On September 21, Netflix released the final season of Sex Education. I can’t overemphasize how significant Sex Education has been for the last four years, both on and off-screen. By delving into underrepresented areas of sex and sexuality, Sex Education forged four seasons with the Moordale gang. The show has tackled issues like mental health, body dysmorphia, gender dysphoria, asexuality, teen pregnancy and abortion, sexual assault, STIs, and more. Written by Laurie Nunn, Krishna Istha, Troy Hunter, Bella Heesom, Annalisa Dinnella, and Thara Popoola, Season 4 offers a profoundly emotional farewell. As the title suggests, the show talks about sex and intimacy. However, the reason I became a viewer was to witness some great character development and strong friendships. Needless to say, the show surpassed my expectations in every way possible. Embracing a new setting, new characters, and surrealism, Season 4 deals with identity, faith, and intricate emotional feelings.
New Setting of Sex Education Season 4: Cavendish College
HOC Rating – ★★★★
Sex Education Season 4 is splendidly queer, unlike the previous seasons, especially with the new setting of Cavendish College. In Moordale Secondary, Otis and his gang were kind of a big deal. However, in Cavendish, a student-led institution, they really had to fit in. Initially, Cavendish College bemused me with its curriculum and study methods. After the pandemic, when we were all rushed to get back to work and catch up on what we had missed out on, we had to leave the “new normal” behind. Most of our new normal encompassed delving into the digital world, hobbies, self-care, and just a lot of me time.
Cavendish College gloriously blends both the digital and social worlds. The students study and prepare everything with the help of “Dolly”, their social media platform for studying and being in touch with all the students. They didn’t have to leave their hobbies behind, as this college advocates: “Why be mean when you can be green?” There is a no-gossip rule in college. The students are asked to focus on studies, art, yoga, gardening, meditation, and community fundraising. One can gladly call that a second home.
Moordale Gang in Season 4
Episode 1 begins with Maeve (Emma Mackey) studying abroad at a special writing program at Wallace University in America. Otis (Asa Butterflied) and the Moordale gang are about to start their first day at Cavendish College. Maeve and Otis are trying to maintain a long-distance relationship. Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) is amazed by “all the gays, everywhere,” and unlike in Moordale Secondary, he doesn’t struggle to make friends here. Aimee (Aimee Lou Wood), keeping her idiosyncrasies alive, has let a family of squirrels live in her car and has come to college on a bike. Ruby (Mimi Keene) is back with her queen bee energy. Viv (Chinenye Ezeudu), Jackson (Kedar Williams-Stirling), and Cal (Dua Saleh) are also attending Cavendish. Isaac (George Robinson) is finishing his A-levels at Cavendish College as well. Headmaster Groff (Alistair Petrie) is now a teacher at this college.
Sex Education Season 4 brilliantly defines adulting through each character from the previous seasons. Otis realizes his sexphobia stems from the fear of abandonment. Maeve struggles with the loss of her mother and feels inadequate to be a writer. Eric is in a dilemma about getting baptized. Isaac has a crush on Aimee, who is healing from her trauma from the bus incident in Season 2. Cal, a non-binary person, is going through the stress of transitioning. Jackson is looking for his sperm donor and family answers. Viv finds herself in an abusive relationship. Ruby struggles to fit in in this new setting and feels lonely. Jean is struggling with eight-month-old Joy and her new radio job as a sex therapist. Mr. Groff is working on himself and his relationship with his son Adam (Connor Swindells). Adam dropped out of school and is now working on a farm.
Amazing New Characters of Season 4
New faces of Season 4 include – Thomas Molloy (Dan Levy), Sarah Owen aka O (Thaddea Graham), Homeless Person (Jodie Turner Smith), Abbi (Anthony Lexa), Roman (Felix Mufti), Aisha (Alexandra James), Joanna (Lisa McGrillis), and Tyrone (Imani Yahshua).
Abbi, Roman, and Aisha are the popular kids at Cavendish College. Abbi’s character is my new favorite. She is playing a transgender character in the show. Her role is charming, compassionate, and far from negative. I would love to be friends with her any day. The way she welcomes Eric into their group and supports him in his religious struggle is endearing. Roman, who is also playing the role of a transgender character, is Abbi’s boyfriend. Aisha is another kind soul, and she explores an intimate relationship with Cal. On the other hand, O is playing the role of student therapist, hence Otis’ rival, so to speak. She comes out as an asexual character mid-show and also apologizes to Ruby for her mean behavior in their primary school.
Thomas Molloy is an important deal for Maeve, as he is offering an internship to one student who is likely to get published. Professor Molloy tells Maeve, “I’m not sure you’re cut out to be a writer.” She proves him wrong as she gets a call from a publishing house. Maeve also confronts how, as a teacher, his words hold a lot of power, and they truly discourage her. One of the significant characters of this new season is the surrealist role of the homeless person as she helps Eric figure out his religious dilemma. In the end, Eric decides to be a pastor. Joanna plays the role of Jean’s younger sister. She pays a visit on Otis’s request, as Jean is struggling with postnatal depression. Her arrival leads to a much-needed sisterly bond. Tyrone plays the role of Maeve’s batchmate in Wallace.
Sex Education Season 4 Stand Out: Maeve and Jean
Maeve is having the time of her life in America. And, just when she is told by Professor Molloy that she is unfit to be a writer, she gets a call from her brother regarding her mum. After getting back to Moordale, Maeve gets emotionally drained. With her mother’s death, her brother being on drugs, Otis sleeping on the same bed with his ex-girlfriend Ruby, and her best friend Aimee having an interest in Isaac, Maeve feels like she is losing everyone. All of this makes her want to drop out and find some stability in life. Fortunately, after a conversation with Jean, Maeve finds her disquieted self back on track and goes back to America. Otis and Maeve’s relationship doesn’t work out, but she gets a call from Greenhart Book for publishing purposes. Thanks to her classmate Ellen (Marie Reuther). What a gem!
In Season 4, we get to learn more about Jean Milburn’s life. Even though she is now raising her eight-month-old child, Joy, I feel like she has always been a mother. In episode 8, her younger sister Joanna (Lisa McGrillis) justifies my thought by admitting, “I wish we had a mum like you.” After the birth of Joy, Otis feels left out and admits he still needs a mum. Jean tries her best to make him understand how tough it is for her, but having a job makes her feel secure. In episode 7, Jean comforts Maeve with her encouraging words. She makes her realize that having low self-esteem is normal when there is a lack of proper parenting, and she should not let one teacher decide her future. Though she decides to be a mother mid-show, she ends up going back to her radio job.
Final Verdict
For four hilarious and soul-wrenching seasons, Sex Education taught the characters and viewers some important life lessons. I wept and felt a rollercoaster of emotions in the series finale, and so will you. By the end of the season, I felt more connected to each character. One of the best aspects of the finale is that it shows a bittersweet conclusion, and none of them has it all figured out—just what life is. So for me, it’s a well-written series finale. The goodbye almost felt like creator Laurie Nunn helped their teenage selves and left them to grow up out in the world. Sadly, that’s what adulting is all about.
Most of us were probably closed off during our high school years and didn’t talk about insecurities and other issues. In this show, we see each character finding the courage to open up and accept their issues and flaws with the help of their family and friends. With the world evolving each day, I can only hope teenagers will be more compassionate to themselves and others. Struggles are permanent, but so is support. You just need to be brave enough to seek help. If you are struggling with identity and other personal issues, you will feel heard. The show teaches how to be more open, how to connect and communicate properly, the importance of friendship, recognizing one’s true self, and more. It’s a show worth watching and a lesson worth learning.
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