With its four seasons, “Sex Education” (Netflix) has transformed from an indie-feeling British presentation of an American high school drama to something extremely Hollywood. Dan Levy from “Schitt’s Creek,” Hannah Gadbsy’s comic skills at the time, and the team of Jodie Turner-Smith and Ted Lasso were all featured in its last season. In order to cater to certain young audiences, the largest movie of the year, Barbie, had a third of the primary actors from “Sex Education” (Emma Mackey, Ncuti Gatwa, and Connor Swindells all appeared). Gatwa’s important performance as Eric in “Doctor Who” led to his selection to play the future Doctor.
The decision to renew “Sex Education” for a fourth season was taken some time ago, and it was the right one. With Otis (Asa Butterfield), the son of a sex therapist (Gillian Anderson) who conducts a clinic at the school, the programme is simply a smart recreation of American teen drama. But even as it fits into the mould of an American teen drama, “Sex Education” leaves itself vulnerable to both strengths and flaws. It brilliantly portrays these qualities, including hallway chitchat, an unusual degree of humour, and the peculiar discomfort of youth. Weaknesses include the fact that teens are typically played by actors in their 30s and that the drama should finish as soon as college or university time arrives (otherwise you get “Saved by the Bell”
Nobody wants to relive “The College Years”). As a result, the last season of “Sex Education” is arguably the worst. The first school we all attended and cherished, Moordale Secondary, is closing down, and the majority of students are being relocated to Caven-dish College, a new institution. The melancholy youngsters of the new era, in which every pupil has the freedom to express their truth, congregate at Caven-dish. What more do they not know? Even if it’s obvious that Caven-dish’s new hires are necessary for the storyline — how will the Moordale family adjust? — it doesn’t make the benefactors any more bearable.
Are Eric’s baptismal plans still up in the air? Will things between Adam (Swindells) and his still uncomfortable father (Alistair Petrie) improve? – are wrapped up starting in the eighth episode, and this is how a terrific show turns into an acceptable programme. On the strength of excellent performances and outstanding partnerships (you should notably watch Butterfield and Gatwa, who are continuously on fire), sexual education is progressing well. It doesn’t matter how each plot ends, though, because this distance between them is too great. Be cautious.
