If you haven’t already watched the Netflix sensation “Sex Education”, then you’ve got some catching up to do now that season two has been out for a few weeks. The show revolves around Otis, whose mother is a sex therapist, and misunderstood Maeve, who team up to give their fellow high school students much-needed sex advice. The show is as hilarious as that plot sets it up to be, but it also gets so much deeper than you may expect.
Season one was entertaining, exciting, and extremely eye-opening, but season two really took the extra step to make it spectacular and groundbreaking. They do not hold anything back, which will become extremely apparent within the first 5 minutes of the first episode.
I love this show because it’s not afraid to dive headfirst into issues and topics that are often brushed over in the entertainment industry. It features plenty of gay and straight characters but also highlights sexual orientations that are often overlooked like asexuality and pansexuality. This show represents and normalizes queerness beyond homosexuality in a way our society so often fails to. It also discusses aspects of sexuality that society often turns a blind eye to like masturbation and female pleasure, telling its audience that these things are okay to talk about.
Something that this show exceeds in is recognizing different types of sexual assault that many people might not even be aware of. One of the characters does not initially realize that her experience is classified as assault, and when she does, doesn’t want to report it with the police for fear of bothering them. This was difficult to watch, as it represents the persistence of challenges survivors must go through to report an assault, and the lack of support many survivors encounter. Luckily, Aimee has the support and guidance of Maive, and the police are extremely understanding and attentive, however, this is all to commonly not the case.
Some people may consider Aimee’s assault as small or insignificant compared to other forms of sexual harassment or assault, but this show completely debunks that idea and displays the significant impacts these experiences leave on people. Not only is “Sex Education” raising awareness for a really important and scary issue, but it also seeks to validate those whose similar experiences were diminished by people lacking a genuine understanding of the situation.
“Sex Education” has a wide cast of quirky and unique characters that make the show so enjoyable to watch. From the distinct ways they dress to the confusion and awkwardness they encounter throughout the show, these characters seem like real, flawed, sometimes over-the-top people. They face issues that many of us face, like issues with their parents, whether caused by addiction, misunderstanding, or overbearing pressure. Many of these characters have mental health issues or disabilities, and we get to watch them grow and change in exciting and heartwarming ways that are not confined to their identity as disabled.
Although the show deals with a lot of deep and important issues, it’s also a lot of fun to watch. There are so many adorable and unexpected romances, and characters that are absolutely hilarious and dramatic. Not to mention, the soundtrack is fabulous. It really accomplishes something special by combining real-world issues with awesome entertainment, making it a show that you truly don’t want to miss out on.
Cover Photo: The Montclarion
About Renee Bunszel
Renee Bunszel is a sophomore from the Bay Area, and an English major and SLAMM minor. Renee loves reading, writing, and eating all the delicious food in New Orleans!
Renee Bunszel is a sophomore from the Bay Area, and an English major and SLAMM minor. Renee loves reading, writing, and eating all the delicious food in New Orleans!
