After a year of waiting, season four, the final season of “Sex Education ”finally came out on Sept 21. “Sex Education” is a British television show that covers taboo topics about sex through its characters: Otis, Maeve, Aimee, Eric, Adam, and more. The charm and dry humor it provides with its valuable information make the show unique and worth watching. Although this season was enjoyable to watch as a fan, I noticed problems with it that made me feel conflicted about the overall authenticity of the show.
The most enjoyable part of this season was the relationship between Isaac and Aimee. Although Aimee was initially insensitive when speaking to Isaac about his disability, their friendship soon blossomed after a genuine apology. After a grueling two seasons dealing with her sexual assault, Aimee prioritizes her healing journey in this season and opens herself up to new experiences, like art. With Isaac, Aimee embarks on her healing journey through photography, and both manage to support each other through their ups and downs. Healing journeys are never linear, and this show perfectly encapsulates how difficult but necessary it is to lean on others for support.
Another part of this season that I enjoyed was Adam’s acceptance of his identity and his changing relationship with his father. In past seasons, Adam was portrayed as the antagonist, but slowly, viewers started to see multiple aspects of his life that explained his erratic behaviors. After the divorce of his parents, Adam’s mother urges him to start working and enjoying himself again. Going back to work and gaining hobbies has a positive effect on Adam as we see his confidence rise. Adam’s relationship with his father is tumultuous and as a result, Adam and his mother distance themselves from his father. After some communication, Adam’s father realizes how he has affected his son. Upon this discovery, Adam’s father prioritizes going to therapy and healing his relationship with Adam again. The reason I enjoyed this part of the show so much was because of how realistic it was. Oftentimes in shows, when a character apologizes or comes back to fix relationships, the simple act of apologizing is enough. However, “Sex Education” is unique as it shows how much effort is needed to actually ‘fix’ relationships.
The main reason I felt conflicted viewing this new season was because of the new setting and writing. After the characters move to a new school, viewers see how ‘woke’ their new classmates are. Everyone in the new school detests negativity and puts down our main cast for gossiping or not recycling properly. Although this is essential to everyone’s character arc, these new characters and school felt like mockery of political activism. It seemed like an attempt to make fun of Gen Z’s assertiveness and social awareness, as the writing made the new students comical. This ruined one of the most enjoyable and notable parts of the show. Unlike most shows that use token diversity to make their show seem politically aware, what makes “Sex Education”unique is its genuine diversity. However, this season made “Sex Education” appear just like other shows, as it mocked political awareness and destroyed such an important part of the show.
This season’s ending is bittersweet, seeing all these characters progress and grow up. This show is extremely important and worth watching because of its boldness and its willingness to discuss topics about sex and gender. In conclusion, this show is a valuable watch and is perfect for those looking for a heartfelt and funny high school student centered show.
