One thing I personally like about this show is how Eric never once has a crush on Otis or hints at romantic attraction to Otis. I feel like any time there's a gay character with a best friend of the same gender, the gay character almost always has hidden feelings of some sort. It's refreshing that sex education doesn't do that
@@rtsharlotte AND they have their own stuff going on outside of the straight main character’s problems. Do they cover homophobia with Eric? Absolutely. And they do it pretty damn well as much as I can tell, being a straight dude. But Eric isn’t just forgotten after that and only brought back when a musical episode is happening and “well gays like musicals duh!” He is a character first and gay second. Same as how people write straight characters by default.
@@MrRenardbleu yo true. Hell one of the gay dudes is in basically one of the most popular groups in the school and Rahim is also instantly popular when he transfers. Even the other dude calls out the SCHOOL BULLY on homophobia not being cool anymore and Adam backs off at that
What hurts the most about Kevin is that in the source material he has always been treated purposefully as a character that’s main trait is not that he is gay. Unfortunately the show is more regressive than the comics
I really liked that they showed all different types of sexual assault and how it can effect you even if it isn't full on rape. A lot of survivors feel like if they didn't get raped it wasn't as bad as it could have been and they don't have the right to feel the way they do. And it showed the importance of knowing you are not alone.
It did it I think masterfully. Like with Aimee's story, irl you don't really hear about it. And if you do it's always little compared to rape. But when you look at it how it is ofc it's bloody traumatizing, it's horrible.
And they also show the trauma after that, like the way Aimee can’t be intimate with her boyfriend and how she always see the “man” which later on makes her need therapy from Jean
@@amandaeaton1177 and thats what I really loved the most with her arc. the writers showed that SA victims aren't magically healed by their friends saying motivational shit or accompanying them to where the incident took place. it has a long-term effect on the victim's mental health and life in general that should be discussed/addressed with a professional. and even after her talk with jean she still wasn't over that traumatic experience. and its so realistic. the writing in s1 and s2 was brilliant.
You know why these characters are great? Because they're not just plot devices. They do not exist solely to build the main characters' arc, they exist in their own way, with their own interests, fears, quirks. That's why they feel so genuine and real.
something that i really liked was that all the characters rewore their clothes. it’s so unrealistic when characters have entire new wardrobes every 5 minutes
@@lujorom9172 Yeah, cause his mom is a therapist and makes money. Adam and Eric live in normal houses. But Maeve for example doesn't even live in a house.
My favorite element of Otis and Eric's friendship is that they're allowed to be close to one another, even physically so, without other characters calling them gay or harassing them for it. Intimate male friendships like that are so lacking in American television.
Sex Education is a prime example of what happens when you have good gay representation on the show. Eric is gay, he has relationships, and there are also many other non-straight characters on the show; and precisely because of that, when Eric and Otis have a friendship and are affectionate with each other, but not romantically, nobody has to write anything more into that, because the representation is already there and we don't have to thirst for it by shipping canonically straight characters! All that is to say - when the gays are there, the friendships don't suffer ;)
Yea I love that Otis fully except his best friend is gay and doesn't feel the least bit self conscious about it and even supports him. Yea plus all the characters have so much depth to them that they feel like real ppl
I think also the show really normalises healthy platonic male love through Eric and Otis’ friendship :) they’re really physically affectionate and comfortable with each other which normally isnt shown in teen shows, especially with a gay and straight friendship
thank u for saying this! im not male but i have the same relationship with my best friend. i love her but absolutely platonic even tho im lesbian. sometimes people still think i in love with her just because im into girls and we have a very close friendship and we are very comfortable
I like how Jackson's moms have issues in their relationship because I feel like in a lot of shows there is a gay relationship and they never fight and it's perfect all the time and that's not really how relationships work.
i also love how they didn't need to hammer in the fact that jackson has gay parents, the show just presents them without overemphasizing that he has two moms
ohhhh wait, is the blonde lady in the clips about jackson also his mum? i don't watch the show so whenever she's on screen with the lad i thought she was his mum based on their mannerisms, but then the hospital clip showed up and i was like, "no, wait, shouldn't that lady sitting next to him be his mum?" didn't occur to me that both could be his. lmfao one braincell moment.
Eric Effiong is one of the very few gay characters that break out of the "gay best friend" Stereotype. He's his own character with his own problems and his own personality. The only other character that I can think about that is also like this is Raymond Holt
Rosa Diaz (also B99), Elodie (Trinkets) Elena Alvarez (One Day at a Time), Callie Torres (Grey's Anatomy), Mickey Milkovich (Shamless), Santana Lopez (Glee), Eliott (the magicians), Nicky Nichols (Orange is the New black), Maeve (the boys), Oberyn Martel (GoT). That are the characters I immediately think off when its about not stereotypical gay/bi people.
Precisely, I adore that Eric is refreshingly his own character, and not just a sidekick for Otis. I also like that Eric isn't in love with Otis, and their friendship is one of the best dynamics on the show.
@@ducklingscap897 ehhh idk how well glee did that one. They kinda just made Santana gay last minute to make up for kurt ,and they hardly gave her a life outside of being mean and lesbian
I think his grandma knew he was gay as well. When he told her about the person he's dating, at first she was using "She" pronouns every time she talked about who he could be dating, when Eric used only "they" pronouns to describe Adam to her, she switched up very quickly to using "They" as well. Very subtle, which shows the love she has for her family as well as the caution she has as an elder Nigerian woman.
I love that one of the stereotypical romantic moments in most teen shows is used to get Otis and Eric back together as friends. Love the idea that they are soulmates and their fight isn't just brushed off.
American teenage shows tend to take themselves wayyyy too seriously, and Sex Education felt like the exact opposite. The plot isn't over the top, which allowed the characters to really settle in and develop in the situations they were in. Also, the British sense of humour just hits differently.
And the accents. I rewatched the show with my mother (her first watch) and I had to watch it in the dubbed (German) version. It was not that bad, but I love the accents so much
@@Isabelle-hv6ny yeeaaah the accents are just so lovely! Honestly it's such a nice change from the typical American accent. It's been years since I've watched any dubbed movies or series (French dub is horrible on anything except from some old movies and a a few anime shows) unless it's forced on me like on TV. But yeah, the accents, I love them soooo much!
@@racheleke3171 I respect that 😊 Je suis désolée de m'être énervée mais on a un des meilleurs doublages de la planète, j'ai pas mal de comédien de doublage préféré et je m'intéresse un peu au milieu alors ça me fait toujours mal au coeur de voir quelqu'un le critiquer >~
"Black characters also get to just be characters without having to be acknowledged by the writers only if they feel like talking about racism. Like, they're allowed to be fleshed out characters beyond the color of their skin. It's almost like POC are human beings too. Who would have thought?" Yes! Thank you for saying it!
i flipping HATE when they use a black character as just a social message and then discard them after like they’re only there for social justice purposes and for diversity instead of being actual characters.
i hope people stop tokenizing women. lgbt and poc in fiction and portray them as human beings. after all, the story and the characters MUST be fleshed out and even if someone wants to make a message out of it, it shouldn't take the mary sue or belittling route
I really agree, but then there is always some Teen Vogue article saying that in series X where character Y is black, unless the show talks about racism "their blackness is not acknowledged".. see for example the Netflix show Before her eyes
When Jean "diagnosed" Jackob as someone who goes from conquer to conquer without any type of attachment she didn't just made a "mistake". She is actually projecting herself into him. She is the one who's divorced and like to seduce men but is terrified of intimacy and would leave before things get difficult
What makes this next level writing is that when Otis asks his mum for advice on being a therapist, she points out that projecting yourself into your patients is the fatal flaw. Then not only does Jean do it with Jakub, but Otis does it with the asexual girl leading to people saying sex mom is better than sex kid
@@shaman9 Seems like their emotions can cause that flaw to show itself, Jean was very very in Jackob, she was blinded by him. Otis was dealing with his first girlfriend woes
I love how they portray it as normal and not as a quirk or a "quirky lgbt people". The characters feel real and natural and thats why i love the show. Its not pretentious
One of my favorite things about Otis is that he’s initially presented as someone who cares a lot about what others think about him, in his socially awkward mannerisms and constant self consciousness. But when it comes to how he spends his time or what he’s doing with his best friend, he truly gives no fucks. Dressing in drag in public to celebrate Eric’s birthday? Running into his crush while dressed in said drag? Not a second thought. Zero embarrassment. The way Eric and Otis initially seem like polar opposites but are actually shown to have huge influences on each other’s personalities is fascinating.
What i love is that they are allowed to be affectionate in their friendship. In many shows friendship between men, specially if one is gay ,is like " yeah, keep your distance, no touchy". But otis and eric fell like normal real friends, because normal friends hug each other .
watching aimee’s storyline in season 2 genuinely made me cry. as a person who has gone through that before, it was so important for me to see someone healing after that experience and how you try to convince yourself it’s not a big deal, but it really is. sex education is brilliant, period.
first, i wanna say i’m truly sorry you had a similar experience. no one deserves having to go through being violated in any manner. second, i felt the same way, i too went through something similar and i just felt so alone and awful afterwards (and for a while after). so seeing what aimee went through and showing her journey as she processes and slowly heals was really impactful. i remember crying all throughout her arc and getting some closure on my own experience, so it was wonderful
I really appreciated the writers continuing Aimee's SA story. I feel like most teen shows use it for like a damsel in distress moment and once they are "saved" they never really bring it up again but it can deeply affect your life for a long time. Processing your trauma is so difficult and it felt so good to see Aimee still struggling to grasp what happened to her in season 3, I felt so seen. I love Aimee ❤️❤️
And the way the other girls helped her even though most of them didn't really speak to each other or even like each other is so wholesome and nice to see. I love seeing female characters support eachother
That scene where all the girls show up to the bus stop to support Amy is just incredible, one of the most moving scene I've ever seen in any show, movie, book ...
Okay, this is like the smallest thing but can we talk about the fucking casting for Adam and his dad??? Like, HOW are they not actually father and son, they look the same. That’s gotta be some of the best casting I’ve ever seen.
I like how Aimee's character was treated. She's a dumb blonde, but the show doesn't discount her for it. Her silliness is never made fun of, her sexual needs are treated with respect, and her feelings and emotions, when she chooses to express them, are accepted and understood in a way that doesn't feel derogatory or condescending. In fact the show does the "yes-im-the-trope-but-also-more-than-that" thing with most of it's characters. Ola and the "other girl" trope is another example, apart from the ones already mentioned in the video
yeah i love it! like shes seen as an idiot, but still a person with feelings that matter. there are dumb people in the world, there are some dumb blondes too, they exist. theyre human though! and they can be some of the kindest people out there, and deserve love just as much as anyone else! so depicting her as such and still giving her respect gives a blueprint for how to treat these people in real life. theyre still people with experiences and opinions that matter as much as anyone else.
I love how this show has the main female character as a feminist who is very independent and self-assured, but she's also shy and vulnerable around people, and overall can be a respectful person when she wants. I've never seen anything mainstream talk about feminism without failing completely, either because they lack research or because they are trying too hard to be woke. Maeve is a fictional character who's an activist of women's rights AND a likeable person. She makes the real movement very proud.
@@gunveersinghdhir6186 If we got annoyed by Maeve in real life, it would be easy to avoid her, because she's not an extrovert. 'In your face' rude people are more annoying than 'loner' rude people. I personally wouldn't want to be friends with most of the SE characters for different reasons.
@@Ri57490 Also Maeve isn not for everyone, i like people who say what they are really thinking without a big filter, but i know that its not for everyone.
I think her relationship with her mother really hammers in the fact that being a feminist does Not mean being a bitch to anyone and everyone. A person, who I think probably had everyone extremely irritated, who was dealing with an addiction and had hurt Maeve over and over. Still, Maeve loved her regardless, just shows how human these characters are. Such well rounded writing. CW would've had Maeve make sure her mother went to jail or some self righteous bull and act like that's not her mother.
I loooove how they handled diversity! I think the only time they acknowledged the characters races was when Jackson said that (obviously) his white mother wasn’t his biological mom. Like they’re just characters and it’s honestly amazing
I guess we could count his mom feeling distant when he was quitting sports? But then again that wasn’t specifically about her being white just about her not being biologically related so Idk. More about blood vs. family than racial
I love when that happens. Like have their race or sexual orientation not be a biggy. I love how with Eric's story, it wasn't a whole race narrative, but you could get to know him culturally
Honestly, Amy's side story where she got sexually harassed was perfectly filmed and edited. It was absolutely spectacular. [Edit] I meant the filming. The story is quite sad.
I thought it was really good that even though not thát much happened, she was still so affected by it. Because it is so real: something like that can have an incredible impact and it happens way too often
@@Marjanne0031 It is, in my opinion, also a good example of "just because there are people who have it worse than you doesnt mean your problems and nightmares are less important" ...people tend to play things down to an extend where it eats you up from inside, because to you the horror is real, the others just have "another perspective" on life
@@ichbinnichtdererste thank you. People made me wanna feel like my problems dont matter because i am not homeless or didnt have cancer or smth like that, like i should be greatful for basically something that is a bare minimum
@@notwerkinginthishouse8634 It has become a bad habbit of me to think the same, but what I tell others is exactly that...your problems matter, your reality is not mine...tell me, what is your reality, so that I can see the problems and help me to understand them...Before telling you to change something, I would first want to see your world...after all some of us are more sensible than others :)
Something really great is how, although the show is all about sex, I never feel like any of the characters are sexualised. They’re never shot in a way that is meant to make them sexually attractive to the audience because..... they’re teenagers ( Riverdale I’m looking at you). It treats sex as exactly what it is, fun, awesome but also messy, awkward, ridiculous.
I also love how there is little to no music when it comes to sex scenes, it looks like a detail but means a lot, because sex doesn't work like a music, doesn't always last as long as music and it kinda shows that it is fine if your sexual acts aren't as erotic as what you imagined them to be like. And this is rare, and extremely positive to the public to free them from this complex
yeh i think it’s education than sex and it’s brings about great awareness to issues involving sexuality, race, identity, mental health and it’s a great and timely show to educate people
@Some Weeb So.... I don't know if we're watching the same show (cheerleader dancing scenes, stripper scene, sexualised sex scenes, Betty domme alter ego) but also.... As someone who is also very attracted to women... There are a LOT of hot women around in media!
