Sex education

What is it about ? Moordale, a provincial, quiet and mundane town in Wales (in real life in the Wye Valley, gorgeous landcapes !). At the local high school, everything’s fine, teen life is totally under control. However, with teens, explosions are never far away from quiet activities. Otis Milburn, a son to a sexologist, decides to run a business of advice to his fellow students, who are in great need of it. At the beginning, he does it to impress Maeve, a girl out of his league. But soon, he realizes that misinformation about sex can lead to tragedy, and that he can help young people in distress.

Why did this series really count ? Sex education is well written, funny with brilliant dialogues, moving characters (all of them, but especially Adam and Ruby for me), and of course a fantastic Gillian Anderson. That would be a very good start, but it’s much more than that. A good part of teenagers do not read books. They watch series, though, and it’s the first one that speaks directly to them, acknowledges their uneasiness, or their distress, about sex. All issues are frontally addressed, with serious answers serious answers in a light-hearted tone to play down situations. It’s useful, helpful, and it’s a great show and a pleasure to watch.

4 seasons, 32 episodes (50 mn), 2019-2023, Netflix