Premise: “Sex Education” centers around Otis Milburn, a socially awkward high school student who inadvertently becomes a sex therapist to his classmates, thanks to the expertise he gains from living with his sex therapist mother. As he navigates the complicated maze of teenage relationships, sexuality, and self-discovery, he forms an unlikely business partnership with a classmate, Maeve Wiley.
Main Characters:
- Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield) – A shy, intelligent teenager who becomes an unofficial sex therapist at his school.
- Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey) – A smart but misunderstood rebel who partners with Otis in his therapy enterprise.
- Jean Milburn (Gillian Anderson) – Otis’s mother, a professional sex therapist, whose open discussions about sex both enlighten and embarrass Otis.
Themes: The series tackles issues related to sexual education, identity, and relationships, offering a nuanced and often comedic look at the awkwardness of adolescence. It addresses the gaps in traditional educational systems’ handling of sexual education, delving into LGBTQ+ issues, consent, and the emotional aspects of intimacy.
Critical Consensus & Rating: 4.5/5. The show is lauded for its well-rounded characters, sharp writing, and a willingness to confront social taboos head-on. While overwhelmingly positive, some critics find the plot occasionally predictable.
TV Parental Guidelines Rating: TV-MA for its explicit discussions of sexual content, nudity, and strong language.
Broadcast Details: The series is a Netflix original and premiered in 2019.
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