@@vicentepuyalto5151 I swear in season 3 I contemplated just skipping over the rest sometimes just to see what happens next in Adams storyline! I was HEARTBROKEN about the end!!! 😭😭😭
also, can we talk about viv and jackson’s relationship? it was purely platonic and it’s very refreshing to see that bc a lot of teen shows tend to push the idea that when a straight boy and a straight girl are friends, they will be romantically involved
I understand this but it does disappoint me that the audience see them as "purely platonic" even though the show clearly hints and a future romantic relationship because its so clearly due to Viv being fat. Let the big girl be sought after for once!!
@@ej7728 totally got what you mean. i hope my comment didn’t come across as “big girls don’t deserve love” bc they certainly do, just like everybody else. from what i have seen so far, viv (helping jackson with his anxiety) and jackson (helping vjv with the guy she likes) have been helping each other out like they are siblings who are also best friends. i’m rooting for viv to find someone she loves and that person reciprocates- and it doesn’t have to be jackson.
@@user-nu9yn5li5d yeah I totally understand that and you didn't come off that way at all! My frustration is just cause I got excited from the hints in the series then everything I've seen about them online was all platonic because I guess I just saw it totally differently Edit: as a fat girl the reason I brought up Vivs weight is because you can have all these qualities in a romantic relationship, they don't make a sibling like relationship by themselves. Its that people don't see the romantic side of it even though i think it was initially written to hint at a romantic relationship.
@@ej7728 i saw it as a future relationship as well! it's really frustrating that the fans usually ship characters who've barely made eye contact, but don't ship those two characters who are clearly intended to be in a relationship by the producers, only because she's fat. I'm fat as well, and it's really annoying. i hope the producers will give her a chance
I love the fact that when Maeve met Jacksons parents, they were just introduced like her boyfriends parents. they didnt force or dwell on the fact that he has two moms, and it just felt very normal, which is exactly what we want to see with lgbtq characters in tv/movies
yeah it was literally never brought up at all which i thought was so amazing along with all the other layers to the parent's relationship including many smaller details, such as Jackson not being emasculated at all by having 2 mums, the dynamic about one of them being the biological mum and the other not and it highlights how even gay couples have issues (you rarely ever see these issues talked about as most TV gay marriages are always happy and perfect which isnt realistic)
What I love about this show is that the lgtb characters have "normal people's" issues that are completely independent to them being lgtb. In most shows the problems of the lgtb characters are always related to their sexuality and the fact that society is not lgtb friendly enough. They always make a great deal about how they are lgtb and that society should change and become more tolerant to them. Like that's ALWAYS the plot line in other shows. In Sex Ed, Jackson's mothers are having relationship issues and are about to divorce like any heterosexual couple would, they are not perfect. No character is perfect and no character is a villain. I love how the video mentions Mr Groff (Adam's dad) as a "villain" character, but even him gets extremely humanized in the 3rd season and you end up liking him much more and sympathizing with him.
I rejoiced when Adams mom left his dad and became friends with Otis’ mom. As a Nigerian Eric is the absolute best, a non homophobic Nigerian parent was a breath of fresh air. Also love a bisexual representation.
The only issue I have with Eric’s character is that he got together with Adam at the end of season 2, I’m not a fan of the “gay kid dates former homophobic bully” trope
@@seandavid4862 The trope is rather outdated, but with how this show has been turning high school drama tropes on their head, I'm willing to give it a shot in season 3. They might end up going someplace great with it.
I really love how Lily's character was actually affected by the teasing and bullying after all because it's so realistic for a teenager regardless of how quirky and unapologetic they are, to feel insecure and embarrassed about their interests when teased that badly. I also love how she didn't lose that part of herself despite the fact. This show is so good.
Lily got to me as an autistic person because yeah. Even if we don’t realise what we are doingis “socially unnacceptable” other people will force us to learn that regardless. And it hurts a lot
One thing I ironically liked a lot about Otis is that I didn’t really like him for most of the series? He’s a bit of a prick and makes some poor decisions, but he really grows as a person by the end of season two and acknowledges that he can be cruel. He feels incredibly real as a teen character because of it.
I always liked that even though Maeve is an asshole, she’s not a horrible person. She can be abrasive and downright rude but you see that she genuinely cares about her friends. Her friendship with Amy is especially sweet and the way she always tries to help her. And even though she’s a typical ‘not like other girls’ stereotype- she isn’t because she doesn’t see herself like that.
also shes a feminist! like i dont care that shes “not like other girls” because thats just her and she doesnt put down women who are like other girls :) a very good character
I have so much appreciation for the way she was written. I feel like she first comes across as this independent, mean and "tough" type of girl but then, as you say, she turns out to be a much more complex character. She reminds me of characters like Furiosa from Mad Max or Katara/Toph from ATLA who often show a tough or mean side but then you see them also be conflicted, caring and sensitive, something the writers didn't drop in order to uphold this "badass" woman persona.
I didn’t even think of that. About her being the “not like other girls” trope. The show does a great job of turning that trope on its head that I didn’t even realize it. She doesn’t really put down or judge other girls the way victims of the trope do. (Like the NLOG girl thinking that girls into makeup and dresses and dating are stupid and only she’s right because she doesn’t care about that stuff). Maeve IS kind and caring and her struggles explain her outsider status perfectly whereas most not like other girls are really just average characters with nothing really big in terms of backstory or layers, their character is just that they HAVE TO hate stuff other women like. There was a comic on instagramabout that too, of a Girl who thought of herself like that but comes to realize that there are girls who like games and movies and comics AND they like makeup and dressing up too and that she doesn’t have to pick one or the other just to feel unique. It ends with “maybe I AM like other girls. Because other girls are unique and cool”
@@pcrassen4975 This comment is perfect. She has the cool factor and mysterious vibes that make her fit the trope, but she’d never think of it herself. She’s a bitch but wouldn’t put another woman down for not being ‘different’. And she’s so sweet to her friends once you get passed her hard exterior. I love her.
Caring about friends doesn't make someone no longer horrible. This is like saying "this rapist was nice to me, so they actually aren't a horrible person". Unwarranted aggression, rudeness, and bullying tendencies make a horrible individual. Like Adam. Just because he was closeted and has an abusive parent doesn't absolve him. If you're nice to a select few people but horrible to others, you're still a horrible person.
I also like how Maeve and Aimee were always there for each other. They had gone different routes at high school, but they didn't end their friendship. It was so interesting that Maeve saw herself as holding Aimee back, so they needed to hide their friendship. Yet they both became stronger emotionally when Aimee decided that the cool kids weren't that cool and hung out with Maeve openly.
@vick • female relationships almost never end in romance though? they’re always teased and hinted at to bait fans but it never actually happens. anyway my comment was mostly a joke i still love them both girlfriends or not.
I love that Season 3, focused on almost every character, and gave them all screen time and developement. For example Rahim who was eric's bfriend in season 2, still has scenes and He wasn't left behind. I noticed in other teenage shows, when a secondary character fulfills their purpose on the plot, they just disappear the next season like nothing happened. ( srry for my english)
I love that too!!! Like come on you can still keep bringing up new things about sidecharacters no need to always replace them! And I really loved his parts in season 3
Jean and Otis' relationship is a parent-child dynamic that you don't often see in teen shows. Because they have such different personalities and outlooks, they butt heads often but still have a positive resolution at the end of the day. Jean is never made out to be uninvolved or dumb while Otis is this intelligent mastermind. They're both imperfect people growing and learning about themselves and each other as the time goes on. It's so good and something I really appreciate. Also, Gillian Anderson is always hot but as Jean, she is out of this world attractive. You can tell how much fun she has in this role.
@@dericmatthew4074 drama in shows I think basically translates to ENTERTAINMENT or ENTERTAINING at least to me imo BUT irl it'd just be someone being a total nuisance and kinda of just a loud and annoying insufferable noisy af brat like annoying younger siblings for/as an example
I love how they portrayed Eric's Dad. Rather than fall into the stereotype of homophobic dad, they did so much good with the character and his relationship with Eric. Showing both sides of the coin and allowing it to fuel their relationship was a great choice. They bring a nuance to the stereotype, which is something this show is very good at.
I couldn't agree more! The final episode of season 1 was such a heart-warming moment. It's a shame we didn't' get to see more of him in the later seasons, although they chose to focus on Eric's mother instead...
SPOILERS I love how they wrote adam’s character. With these “bully that was gay” trope it usually ends when the bully admits it and then puf! all his problems are solved and he was never actually attracted to girls, but with Adam he had other things going on and his sexuality was just a part of it. Seeing him grow, find himself and realize that he’s actually his own person and worthy of happiness and love was one of my favorite parts of season two. Like really, I was smiling like a dumbass every time he was on screen. They let him be soft and vulnerable AND bi and he’s really my favorite character.
Same, he is my favorite character too, for the same reasons as yours and also because I never saw a so well written bisexual male character in a series, movie or book. I actually don't know if I ever saw a bi male character in a story. And I love that he isn't just a bully or aimees ex or the son of the headmaster, he has his own life and friends. And I love the new friendship between Orla and him. I smiled so much when they huged and talked.
also as an asexual i so appreciate the fact that this is one of the only shows that is willing to seriously talk about asexuality. it was just one small storyline but it meant so much to me
Absolutely! Also thought it was amazing that Otis didn't understand the asexual character but Jean did-- shows just how hard it can be to find someone who understands your asexuality and how healing it is when you finally do.
@@somethingunusual8456 are certain asexual people uncomfortable with the idea of sex? i’ve never heard of that before but i’d like to learn more if your ok with telling me lmal
One character I love is Aimee. She’s meant to be the “dumb girl” stereotype, but beyond that she’s so much more. She’s a nice, genuine person, and I really don’t think she’s dumb. Just a bit ditzy.
I love Aimee so much too! I do think that she really isn't that intellectually smart but I think the show does a really good job in showing that this doesn't make her any less worthy as a person. It doesn't mean she's completely dumb or incapable of having her own thoughts.
i think season 3 really fixes the “cartoon villain” issue! the development of Adam’s dad was one of my favorite arcs. you could really see the way that he was just perpetuating the cycle of abuse that his father started, and you get to watch him feel remorse and discover the person he wants to be.
Yes! And even the arc revolving around Hope, who filled that 'cartoon villain' role on a more discreet way is perfect! From the first scene to her last, she feels very human and understandable, even if we despise her. They do all of their 'villains' so well in this show, tbh
Omg I was so emotional for Eric’s story. I thought his father was homophobic but when they had that scene of him just being worried about his son in a world that won’t accept him, that was so well done. I love that they went that route and not the cliche of African (assuming) parents being homophobic.
Right. Eric's dad is one of my favorite tv parents. I felt like he was super realistic. I felt like if I was a Dad with a son like Eric I could see myself acting the same way (okay maybe a bit less accepting but I'm working on it)
Personally think this is my favourite find on Netflix ever. That scene where all the girls join Aimee on the bus... dude that made me cry. Super powerful. The writing is amazing and all the characters seem to have a purpose, the humor is great and how they address teen frustration and navigating sexuality is just so real and wonderful. I literally recommend it to everyone
And the “it’s my vagina” scene Had it been an American show I think that scene would’ve been too comedic and lost the message But I was actually crying
Aimee really expresses the “good girl complex” really well. When women are expected to put in a pretence and pretend they like things they don’t really like, especially during sex to appeal to men in particular.
I, for one, absolutely loved Jackson's character arc. On the surface he's presented as a stereotypical popular high-school jock, but on the inside he's just as messed-up as the others; struggling with his own issues, insecurities, fears and the weight of expectations.
exactly!! and i love how season 2 ended with him trying to come to terms with his mental health and he befriends Viv despite all the pressure from his jock "friends" and he's such a sweet and caring guy
it remined me of a character called cam in degrassi the next generation, spoiler..... he was written specifically to explore suicide. he comes to this new school with his hockey team- he's good (iirc) but he's shy and awkward and the youngest player who doesn't really have friends on the team. he feels extremely pressured and stressed between hockey (and trying to get scouted for a scholarship) and being a new kid and at one point he self harms, he makes himself sick so he can miss practice and then when that blows up in his face he purposely falls from a high place and breaks his own arm. he seems to recover mentally while not having to play but he has troubles with his new girlfriend and his teammates and the guy who likes his gf grief him repeatedly and he eventually kills himself. we never find out how he did it bc the degrassi team actually researched and listened to the mental health experts who said it could lead to copycats/distress the viewers (looking at u 13rw) but its very powerful and heartbreaking. it scared me so much seeing Jackson hurt himself to keep him from having to swim. i don't think sex education is going down that path with him and he'll find his way next season but it broke my heart.
I just realised, this show never had any major cliffhangers, or as many shocking moments as other big shows out there, yet I was so invested. Even whenever I go back to this show, I finish it in about 2 days, it’s just so well-crafted that it doesn’t need shocking moments to keep people invested
Same. There isn’t really a big bad or a dramatic storyline. The storyline is just the characters and what they are experiencing. It’s very slice of life imo. And I like it precisely for that reason. I don’t need Hiram Lodge to be the big bad for the twentieth time in a row and Veronica saying how she hates her daddy and then going back to him the moment it’s convenient.
This is what teenagers need, genuine representation that doesn't make fun of their problems or brush it aside- or even catastrophize anything. These are normal realistic problems that anyone can relate to, nothing over-the-top like other american teen shows. I really enjoy that the show shows a stereotype but eventually shows that they're human, with human thoughts and human feelings. Every character has a reason and I love that for them.
the character of maeve proves that there’s no such thing as “i’m not like other girls” cause every girl is unique, something maeve knows and respects. although she doesn’t have many girl friends she doesn’t feel the need to attack anyone for her own good and does the exact opposite, stands for every girl and is a feminist. it’s refreshing to have a well written show that is not all over your face with impactful and cliche lines and instead approaches everything naturally, always speaking about the issues of our society.
True except for how she treats Ola. I love the show, but the Ola / Maeve rivalry really annoyed me, cause it’s so old, so ridiculous and pointless, and they’re both better than that.
@@lujorom9172 yes i felt the same. fighting “over a guy” which was essentially the message they wanted to show is very silly and old like you said. i’m glad it was over right after lmao
when most tv shows advertise lgbt representation, they almost always stick to (1) relevant gay character in the entire show, but i absolutely love how sex education portrays pansexuality, asexuality and bisexuality as well
@@saryjackson7705 same like just seeing them say a character in schitt's creek is pansexual made my day so well cause of how less representation I've seen and it just made me so happy but when they did it so well in sex education and through the character that I literally had a crush on was just.... Damn
This great lgbtq+ representation because it discusses discovering your sexuality in very realistic ways. I like the animated show She-ra’s lgbtq+ representation for almost the opposite reason, they live in another world and in that world being lgbtq+ is the norm
I really love Otis and Erics friendship and how the show displays it. They have so much physical contact, which is never shown in shows between two guys who are not in a romantic relationship. But between Otis and Eric it's just normal and cute, it shows their affection as best friends. In other shows as in life its fine between two girls, but god forbid if two guys touch in a not slightly agressiv way, patting each others backs hard enough while hugging for example.
