Sex Education Season Three (2019-): The Good, The Bad, And The Graphic

This review contains significant spoilers for the new season of Sex Education and discusses sexual assault and animal abuse. Please read with caution.

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Sex Education (2019-Present; Laura Nunn) season three starts off with a bang, literally (( Sex Education (TV Series). Wikipedia. October 7, 2021. )). A two-minute-long montage of various characters in sexual situations kicks off the newest season of the hit Netflix series, immediately reminding viewers that the show does not shy away from its namesake.

While countless TV shows utilize sex as a crucial part of their storylines, Sex Education sets itself apart by living up to its name. The series has carefully cultivated a cast of characters with a range of gender identities, races, ages, body types, and sexualities, aptly developing upon these characters and their stories in a way that connects with viewers. Through this, Sex Education validates the experiences and identities of their characters and audience while also showing effective and healthy ways to respond to common feelings or scenarios related to sex.

Sex Education: Season Three (2019-)

Season three follows the fallout of several climatic events that occurred at Moordale Secondary School in the previous season, from mass hysteria over a chlamydia “outbreak” to a sexy Shakesperian play.

Certain character and plot developments featured in the third season hinder the enjoyment of watching the show; however, fantastic characters, strong writing, and beautiful visual production save the new episodes and help deliver important messages regarding identity and self-agency. Season three of Netflix’s Sex Education has proved to be well worth the wait, with each episode a clear display of the series’ impressive balance of humor and humanity, ultimately reaffirming the importance of the show as a highly informative and entertaining testament to our time. 

False Hope For Moordale

Season three of Sex Education introduces many changes for the characters and their school of Moordale Secondary, now widely known throughout the U.K. as the “Sex School.” One of these changes is a seemingly cool new headteacher who promises massive improvements to the school that will put its students’ futures “back on track.” In comparison to how the previous headteacher, Michael Groff, interacted with the students, Hope initially appears much more fun and approachable. However, Haddon’s role as the new headteacher rapidly spirals to be the season’s central antagonist, as the character instates oppressive new rules at Moordale that severely limit the students’ right to self-expression (( Nunn, Laura, creator. Sex Education. Eleven Film and Netflix. 2019-Present. )).

Headteacher Haddon superficially promotes an accepting academic environment for the students yet rejects their ideas and identities. This is most recognizable when Haddon asks Vivienne Odusanya, head girl of Moordale, to publically present a PowerPoint on the school, reasoning that having a “young woman of color” representing the institution would demonstrate how “progressive” it is. Meanwhile, Haddon repeatedly berates a nonbinary student, Cal Bowman, for not wearing the assigned uniform for female students. In this way, Haddon serves as a perfect new villain for Sex Education. The headteacher weaponizes the notion of inclusivity against the students, using progressive statements about their education and futures to cloak actions that belittle their importance as individuals (( Nunn, Laura, creator. Sex Education. Eleven Film and Netflix. 2019-Present. )). Ultimately, Haddon’s actions represent another facet of how the repression of anything and everything sex-related causes more harm than good.

Unexpected Stars Of The Season

Beyond the introduction of a new antagonist, season three of Sex Education effectively develops the characters who formerly fulfilled the role. Two of the most entertaining and likable characters of the season are Adam and Ruby, who act as school bullies in the prior two seasons. Adam, in particular, shows massive development from his character in season one and surprisingly becomes one of the best characters in the new season.

Season three showcases the process of Adam learning how to handle his anger appropriately instead of lashing out at other people. This development is largely prompted by Adam’s relationship with Eric, which challenges him to realize the faults of his past actions and work to interact with others and himself more gently. Adam’s growth helps him become one of the strongest characters in the new season as he opens up and discovers more of his interests and talents. The former school bully’s soft and goofy personality comes as an unexpected yet pleasant surprise, with Adam often serving as a comedic outlet that steals the show.

