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Sex Education - Season 1
It's best if prudish people skip Sex Education. In this amazing Netflix dramedy sexuality is examined and visualised in the most humoristic, warm and sincere way. As of the 11th of January 2019 the first season, consisting of eight episodes between 46 and 53 minutes, can be seen on the streaming service. Netflix shortly thereafter (1st of February 2019) announced that Sex Education would return for a second season. This wasn't really that big of a surprise if you consider the fact that over 40 million households have watched this show within the first four weeks.
Sex Education tells the tale of Otis (Asa Butterfield, Hugo) and his environment. He is sixteen years old, a virgin, a tad shy and he is struggling with his inability to masturbate. His mother, Jean (Gillian Anderson, The X-files), is a true devourer of men. She works as a sex and relationship therapist and is continuously overanalysing the behaviour of her son. Together they live in a stately home in the countryside, which also happens to be filled with pornography, sex toys and various sexual paintings. Jean practices at home and here she has the most unusual clients who she has to provide with professional advise. Mainly because of this Otis, despite his sexual inexperience, has a fair amount of psychological knowledge.
The series starts on the first day after the summer holiday. Otis is cycling home with his best friend Eric (Ncuti Gatwa). He tells Otis that all their classmates have had sex in the holiday and that they can't remain behind. In the first week of school Otis gives advise to Adam (Connor Swindells), the bully of the school. Maeve (Emma Mackey) witnesses this and sees an opportunity. She convinces Otis to start a sex clinic at school. Otis gives advise and Maeve handles appointments and finances. After several sessions Otis notices that everyone, whether or not they're attractive, struggles with their sexuality. I think that the way this story is told is rather refreshing.
Contrary to shows such as Blue Mountain State, The Inbetweeners or even a movie series such as American Pie, this story is more authentic. Instead of sexual humour, the glorification of alcohol and drugs or even the romanticizing of sex there is more layering and ambiguity in the way in which these subjects are dealt with in Sex Education. Topics that are often considered as taboo are discussed in a light-hearted way. Think about racism, abortion, erectile dysfunction, panic attacks, feminism, homophobia, masturbation and revenge porn. It is impressive that the creators have managed to discuss all of that without the show turning into a tear-jerker. As far as I'm concerned, that's the major strength of this series.
The acting lifts the show to a higher level. Asa Butterfield manages to portray a peculiar Otis. Gillian Anderson is brilliant as his free-spirited yet slightly concerned mother. At first I didn't even recognize her and I thought that the actress was Emma Thompson. The rest of the cast mainly consists of newcomers who portray their characters well. For example, Emma Mackey is a great rebellious teen, Connor Swindells is a perfect bully and Aimee Lou Wood (Aimee) and Tanya Reynolds (Lily) are perfect teenage girls. Ncuti Gatwa deserves special mention for his portrayal of Eric. It is astonishing how he manages to portray a black, flamboyant, homosexual boy who easily switches between comedy, tragedy and fighting spirit without being over the top. As far as I'm concerned, Ncuti is the major discovery of this show and because of him Eric was my favourite character.
Visually the show is great as well. The use of colour, the environment and the stage setting are a sight to behold. Thanks to the clothing and the music it appears as if the show takes place in the eighties. However, all characters have smart phones and watch porn on their computers. It appears as if various decades are blended together in Sex Education. According to creator Laurie Nunn the show is an homage to eighties movies such as 'The Breakfast Club' and 'Pretty in Pink'. The themes of the show appear to be universal and timeless. Everything put together, Sex Education is a successful and surprising series in the genre. I give the first season a solid 8 and I'm looking forward to the second season.
Follow Sex EducationSex Education tells the tale of Otis (Asa Butterfield, Hugo) and his environment. He is sixteen years old, a virgin, a tad shy and he is struggling with his inability to masturbate. His mother, Jean (Gillian Anderson, The X-files), is a true devourer of men. She works as a sex and relationship therapist and is continuously overanalysing the behaviour of her son. Together they live in a stately home in the countryside, which also happens to be filled with pornography, sex toys and various sexual paintings. Jean practices at home and here she has the most unusual clients who she has to provide with professional advise. Mainly because of this Otis, despite his sexual inexperience, has a fair amount of psychological knowledge.
The series starts on the first day after the summer holiday. Otis is cycling home with his best friend Eric (Ncuti Gatwa). He tells Otis that all their classmates have had sex in the holiday and that they can't remain behind. In the first week of school Otis gives advise to Adam (Connor Swindells), the bully of the school. Maeve (Emma Mackey) witnesses this and sees an opportunity. She convinces Otis to start a sex clinic at school. Otis gives advise and Maeve handles appointments and finances. After several sessions Otis notices that everyone, whether or not they're attractive, struggles with their sexuality. I think that the way this story is told is rather refreshing.
Contrary to shows such as Blue Mountain State, The Inbetweeners or even a movie series such as American Pie, this story is more authentic. Instead of sexual humour, the glorification of alcohol and drugs or even the romanticizing of sex there is more layering and ambiguity in the way in which these subjects are dealt with in Sex Education. Topics that are often considered as taboo are discussed in a light-hearted way. Think about racism, abortion, erectile dysfunction, panic attacks, feminism, homophobia, masturbation and revenge porn. It is impressive that the creators have managed to discuss all of that without the show turning into a tear-jerker. As far as I'm concerned, that's the major strength of this series.
The acting lifts the show to a higher level. Asa Butterfield manages to portray a peculiar Otis. Gillian Anderson is brilliant as his free-spirited yet slightly concerned mother. At first I didn't even recognize her and I thought that the actress was Emma Thompson. The rest of the cast mainly consists of newcomers who portray their characters well. For example, Emma Mackey is a great rebellious teen, Connor Swindells is a perfect bully and Aimee Lou Wood (Aimee) and Tanya Reynolds (Lily) are perfect teenage girls. Ncuti Gatwa deserves special mention for his portrayal of Eric. It is astonishing how he manages to portray a black, flamboyant, homosexual boy who easily switches between comedy, tragedy and fighting spirit without being over the top. As far as I'm concerned, Ncuti is the major discovery of this show and because of him Eric was my favourite character.
Visually the show is great as well. The use of colour, the environment and the stage setting are a sight to behold. Thanks to the clothing and the music it appears as if the show takes place in the eighties. However, all characters have smart phones and watch porn on their computers. It appears as if various decades are blended together in Sex Education. According to creator Laurie Nunn the show is an homage to eighties movies such as 'The Breakfast Club' and 'Pretty in Pink'. The themes of the show appear to be universal and timeless. Everything put together, Sex Education is a successful and surprising series in the genre. I give the first season a solid 8 and I'm looking forward to the second season.
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