I also like that even though one of the characters is gay, there's never a "am I in love with my straight male best friend who I am so close with?". It's stereotypical and unnecessary.
i love how their friendship is presented as something normal, something you see everyday, without having the need to make a discussion/explanation as to why a straight and gay character are friends. they just are. and its fucking brilliant. otis does things for eric (like dressing up for a tradition) without the show ever questioning his masculinity. the writers really want the audience to understand that that is how friendships should be. the otis-eric tandem is SOOO well-written. a rare gem.
they film sex education in my city (cardiff) and i've bumped into the cast before, can i just say, they are all f*cking awesome and SO kind in real life. makes watching the show so much more enjoyable knowing that the actors playing them are genuinely kind-hearted, awesome people
What I love about british shows is how they use clever writing and subtle humor to deal with serious issues. They don't rely on shock value or inflict trauma on their audience to get their message across. Shows like 13 reasons why and Euphoria are just too heavy IMO
@@Kevin-rg3yc Euphoria still doesn’t deliver well enough. All though, it is more promising, than most American teen shows, it still has this essence of American exaggeration in it. Euphoria comes off as being too heavy because the characters and the situations in it are still portrayed unrealistically. It is too extreme, and there’s too much going on. Also the situations and characters, especially Rue, have an unsatisfying development. Sex Education knows it’s a dramatic/comedic teenage show and pokes fun of teen show stereotypes and tropes by criticizing them, which ironically makes it serious and real. whereas Euphoria tries too hard to be a “serious” and “deep” teen show by making it all too depressing and extreme, where in fact it comes off as too unrealistic, but forced rather. I would have to praise Euphoria for their LGBTQ+ portrayal, and for their portrayal of drug addiction though.
Skins (UK). Skins does it right. Everything. (first 2 seasons, are the best, ist has ups and downs after that.) Sex education too. Imo 13 reasons should have never been made in the first place. The whole concept and idea is just wrong.
@@kaitakashi6587 noo, I see it as a way for boomers/macho man's to heal and find the joy in their lives again, and even for younger generations to know it's never to late to get your shit together
@@kaitakashi6587 the thing is this show isn't looking to vilify anyone. While people are mean, nobody is static, and everyone can change for the better
@@auespaa yeah it's a sign for a teenage drama comedy series to show older people can still change but in truth is that there's never gonna be a happy story about it in the end nor will this particular scene come to fruition because that's reality, and that is somethin needed here with mr groff since he is an embodiment of being an asshole and will always be one. What's the purpose of him being good when you got old people like Jakob and Jean changing for the better it absolutely doesn't make sense
@@auespaa if you actually had a family member or let alone a father like him, trust me you will never show any remorse for him no matter the tragic backstory
It also feels like one of the only shows that has multiple female characters that are well developed in different ways and aren't just love interests. They manage to develop friendships between them and call out the stupid trope of pitting them all against each other.
Yes! I think it's mostly due to the diversity of people behind the scenes. It shows that diversity isn't just putting characters of different groups on screen but having them directed/written by the same cishet white men, it's about what's going on behind the scenes, because no one knows women more than a woman, or about gay people like a gay person, etc.
Oh and while the scene was like really really sad. I love how the group of girls find out they have nothing in common other than the terrible stuff that had happened to them. They're all individuals that end up respecting and bonding with each other over their trauma and I think that's quite beautifully
@@dragon9261 OMG YES. It was so sad, first of all that they had nothing in common except that they were all victims and second of all because it shows the reality that so many girls and women are being assaulted every day. It really brings you back to reality for a bit.
That instantly made me think of The 100, which has many strong female characters (sometimes strong is their only characteristic, which makes them one-dimensional again) - but they are all usually fighting against one another.
@@m_milos we had that exact kind of moment when I was at girls only birthday party and most of these girls were strangers and we ended up talking about how we all had survived assaults or face it . It was sad that some of the girls had to face so much but it was kinda like felt good too cause I felt like I was not alone. Girls are really supportive but the images in media really infiltrates our imagery .
Its mature, but in a innocent way? would be the best way I could describe it. They show teenagers having real-life issues, thoughts, and insecurities, but having it pair with them actually in school, and learning from their mistakes as real people. I Love it
I love how Adam for most of the show is just there, doing things, with no dialogue, and not really interacting with anybody, and yet he still is one of the best characters in the show
I love Adam's mom. She was basically one-dimensional in season one but they really worked on her in season two. I also like that she became friends with Jean, they are great together.
@@islandeatssand684 but how do you manage to keep on watching the show? Cause i started watching “The Vampire Diaries” cause of Damon being fine af but I stayed for the acting skills. Archie, on the other hand, is just your average “hot” dude and nothing other than that...
The friendship between Eric and Otis resonates with me so much. It really highlights how me and my best friend act and feel around each other. My best friend is gay and we were never really weird about it. Most people think that it is just "movie cliche" to have a deep companionship between a straight man and a gay guy, but it does exist in real life. It is just genuine friendship for us. Just like in the show, he supports my romantic endeavors and I support his. We've been best friends since high school and until now that we've finished colleged and now have jobs. What I love about this show is that it is showing more people that these types of relationship can and does exist.
My boyfriend is straight, and his best friend of 15 years is gay as. It reminded me a lot of their friendship. People have asked me if I'm worried when they sleep in the same bed (his best friend lives 5 hours away so he stays the night when he visits) and if I dislike them being affectionate and all. Just shows how important good representation is and how badly it's needed.
As a ViCtIm myself I also appreciate how Amie tried to convince herself it was fine and also that it took her someone else to realise it was sexual assault
@Some Weeb are you saying that jizzing on someone without their consent is perfectly legal or do you really live up to your username and have never felt the touch of someone who loves you. In which case, go to therapy.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate your take on the Strong Female Character and how Hollywood has turned it into a gimmick. It's SO TRUE and so degrading, and the fact that everyone seems to be buying into it (including women) and solidifying it as progress makes me really sad. You just made me see Maeve through a brand new lens, and I love her even more now! *GREAT VIDEO!*
Another way Hollywood portrays the "strong, cool, female character" is by getting rid of all her feminine ways and making her masculine. They make her never wear dresses and not be emotional and hate the color pink and etc etc. Women can be strong and feminine. They don't have to hate everything related to femininity to be strong or cool
and, tbh, women in the west are doing pretty great. if writers want to make a pro-feminist story, they should either change the period of the setting or change it for another country where women's rights actually are being actively violated
My heart broke in that scene because I’ve fucked up my music solo before and said “oh shit” on stage infront of a bunch of adults. If it was my school it would’ve been fine but omg
@@MiniMeags been there, too! but luckily it was only in front of around 40 schoolmates and a couple of teachers in a vacant room (it was an audition for the school musical), but i was too nervous to perform in front of people that i stopped mid-way in a piece and said, "nevermind." i cringe myself to death whenever i remember it lmao.
I will always be so touched at how a gay guy and a straight guy can be best friends not afraid of physical touch or intimacy at all. Like my whole heart loves it. Like it’s never weird between them ever and completely head over heels in love with each other as friends and I love it so much.
When eric was introduced, I rolled my eyes so hard! here it goes, he will now exist only for few lame gags and to prop Otis but he literally blossomed. I love his Conviction, his bravery and his pure ebullience. Just a pure ray of sunbeam. ❤️ Also Maeve is just chefs kiss!
Why I like this show is because it takes stereotypes, stereotypes that exist because people like that exist, and explains why people are like that, bringing back their humanity that was lost when shows overuse those tropes
one other thing i would love to see talked about more is Amy's and Maeve's friendship. female friendships on their own are excrutiatingly rare in tv, and those that are well written even more so. and here, the show play against the trope of Maeve being "not like other girls". instead, she supports amy in her journey of learning to value herself and they are both just really good friends to each other. i wish you'd talked more about them along with all the other amazing unexpected friendships in the show (Adam and Ola, Jackson and Viv etc). friendship in general is largely ignored in tv in favor of romantic plotlines, and i really appriciate that sex education didn't. also, the show does a great job of actually teaching about sexuality and normalizes talking about it
yes exactly and i love how the show doesn't make a brouhaha about two quite different girls being best friends. jackson and viv was a classic cliche (not saying i didn't like it hehehe) but amy and maeve's friendship was so effortlessly creating, effectively shedding the "not like other girls" syndrome of american high school shows without being ingenuine
What makes this show a gem is how writers broke every stereotype characters of a teen show and giving them supportive arcs and beautiful personality in this show every other character is important from Otis to the principal to the dog of Adam man season 3 is also great
That episode in season 2 where all the girls are in detention together and they address Aimee’s trauma is hands down my favorite episode in any TV show I’ve ever seen. As someone who was molested as a child and didn’t realize it until years later, I identified with Aimee’s s2 storyline so much. The way she didn’t seem to fully grasp what had happened to her and tried to dismiss it at first, and the way it affected her intimate relationships, I’ve rarely ever seen trauma addressed like that on tv before. It was so cathartic to watch all these girls come together for her, share their own experiences, watch them let out their frustrations, and help her feel safe again.
I know this is late to reply but Aimee's trauma was similar to mine. It also happened in a bus. It didn't make me afraid of buses but it generally made me scared of standing or sitting next to older men. Like extra scared. I would sometimes ran when I happen to see some men walking in the same direction as me going home even though I know they also live nearby. Unlike Euphoria which give the massive 6-hour nonstop crying - worst mental breakdown after watching the fist 3 episodes, sex education made me feel okay. I love SE so much.
@Keya Abacate I think they meant that watching Euphoria resulted in them having a mental breakdown/non-stop crying, while sex education made them feel ok
That *one* episode about Amy with the female characters supporting her is hands down my favorite. Made me cry so hard but it was so amazing to see women who are so different supporting each other. This show is truly written spectacularly.
Yes! And the scene where they find out that the one thing they all have in common is that they were all sexually harassed at some point was so powerful.
@@ma_de_sa5848 yes, it’s sad, but they know they have people to support them and they are more than their trauma. That’s why people go through group therapy, because they can both be helped by others and help them at the same time. So, it’s sad, but it’s realistic while also being something people can’t always do, because they don’t feel like their problems are valid enough. So, them being able to relate to each-other is powerful because they are all able to talk about their trauma, no matter how seemingly small the issue was.
@@ma_de_sa5848 it’s sad but it’s the truth, and that’s what it was trying to portray, hence why the girls explained to the teacher when asked, that the only common ground they found was “nothing much besides non- consensual dicks”, because that’s a universal struggle for women.
The diversity on the show is what makes it the best teen show of the last decade. also how the episode where Eric came out to his Nigerian dad was everything cause his father accepted his son for who he is which is not the way it is in most African homes.
@@jodavi5763 the show hardly focus on ethnic differences, though. The writting doesn't depend on the diversity of characters in a simplistic racial or sexual way. Diversity of personality is far more interesting storytelling-wise.
@@Ignasimp what makes people appreciate the show more and have it seen as one of the best teen shows of the last decade is because of the unspoken diversity. Gay people aren’t being terrorised for being gay and racial groups aren’t being racially targeted for their race.
I love the way Aimee's SA was shown - I didn''t even think it was that big of a deal until they went to the police station It just shows that girls sometimes just accept harassment because they're used to it and they shouldn't
I remember watching that scene and as soon as they went to the police, I paused. I was sat there thinking, “Wait, that’s not that big of a deal, stuff like that’s happened to me more times than I can count.” and then it clicked. I’m not gonna lie, I actually left the room to cry. I always thought that rape was the only form of sexual assault, I didn’t think that groping, or what happened to Aimee counted, so to find out from a netflix show that I’d been sexually assaulted, not fun.
@@fleabaggins hi... How have your last days been? I'm asking because i sort of had that same realization two weeks ago. I have deemed experiences "triggering to me", but only now realized what happened really was abuse objectively. I hope you have had time to breathe since realizing. I am spending some time without my partner to process this...
@@depaula1710 Hi, yeah i’m doing okay. I’ve been going to counseling since I had the realization, but I’ve been doing well, most of the incidents happened back when I was much younger, and my partner’s been helping me to cope with it, so I’m in a much better state than I was at the time. Thank you so much for asking, I hope you’re doing well too.
@@fleabaggins of course! Wishing you all the best to continue doing well. I'm in counseling too, for the second time, since more has been happening after the first round of 4 years of treatment. I am ok on my own, but struggling with relationships.
You missed one of the most important things in this show: outfits, general style of the show and soundtrack are FUCKING AMAZING. Those scenes where Otis just plays some absolute classic of a song on his record player are everything. Also, that cover of "I can change" done by Ezra Furman, and his "Every Felling" are beyond amazing.
i really liked ruby's character and how she really represented how hard it is to grow up with a chronically ill parent and how it shapes how you act. it really hit home hard as someone who grew up with a mom with severe multiple sclerosis
Okay but can we not use "chronically ill parent" as an excuse for being a horrible person? Don't get me wrong, I really like Ruby as a character, but... it's not like I grew up a bitch just because my dad had MS
i think eric’s storyline is so important because it shows being gay as a significant part of who he is but he has further depth and complexity that make him such a relatable character. often with gay characters you either get their entire personality being gay or they never talk about it at all and i think it was a very nice balance.
@@ChangedMyNameFinally69 i was talking about gay characters written by straight people who try and recreate the gay experience without ever experiencing it themselves. think about the new netflix original series. those characters only traits are being gay and while it is central to the show its not doing the community justice to not give. a character further depth than jokes about gay sex and references to gay culture.
the fact that everyone in this show felt like teenagers who weren’t perfect models was so good. often times in TV shows you can only tell the popular people from the “nerdy” people if it’s literally shoved down your throat but this show is so much better about it. and THE DIALOGUE IS EVERYTHIBG
Maeve is what a true feminist is , she understands feminism and doesn't think that it is about putting down women for being 'feminine' which is unfortunately what a lot of feminist characters are made out to be and many people in the real world are. Characters like her are usually stereotyped into the not like other girls category because they constantly roll their eyes are women that don't act the same way that they do while Maeve never does that.
