Katie Hardy
The third season of the hit Netflix series Sex Education sees characters we’ve grown to love face an array of new challenges, attitudes, and life events; all while upholding the reputation of an emotional yet comedic show packed full to the brim with socially-conscious and relevant issues. Katie Hardy shares her full thoughts…
We’ve all been there, right? Maybe you’re sat in a PSHE class or an assembly with your year group, and your teacher is thrilled to announce you’ll have some sex ed lessons. Somehow you and your classmates find yourselves sat in front of a strange and outdated video about the importance of abstinence and not getting pregnant. It’s a random and non-inclusive set of ideas that leave you feeling excluded, none the wiser, or just plain weirded out.
This archaic and old-fashioned attempt at sex education is exactly what Moordale High’s new headteacher, Hope Haddon (Jemima Kirk) wants to put on the agenda. The new series of the hit Netflix show Sex Education sees her attempts at removing the ‘sex school’ label from Moordale, and replacing it with one which is proper, sensible, and absolutely nothing to do with sex.
Filled to the brim with relevant and socially-conscious topics
The third venture of this series continues its no-holes-barred portrayal of intimacy and relationships, sustaining its reputation as a heart-warming yet comedic show filled to the brim with relevant and socially-conscious topics. It tackles the gender binary, premature birth, perceptions of HIV and AIDS, sexual assault, trauma, and sexuality to name a few, all while drawing viewers in with complex and lovable characters; new and old.
Otis discovers that a casual, no-strings-attached relationship may be more difficult than anticipated as he navigates life with Ruby; Eric’s relationship with Adam is put to the test as they both battle stigma and the closet. Maeve’s relationship with her Mum and sister portrays a complex and damaged family trying to make it work, while Jean’s dynamic with Jakob makes her question what family means, too.
As with previous seasons, what sits at the heart of this show is the portrayal of diverse and unorthodox families, relationships, and people, all of whom have their own relatable and not-so-relatable (the poo incident – I hope none of you have done that…) problems. A central part of this season is the clash between Hope’s archaic and old-fashioned ideas about how sex education should be taught in schools, and the modern, contemporary views held by Jean and most of the students.
In particular, Hope locks horns with new character Cal, a non-binary student who challenges her strict rules about uniform and conformity. Through the friendship between Cal and Jackson, topics such as pronouns, gendered language and gender expression are explored – all topics which require more positive representation in the media.
Characters that you probably hated at the end of series 2 might end up being some of your favourites
This is a fast-paced and packed season, more so than the previous ones, full of equally heart-warming and heart-breaking moments. Characters that you probably hated at the end of series 2 might end up being some of your favourites, and some of your favourites might just turn sour. Don’t worry, though – at the end of the day, it’s still a show about an awkward and nerdy teenager whose Mum happens to be a sex therapist. Oh, and by the way, you’ll want to brace yourself for Adam’s poem in the final episode. Just saying.
Katie Hardy
Featured image courtesy of Alex Watkin. Permission for use granted to Impact. No changes have been made to this image.
In-article images courtesy of @sexeducation via instagram.com. No changes made to these images.
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