Spoiler Warning: This discussion contains some spoilers. It could be an entire gag from a comedy or in-depth conversation concerning events in the second act.
















Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

"It was never about the clinic."

The third season of Netflix's wildly successful Sex Education hit social media by storm this year, with people posting countless memes, arguing about their favourite ships and generally talking about the value of the show as of yet. I think it's deserved, especially in regards to the first half of the season, which retains the charm and wit of the sensational first two seasons.

Season three is the worst so far, by some distance, in my opinion. If there were a more hyperbolic way to say that the show is painfully bloated, then this is where I would say that. The show had hit the sweet spot with the number of characters taking up screen time in the prior season - with clear leads and supports, with intertwining and meaningful narratives that could apply to anyone watching. This takes it that one step too far because none of the new characters that are getting more screen time feel developed enough. It means that several fan favourites from the previous two seasons are left behind. Maeve barely even feels like she's in the show until episode five. Eric is unlikeable after the halfway point and never gets enough time to overcome that - it's a mess. The show feels like it's going back on itself with the introduction of a school uniform - despite that kooky half-British half-American aura finally feeling natural. It treads a lot of the same water as before, especially with Otis and Maeve. It just feels like season three was the place to finish this show, and Netflix opted for the popular, fiscal profit rather than the satisfying, artistic profit. For example, I think the final episode of the show is the worst by a country mile to the point that it actually becomes frustrating.

That being said, I still liked the show a lot. There's no denying that these performers are wonderful in these roles and the characters are still very well written in that sense. The humour still hits the same, and the visuals have had a significant upgrade, with a lot more emphasis placed on lighting and cinematography than ever before. The fifth episode, directed by Ben Taylor and written by Mawaan Rizan, is potentially the best the show has ever put together. It's memorable, heartfelt, and admirably purposeful. I wish the show had more of that to it. Again, there is a lot of really excellent stuff in there. The soundtrack is never half-hearted in this show, and it's no different here. The Man in Me during one of the best sequences of the season, I Think We're Alone Now to the best montage of the season, Under Pressure, Save a Prayer - these are all the kinds of music choices I would make for a show like this.

The first half of the season reigns supreme, with Mimi as Ruby and Connor Swindells as Adam outshining the leads, making sequences like the aforementioned Man in Me bowling date so magical. The Otis and Mimi relationship is more of what this show needs if its fourth season is to be successful. It created the most memorable moments and lingered in episodes where it should not have been the central focus. The same goes for Swindell's Adam Groff, who clearly benefits from the best writing come episode eight and gains the most emotional response
as a result.

Season three of Sex Education is kind of a mess - it gets trapped in the school politics a little too much and loses sight of what made it so great in the first place. There needs to be a serious purge of characters come season four. It's an okay season of television that has wild peaks and troughs in pace and quality from scene to scene in a couple of episodes. For a show, though, that was as consistent and brilliant as that second season, this should have been so much more. A relative disappointment, but it's extremely well produced and has characters that you love from its previous instalments - you're still going to have a fun time watching it.

  • Episode XVII - Directed by Ben Taylor
  • Episode XVIII - Directed by Ben Taylor
  • Episode XIX - Directed by Ben Taylor
  • Episode XX - Directed by Runyararo Mapfumo
  • Episode XXI - Directed by Ben Taylor
  • Episode XII - Directed by Runyararo Mapfumo
  • Episode XIII - Directed by Runyararo Mapfumo
  • Episode XXIV - Directed by Runyararo Mapfumo
Check out the soundtrack here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6gKE5A66y7ftKmcuFemW4X
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