Wait your saying a movment about giving women (and other genders) the freedom of choice and equal rights doesn't/shouldn't judge women for using the human freedom of choice to conform to gender stereotypes if that is what the want and makes them happy? Huh, who would have thought
@@slantedframes2334 I'm saying that many writers tend to write female characters meant to be feminists as pretty one dimensional. Instead of showing them being supportive of women , they show them as hating all women who are 'feminine' or different from them. They make the feminists to be the 'not like other girls.' The writers of Sex Ed however have written Maeve as a proper feminist , her feminism doesn't stem from the fact that she's a dick to everyone , that's just her personality , but she never puts anyone down for being feminine which once again is something that a lot of feminist women in media have been written to do.
@@beckettshaw660 so true; I think Todd is a much better asexual representation than the girl in sex education. I mean she’s obviously a tiny side character, and he’s a main character, but that’s the point. There aren’t nearly enough ace main characters and I’m so glad that Todd exists, and they did it so well.
what i also love , which you touched on, is that it’s REALISTIC. american tv often writes a “weird” character or someone who looks weird/ wears abnormal clothes and then makes the WHOLE SCHOOL bully them and join in on the taunting. contrarily in sex education MANY characters have their own developed style, for example lily, who is depicted as the “weird” girl but the writers still understand that people don’t care thaaat much. simple as that
22:20 Ugh. Seeing Aimee cry hurts my heart. She's probably my favorite character in the show. She's like if a puppy became a person (and I mean that in the best way). She also has some of the funniest lines.
It's actually insane how good of a job this show did at making side characters memorable, even if they were on screen for no more than one episode you can still distinctively remember them
The scene where Aimee goes to the bus stop and all her friends are waiting there to support her - THAT is feminism. Not that cannibalized bullshit the cw tries to shove down our throats.
A storyline that i really liked was the one with maurine, adams mom! She was trapped in this marriage and couldn't live out her life to the fullest. Her friendship with jean helped them both, they are aduld women but they can actually learn from each other and break free of their roles. The storyline perfectly balanced the others that mostly revolved around teenagers, i think it's really impressive how the writer are able to bring them together and still make them act their age
I loved that too! You could tell she always wanted to leave and live her best life, but didn't nor couldn't. Maybe because she was scared that she wouldn't find love again, or maybe because she thought it was already too late for her, or maybe because she had given up on that idea. Regardless of everything, Otis' mother helped her realize how valuable her OWN life is, and I think that's so admirable, because later on in older episodes she starts treating her own son Adam differently too. The way she should've treated him since the beginning.
On Maeve's brother: you said your problem with him is that he's messing up the flow of the show. I think that's a pararrel to how he interacts with Maeve. Just when Maeve's starting to get her stuff together, he shows up and ruins everything for her.
Okay but can we appreciate the costumes? My god I'm so grateful the show didn't turn out to be some bleak rainbow of depression and actually have some cheerful colors
But i also love that they have a normal wardrobe like normal teenagers. Like otis always wears his same jacket and maeve too. We rarely see that in shows
@@claraboe2755 Completely agree! As someone who wore the same things all the time while in sixth form I liked to see that the wardrobe choices reflected reality.
only thing is for me the tone of the show seemed weirdly american. like no uniforms or just the vibe of the place was odd for an english school imo. that really took me out of the show for a good while...
@@claraboe2755 yep. The jacket is a nice touch. Let’s be real, most of us wear the same jacket or hoodie for several days because they don’t get dirty as fast as a t shirt since it’s not in direct contact with our skin and they are generally materials that don’t get dirty that easily. Pretty much nobody has an entirely different outfit for every single day where not even the pants can be the same as the day before. The popular kids in the show dress the most differently from appearance to appearance and Eric, but they are people who would care more about their looks than Otis or Maeve for example. And it works.
@@seraphina2690 i think they probably did that so it’s easier to tune in if you’re not from the Uk. Like American viewers and Europeans and such. Since it’s not as common to have uniforms for school elsewhere, and it helps with the characterization a bit more. You wouldn’t be able to tell that Eric prefers to be loud and vibrant or Maeve a bit more grungy in style if they were forced to be in uniform for the majority of their scenes. I can imagine that it might be weird for someone in the UK to see them in their own clothes at school though. But characterization is likely the largest reason.
i love the bodily diversity and how people with larger bodies are still put on screen as beautiful and attractive! they can still pull someone and are just as able to engage in intimacy as everybody else. their body isn’t even pointed out. they’re just… there. their outfits aren’t boring & they have style unlike bigger characters in other popular teen dramas. and they can just exist in the show. that just makes me feel so good as a teenager (16) with a mid-sized body . even simple things like seeing a character with cellulite running on the track in the first episode of the second season. or having a bigger girl share her sexual assault story. idk why but it makes me wanna cry. i don’t feel weird or odd with my body anymore with watching this show. i think that’s so important.
@@gunveersinghdhir6186 the big guy lily danced with at the dance at the end of season 1 and then in season 2 it showed them together for awhile before she discovered she’s into girls. also, otis has a very frail and skinny body which for a lot of men, is a big insecurity especially when being compared to very muscular people. also the older men in the show, the teacher or ola’s dad for example, don’t have wicked unrealistic bodies for their age so overall i think the show has lots of hidden diversity that people don’t even realize.
“I hear you but also I don’t care” this is my new motto
In Brazil we have a meme that basically says "I respect your opinion but I think it's a dumb one"
Literally a great mindset at these trying times.
I honestly subscribed after hearing that lol
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@@giulia1361 Especially when hearing sjw nonsense, like in this TV show.
One thing I personally like about this show is how Eric never once has a crush on Otis or hints at romantic attraction to Otis. I feel like any time there's a gay character with a best friend of the same gender, the gay character almost always has hidden feelings of some sort. It's refreshing that sex education doesn't do that
THIS. I love so much how there's nothing about it!
Yeah same happens in Scott pilgrim too
@@hardikrana9580 Wallace is one of my favorite characters in anything ever.
"I'm not gay, Greg."
This happened in daybreak too
"he's switzerland" why is this the most accurate description of otis milburn
He is which is why his fits of rage he has inherited from his father are so jarring.
*Twilight flashbacks*
“Even the gay characters get to be characters with layers beyond their sexuality” Kevin in riverdale could NEVER
Exactly they're not in the show just because you have to have a gay characters on tv shows now they have a purpose to the plots
@@rtsharlotte AND they have their own stuff going on outside of the straight main character’s problems.
Do they cover homophobia with Eric? Absolutely. And they do it pretty damn well as much as I can tell, being a straight dude. But Eric isn’t just forgotten after that and only brought back when a musical episode is happening and “well gays like musicals duh!” He is a character first and gay second. Same as how people write straight characters by default.
a great thing about eric's inpopularity is that he's not unpopular because he's gay being that there are other popular gay characters
@@MrRenardbleu yo true. Hell one of the gay dudes is in basically one of the most popular groups in the school and Rahim is also instantly popular when he transfers.
Even the other dude calls out the SCHOOL BULLY on homophobia not being cool anymore and Adam backs off at that
What hurts the most about Kevin is that in the source material he has always been treated purposefully as a character that’s main trait is not that he is gay. Unfortunately the show is more regressive than the comics
I really liked that they showed all different types of sexual assault and how it can effect you even if it isn't full on rape. A lot of survivors feel like if they didn't get raped it wasn't as bad as it could have been and they don't have the right to feel the way they do. And it showed the importance of knowing you are not alone.
It did it I think masterfully. Like with Aimee's story, irl you don't really hear about it. And if you do it's always little compared to rape. But when you look at it how it is ofc it's bloody traumatizing, it's horrible.
And they also show the trauma after that, like the way Aimee can’t be intimate with her boyfriend and how she always see the “man” which later on makes her need therapy from Jean
@@amandaeaton1177 and thats what I really loved the most with her arc. the writers showed that SA victims aren't magically healed by their friends saying motivational shit or accompanying them to where the incident took place. it has a long-term effect on the victim's mental health and life in general that should be discussed/addressed with a professional. and even after her talk with jean she still wasn't over that traumatic experience. and its so realistic. the writing in s1 and s2 was brilliant.
YES it feels very validating to SA survivors in the audience
I would then turn
You know why these characters are great? Because they're not just plot devices. They do not exist solely to build the main characters' arc, they exist in their own way, with their own interests, fears, quirks. That's why they feel so genuine and real.
It’s like the story was made for the characters, rather than the characters were made for the story. Really refreshing to see
Trueee. All of them had great character development. Side characters didn't even feel like side characters lol.
@@goodgrieficarus1217 u put this in words perfectly :))
something that i really liked was that all the characters rewore their clothes. it’s so unrealistic when characters have entire new wardrobes every 5 minutes
I love that too. On My So-Called Life each character had a limited closet to dress from, it just feels so much more real.
Yes! They seem like regular people cause they aren't all glammerous.
@Umamaheswari G um otis’s house is definitely a mansion lmao
ikr
@@lujorom9172 Yeah, cause his mom is a therapist and makes money. Adam and Eric live in normal houses. But Maeve for example doesn't even live in a house.
My favorite element of Otis and Eric's friendship is that they're allowed to be close to one another, even physically so, without other characters calling them gay or harassing them for it. Intimate male friendships like that are so lacking in American television.
"Just two dudes, sitting in a hot tub, 5 feet apart..." 🤣🤣🤣
I totally agree.
Sex Education is a prime example of what happens when you have good gay representation on the show. Eric is gay, he has relationships, and there are also many other non-straight characters on the show; and precisely because of that, when Eric and Otis have a friendship and are affectionate with each other, but not romantically, nobody has to write anything more into that, because the representation is already there and we don't have to thirst for it by shipping canonically straight characters! All that is to say - when the gays are there, the friendships don't suffer ;)
Oh fuck i commented something similar and just now read your comment lol I agree 100% (it lacks a lot as well here in Brazilian television!)
Yea I love that Otis fully except his best friend is gay and doesn't feel the least bit self conscious about it and even supports him. Yea plus all the characters have so much depth to them that they feel like real ppl
I think also the show really normalises healthy platonic male love through Eric and Otis’ friendship :) they’re really physically affectionate and comfortable with each other which normally isnt shown in teen shows, especially with a gay and straight friendship
And how Otis dressed up for that movie and it didn't diminish his relationship with his masculinity
@@Kaygovegan YEAH it was so sweet how he dressed up for Eric
Their dynamic is soooo wholesome
They nailed that perfectly 👌🔥🔥🔥
thank u for saying this! im not male but i have the same relationship with my best friend. i love her but absolutely platonic even tho im lesbian. sometimes people still think i in love with her just because im into girls and we have a very close friendship and we are very comfortable
"Good writing still matters"
Riverdale: can't relate
Does good writing matter when everyone still watches it anyway? We all are watching ironically at this point. 😂
Yep, after Season 1, the decent writing and acting went STRAIGHT out the window, never to return!
@@nameisamine it's genius comedy.
I love riverdale because after season 1 they realized they were a meme so from season 2 onwards they've fully embraced it.
Lol
I like how Jackson's moms have issues in their relationship because I feel like in a lot of shows there is a gay relationship and they never fight and it's perfect all the time and that's not really how relationships work.
yupppp
i also love how they didn't need to hammer in the fact that jackson has gay parents, the show just presents them without overemphasizing that he has two moms
@@caitlinwong621 loved that 🙌, no storyline around it, just representation without it being forced
THIS 🙌🙌
ohhhh wait, is the blonde lady in the clips about jackson also his mum? i don't watch the show so whenever she's on screen with the lad i thought she was his mum based on their mannerisms, but then the hospital clip showed up and i was like, "no, wait, shouldn't that lady sitting next to him be his mum?" didn't occur to me that both could be his. lmfao one braincell moment.
Eric Effiong is one of the very few gay characters that break out of the "gay best friend" Stereotype. He's his own character with his own problems and his own personality. The only other character that I can think about that is also like this is Raymond Holt
And he is not in love with his straight friend. They are friends and that's it. I think it's amazing
Rosa Diaz (also B99), Elodie (Trinkets) Elena Alvarez (One Day at a Time), Callie Torres (Grey's Anatomy), Mickey Milkovich (Shamless), Santana Lopez (Glee), Eliott (the magicians), Nicky Nichols (Orange is the New black), Maeve (the boys), Oberyn Martel (GoT). That are the characters I immediately think off when its about not stereotypical gay/bi people.
Precisely, I adore that Eric is refreshingly his own character, and not just a sidekick for Otis. I also like that Eric isn't in love with Otis, and their friendship is one of the best dynamics on the show.
@@ducklingscap897 ehhh idk how well glee did that one. They kinda just made Santana gay last minute to make up for kurt ,and they hardly gave her a life outside of being mean and lesbian
@@namelessarm6273 is have to disagree, i think santana was one of the only good characters by the end of that shitshow lmao, i miss season one so bad
Seeing Eric's father be so scared for his son really surprised me. I really expected him to get angry but he was just scared.
yeah I think it portrays reality well. most parents are just afraid their kid won’t be happy and successful. “Hurt people .. hurt people”
I think his grandma knew he was gay as well. When he told her about the person he's dating, at first she was using "She" pronouns every time she talked about who he could be dating, when Eric used only "they" pronouns to describe Adam to her, she switched up very quickly to using "They" as well. Very subtle, which shows the love she has for her family as well as the caution she has as an elder Nigerian woman.
1000 th like
In Nigeria, being gay is very dangerous. So I just saw it as him thinking of how he would be threatened
@Vincent Divine it’s illegal to be gay in Nigeria the last time I checked.
I love that one of the stereotypical romantic moments in most teen shows is used to get Otis and Eric back together as friends. Love the idea that they are soulmates and their fight isn't just brushed off.
Bull-Swip.
This is not smart Writing.
Theres so much wrong with this show, its incredible.
And you call that smart? Wow.
@@slevinchannel7589 get lost
Can you say some of the things that are wrong with it?
@@slevinchannel7589 u can’t just say there’s so much wrong with the show and then proceed to not tell us what’s wrong with the show..
American teenage shows tend to take themselves wayyyy too seriously, and Sex Education felt like the exact opposite. The plot isn't over the top, which allowed the characters to really settle in and develop in the situations they were in. Also, the British sense of humour just hits differently.
And the accents.
I rewatched the show with my mother (her first watch) and I had to watch it in the dubbed (German) version. It was not that bad, but I love the accents so much
@@Isabelle-hv6ny yeeaaah the accents are just so lovely! Honestly it's such a nice change from the typical American accent. It's been years since I've watched any dubbed movies or series (French dub is horrible on anything except from some old movies and a a few anime shows) unless it's forced on me like on TV. But yeah, the accents, I love them soooo much!
