As we’ve mentioned before, a lot of people don’t have access to proper sex education. It’s mostly the case of the educational system or our parents not giving us “the talk,” so we learn about it on our own—via the Internet, personal experiences, or useful advice from friends.
This rings true in Netflix’s upcoming series Sex Education, premiering on Jan. 11. It revolves around highschoolers Otis (Asa Butterfield) and Maeve (Emma Mackey) as they start a secret sex therapy service at their school. It’s an interesting watch, especially when you hear 16-year-old Otis give advice that he’s picked up from his sex therapist mother, Jean (Gillian Anderson).
True to its plot, there’s no shortage of sex scenes and conversations in the series to emphasize how sexually charged, yet confused, the teens of Moordale are. But before you wince and back away, I promise you that Sex Education is not merely a fanservice show that inserts random romping in between.
To put it simply: It feels like an eight-episode therapy session that sheds light on our relationships, and how sex—our ideas of how it should feel like, how to approach your partner/s’ needs, among other things—can affect it. Yeah, it goes that deep. (I promise that’s not an innuendo.)
What I appreciate the most in Sex Education is how they highlighted the female experience and toxic masculinity. The first theme is evident in how women are mostly shamed for their looks (in the show’s case, their vagina) and how they’re clueless with what they want because they don’t communicate with their partners. There’s also one character who opens up about “feeling left behind” if she remains a virgin, which is indicative of how society will either view you as a prude or a slut. Meanwhile, the young men in the series are faced with challenges from penis size insecurity to navigating how to express their sexual attraction without being creeps and/or bullies.
These topics are also not limited to heterosexual relationships. Sex Education has all the bases covered in minority groups like the LGBTQ+ community and POCs, and even has a nod to people who have unusual kinks.
Overall, the series is progressive and it doesn’t hold anything back to get the point across. It’s something that my teenage self would’ve watched to be entertained and educated. My advice is to look past the nude scenes and actually listen to the dialogue. You’ll soon find yourself being hooked on Otis’ ability to solve problems, Maeve’s character development, and how all the characters interact with each other.
Art by Marian Hukom
Photos courtesy of Netflix
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