Skip to main content

Sex Education - Review



Sex Education is a show about 16-year-olds and their lives in high school and at home. Most importantly, it is about their sexual developments and all doubts and awkwardness that comes with it.  

Otis and his sex therapist mother


Otis (Asa Butterfield) is the only child of a sex therapist, played by a brilliant Gillian Anderson. Otis is shy and can't deal with his mother's evident lack of boundaries. 

Most teenager's parents would never approach some topics the light way Otis' mum can. Despite his discomfort, Otis has more information about sexuality that most of his colleagues. With Maeve's help, he becomes some sort of unofficial sex therapist for his classmates.

Throughout his appointments, we get familiar with the school community. Many different topics around sexuality are explored in a funny, light, open way. 

You can spot a couple of not so accurate pieces of information throughout the show, but the goal is not to inform. The whole show is all about de-stigmatizing sex and showing the benefits of openly talk about it. 

Sex Education confronts you with important discussions about masturbation, homosexuality, STDs, sexual dysfunctions of different levels, abortion…

Positive development


Recently, Netflix presented us with the second season of Sex Education. Better than the first one. It has a faster action and more depth. Some topics - such as abortion - were approach too lightly, others too clumsily, in the first season.

Otis and Ola deepened their relationship. With more experience, he learns that theory and practice are very different things. 

This season has a more significant focus on parents and teachers as well. It shows that adults also have doubts and challenges. At some point, you realize that parents are as confused and in need of instruction as students.

The show seems now more mature, growing with its characters.

Communication and discovery


Plenty of shows and films before focused on the same targets. Puberty, first love, first sexual experience are common ground in teenage oriented shows. Yet, few of them are as realistic and charming as Sex Education. It offers us a practical rather than a romantic point of view.

The show also explores the communication issues between teens and their parents. Communication is the key in all circumstances. 

Humor and Sensitivity


Sex Education managed to open debate about a large number of topics in a way no other show could do it. They approach polemic topics, with naturalism and sensitivity. There is no shame, no euphemism, and more importantly, no topic is out of bound. They manage to make even the more explicit scenes sweet and enjoyable.

You can see plenty of allusions to teenage American movies, in scenarios and costumes. They were all built in a comic purpose, which leaves us more open to what comes next.

Sex Education is a good piece of entertainment. It addresses tough topics in a relaxing, funny, and sensible way.    

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Emily in Paris 3: The Good, the Bad, and the Unrealistic

  The third season of Emily in Paris got a lot of hate and love among the viewers. People can’t decide if it was the best season or the worst of all. And I understand why. We start the season with Emily’s life in perfect chaos, and she doesn’t seem to know what she wants. She never does… Is this good for the plot? Maybe. Is this annoying? Sometimes. So… why can’t we stop watching it? Are you feeling frustrated? Me too. She doesn’t know what she wants. She can’t make a decision, not in her love life, not in her job… And it is not because she wants it all. She is not mature enough to say no and own her decision and its consequences. Emily comes across as a spoiled little girl. The problem is that she is the main character, yet, Mindy starts to feel way more interesting than her. Also, any other character on the show is funnier than Emily, namely her co-workers, who apparently are very bad at their jobs and need her to save them with every single client… How did they keep the company...
Post a Comment
Read more

Gender, Power, and Cigarettes: Why 'Mad Men' Still Resonates

  Mad Men is a masterpiece of television that blends sharp storytelling with striking period detail, offering a reflective glimpse into the 1960s.  The series follows Don Draper and the high-stakes world of Madison Avenue advertising, all while painting a vivid picture of the era's societal norms, especially the rampant sexism and rigid gender roles.  It's both mesmerizing and infuriating, particularly in its honest depiction of how women were treated. Strong Emotions The show’s brilliance lies in its ability to evoke strong emotions—its subtlety, exceptional writing, and rich characters draw you into a world that feels both foreign and disturbingly recent.  The meticulously crafted period aesthetics are complemented by historical undercurrents, from civil rights to cultural shifts, which remain integral yet never overshadow the deeply personal dramas of the characters. Wait For the Impact Mad Men doesn’t rely on flashy plot twists; instead, it uses nuanced storyte...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Lying Life of Adults - Review

  The Lying Life of Adults shows us, once more, that the teenage years and growing up can be painful.  Giovanna is the main character of this story, and she is feeling all the fast changes adolescence demands in a deeply divided town. Before this situation, her body and her opinions and desires are changing fast. Perhaps, too fast. Parents aren’t perfect. It is usually in those teenage years that we realize our parents aren’t perfect. They are humans with all the flaws that that implies. Giovanna is no different. Her parents are not as she thought they were, and her perfect family isn’t perfect at all. Those adults, those references that she admires, hide things, lie, and do things that she considers wrong. They are like everybody else. They are not heroes. When we realize that our parents are not the superheroes we believed they were when we were very young children, it can hurt.   Why is it so important? Because when we realize they also can fail, with the destruc...
Post a Comment
Read more