@@racheleke3171 French dub isn't horrible. Stop spreading lie.
@@hikaru78- I'm sorry, I should have rephrased it : I find French dub horrible.
@@racheleke3171 I respect that 😊
Je suis désolée de m'être énervée mais on a un des meilleurs doublages de la planète, j'ai pas mal de comédien de doublage préféré et je m'intéresse un peu au milieu alors ça me fait toujours mal au coeur de voir quelqu'un le critiquer >~
"Black characters also get to just be characters without having to be acknowledged by the writers only if they feel like talking about racism. Like, they're allowed to be fleshed out characters beyond the color of their skin. It's almost like POC are human beings too. Who would have thought?"
Yes! Thank you for saying it!
Fate the Winx saga could not relate
i flipping HATE when they use a black character as just a social message and then discard them after like they’re only there for social justice purposes and for diversity instead of being actual characters.
That is so true 😥😥
i hope people stop tokenizing women. lgbt and poc in fiction and portray them as human beings. after all, the story and the characters MUST be fleshed out and even if someone wants to make a message out of it, it shouldn't take the mary sue or belittling route
I really agree, but then there is always some Teen Vogue article saying that in series X where character Y is black, unless the show talks about racism "their blackness is not acknowledged".. see for example the Netflix show Before her eyes
When Jean "diagnosed" Jackob as someone who goes from conquer to conquer without any type of attachment she didn't just made a "mistake". She is actually projecting herself into him. She is the one who's divorced and like to seduce men but is terrified of intimacy and would leave before things get difficult
What makes this next level writing is that when Otis asks his mum for advice on being a therapist, she points out that projecting yourself into your patients is the fatal flaw. Then not only does Jean do it with Jakub, but Otis does it with the asexual girl leading to people saying sex mom is better than sex kid
@@shaman9 Seems like their emotions can cause that flaw to show itself, Jean was very very in Jackob, she was blinded by him. Otis was dealing with his first girlfriend woes
i love how they dont just include gay and straight, they include pan, ace, bi, confused. so good
@@industrialalliance9905 asexual is ace
@@m4rthaswur1d I know. I just didn't that they included asexual int their comment
I love how they portray it as normal and not as a quirk or a "quirky lgbt people". The characters feel real and natural and thats why i love the show. Its not pretentious
@@m4rthaswur1d thank u for letting me know! 💕
and it doesn't feel like they are just following a check-list
One of my favorite things about Otis is that he’s initially presented as someone who cares a lot about what others think about him, in his socially awkward mannerisms and constant self consciousness. But when it comes to how he spends his time or what he’s doing with his best friend, he truly gives no fucks. Dressing in drag in public to celebrate Eric’s birthday? Running into his crush while dressed in said drag? Not a second thought. Zero embarrassment. The way Eric and Otis initially seem like polar opposites but are actually shown to have huge influences on each other’s personalities is fascinating.
Yes! I loved all the scenes where he’s dressed up, and has meaningful interactions and conversations with fx Maeve, so funny and touching 😂
YES!
What i love is that they are allowed to be affectionate in their friendship. In many shows friendship between men, specially if one is gay ,is like " yeah, keep your distance, no touchy". But otis and eric fell like normal real friends, because normal friends hug each other .
I just love the way sex education gets the tiny aspects of real life and puts them in the show. That just makes everything feel so real.
watching aimee’s storyline in season 2 genuinely made me cry. as a person who has gone through that before, it was so important for me to see someone healing after that experience and how you try to convince yourself it’s not a big deal, but it really is. sex education is brilliant, period.
more genuine sex education from that portion of the episode than we've received in our entire schooling life
first, i wanna say i’m truly sorry you had a similar experience. no one deserves having to go through being violated in any manner. second, i felt the same way, i too went through something similar and i just felt so alone and awful afterwards (and for a while after). so seeing what aimee went through and showing her journey as she processes and slowly heals was really impactful. i remember crying all throughout her arc and getting some closure on my own experience, so it was wonderful
i was assaulted on a bus and ive never told anyone but her storyline was so similar to me it made me feel less scared and able to move on
@@victoriapina8895 i’m so sorry and i’m so happy that you feel better now. i’m doing better too. i hope you feel less alone now
@@stayslaying2415 thank you for sharing. it’s really really hard to say this kind of thing, so you’re very brave. i hope you are doing better!
I really appreciated the writers continuing Aimee's SA story. I feel like most teen shows use it for like a damsel in distress moment and once they are "saved" they never really bring it up again but it can deeply affect your life for a long time. Processing your trauma is so difficult and it felt so good to see Aimee still struggling to grasp what happened to her in season 3, I felt so seen. I love Aimee ❤️❤️
ikr, cheryl blossom could NEVER
NO HONESTLY, everyone involved in sex education deserves the Worlddss
ikrr!! it felt so real and i think was relatable for a lot people and how they process such trauma
YES! i completely agree
And the way the other girls helped her even though most of them didn't really speak to each other or even like each other is so wholesome and nice to see. I love seeing female characters support eachother
That scene where all the girls show up to the bus stop to support Amy is just incredible, one of the most moving scene I've ever seen in any show, movie, book ...
true! I cryed so hard ;-;
@@Jasmin-jk6xf me too ! But they were tears of joy, seeing these girls care for each other that way made me so happy !
Isn't it just so heart warming. That episode was an eye opener to my husband. And I'm sure it made a lot of other share their story
I think there was only one scene where i cried more. But this scene was really strong.
I cried so bad watching that part, it was so touching.
Okay, this is like the smallest thing but can we talk about the fucking casting for Adam and his dad??? Like, HOW are they not actually father and son, they look the same. That’s gotta be some of the best casting I’ve ever seen.
It really does add an extra layer of pain for us viewers though, it's almost too believable.
After watching the show, I googled if they're related or not
THIS
I also noticed that. Their noses are very similar
Also Maeve and her brother!!!
I like how Aimee's character was treated. She's a dumb blonde, but the show doesn't discount her for it. Her silliness is never made fun of, her sexual needs are treated with respect, and her feelings and emotions, when she chooses to express them, are accepted and understood in a way that doesn't feel derogatory or condescending.
In fact the show does the "yes-im-the-trope-but-also-more-than-that" thing with most of it's characters. Ola and the "other girl" trope is another example, apart from the ones already mentioned in the video
First time an extra girly naive character is much more than that and taken seriously
yeah i love it! like shes seen as an idiot, but still a person with feelings that matter. there are dumb people in the world, there are some dumb blondes too, they exist. theyre human though! and they can be some of the kindest people out there, and deserve love just as much as anyone else! so depicting her as such and still giving her respect gives a blueprint for how to treat these people in real life. theyre still people with experiences and opinions that matter as much as anyone else.
I love how this show has the main female character as a feminist who is very independent and self-assured, but she's also shy and vulnerable around people, and overall can be a respectful person when she wants. I've never seen anything mainstream talk about feminism without failing completely, either because they lack research or because they are trying too hard to be woke. Maeve is a fictional character who's an activist of women's rights AND a likeable person. She makes the real movement very proud.
Maeve isn't necessarily likeable, she's unnecessarily rude and if you ever knew her in real life you'd think she was just obnoxious
@@gunveersinghdhir6186 If we got annoyed by Maeve in real life, it would be easy to avoid her, because she's not an extrovert. 'In your face' rude people are more annoying than 'loner' rude people. I personally wouldn't want to be friends with most of the SE characters for different reasons.
@@Ri57490 Also Maeve isn not for everyone, i like people who say what they are really thinking without a big filter, but i know that its not for everyone.
Calling her an activist is a stretch
I think her relationship with her mother really hammers in the fact that being a feminist does Not mean being a bitch to anyone and everyone. A person, who I think probably had everyone extremely irritated, who was dealing with an addiction and had hurt Maeve over and over. Still, Maeve loved her regardless, just shows how human these characters are. Such well rounded writing. CW would've had Maeve make sure her mother went to jail or some self righteous bull and act like that's not her mother.
I loooove how they handled diversity! I think the only time they acknowledged the characters races was when Jackson said that (obviously) his white mother wasn’t his biological mom. Like they’re just characters and it’s honestly amazing
And his mother’s were lesbian which is just the cherry on top ❤️
I guess we could count his mom feeling distant when he was quitting sports? But then again that wasn’t specifically about her being white just about her not being biologically related so Idk.
More about blood vs. family than racial
Exactly! It can be so exhausting to only see representation where the POC or Lgbt characters are getting bullied or discriminated against.
I love when that happens. Like have their race or sexual orientation not be a biggy. I love how with Eric's story, it wasn't a whole race narrative, but you could get to know him culturally
Excatly! I think there's also a hint in the fact that Jackson is a black swimming champion
Honestly, Amy's side story where she got sexually harassed was perfectly filmed and edited. It was absolutely spectacular.
[Edit] I meant the filming. The story is quite sad.
I thought it was really good that even though not thát much happened, she was still so affected by it. Because it is so real: something like that can have an incredible impact and it happens way too often
@@Marjanne0031 It is, in my opinion, also a good example of "just because there are people who have it worse than you doesnt mean your problems and nightmares are less important" ...people tend to play things down to an extend where it eats you up from inside, because to you the horror is real, the others just have "another perspective" on life
that was the best episode of the series no contest.
@@ichbinnichtdererste
thank you.
People made me wanna feel like my problems dont matter because i am not homeless or didnt have cancer or smth like that, like i should be greatful for basically something that is a bare minimum
@@notwerkinginthishouse8634 It has become a bad habbit of me to think the same, but what I tell others is exactly that...your problems matter, your reality is not mine...tell me, what is your reality, so that I can see the problems and help me to understand them...Before telling you to change something, I would first want to see your world...after all some of us are more sensible than others :)
Something really great is how, although the show is all about sex, I never feel like any of the characters are sexualised. They’re never shot in a way that is meant to make them sexually attractive to the audience because..... they’re teenagers ( Riverdale I’m looking at you). It treats sex as exactly what it is, fun, awesome but also messy, awkward, ridiculous.
I also love how there is little to no music when it comes to sex scenes, it looks like a detail but means a lot, because sex doesn't work like a music, doesn't always last as long as music and it kinda shows that it is fine if your sexual acts aren't as erotic as what you imagined them to be like. And this is rare, and extremely positive to the public to free them from this complex
This
yeh i think it’s education than sex and it’s brings about great awareness to issues involving sexuality, race, identity, mental health and it’s a great and timely show to educate people
@Some Weeb So.... I don't know if we're watching the same show (cheerleader dancing scenes, stripper scene, sexualised sex scenes, Betty domme alter ego) but also.... As someone who is also very attracted to women... There are a LOT of hot women around in media!
I like how sex educations portrayal of sex is: “well...this is a thing that happens to people”
As a bisexual man who spent years in the closet repressed and trying to overcompensate by trying to be “macho”, I fucking love Adam.
Adam is amazing, and his character arc is so human and realistic, he is probably my favorite character-
Was it ever said if Adam has a learning disability? Is he a second year senior?
IMO Adam had the best acting of Season 3
@@vicentepuyalto5151 I swear in season 3 I contemplated just skipping over the rest sometimes just to see what happens next in Adams storyline! I was HEARTBROKEN about the end!!! 😭😭😭
@Nino Circus Freak How could Eric do that to MY BOY?! HOW?!
also, can we talk about viv and jackson’s relationship? it was purely platonic and it’s very refreshing to see that bc a lot of teen shows tend to push the idea that when a straight boy and a straight girl are friends, they will be romantically involved
YES!!!!
I understand this but it does disappoint me that the audience see them as "purely platonic" even though the show clearly hints and a future romantic relationship because its so clearly due to Viv being fat. Let the big girl be sought after for once!!
@@ej7728 totally got what you mean. i hope my comment didn’t come across as “big girls don’t deserve love” bc they certainly do, just like everybody else. from what i have seen so far, viv (helping jackson with his anxiety) and jackson (helping vjv with the guy she likes) have been helping each other out like they are siblings who are also best friends. i’m rooting for viv to find someone she loves and that person reciprocates- and it doesn’t have to be jackson.
@@user-nu9yn5li5d yeah I totally understand that and you didn't come off that way at all! My frustration is just cause I got excited from the hints in the series then everything I've seen about them online was all platonic because I guess I just saw it totally differently
Edit: as a fat girl the reason I brought up Vivs weight is because you can have all these qualities in a romantic relationship, they don't make a sibling like relationship by themselves. Its that people don't see the romantic side of it even though i think it was initially written to hint at a romantic relationship.
@@ej7728 i saw it as a future relationship as well! it's really frustrating that the fans usually ship characters who've barely made eye contact, but don't ship those two characters who are clearly intended to be in a relationship by the producers, only because she's fat. I'm fat as well, and it's really annoying. i hope the producers will give her a chance
I love the fact that when Maeve met Jacksons parents, they were just introduced like her boyfriends parents. they didnt force or dwell on the fact that he has two moms, and it just felt very normal, which is exactly what we want to see with lgbtq characters in tv/movies
yeah it was literally never brought up at all which i thought was so amazing along with all the other layers to the parent's relationship including many smaller details, such as Jackson not being emasculated at all by having 2 mums, the dynamic about one of them being the biological mum and the other not and it highlights how even gay couples have issues (you rarely ever see these issues talked about as most TV gay marriages are always happy and perfect which isnt realistic)
But it’s also cool how in the third season they talked about their discovery cause Jackson asked for advice about being in a queer relationship
@@glorycastillo5379 yes totally!
Another series where this is done so well is Vigil (also with the actor that plays adam btw)
What I love about this show is that the lgtb characters have "normal people's" issues that are completely independent to them being lgtb. In most shows the problems of the lgtb characters are always related to their sexuality and the fact that society is not lgtb friendly enough. They always make a great deal about how they are lgtb and that society should change and become more tolerant to them. Like that's ALWAYS the plot line in other shows. In Sex Ed, Jackson's mothers are having relationship issues and are about to divorce like any heterosexual couple would, they are not perfect. No character is perfect and no character is a villain. I love how the video mentions Mr Groff (Adam's dad) as a "villain" character, but even him gets extremely humanized in the 3rd season and you end up liking him much more and sympathizing with him.
