Netflix has released the fourth and final season of its British comedy Sex Education, bringing the beloved series to its end and leaving a major demand for more coming-of-age series focusing on sex, relationships, and young people, which luckily, there is an abundance of. In particular, there are series that replicate Sex Education’s British charm, its high school ambiance, its unashamed look at sex and relationships, and of course, its terribly awkward situations. Even better, many of these shows are currently available to watch on Netflix, so audiences can jump right in after Sex Education’s ending.
Although Sex Education has a unique premise and its own special kind of execution, its format is not uncommon in Hollywood. In the years before and during Sex Education, these types of edgy, coming-of-age shows have been on the rise. Therefore, nowadays, there is a great variety of television series geared towards young adult audiences that have more mature themes. While some of these shows have their own distinct spin on them, they all come back to the same themes: teaching young people about love and life.
10 Derry Girls
For those seeking Sex Education’s British quirkiness, a show that leans even further into that is Derry Girls. The Netflix comedy follows a group of friends living their teenage years in Northern Ireland during The Troubles in the 1990s. Despite the bleak circumstances surrounding them, the girls continue to worry about typical teenager things like clothes and boys, all with wonderful accents and hilariously awkward situations. The mix of Irish culture and comedy makes this show incredibly unique. Overall, Derry Girls is an underrated coming-of-age series that deserves more popularity, especially since it’s available to watch on Netflix.
9 Skins
Though Sex Education may be a recent British young adult series with a strong fan following, one of its most important predecessors was the much edgier Skins. First released in 2007, Skins followed yet another group of teenage friends, with each episode in a season focusing on one character and their struggles. Though Skins definitely falls on the darker side of things, it is still highly entertaining. In fact, its cringe-worthy parts are what make it fun and addicting. Plus, the cast is full of future stars including Nicholas Hoult, Dev Patel, and Kaya Scodelario.
8 She’s Gotta Have It
Based on the 1986 Spike Lee film of the same name, She’s Gotta Have It is a series meant for a slightly older audience but with the same sex-forward themes as Sex Education. The series follows artist Nola Darling, who is maintaining a life of independence in Brooklyn, New York, balancing her friends and her career with her three very different love interests. Despite the fact that this series only has two seasons, She’s Gotta Have It continually engages its audience with its feminist themes and strong performances. Nola’s fight for individuality and choice is a story that any young person can relate to.
7 The End Of The F***ing World
A short-lived yet wildly popular British teen series is Netflix’s The End of the F***ing World. Released in 2017, the series follows a boy and a girl who embark on a road trip to find her missing father, however the real hook of the series is that the male lead believes he is a psychopath and has thoughts about potentially killing his new friend. Despite this grim synopsis, The End of the F***ing World is a heartwarming series that reproduces the type of feel-good emotions as Sex Education. The show, though incredibly strange, dives deep into identity and what it means to love.
6 Never Have I Ever
Another well-loved teen comedy from Netflix that ended in 2023 was Never Have I Ever. The series follows high schooler Devi who wants nothing more than to be popular, and goes to dramatic lengths to get there. Like Sex Education, this show is bursting with the romantic and sexual lives of teenagers, but is just as full of life lessons and important discussions. Devi is far more outgoing than Otis, yet the awkward situations she finds herself in are quite similar. Plus, Never Have I Ever has a similarly awesome ensemble that keeps audiences entertained for all four seasons.
5 Atypical
A major aspect of Sex Education is its ability to provide audiences with important information in an entertaining way, and this side of the show is what makes Atypical a great next series to watch. Atypical is about Sam, an autistic teenager who decides that he wants to fall in love. While this series is not nearly as graphically sexual as Sex Education, it does have a heavy focus on love and relationships. More importantly though, Atypical uses its platform to teach audiences about how autism and love can intersect, and how best to support someone that is neurodivergent. It is incredibly sweet, heartwarming, and underrated.
4 On My Block
One underlying theme in Sex Education that takes center stage in this next coming-of-age series is class differences. On My Block follows a group of street savvy friends from the same predominantly Hispanic and black neighborhood that are both bonded and torn apart by the issues surrounding them. While this show succeeds at showing a teenage perspective that isn’t often explored on-screen, it is also genuinely hilarious, with a quartet of characters that are undeniably fun. All in all, the series balances its reality with comedy to make for a series that is just as entertaining as it is important.
3 The Sex Lives Of College Girls
A very recent addition to the sex-forward, coming-of-age niche is The Sex Lives of College Girls. This series follows four young women that become roommates in their freshmen year of college, and the very different paths their lives go down. For the most part, this is a very upbeat and comical show with strong feminist ties and important themes such as identity, sexuality, and class. Furthermore, The Sex Lives of College Girls is incredibly digestible television, and has a cast that is hard not to love, even when their decisions are questionable. This series is a must for those seeking more Sex Education-esque content.
2 Heartstopper
For those who want something on the sweeter side rather than the saucy side, Heartstopper is a perfect and absolutely adorable choice. Based on a series of graphic novels of the same name, Heartstopper follows Nick and Charlie, two young men that begin an unlikely friendship that morphs into an unlikely romance. This series not only melts hearts, but it also includes great discussions about identity and acceptance. All in all, this is a show that will make any romantic smile, and Charlie and Nick are a couple that is impossible to not root for.
1 Euphoria
Finally, a young adult series with sexual themes that is impossible to ignore is Euphoria. Produced by HBO, Euphoria follows teen drug addict Rue and the unique characters that orbit her including new girl Jules, violent football player Nate, and sexually liberated Kat. Euphoria has a much darker tone than Sex Education, and definitely is less concerned about educating audiences as it is with shocking them. However, for viewers seeking something edgy and mature, Euphoria is certainly the way to go. It is high school at its most adult.
