sex education season two

12 Reasons Why You Need To Watch ‘Sex Education’

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Netflix’s Sex Education is hands down one the best shows out there right now. That’s indisputable.

I spent my Friday night of the second season’s release drinking wine, eating a platter of Woolies brie and wafer crackers, and binging every single episode until 3am because that’s how good the show is. I laughed, I cried, and I fell asleep wholly content with what it delivered.

If you still haven’t tried it out, here’s a ton of reasons why Sex Education needs to be on your watchlist.

1. It is so funny

The premise of the show follows Otis (Asa Butterfield), the socially awkward son of sex therapist Jean (Gillian Anderson). Otis sets up a dodgy clinic for sex and relationship advice at his high school for a small fee. Every single weird thought you’ve had as a teenager comes out of someone’s mouth and it feels like someone is reading from your diary (or is that just me?). From penile dysfunction, wayward dildos, and mutual porn watching, to first kisses, prom and teenagers falling in love, Sex Education is a recipe for fun TV.

2. It’s diverse (and not for the sake of diversity)

The main and supporting characters come from a range of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, and it’s awesome to see them portrayed on-screen. The LGBTQI+ community is also highly represented.  And when it comes to issues regarding race and LGBTQI+, the show is naturally progressive.

3. Gillian Anderson

Am I in love with Gillian Anderson? Yes. Did I fan myself when she walked on screen looking like a queen in a pantsuit and started talking about the normality of masturbation? Hell yes. She ticks all the boxes: smart, sexy, and funny, and she is 80% why I watch the show.

4. Eric and his wardrobe

It would have been so easy for the show to cast Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) as the comedic relief sidekick to Otis and his sex clinic empire, but they didn’t. Instead, he carries the show with his charm, wit and his narrative arc is fantastic. Also, he has a stellar wardrobe, which makes it hard not to love him.

Image result for eric clothes sex education

I mean – look at him! His style is impeccable.

5. Educational and honest conversations around sex and sexuality

To see conversations about sex and sexuality not have shame attached to them on a huge platform is incredible. Sex Education brings to the table a wealth of knowledge, tackling real-life sexual questions that teens may have in a non-judgemental way, and informing the audience that no question is a dumb one. We’re always learning new things about ourselves and our bodies. Communication is key! Talk about it if you’re not sure.

sex education

Also watching Jean teach a vagina workshop to a group of middle-aged women with a giant model vagina is golden.

6. Maeve’s don’t-fuck-with-me attitude

Maeve (Emma Mackey) is the ultimate feminist icon who doesn’t let anyone tell her how to live her life. She could punch me in the face and I would thank her.

7. Everything is so aesthetic

Sex Education isn’t set during a particular time or place, giving it a timeless and universal feel. The cinematography is stunning, the setting is so pleasing (watching Otis and Eric bike to school every day through a forest is goddamn nice), and the soundtrack is *chef’s kiss*.

8. The way it handles tough topics

Sex Education doesn’t hold back on subject matters that have been grossly stigmatised or dehumanised in the media. The episodes on abortion and sexual assault alone deserve awards. The show also covers other social issues such as slut-shaming, trauma, internalised homophobia, toxic masculinity, consent, disability, self-harm, and anxiety in such nuanced ways that it’s impossible not to want to grab your screen and scream ‘hell yeah!’

9. The friendships are on point

Everyone’s horny and having sex, or falling in and out of love, but these escapades sometimes take a backseat to celebrate platonic love and friendship. It’s always so good to see people who simply click: Otis and Eric who are almost like brothers; Maeve and Aimee who tackle misogyny and boys like the dream team; Ola and Adam who bond over their own plights with sexuality; and Jackson and Viv, two people who on paper shouldn’t work, but they do.

Also I love getting together with my friends to smash shit in an abandoned junkyard.

10. This moment alone will convert you

The solidarity. The love. The female empowerment.

11. It provides the validation we didn’t know we were looking for

What the show does so wonderfully is validate everyone’s experiences and feelings towards their sexuality, sex, and self. There’s a moment when Maeve struggles with her self-worth and one of her teachers tells her she’s worthy of dreaming bigger – and for those wondering, yes, I cried.

The show tells us that it’s normal to identify as pansexual, bisexual, asexual, and more. It’s normal not to be ready to have sex. It’s normal to experiment. It’s normal to just be yourself.

12. If all else fails, you can count on Jakob

And if none of the above reasons have you convinced, then maybe hot dad Jakob swearing in Swedish will. He’ll put in a new pan shelf for you even if you don’t need one.

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Season two of Sex Education is available to stream on Netflix.