I rejoiced when Adams mom left his dad and became friends with Otis’ mom. As a Nigerian Eric is the absolute best, a non homophobic Nigerian parent was a breath of fresh air. Also love a bisexual representation.
isnt he gay? but yeah hes the best lol
The only issue I have with Eric’s character is that he got together with Adam at the end of season 2, I’m not a fan of the “gay kid dates former homophobic bully” trope
@@seandavid4862 same
@@seandavid4862 The trope is rather outdated, but with how this show has been turning high school drama tropes on their head, I'm willing to give it a shot in season 3. They might end up going someplace great with it.
@@seandavid4862 Couldn't agree more. Their relationship makes me cringe.
I really love how Lily's character was actually affected by the teasing and bullying after all because it's so realistic for a teenager regardless of how quirky and unapologetic they are, to feel insecure and embarrassed about their interests when teased that badly. I also love how she didn't lose that part of herself despite the fact. This show is so good.
Lily got to me as an autistic person because yeah. Even if we don’t realise what we are doingis “socially unnacceptable” other people will force us to learn that regardless. And it hurts a lot
One thing I ironically liked a lot about Otis is that I didn’t really like him for most of the series? He’s a bit of a prick and makes some poor decisions, but he really grows as a person by the end of season two and acknowledges that he can be cruel. He feels incredibly real as a teen character because of it.
Yeah, we all want to believe that we are good people and then we realize and just say, yeah i have to notice more about how i make some people feel
I also don't like a lot of things about Otis, but I enjoy navigating through his world with him.
yeah it was refreshing to see a main character that didn't need to be written as a hero or placed on a pedestal
Otis was really annoying at times but i like how he was written
Ikr, that’s makes the character more realistic, after all, he’s just a teenager
I always liked that even though Maeve is an asshole, she’s not a horrible person. She can be abrasive and downright rude but you see that she genuinely cares about her friends. Her friendship with Amy is especially sweet and the way she always tries to help her. And even though she’s a typical ‘not like other girls’ stereotype- she isn’t because she doesn’t see herself like that.
also shes a feminist! like i dont care that shes “not like other girls” because thats just her and she doesnt put down women who are like other girls :) a very good character
I have so much appreciation for the way she was written. I feel like she first comes across as this independent, mean and "tough" type of girl but then, as you say, she turns out to be a much more complex character. She reminds me of characters like Furiosa from Mad Max or Katara/Toph from ATLA who often show a tough or mean side but then you see them also be conflicted, caring and sensitive, something the writers didn't drop in order to uphold this "badass" woman persona.
I didn’t even think of that. About her being the “not like other girls” trope. The show does a great job of turning that trope on its head that I didn’t even realize it. She doesn’t really put down or judge other girls the way victims of the trope do. (Like the NLOG girl thinking that girls into makeup and dresses and dating are stupid and only she’s right because she doesn’t care about that stuff).
Maeve IS kind and caring and her struggles explain her outsider status perfectly whereas most not like other girls are really just average characters with nothing really big in terms of backstory or layers, their character is just that they HAVE TO hate stuff other women like.
There was a comic on instagramabout that too, of a Girl who thought of herself like that but comes to realize that there are girls who like games and movies and comics AND they like makeup and dressing up too and that she doesn’t have to pick one or the other just to feel unique. It ends with “maybe I AM like other girls. Because other girls are unique and cool”
@@pcrassen4975
This comment is perfect. She has the cool factor and mysterious vibes that make her fit the trope, but she’d never think of it herself. She’s a bitch but wouldn’t put another woman down for not being ‘different’. And she’s so sweet to her friends once you get passed her hard exterior. I love her.
Caring about friends doesn't make someone no longer horrible. This is like saying "this rapist was nice to me, so they actually aren't a horrible person". Unwarranted aggression, rudeness, and bullying tendencies make a horrible individual. Like Adam. Just because he was closeted and has an abusive parent doesn't absolve him. If you're nice to a select few people but horrible to others, you're still a horrible person.
I also like how Maeve and Aimee were always there for each other. They had gone different routes at high school, but they didn't end their friendship. It was so interesting that Maeve saw herself as holding Aimee back, so they needed to hide their friendship. Yet they both became stronger emotionally when Aimee decided that the cool kids weren't that cool and hung out with Maeve openly.
Yes most writers like to tear female friendships apart for the sake of a guy . Loved how they handled this friendship
fruity
this is the perfect set up for a lesbian love story in season 3 😫
@@neptune2266 no because them being platonic is what makes it good.
@vick • female relationships almost never end in romance though? they’re always teased and hinted at to bait fans but it never actually happens. anyway my comment was mostly a joke i still love them both girlfriends or not.
I love that Season 3, focused on almost every character, and gave them all screen time and developement. For example Rahim who was eric's bfriend in season 2, still has scenes and He wasn't left behind. I noticed in other teenage shows, when a secondary character fulfills their purpose on the plot, they just disappear the next season like nothing happened. ( srry for my english)
btw your English is perfect, you need to stop saying that. There are Americans that write a lot worse than you, so
Never apologize for speaking a 2nd language. Your english is spotless fyi
I love that too!!! Like come on you can still keep bringing up new things about sidecharacters no need to always replace them! And I really loved his parts in season 3
that is soo true
your English is awesome❤️❤️
Jean and Otis' relationship is a parent-child dynamic that you don't often see in teen shows. Because they have such different personalities and outlooks, they butt heads often but still have a positive resolution at the end of the day. Jean is never made out to be uninvolved or dumb while Otis is this intelligent mastermind. They're both imperfect people growing and learning about themselves and each other as the time goes on. It's so good and something I really appreciate. Also, Gillian Anderson is always hot but as Jean, she is out of this world attractive. You can tell how much fun she has in this role.
probably because teen drama garbage shows focus more on the absurd stupid mystery drama shit and not really on the relationships of characters.
@@dericmatthew4074 drama in shows I think basically translates to ENTERTAINMENT or ENTERTAINING at least to me imo BUT irl it'd just be someone being a total nuisance and kinda of just a loud and annoying insufferable noisy af brat like annoying younger siblings
for/as an example
When you said "Otis' other half" I instantly thought of Eric hahahahahaha
same ahahahah
Same here
YES
Me too. 😂
Same haha
Also can we talk about the fashion ? It’s pure art : goes perfectly with the storyline and the characters
Same story with music, both this and fashion really embrace the charm of the show.
agreed. like maeve wears jackets like a BaD GiRL but it doesn't feel forced
Yes!! I’m so sad they’re wearing uniforms in the next season
@@takeyat8840 wait they are?! I know some people were complaining about the fashion since they're brits but why D:
@@noba5420 some pictures of the cast wearing them got leaked, but I don’t know the reason :/
I love how they portrayed Eric's Dad. Rather than fall into the stereotype of homophobic dad, they did so much good with the character and his relationship with Eric. Showing both sides of the coin and allowing it to fuel their relationship was a great choice. They bring a nuance to the stereotype, which is something this show is very good at.
I couldn't agree more! The final episode of season 1 was such a heart-warming moment. It's a shame we didn't' get to see more of him in the later seasons, although they chose to focus on Eric's mother instead...
absolutely loved how they presented that
@@ClariceH Yeah was Eric's dad's random disapparance ever explained?
@@zaraj22many gay people have homophobic parents. You seem ignorant. It’s realistic. U ain’t even a gay man
@@ClariceHdo u know that many gay people have homophobic parents
SPOILERS
I love how they wrote adam’s character. With these “bully that was gay” trope it usually ends when the bully admits it and then puf! all his problems are solved and he was never actually attracted to girls, but with Adam he had other things going on and his sexuality was just a part of it. Seeing him grow, find himself and realize that he’s actually his own person and worthy of happiness and love was one of my favorite parts of season two. Like really, I was smiling like a dumbass every time he was on screen. They let him be soft and vulnerable AND bi and he’s really my favorite character.
Same, he is my favorite character too, for the same reasons as yours and also because I never saw a so well written bisexual male character in a series, movie or book. I actually don't know if I ever saw a bi male character in a story. And I love that he isn't just a bully or aimees ex or the son of the headmaster, he has his own life and friends. And I love the new friendship between Orla and him. I smiled so much when they huged and talked.
@@rosiegerry You want a bi male main character? Look no further than Moxxie from Helluva Boss.
@@chronologizer422 oh wait I know this show, a friend of mine likes it a lot. Thanks for the recommendation
Oh I remember that I read the webcomic/book Heartstopper, there is a bi male character as well
@@rosiegerry Heartstopper is literally one of the best comics I've ever read.
also as an asexual i so appreciate the fact that this is one of the only shows that is willing to seriously talk about asexuality. it was just one small storyline but it meant so much to me
I burst into tears at that part. "Sex doesn't make us whole...so how could you ever be broken?"
Yes yes yes
Absolutely! Also thought it was amazing that Otis didn't understand the asexual character but Jean did-- shows just how hard it can be to find someone who understands your asexuality and how healing it is when you finally do.
As an ace this show makes me really uncomfortable lol
@@somethingunusual8456 are certain asexual people uncomfortable with the idea of sex? i’ve never heard of that before but i’d like to learn more if your ok with telling me lmal
One character I love is Aimee. She’s meant to be the “dumb girl” stereotype, but beyond that she’s so much more. She’s a nice, genuine person, and I really don’t think she’s dumb. Just a bit ditzy.
She's my favourite!
I love Aimee so much too! I do think that she really isn't that intellectually smart but I think the show does a really good job in showing that this doesn't make her any less worthy as a person. It doesn't mean she's completely dumb or incapable of having her own thoughts.
@@fromweirdobonawithlove1426 exactly!
I mean that was the point of the video. The characters have more to them than it first appears.
ikr she seems like she would be a really good friend
i think season 3 really fixes the “cartoon villain” issue! the development of Adam’s dad was one of my favorite arcs. you could really see the way that he was just perpetuating the cycle of abuse that his father started, and you get to watch him feel remorse and discover the person he wants to be.
Yes. But with the new headteacher, we got a new cartoon villain :D
the ‘hurt people hurt people” moment :(. it came full round
Yes! And even the arc revolving around Hope, who filled that 'cartoon villain' role on a more discreet way is perfect! From the first scene to her last, she feels very human and understandable, even if we despise her. They do all of their 'villains' so well in this show, tbh
Omg I was so emotional for Eric’s story. I thought his father was homophobic but when they had that scene of him just being worried about his son in a world that won’t accept him, that was so well done. I love that they went that route and not the cliche of African (assuming) parents being homophobic.
Absolutely. I love how Eric’s dad is just concerned for him. I really like that. These conversations are my favourite parts of Sex Education.
Yes and I love how he chose to come out by wearing traditionally feminine African clothes
@@77777gang he came out years before that
And where his Christian community wasn't shunning him like we are used to hearing. Cause as a queer black woman, some of them be HELLA HOMOPHOBIC
Right. Eric's dad is one of my favorite tv parents. I felt like he was super realistic. I felt like if I was a Dad with a son like Eric I could see myself acting the same way (okay maybe a bit less accepting but I'm working on it)
Personally think this is my favourite find on Netflix ever. That scene where all the girls join Aimee on the bus... dude that made me cry. Super powerful. The writing is amazing and all the characters seem to have a purpose, the humor is great and how they address teen frustration and navigating sexuality is just so real and wonderful. I literally recommend it to everyone
I was crying and my husband was crying too
And the “it’s my vagina” scene
Had it been an American show I think that scene would’ve been too comedic and lost the message
But I was actually crying
I would say that 2 if Bojack Horseman wasn't a thing
Aimee really expresses the “good girl complex” really well. When women are expected to put in a pretence and pretend they like things they don’t really like, especially during sex to appeal to men in particular.
🥺
I think Jackson was the only "Jock" that i actually liked and fell sorry at times, dude was chill and super nice.
I, for one, absolutely loved Jackson's character arc. On the surface he's presented as a stereotypical popular high-school jock, but on the inside he's just as messed-up as the others; struggling with his own issues, insecurities, fears and the weight of expectations.
agreed
exactly!! and i love how season 2 ended with him trying to come to terms with his mental health and he befriends Viv despite all the pressure from his jock "friends" and he's such a sweet and caring guy
it remined me of a character called cam in degrassi the next generation, spoiler.....
he was written specifically to explore suicide. he comes to this new school with his hockey team- he's good (iirc) but he's shy and awkward and the youngest player who doesn't really have friends on the team. he feels extremely pressured and stressed between hockey (and trying to get scouted for a scholarship) and being a new kid and at one point he self harms, he makes himself sick so he can miss practice and then when that blows up in his face he purposely falls from a high place and breaks his own arm. he seems to recover mentally while not having to play but he has troubles with his new girlfriend and his teammates and the guy who likes his gf grief him repeatedly and he eventually kills himself. we never find out how he did it bc the degrassi team actually researched and listened to the mental health experts who said it could lead to copycats/distress the viewers (looking at u 13rw) but its very powerful and heartbreaking.
it scared me so much seeing Jackson hurt himself to keep him from having to swim. i don't think sex education is going down that path with him and he'll find his way next season but it broke my heart.
Jackson is one of my favourites
Definitely! Everyone is just so multilayer
This show is insanely good
Indeed, I watched both seasons in about three days, and I can't wait for the third!
Huh, I could only make it part way to ep 3. Maybe some day I'll give it another go.
@@FauxFoxPaw watch the whole season, trust me u will love it at the end.
And nobody talks about it
@Vasili ZgR Why?
I just realised, this show never had any major cliffhangers, or as many shocking moments as other big shows out there, yet I was so invested. Even whenever I go back to this show, I finish it in about 2 days, it’s just so well-crafted that it doesn’t need shocking moments to keep people invested
Yes! Honestly I watch it all the time because I wish that I could live in their universe😂 Sounds a Little sad but the vibe of the show is just so good
Same. There isn’t really a big bad or a dramatic storyline. The storyline is just the characters and what they are experiencing. It’s very slice of life imo. And I like it precisely for that reason.
I don’t need Hiram Lodge to be the big bad for the twentieth time in a row and Veronica saying how she hates her daddy and then going back to him the moment it’s convenient.
@@pcrassen4975
Yeah, Archie and Jugehead make me wanna puke
I despised so much misogyny and it felt like 18+ but i loved how they unite girls always
@@sunny-mi4sq facts
This is what teenagers need, genuine representation that doesn't make fun of their problems or brush it aside- or even catastrophize anything.
These are normal realistic problems that anyone can relate to, nothing over-the-top like other american teen shows.
I really enjoy that the show shows a stereotype but eventually shows that they're human, with human thoughts and human feelings. Every character has a reason and I love that for them.
