This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labour of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie/series/feature being covered here wouldn't exist.
"Sex Education season 4 is an excellent and emotional ending to the most progressively fun series to hit our screens."
BY ROMEY NORTON SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
Sex Education has been the feel-good, informative and sexually explorative sensational series that we’ve all needed. Over the last three seasons our beloved characters have grown and developed, and as an audience we have with them. Fans are sad but welcoming this fourth and final season as all good things must come to an end.
If you’ve not watched Sex Education before, the series surrounds socially awkward high schooler Otis, who begins a sex ed clinic in his school, along with his friends Maeve and Eric. Otis’ relatively expert knowledge comes from his mother who is a sex therapist. Whilst Otis is giving out advice, his own love life needs some work.
Season three ended with the school being sold off and everyone having to be separated. Maeve shows up at Otis' house with bittersweet news: she's going to the US for school, and Otis’ mum gives birth and almost dies. Safe to safe it was dramatic and full of mixed emotions.
What is most difficult in season 4 is whilst many characters from its first three seasons return, a lot of fan favourites are not. Patricia Allison (Ola), Tanya Reynolds (Lily) and Mikael Persbrandt, who played Ola's father Jakob, are not present, after having strong story-lines in season three. There are a lot of new characters introduced, including Dan Levy joining the cast as Thomas Molloy, a renowned cult author who is tutoring Maeve in the US. The Schitt's Creek star is a welcome character to the Sex Education team, bringing a light, fun energy to his role.
Now that Moordale has gone the storyline is about Otis and Eric starting Cavendish Sixth Form College. The college is incredibly progressive, with daily yoga classes, a communal garden, a focus on sustainability, and no gossiping. “It’s like Amsterdam.. But in space” and everyone finds it hard to adjust. Viv is thrown by the college's lack of competitiveness, Aimee takes an art class and becomes better friends with Isacc and sparks fly between them, and Adam is still struggling with what to do with his life. At home Jean is coping with the new baby and her new radio job, Headmaster Groff is now a substitute teacher at Cavendish and Ruby struggles to make friends. Otis quickly realises there is already a sex therapist at Cavendish called ‘O’ and thus a competition for best sex therapist begins. Otis’ and Eric’s friendship takes some new turns, as Eric meets a group of likeminded people who are the popular kids.
Across the eight episodes, this final series has some hilarious scenes/moments to offer, helping audiences poke fun at sex and life as a student and as a parent. Such as sending nudes, hand cramps, and bad gollum impressions. The series still confronts serious issues such as overdoses, transitioning, abusive relationships, grief and mental health. The final three episodes are hard-hitting and a lot gritter than previous seasons.
Episode six is especially moving; the series as whole feels very grown-up and the final episodes round off the characters' stories to leave you feeling wholesome and satisfied. I think Otis, Maeve, Eric and Jean got the endings they deserved, and it’s been an absolute pleasure watching these past four seasons.
STAR RATING