In addition to Adam’s character development, Ruby’s relationship with Otis reveals her character’s vulnerabilities and elegant strength. Moordale’s residential queen bee confronts her challenges independently without seeking comfort or advice from her friends. Ruby does not talk to anyone about her family and has never invited any of her friends to her house, keeping her personal life completely private. While Ruby projects a lofty image of herself at school, season three provides insight into Ruby’s homelife that explains her defensive attitude. This is shown in episode three with Ruby taking care of her father, who has multiple sclerosis (( Ruby Matthews. Sex Education Fandom Wiki. October 7, 2021. )).

As Ruby’s home is revealed, we see a completely different side to her character from what is shown at Moordale. Ruby cares for her dad without any complaint or hesitation, conveying her sincerity and love for him. When Otis and Ruby arrive at the latter’s home and she finds out that her dad was there alone, she immediately asks why he did not call her so she could come home to be with him. Although this is a quick interaction in the scene, it reveals deep insight into Ruby’s character, communicating the loyalty she dedicates to her loved ones over her self-interests. Seeing this genuine and vulnerable side to Ruby explains why she guards her personal information and homelife so strictly, as she wants to protect those she holds dear.

Ruby And Otis Relationship

Ruby and Otis’ sexual relationship is a surprise curveball at the end of the previous season, but their interactions and chemistry on-screen have made them the new favorite “ship” of many viewers (( Dumaraog, Ana. 2021. “Sex Education Season 3’s Otis & Ruby Romance Shows Its Biggest Mistake.” )). Some fans who once yearned for Maeve and Otis to get together found themselves disenchanted with the idea after seeing the latter with Ruby instead. There are several unhealthy aspects of the relationship between Otis and Ruby, such as Ruby’s attempts to change Otis to appease her image at Moordale.

However, the couple does manage to work through this as Otis stands up for himself, and Ruby realizes that she likes him enough to see past his clothing choices. Ruby’s confidence and poise balance well with Otis’s awkward charm and wisdom, revealing more depth to both characters and showing how strong their relationship could be. Altogether, the pairing of the most popular girl at school and the “sex kid” proves to be magic on screen. Unfortunately, the biggest missed opportunity of the new season is how it abandons Ruby’s character after she and Otis break up.

Afterward, the show places Ruby on the sidelines, leaving her with only a handful of lines and scenes for the rest of the season. Throughout the remaining episodes, the pair’s breakup coupled with the lack of screentime for Ruby feels sudden and dissatisfactory. The season shifts focus to building a romantic relationship between Maeve and Otis again; however, the pair seems a little lackluster compared to the charm of him and Ruby. Even the long-awaited kiss between Maeve and Otis is eclipsed by Ruby’s sad reaction to the scene, making viewers hope and speculate that she and Otis will end up together in the end.

Good Characters Making Bad Decisions

While the latest season of Sex Education exhibits many developments among its characters, these changes are not necessarily positive or something that viewers welcome. Eric’s storyline throughout the new season showcases this best, as the character continues to flourish and build confidence in himself yet prioritizes his whims over the feelings of those he loves. When Eric visits Nigeria for a family wedding, he spends an amazing night with a charismatic photographer named Oba, which ends with a passionate kissing session between the two. However, this all happens while Eric is still in a serious relationship with Adam. As a viewer, it is frustrating to see Eric cheat on his partner for a second time after the downfall of his relationship with Rahim (whom he left for Adam).

While prioritizing one’s emotional and physical wellbeing is important, Eric’s actions repeatedly hurt his partners. As Eric breaks up with Adam, he says he feels held back in their relationship due to their different comfort levels with expressing their sexuality. This is painful to watch, considering how much effort Adam puts into bettering himself and overcoming his trauma to have a healthy and happy relationship with Eric, who disregards this growth. In this way, Eric’s development is bittersweet as he loves himself almost to the point of not recognizing or learning from his mistakes. Thus, Eric’s act of cheating on Adam can be considered a negative of the new season as it shows one way in which his character development is lacking. Ultimately, Eric’s actions in season three showcase how the characters we love can make disappointing mistakes, making them all the more human.

