Netflix Review: Sex Education

Elli Choi, Proofreader

With a prolific history of tremendous hits—Stranger Things, Birdbox, Black Mirror, The Crown—Netflix Originals have garnered much attention over the past couple of years, building up a sizable reputation. Gone are the days when one would go to the movies for a night out. The youth of today much rather prefer a cozy night in with popcorn and Netflix, consequently raising the demand, and the bar, for the selection of shows and movies available on the site.

The hottest recent release by the entertainment industry’s giant, the show Sex Education successfully meets these expectations. Quirky, colorful, open-minded, and heartwarming, this rookie series has captured the hearts of many viewers, receiving a near-automatic renewal for season two.

Set in a high school in the UK, the story revolves around a socially awkward, virgin, teenage boy Otis Milburn, played by Asa Butterfield. His mother (Gillian Anderson) is a sex therapist who approaches the topic of sex very freely, often being a little too open-minded for her rather conservative son. The series starts at the beginning of the school year in which Otis’s best friend, Eric (Ncuti Gatwa), is defiant and determined to lose his virginity. Soon, Otis finds himself entangled in a friendship with ‘whip-smart bad-girl’ Maeve (Emma Mackey) and a sex clinic business, helping other teenagers conquer everything from their emotional worries to their nitty gritty issues with sex.

Contrary to many other TV shows which have attempted to familiarize young adults with fornication and all its aspects, Sex Education offers a different outlook, revealing the sensitive topic with respect to the culture of today having “teenagers embrace their awkward, budding sexualities [and] share sex-positive conversations,” according to Bustle.

The series will bound to have you hooked with the charming stories of the characters, their raw vulnerability and the reality of it all. So next time you’re browsing on Netflix for something to watch, try Sex Education