is an important bit of representation for the show. Nineteen percent of the working population in the U.K. have a disability, yet we so rarely see intimacy and sex with disabled characters represented onscreen. We worked with various disability consultants and charities to make sure this scene felt authentic, sexy, and joyful.” Maeve and Isaac’s relationship is unique because it occurs at a transitory time in the characters’ lives, and although there are some misunderstandings along the way, the two find that they have the trust to explore each other through a solid foundation of friendship. The show captures the feeling of authenticity between the characters. The fact that showrunners worked with disability consultants and charities shows a level of commitment to getting it right inherently missing from some other representations of disability on screen, and is refreshing.
Healthy Communication: When Jean Milburn and Jakob worked it out
A massive component of Sex Education is based on therapy, and the ways that we can be kinder to each other (and ourselves) through healthy communication. In Season 3, sex therapist Jean Milburn is pregnant and faces discrimination as an “older” mother— someone above the age of 35. She feels like she is in a precarious situation, because her partner Jakob initially doesn’t know that she is pregnant with his child. The way that these two characters work on their relationship is something to be admired: both parties agree to attend therapy sessions, and Jakob and his daughter agree to move in with Jean and her son, Otis. The language that is used in this show between these two characters shows not only the tensions that can come with these kinds of big life transitions, but also the kindness and support that exists when adults work on themselves in order to have better partnerships.
Sex Education is an important show that really captures the zeitgeist of now, the year 2021. I feel that I could wax on about how this show is exemplary in terms of its commitment to diversity, confronting stigma, and making sure to not only represent different types of characters but to do so in a detailed, realistic way. The bonus is that it’s a hilarious show. All three seasons have made me laugh aloud, as the characters find themselves in absurd situations. It’s lighthearted but also deep, with a central message that teaches understanding, communication, and acceptance What more could anyone ask for in a show?