Exploring Identity Through Mise-En-Scène

Besides the impressive characters and writing within season three of Sex Education, the new season also offers awe-striking visuals. Throughout Eric’s experience at the gay bar in Nigeria, the lighting and color scheme is one of the most visually stunning scenes in the Sex Education series to date. Transported from the warm gold and orange hues of a family wedding, Oba brings Eric to a gay bar alit with pink, red, and blue lights. As Eric and Oba walk out onto the dance floor, blue light encompasses them and the other people dancing. The collective lighting creates a serene feeling of unity that further emphasizes Eric’s statement that he feels at home there. This use of lighting is highly effective for setting the mood and delivery of the scene and reminiscent of “bisexual lighting” and the movie Moonlight.

“Bisexual lighting” is a popular concept among queer studies of film and television, typically marked by deep blue mixed with bright pink light (( Pierpoint, George. 2018. “Is ‘bisexual lighting’ a new cinematic phenomenon?” )). Many LGBTQ+ film fanatics have analyzed the use of this specific lighting scheme to highlight scenes featuring queer or queer-coded characters while implicating and/or empowering their sexuality. In this way, “bisexual lighting” has become a powerful visual tool for celebrating queerness and queer characters (( Pierpoint, George. 2018. “Is ‘bisexual lighting’ a new cinematic phenomenon?” )). With this in mind, it does not seem simply incidental that Sex Education uses this form of lighting in the specific scene at the gay bar.

Moreover, the use of lighting within Eric’s experience at the club calls to mind the film Moonlight, which utilizes methods of color grading to convey different emotions and moods (( Sasso, Adam T. 2017. “‘ Moonlight’: A Story Told With Color.” )). The color blue has special significance in the film, as the character Juan recounts something he was once told as a boy: “In the moonlight, black boys look blue. You Blue. I’m gonna call you Blue.” Film critics and reviewers have noted that the color blue in Moonlight serves to represent vulnerability, serenity, and identity (( Swamy, Austin. 2019. “How blue are black boys, in Moonlight?” )). The final scene of the film shows the younger Chiron standing under the moonlight at the beach, cast in a blue hue with the blue ocean behind him, conveying his acceptance of his true identity and queerness (( Swamy, Austin. 2019. “How blue are black boys, in Moonlight?” )).

The use of blue in Sex Education appears as an ode to Moonlight and its iconic use of the color, as the show utilizes blue light for a scene that reaffirms Eric’s identity. For most of Eric’s time in Nigeria, he has to hide his sexuality from his family in fear of them reacting negatively. However, when Eric goes out for a night with Oba, he finds a community of other queer, Black individuals at a bar where they all can truly be themselves. This experience is profoundly empowering for Eric, as he is inspired to be more honest with his family.

In this way, Eric’s experience at the gay bar mirrors the message of Moonlight to accept your identity and vulnerability, both pieces connected by the color blue. Overall, these potential references to prominent queer visuals and the film Moonlight add further depth to the scene at the bar, making the already beautiful scene all the more meaningful.

The Scene To Skip

All together, season three of Sex Education is a humorous and heartwarming experience filled with great characters and some hilarious misadventures. However, one absurd attempt at humor ends up being disturbing and completely unnecessary: the death of a cat by a falling microwave. The latest season of Sex Education has an odd trope and treatment of animals in general. In one episode, a naked student hides behind a goat while running around the school campus in search of clothes. In another scene, Ruby opens her locker to reveal her dog sitting and waiting for her inside. These instances with animals are more or less successful in being amusing or surprising for the viewer; however, the show takes a dark turn with its utilization of a cat in episode three.

The cat in question is Jonathan, the fluffy companion of Maeve’s neighbors, Cynthia and Jeffrey, who treat the cat as their child. Cynthia and Jeffrey are having loud and aggressive sex in the scene that shakes their entire caravan when their pet cat comes to see what the commotion is. Unaware of their surroundings, the couple continues to have sex, not noticing that their movements shake their microwave oven out of its cabinet. The poor cat, innocently watching the scene before it, is crushed by the microwave when it falls to the floor. The scene is graphic and does not spare the viewer, as the camera zooms in to show blood flowing out from under the microwave.

