In its first two seasons, “Sex Education” has proven to be a daring and diverse show willing to dive into current topics. Season three, released to Netflix on Sept. 17, cements the show’s goal to continue to tell everyone’s story. No matter who the viewer is, they can find themselves within one of the characters and see their story in the show. While it may be a seemingly risky show even in the name, the dedication to accuracy and detail will always make the series worth watching.
The show follows Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield) and Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey) as they start an underground sex therapy clinic at their school. Throughout this storyline, the show dives off into other students’ lives as well.
We see a variety of LGBTQ and BIPOC characters living normal, teenage lives in Great Britain. While these characters represent the show’s purpose of educating the viewer, they are also portrayed as average teenagers looking for fun.
In the newest season, this diversity continues with the introduction of two non-binary characters. The show mostly focuses on Cal Bowman (Dua Saleh), the new student, who identifies as non-binary. Throughout the show, the viewer can see their experience as a student whose school does not respect them or their life.
As Cal and Jackson Marchetti (Kedar Williams-Stirling)— a supporting character from the previous seasons — become close, their relationship gives examples of correcting someone’s misuse of pronouns and how a non-binary person wants to be seen and understood.
As they stand up to those in the show who disregard them, Cal provides realistic conversations that reveal how they have been treated and why they choose to ground themselves throughout such difficulties.
Toward the end of the show, “Sex Education” introduces Layla (Robyn Holdaway) who is non-binary as well, yet appears quieter than Cal and seems to admire them. Both characters offer education to viewers about the interactions and conversations surrounding gender standards today.
The show also dives into the character Issac Goodwin (George Robinson), a boy who uses a wheelchair. As he was introduced in season two, the care towards his experience with a disability was shown to the audience. The same can be said in this season as his relationship with Maeve grows. The show does not limit Isaac’s experience or avoid hard topics, but rather gives the character the time to share his perspective.
The characters have important conversations with the introduction of the new headmaster. Throughout the new season, characters interact with headmaster Hope Haddon (Jemima Kirke), who appears to be a progressive feminist, then later shows to be a performative educator.
As she dismisses students’ identities, beliefs and voices in the season, viewers see the students stand for their identity. As a viewer, one can sympathize with how important individuality is to these characters — and those in real life — who have to defend their identity.
Even when one might believe the show is villainizing Hope, it still humanizes her in scenes, exhibiting once again the show’s attention to detail with an individual’s story.
Context is a crucial element in “Sex Education,” creating background for these characters’ perspectives and their lives keeps viewers connected and engaged. Whether it’s Maeve’s relationship with her mom or Lily’s obsession with aliens, no story is stagnant. They are always growing, and these characters have chances for redemption and failure just how any teenager does.
Season three does not fall short compared to the first two seasons, and is even stronger than before since it gives equal time to the supporting characters as it does the protagonist, Otis. As each character gets a chance to share their story through their sex life, identity and struggles, the audience can connect and empathize with the characters like no other show.
Edited by Elise Mulligan | emulligan@themaneater.com