I also like this fantasy universe where this tv show takes place. Makes me forget about real life and real problems 😭
the character of maeve proves that there’s no such thing as “i’m not like other girls” cause every girl is unique, something maeve knows and respects. although she doesn’t have many girl friends she doesn’t feel the need to attack anyone for her own good and does the exact opposite, stands for every girl and is a feminist. it’s refreshing to have a well written show that is not all over your face with impactful and cliche lines and instead approaches everything naturally, always speaking about the issues of our society.
True except for how she treats Ola. I love the show, but the Ola / Maeve rivalry really annoyed me, cause it’s so old, so ridiculous and pointless, and they’re both better than that.
@@lujorom9172 yes i felt the same. fighting “over a guy” which was essentially the message they wanted to show is very silly and old like you said. i’m glad it was over right after lmao
@@marianunes8472 exactly!! Although it did go on for several episodes, which was still too long imo.
I love her character so much also I like they didn’t make her “pure” and sassy , she’s just such a well done person over all
@Some Weeb would you call yourself an open-minded person?
when most tv shows advertise lgbt representation, they almost always stick to (1) relevant gay character in the entire show, but i absolutely love how sex education portrays pansexuality, asexuality and bisexuality as well
Yeah I’m just now realizing I’ve never seen ANY shows talk abt pansexuality, despite being a pan person myself.
Bojack also did this very well.
@@saryjackson7705 same like just seeing them say a character in schitt's creek is pansexual made my day so well cause of how less representation I've seen and it just made me so happy but when they did it so well in sex education and through the character that I literally had a crush on was just.... Damn
@@bubbybrothethird5369 yess i love that show
This great lgbtq+ representation because it discusses discovering your sexuality in very realistic ways. I like the animated show She-ra’s lgbtq+ representation for almost the opposite reason, they live in another world and in that world being lgbtq+ is the norm
I really love Otis and Erics friendship and how the show displays it. They have so much physical contact, which is never shown in shows between two guys who are not in a romantic relationship. But between Otis and Eric it's just normal and cute, it shows their affection as best friends. In other shows as in life its fine between two girls, but god forbid if two guys touch in a not slightly agressiv way, patting each others backs hard enough while hugging for example.
I also like that even though one of the characters is gay, there's never a "am I in love with my straight male best friend who I am so close with?". It's stereotypical and unnecessary.
i love how their friendship is presented as something normal, something you see everyday, without having the need to make a discussion/explanation as to why a straight and gay character are friends. they just are. and its fucking brilliant. otis does things for eric (like dressing up for a tradition) without the show ever questioning his masculinity. the writers really want the audience to understand that that is how friendships should be. the otis-eric tandem is SOOO well-written. a rare gem.
Their dynamic >>>>>
honestly!!
they film sex education in my city (cardiff) and i've bumped into the cast before, can i just say, they are all f*cking awesome and SO kind in real life. makes watching the show so much more enjoyable knowing that the actors playing them are genuinely kind-hearted, awesome people
Well, I know where I'll be traveling to as soon as I'm vaccinated
that's so cool!
luckyy
They film most in the forest of dean. Especially tintern. We saw them film two scenes on my walk lol they finished filming about 3 months ago
Ahhh thats awesome!! Yep i saw them just chilling in cardiff, no filming though. Who did u manage to see?
What I love about british shows is how they use clever writing and subtle humor to deal with serious issues. They don't rely on shock value or inflict trauma on their audience to get their message across. Shows like 13 reasons why and Euphoria are just too heavy IMO
Atleast euphoria does it right
Euphoria is actually great and does it right however 13 reasons why failed horribly they should’ve stopped after season 2
@@Kevin-rg3yc Euphoria still doesn’t deliver well enough. All though, it is more promising, than most American teen shows, it still has this essence of American exaggeration in it. Euphoria comes off as being too heavy because the characters and the situations in it are still portrayed unrealistically. It is too extreme, and there’s too much going on. Also the situations and characters, especially Rue, have an unsatisfying development. Sex Education knows it’s a dramatic/comedic teenage show and pokes fun of teen show stereotypes and tropes by criticizing them, which ironically makes it serious and real. whereas Euphoria tries too hard to be a “serious” and “deep” teen show by making it all too depressing and extreme, where in fact it comes off as too unrealistic, but forced rather. I would have to praise Euphoria for their LGBTQ+ portrayal, and for their portrayal of drug addiction though.
@@kamilyakadyr7063 Totally agree with you. It's too deep and depressing for me.
Skins (UK). Skins does it right. Everything. (first 2 seasons, are the best, ist has ups and downs after that.)
Sex education too.
Imo 13 reasons should have never been made in the first place. The whole concept and idea is just wrong.
’What you wanna FIGHT’
he asked calmy at a poster of 13 reasons why
Lol
as calmy as Dumbledore
michael groff's storyline in season 3 might be the best redemption arc there is
I wish he remained an asshole, there's no need for him turn into a good guy like adam.
@@kaitakashi6587 noo, I see it as a way for boomers/macho man's to heal and find the joy in their lives again, and even for younger generations to know it's never to late to get your shit together
@@kaitakashi6587 the thing is this show isn't looking to vilify anyone. While people are mean, nobody is static, and everyone can change for the better
@@auespaa yeah it's a sign for a teenage drama comedy series to show older people can still change but in truth is that there's never gonna be a happy story about it in the end nor will this particular scene come to fruition because that's reality, and that is somethin needed here with mr groff since he is an embodiment of being an asshole and will always be one. What's the purpose of him being good when you got old people like Jakob and Jean changing for the better it absolutely doesn't make sense
@@auespaa if you actually had a family member or let alone a father like him, trust me you will never show any remorse for him no matter the tragic backstory
It also feels like one of the only shows that has multiple female characters that are well developed in different ways and aren't just love interests. They manage to develop friendships between them and call out the stupid trope of pitting them all against each other.
Yes! I think it's mostly due to the diversity of people behind the scenes. It shows that diversity isn't just putting characters of different groups on screen but having them directed/written by the same cishet white men, it's about what's going on behind the scenes, because no one knows women more than a woman, or about gay people like a gay person, etc.
Oh and while the scene was like really really sad. I love how the group of girls find out they have nothing in common other than the terrible stuff that had happened to them. They're all individuals that end up respecting and bonding with each other over their trauma and I think that's quite beautifully
@@dragon9261 OMG YES. It was so sad, first of all that they had nothing in common except that they were all victims and second of all because it shows the reality that so many girls and women are being assaulted every day. It really brings you back to reality for a bit.
That instantly made me think of The 100, which has many strong female characters (sometimes strong is their only characteristic, which makes them one-dimensional again) - but they are all usually fighting against one another.
@@m_milos we had that exact kind of moment when I was at girls only birthday party and most of these girls were strangers and we ended up talking about how we all had survived assaults or face it . It was sad that some of the girls had to face so much but it was kinda like felt good too cause I felt like I was not alone. Girls are really supportive but the images in media really infiltrates our imagery .
I really appreciate that almost every character onscreen got their own story. Even the weird alien girl had her arc and it was good.
Omg I love the alien girl!
also I've never seen vulvodynia been talked about on shows even though it's not uncommon! Was pretty cool.
her arc in season three is pretty short but it’s so heartbreaking 💔 she deserves the world
Lilly >>>
Please I love Lily she's so funny and yet she doesn't trrryyyyyy
Its mature, but in a innocent way? would be the best way I could describe it. They show teenagers having real-life issues, thoughts, and insecurities, but having it pair with them actually in school, and learning from their mistakes as real people. I Love it
So true
I love this show SO fucking much
Better than Riverdale
Yeaah
@@unknowngg2697 your standards are low if you compare it to riverdale 😂
I love how Adam for most of the show is just there, doing things, with no dialogue, and not really interacting with anybody, and yet he still is one of the best characters in the show
His interaction with Otis' mum is so hilarious 😭
he's literally me fr
@@BulbaReider77so you’re a bully?
I love Adam's mom. She was basically one-dimensional in season one but they really worked on her in season two. I also like that she became friends with Jean, they are great together.
Me too!!
Wholeheartedly agree, but Otis' mom is named Jean, so initially i almost didn't get your comment lol
@@Pharmakon-l4s I fixed it, thanks :)
@@zuzanabartekova4823 np, and, don't take this wrong way, but, very glad to see a fellow UA-camr become more than one-dimensional too :)
"I get it, Archie is hot. Can we have the story now?" Love your writing style and delivery😂🙌🙌
Riverdale writers: No I don't think I will
Honey that was half the reason I started watching Riverdale in the first place
@@islandeatssand684 but how do you manage to keep on watching the show? Cause i started watching “The Vampire Diaries” cause of Damon being fine af but I stayed for the acting skills. Archie, on the other hand, is just your average “hot” dude and nothing other than that...
@@linzym.nunezc.1207 Simple, I didn't lmao. I got bored halfway through season 2.
was blown away by how good the show is. pray that they dont mess it up
RantoniSexeduactioniii
Rantonimargharettii
didn't they cancel it?
wait no that was teotfw
Upload 😭
The friendship between Eric and Otis resonates with me so much. It really highlights how me and my best friend act and feel around each other. My best friend is gay and we were never really weird about it. Most people think that it is just "movie cliche" to have a deep companionship between a straight man and a gay guy, but it does exist in real life. It is just genuine friendship for us. Just like in the show, he supports my romantic endeavors and I support his. We've been best friends since high school and until now that we've finished colleged and now have jobs. What I love about this show is that it is showing more people that these types of relationship can and does exist.
My boyfriend is straight, and his best friend of 15 years is gay as. It reminded me a lot of their friendship.
People have asked me if I'm worried when they sleep in the same bed (his best friend lives 5 hours away so he stays the night when he visits) and if I dislike them being affectionate and all. Just shows how important good representation is and how badly it's needed.
That shouldn't surprise anyone. What does sexual orientation has to do with friendship?
I loved the second season's arc of the sexual assault. As a victim, it felt so real.
As a ViCtIm myself I also appreciate how Amie tried to convince herself it was fine and also that it took her someone else to realise it was sexual assault
@@jamespagous3954 IKR, That happened with me
Honestly, that's my favourite part of the entire show
@@Karma-pj4xy ikr
@Some Weeb are you saying that jizzing on someone without their consent is perfectly legal or do you really live up to your username and have never felt the touch of someone who loves you. In which case, go to therapy.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate your take on the Strong Female Character and how Hollywood has turned it into a gimmick. It's SO TRUE and so degrading, and the fact that everyone seems to be buying into it (including women) and solidifying it as progress makes me really sad. You just made me see Maeve through a brand new lens, and I love her even more now! *GREAT VIDEO!*
YES YES YES I was like screaming at my screen in approval! He nailed it!
I second this, he did something similar in his Supergirl video and he's very good at explaining why it doesn't work. Love it.
100% agree
Another way Hollywood portrays the "strong, cool, female character" is by getting rid of all her feminine ways and making her masculine. They make her never wear dresses and not be emotional and hate the color pink and etc etc. Women can be strong and feminine. They don't have to hate everything related to femininity to be strong or cool
and, tbh, women in the west are doing pretty great. if writers want to make a pro-feminist story, they should either change the period of the setting or change it for another country where women's rights actually are being actively violated
i am so glad you added the scene of eric apologising after playing on stage cause it is one of the FUNNIEST moments in the entire show
Fr that shit was hilarious and really set the tone for the humor in the show
My heart broke in that scene because I’ve fucked up my music solo before and said “oh shit” on stage infront of a bunch of adults.
If it was my school it would’ve been fine but omg
@@MiniMeags been there, too! but luckily it was only in front of around 40 schoolmates and a couple of teachers in a vacant room (it was an audition for the school musical), but i was too nervous to perform in front of people that i stopped mid-way in a piece and said, "nevermind." i cringe myself to death whenever i remember it lmao.
@@raelis2385 omg
i laugh out loud at so so many points in this show. it's just fucking incredible
I will always be so touched at how a gay guy and a straight guy can be best friends not afraid of physical touch or intimacy at all. Like my whole heart loves it. Like it’s never weird between them ever and completely head over heels in love with each other as friends and I love it so much.
When eric was introduced, I rolled my eyes so hard! here it goes, he will now exist only for few lame gags and to prop Otis but he literally blossomed. I love his Conviction, his bravery and his pure ebullience. Just a pure ray of sunbeam. ❤️ Also Maeve is just chefs kiss!
@Okapi Lizard it's mean joy, happiness. Effervescence.
@@Svengali764 thank you for not being like the know it all douche at the top
@@Reese493 I have adhd so I know once I am off the window I'll never remember to google. As my granpda said kindness costs nothing, means everything.
@@Svengali764u sound like u hate on feminine gay men
Why I like this show is because it takes stereotypes, stereotypes that exist because people like that exist, and explains why people are like that, bringing back their humanity that was lost when shows overuse those tropes
Yes!! This!!
This is such a good way of putting it!!!
So we’ll said!
YEP! like reclamation
Yes soo wellsaid
one other thing i would love to see talked about more is Amy's and Maeve's friendship. female friendships on their own are excrutiatingly rare in tv, and those that are well written even more so. and here, the show play against the trope of Maeve being "not like other girls". instead, she supports amy in her journey of learning to value herself and they are both just really good friends to each other. i wish you'd talked more about them along with all the other amazing unexpected friendships in the show (Adam and Ola, Jackson and Viv etc). friendship in general is largely ignored in tv in favor of romantic plotlines, and i really appriciate that sex education didn't. also, the show does a great job of actually teaching about sexuality and normalizes talking about it
this.
Yes I love the friendships ♡
yes exactly and i love how the show doesn't make a brouhaha about two quite different girls being best friends. jackson and viv was a classic cliche (not saying i didn't like it hehehe) but amy and maeve's friendship was so effortlessly creating, effectively shedding the "not like other girls" syndrome of american high school shows without being ingenuine
Their friendship is cool and I love seeing it. But I would never say female friendships are rare in cinema and tv shows
Yes I love how the portray friendship in the show
What makes this show a gem is how writers broke every stereotype characters of a teen show and giving them supportive arcs and beautiful personality in this show every other character is important from Otis to the principal to the dog of Adam man season 3 is also great
That episode in season 2 where all the girls are in detention together and they address Aimee’s trauma is hands down my favorite episode in any TV show I’ve ever seen. As someone who was molested as a child and didn’t realize it until years later, I identified with Aimee’s s2 storyline so much. The way she didn’t seem to fully grasp what had happened to her and tried to dismiss it at first, and the way it affected her intimate relationships, I’ve rarely ever seen trauma addressed like that on tv before. It was so cathartic to watch all these girls come together for her, share their own experiences, watch them let out their frustrations, and help her feel safe again.