Audience members and fans of the show took to the internet to voice their reactions to the scene, with many saying how shocking and triggering the unexpected animal violence was for them. Multiple Twitter users described the scene as “unnecessary,” some calling it “brutal” and “gruesome.” Indeed, the violent manner of the cat’s death is not essential for the plot of the episode. The show writers easily could have had the cat run away or die of less bloody causes. This being said, the writers likely intended for the scene to be humorous and absurd, and it was funny to some viewers. However, this came at the cost of traumatizing others. A few individuals even remarked that the scene ruined the entire show for them.

Although this may seem like a dramatic statement to make due to the many great things about the series, it is also completely valid. Given how there was no warning or precedent to the violent cat death scene, the show now has the potential to include another scene like it in the future. Overall, while the scene is funny for some, a few laughs are not worth marring the comfort and well-intended messages Sex Education has brought to its viewers so far. If you’re a prospective viewer of the series and do not want to watch the scene, skip the third episode’s first minute and a half. You won’t miss anything worth seeing.

Seeking Support And Healing From Trauma

Besides the random cat death scene, season three of Sex Education delicately and beautifully portrays the process of healing from personal trauma. In the second season, Aimee is assaulted on the bus as a stranger masturbates behind her and ejaculates onto her pants. Aimee is left traumatized and no longer feels safe taking public transportation or engaging in sexual activities with her boyfriend. Season three shows Aimee’s healing process from this incident, as she attends therapy with Dr. Milburn. Aimee describes how the experience has made her dislike her body and wishes she could go back to how she was before her assault. Dr. Milburn comforts Aimee by saying that she may not go back to how she was before, but she will be able to heal the relationship with her body again (( Nunn, Laura, creator. Sex Education. Eleven Film and Netflix. 2019-Present. )).

In episode six, Aimee blames herself for being assaulted, saying that the fact she smiled at the stranger made him feel entitled to violate her. Aimee’s reasoning reflects how victims of sexual assault are all too often blamed by others and by themselves for the inhumane acts of those who hurt them. Sex Education immediately fights back against this idea in a careful and touching way. Dr. Milburn tells Aimee firmly and kindly that her smile has nothing to do with what the man did to her, and it was “absolutely not [her] fault” (( Nunn, Laura, creator. Sex Education. Eleven Film and Netflix. 2019-Present. )). The scene is tear-jerking and serves as a potent reminder to all audience members that sexual assault is never the fault of the victim.

This is just one example of how Sex Education approaches difficult topics, something the show has mastered throughout its three seasons. Sex Education received praise for its nonexploitative depiction of Aimee’s assault and its emphasis on getting support to heal from traumatic events such as hers. Season three takes this a step further by showcasing this process and representing how it can and should look for everyone. Aimee experiences beautiful character development throughout the season as she confronts and copes with her trauma. She rebuilds a positive relationship with her body and is inspired to help others be more comfortable with their’s through her vagina cupcake business. Aimee stands out as a testament to what makes Sex Education such a special series, with her character a perfect balance of humor and humanity.

Final Verdict For Sex Education: Season Three (2019-)

Overall, season three of Sex Education is a highly memorable and empowering addition to the series. New characters, including a different antagonist, provide some refreshing variety for the show while also developing its older characters in highly effective ways. Of course, the new season does contain a few notable flaws or aspects that viewers might not appreciate, from character development gone wrong to the unexpected and gory death of a beloved cat.

However, arguably the most crucial and beautiful aspect of the show is its sense of nuance and delicacy when handling sensitive and significant topics like identity and reclaiming bodily autonomy. It is through these elements that Sex Education achieves what it does best, connecting its characters and plot with viewers and delivering powerful messages of validation and hope for all.