Sex Education is one of the best shows on Netflix, with excellent writing, complex stories, and wonderful characters, but some of the show’s seasons definitely rank higher than others. Sex Education has received great reviews for its unflinching portrayal of the teenage experience and tackling critical issues such as sexuality, relationships, and mental health. Throughout the show’s runtime, it never once wavered from its central premise. Sex Education has been integral in sparking essential conversations that need to be had while still remaining thoughtful and funny, making it appealing to several viewers.
Judging which season of Netflix’s hit drama series is the best is not easy, as each season has aspects that make it stand out. However, some Sex Education seasons made mistakes that are often common in teenage drama TV shows. The show’s writers did their best to keep the show focused on its true essence, but some seasons did not leave up to what fans have come to expect from the show.
4 Season 2
Sex Education Season 1 started with a bang, but Season 2 was a little bit of a letdown. Of course, season 2 was exceptional in its own way. The script was funny, insightful, and continued exploring the complications of being a teenager. The cast was as excellent as ever. However, the reason season 2 ranks as the worst of the Sex Education seasons is because it presented a challenge that further seasons continued to struggle with.
Season 2 of Sex Education added new members to its ensemble, including Viv, Rahim, and Isaac. This in itself should not have created a significant obstacle. However, the new characters were incredibly complex on their own. It wouldn’t have been wise to shove them in the background and forget about them. Their character arcs deserved to be treated with kid gloves because they were also going through their own teenage struggles. The new characters became more of a hindrance than a blessing to the main characters. There was just too much going on at the same time that it made it hard to remember what the show’s premise was about.
3 Season 3
Even though the third season of Sex Education was missing some of the spark that had made the previous two seasons special, it wasn’t an altogether terrible season. It still had the humor, complexity, and loveable characters that viewers had gotten to know. That being said, Sex Education season 3 was not as good as the other seasons for many reasons. The problem with Sex Education Season 3 is rooted in season 2. Season 2 introduced new characters that needed further exploration.
That mishap trickled into the first few episodes of season 3, resulting in the show’s first half being a mess. The writing in season 3 was subpar, especially when compared to the other seasons. Sex Education season 3 tried to tackle too much with too little time. It didn’t give the main characters a chance to grow. For instance, season 3 was a chance for Maeve and Otis to finally get together, but instead, that was derailed by adding unnecessary complications to their story.
2 Season 1
Season 1 of Sex Education introduced audiences to the students of Moordale High and the emotional and sexual struggles they were dealing with. The show’s first season was a masterclass in how teenage sexuality should be handled on TV. Sex Education season 1 was effortlessly funny. Its humor wasn’t all in your face but capitalized on embarrassing moments teenagers go through with their parents when discussing their sexuality. The actors did a fantastic job of bringing the complex characters to life while staying true to the show’s premise.
Laurie Nunn’s writing in season 1 of the show was a testament to what a fantastic creator she is. The storyline was emotionally honest without being too preachy. Season 1 of Sex Education was not shy in its portrayal of weighty issues that were impacting teenagers. Although the show was criticized for being too sexually explicit, those scenes were tastefully compared to other sexually explicit TV shows. The first season of the show was a cinematography masterpiece that showcased the stunning town of Moordale. This and many other factors led to Sex Education season 1 being one of the best shows on Netflix.
1 Season 4
Sex Education season 4 had several great things going for it that made it better than the show’s previous seasons. In the show’s final season, most characters grew tremendously, which was satisfying to watch. Adam’s father, for instance, finally saw the error of his ways and became a better husband, father, and principal. Audiences also got to see that Ruby had several layers to her that explained why she often put on the mean girl persona, and Ruby’s transformation in Sex Education season 4 made her more likable and relatable. Likewise, Eric’s struggle with his sexuality and religion was an interesting character arc that showed that he was growing.
Of course, not everything in season 4 was executed as well as it should have been. Sex Education season 4 was criticized for lacking focus and including too many characters. It would have been better if the existing relationships between the cast were examined further rather than adding another layer of complex relationships that the show did not have time to explore. Additionally, the fourth season lacked the humor that made the other seasons entertaining. It had darker topics that made the show too dramatic. This made it hard for the show to strike a delicate balance between humor and drama.
Sex Education season 4 was the perfect ending to a great series. The show stayed true to what made it great in the first place and continued to bring to light issues such as mental health, sex, and relationships that every teenager and adult has to grapple with. The writing and acting in season four was the best work that the show has seen. The emotionally charged moments were perfectly done and summed up the complexities of being a human being. Despite season 4 of Sex Education being the final one in the series, Laurie Nunn, the creator of the show, hasn’t ruled out the possibility of spinoffs.