I know this is late to reply but Aimee's trauma was similar to mine. It also happened in a bus. It didn't make me afraid of buses but it generally made me scared of standing or sitting next to older men. Like extra scared. I would sometimes ran when I happen to see some men walking in the same direction as me going home even though I know they also live nearby.
Unlike Euphoria which give the massive 6-hour nonstop crying - worst mental breakdown after watching the fist 3 episodes, sex education made me feel okay. I love SE so much.
@@ipig2379 I'm sorry that happened to you. Hope you're doing okay.
@Keya Abacate I think they meant that watching Euphoria resulted in them having a mental breakdown/non-stop crying, while sex education made them feel ok
And when her boyfriend completely respects her boundaries and stops touching her when she doesn't want to be touched--boy was that amazing
the bus scene where they all sit next to aimee to support her emotionally made me cry so hard, man
That *one* episode about Amy with the female characters supporting her is hands down my favorite. Made me cry so hard but it was so amazing to see women who are so different supporting each other. This show is truly written spectacularly.
Yes! And the scene where they find out that the one thing they all have in common is that they were all sexually harassed at some point was so powerful.
@@meganfolows Ummm, how is that powerful? Relating over sexual assault is kinda sad.
@@ma_de_sa5848 yes, it’s sad, but they know they have people to support them and they are more than their trauma. That’s why people go through group therapy, because they can both be helped by others and help them at the same time. So, it’s sad, but it’s realistic while also being something people can’t always do, because they don’t feel like their problems are valid enough. So, them being able to relate to each-other is powerful because they are all able to talk about their trauma, no matter how seemingly small the issue was.
@@ma_de_sa5848 I found it powerful because when I watched it I realised how f@&ed up it is that this is something most women have in common
@@ma_de_sa5848 it’s sad but it’s the truth, and that’s what it was trying to portray, hence why the girls explained to the teacher when asked, that the only common ground they found was “nothing much besides non- consensual dicks”, because that’s a universal struggle for women.
The diversity on the show is what makes it the best teen show of the last decade. also how the episode where Eric came out to his Nigerian dad was everything cause his father accepted his son for who he is which is not the way it is in most African homes.
Diversity has nothing to do with good writting. If that is what makes it the best teen show then I'm quite sure it's far from it.
@@Ignasimp Well sometimes in the writer's room, diversity is needed if you're writing of different issues of different ethnic groups. Just saying.
@@jodavi5763 the show hardly focus on ethnic differences, though. The writting doesn't depend on the diversity of characters in a simplistic racial or sexual way. Diversity of personality is far more interesting storytelling-wise.
@@Ignasimp what makes people appreciate the show more and have it seen as one of the best teen shows of the last decade is because of the unspoken diversity. Gay people aren’t being terrorised for being gay and racial groups aren’t being racially targeted for their race.
@@tyresem4102 I found that to be a very minor thing in the series actual product. They are a great series because of the great storytelling.
I love the way Aimee's SA was shown - I didn''t even think it was that big of a deal until they went to the police station
It just shows that girls sometimes just accept harassment because they're used to it and they shouldn't
I cried realising I would've brushed it off the exact same way she did
I remember watching that scene and as soon as they went to the police, I paused. I was sat there thinking, “Wait, that’s not that big of a deal, stuff like that’s happened to me more times than I can count.” and then it clicked. I’m not gonna lie, I actually left the room to cry.
I always thought that rape was the only form of sexual assault, I didn’t think that groping, or what happened to Aimee counted, so to find out from a netflix show that I’d been sexually assaulted, not fun.
@@fleabaggins hi...
How have your last days been? I'm asking because i sort of had that same realization two weeks ago. I have deemed experiences "triggering to me", but only now realized what happened really was abuse objectively.
I hope you have had time to breathe since realizing. I am spending some time without my partner to process this...
@@depaula1710 Hi, yeah i’m doing okay. I’ve been going to counseling since I had the realization, but I’ve been doing well, most of the incidents happened back when I was much younger, and my partner’s been helping me to cope with it, so I’m in a much better state than I was at the time. Thank you so much for asking, I hope you’re doing well too.
@@fleabaggins of course! Wishing you all the best to continue doing well.
I'm in counseling too, for the second time, since more has been happening after the first round of 4 years of treatment. I am ok on my own, but struggling with relationships.
You missed one of the most important things in this show: outfits, general style of the show and soundtrack are FUCKING AMAZING. Those scenes where Otis just plays some absolute classic of a song on his record player are everything. Also, that cover of "I can change" done by Ezra Furman, and his "Every Felling" are beyond amazing.
you forgot to mention restless year :),in general its the best soundtrack i have come across for every context
YESSSS AND THE SONG ALWAYS FITS WHATS HAPPENING PERFECTLY
i’m literally obsessed with olas outfits she’s so so cute
THE COSTUME DESIGNERS DESERVE AN AWARD BECAUSE HOLY HELL-
i really liked ruby's character and how she really represented how hard it is to grow up with a chronically ill parent and how it shapes how you act. it really hit home hard as someone who grew up with a mom with severe multiple sclerosis
yeah like r-ping a drunk guy
@@ichimoon4657 both of them were drunk
@@Gamer-vo4iy and it was consensual
Okay but can we not use "chronically ill parent" as an excuse for being a horrible person? Don't get me wrong, I really like Ruby as a character, but... it's not like I grew up a bitch just because my dad had MS
I forget which one is Ruby.
i think eric’s storyline is so important because it shows being gay as a significant part of who he is but he has further depth and complexity that make him such a relatable character. often with gay characters you either get their entire personality being gay or they never talk about it at all and i think it was a very nice balance.
I've rarely seen the former ever anymore, stop regurgitating homophobic Bs
@@ChangedMyNameFinally69 i was talking about gay characters written by straight people who try and recreate the gay experience without ever experiencing it themselves. think about the new netflix original series. those characters only traits are being gay and while it is central to the show its not doing the community justice to not give. a character further depth than jokes about gay sex and references to gay culture.
the fact that everyone in this show felt like teenagers who weren’t perfect models was so good. often times in TV shows you can only tell the popular people from the “nerdy” people if it’s literally shoved down your throat but this show is so much better about it. and
THE DIALOGUE IS EVERYTHIBG
Maeve is what a true feminist is , she understands feminism and doesn't think that it is about putting down women for being 'feminine' which is unfortunately what a lot of feminist characters are made out to be and many people in the real world are. Characters like her are usually stereotyped into the not like other girls category because they constantly roll their eyes are women that don't act the same way that they do while Maeve never does that.
Yes ! I loveee her
maeve is a feminist in that she can be an asshole equally to all genders
@@youkaliciousx299 lol that's the same reason why Gordan Ramsey is said to o treat people equally , because he's just an asshole to everyone.
Wait your saying a movment about giving women (and other genders) the freedom of choice and equal rights doesn't/shouldn't judge women for using the human freedom of choice to conform to gender stereotypes if that is what the want and makes them happy? Huh, who would have thought
@@slantedframes2334 I'm saying that many writers tend to write female characters meant to be feminists as pretty one dimensional. Instead of showing them being supportive of women , they show them as hating all women who are 'feminine' or different from them. They make the feminists to be the 'not like other girls.' The writers of Sex Ed however have written Maeve as a proper feminist , her feminism doesn't stem from the fact that she's a dick to everyone , that's just her personality , but she never puts anyone down for being feminine which once again is something that a lot of feminist women in media have been written to do.
The representation in this show is amazing, when i heard the word "asexual" as an ace person i nearly cried
You should also check out the show Everything is going to be okay on freeform. It did this to me in the second season
A character in BoJack Horseman is, Imo, one the best ace representations in any show
@@beckettshaw660 so true; I think Todd is a much better asexual representation than the girl in sex education. I mean she’s obviously a tiny side character, and he’s a main character, but that’s the point. There aren’t nearly enough ace main characters and I’m so glad that Todd exists, and they did it so well.
@@lujorom9172 I personally felt Todd was stupid af and annyoing. He came accross like a child. I dont really feel Ace people are like that?
@@squiddysquad9568 well it’s true he is very childish sometimes. But I definitely wouldn’t call him stupid. But whatever.
what i also love , which you touched on, is that it’s REALISTIC. american tv often writes a “weird” character or someone who looks weird/ wears abnormal clothes and then makes the WHOLE SCHOOL bully them and join in on the taunting. contrarily in sex education MANY characters have their own developed style, for example lily, who is depicted as the “weird” girl but the writers still understand that people don’t care thaaat much. simple as that
i like british teen dramas better than american overall. such as skins. it feels more natural
22:20 Ugh. Seeing Aimee cry hurts my heart. She's probably my favorite character in the show. She's like if a puppy became a person (and I mean that in the best way). She also has some of the funniest lines.
and the GREATEST of friends😭😭
It's actually insane how good of a job this show did at making side characters memorable, even if they were on screen for no more than one episode you can still distinctively remember them
I also love how their friendship isn't like " omg that's gay don't do that " wanna dance together let's do it twirl for me.
"sex education is the best teen show of the last decade"-
Me*aggressively likes the video
imo skam is a better representation of teen years BUT sex education is definitely top 2 for me
Same
Inbetweeners and american vandal are clear imo
I swear I was hooked on the show when Eric says "Im sorry" after his performance haha
i’m incredibly upset that there was no mention of the wholesome relationship between maeve and aimee, they are the cutest
She's actually so sweet to her. I love their relationship
In an asshole way haha but that's what friendship looks like a lot of the time
The scene where Aimee goes to the bus stop and all her friends are waiting there to support her - THAT is feminism. Not that cannibalized bullshit the cw tries to shove down our throats.
Oh lord I can't stand CW anymore. Sex Education def puts them to shame.
What's CW?
@@okoyeofosu9469 same im so confused
@@honeysluiced The CW is a tv channel where u can find shows like Supergirl, The flash, Riverdale, Legacies, etc.
@@okoyeofosu9469 The CW is a tv channel where u can find shows like Supergirl, The flash, Riverdale, Legacies, etc.
A storyline that i really liked was the one with maurine, adams mom! She was trapped in this marriage and couldn't live out her life to the fullest. Her friendship with jean helped them both, they are aduld women but they can actually learn from each other and break free of their roles. The storyline perfectly balanced the others that mostly revolved around teenagers, i think it's really impressive how the writer are able to bring them together and still make them act their age
I was searching for that comment 🙌🏻
@@yourcomfortchannel8328 how awkward now!!😅😅🤣🤣 Ola and Otis who almost had sex, now share a sibling.
I liked the black guy's storyline the most
I loved that too! You could tell she always wanted to leave and live her best life, but didn't nor couldn't. Maybe because she was scared that she wouldn't find love again, or maybe because she thought it was already too late for her, or maybe because she had given up on that idea. Regardless of everything, Otis' mother helped her realize how valuable her OWN life is, and I think that's so admirable, because later on in older episodes she starts treating her own son Adam differently too. The way she should've treated him since the beginning.
On Maeve's brother: you said your problem with him is that he's messing up the flow of the show. I think that's a pararrel to how he interacts with Maeve. Just when Maeve's starting to get her stuff together, he shows up and ruins everything for her.
Okay but can we appreciate the costumes? My god I'm so grateful the show didn't turn out to be some bleak rainbow of depression and actually have some cheerful colors
But i also love that they have a normal wardrobe like normal teenagers. Like otis always wears his same jacket and maeve too. We rarely see that in shows
@@claraboe2755 Completely agree! As someone who wore the same things all the time while in sixth form I liked to see that the wardrobe choices reflected reality.
only thing is for me the tone of the show seemed weirdly american. like no uniforms or just the vibe of the place was odd for an english school imo. that really took me out of the show for a good while...
@@claraboe2755 yep. The jacket is a nice touch. Let’s be real, most of us wear the same jacket or hoodie for several days because they don’t get dirty as fast as a t shirt since it’s not in direct contact with our skin and they are generally materials that don’t get dirty that easily.
Pretty much nobody has an entirely different outfit for every single day where not even the pants can be the same as the day before. The popular kids in the show dress the most differently from appearance to appearance and Eric, but they are people who would care more about their looks than Otis or Maeve for example. And it works.
@@seraphina2690 i think they probably did that so it’s easier to tune in if you’re not from the Uk. Like American viewers and Europeans and such. Since it’s not as common to have uniforms for school elsewhere, and it helps with the characterization a bit more.
You wouldn’t be able to tell that Eric prefers to be loud and vibrant or Maeve a bit more grungy in style if they were forced to be in uniform for the majority of their scenes. I can imagine that it might be weird for someone in the UK to see them in their own clothes at school though.
But characterization is likely the largest reason.
Eric storyline literally makes me cry. The fact that him and Otis will dress up together. That scene with this dad!!!!! beautiful! 😭
i love the bodily diversity and how people with larger bodies are still put on screen as beautiful and attractive! they can still pull someone and are just as able to engage in intimacy as everybody else. their body isn’t even pointed out. they’re just… there. their outfits aren’t boring & they have style unlike bigger characters in other popular teen dramas. and they can just exist in the show. that just makes me feel so good as a teenager (16) with a mid-sized body .
even simple things like seeing a character with cellulite running on the track in the first episode of the second season. or having a bigger girl share her sexual assault story. idk why but it makes me wanna cry. i don’t feel weird or odd with my body anymore with watching this show. i think that’s so important.
Who besides Viv is beautiful and with a larger body, I seem to have forgotten ?
@@matematicarka exactly lmao,all the guys on the show have abs for some reason even the quiz nerds
@@gunveersinghdhir6186 I was genuinely asking, I was not being sarcastic or anything
@@matematicarka yeah but there really isn't anyone else lol
@@gunveersinghdhir6186 the big guy lily danced with at the dance at the end of season 1 and then in season 2 it showed them together for awhile before she discovered she’s into girls. also, otis has a very frail and skinny body which for a lot of men, is a big insecurity especially when being compared to very muscular people. also the older men in the show, the teacher or ola’s dad for example, don’t have wicked unrealistic bodies for their age so overall i think the show has lots of hidden diversity that people don’t even realize.
RUBY's story arch is S3 is the best, i kinda hated OTIS & MAAVE for a while
I never thought I would be shipping Otis and Ruby but here I am, yes Maeve and Otis are amazing but I loved Ruby with him, they helped each other grow
@@caldervitriolic2128 I'm praying otis and Ruby is endgame 🥴😩