One of the surprise gems of last year, “Sex Education” returns with a captivating sophomore season, givng viewers more of the comedic and relatable characters they have come to love while further developing these characters in meaningful and impactful ways.
In its second season, “Sex Education” delves deeper into the relationships of its characters. Otis’ budding relationship with Ola, Eric’s new romance with foreign exchange student Rahim and Maeve’s unrequited feelings for the aforementioned Otis are just a few of the relationships the show explores in this second outing — all amidst the sex advice and awkward sexual moments the show has come to be known for.
The show delivers everything its audience could want and then some. Nearly every character gets a profound and meaningful arc that feels shockingly realistic. They all come to feel like real people who make decisions that — though sometimes frustrating — are understandable and feel genuine. Every character, even the vile Headmaster Graff, have reasoning behind their actions with which viewers can empathize, marking one reason why this show is a cut above the rest.
“Sex Education” also has this uncanny way of covering real-world issues in a sensible way that makes them really resonate with audiences. The show covers difficult real-world situations such as the emotional toll of getting an abortion or hate crimes — something that continues in this second season — and yet it does so in a way where it never detracts from the overall experience nor does it belittle the occurrence. It has always done a spectacular job with its material — no matter the subject matter — and that is most certainly praise-worthy.
Much like its spectacular material, the show’s acting remains second-to-none in the second season. Every single actor in this show gives an amazing and heartfelt performance that helps give life to the aforementioned characters. Once again truly knocking it out of the park is Emma Mackey, whose portrayal of Maeve makes her one of the most dynamic characters on the show. She is a standout on a show of standouts, and her performance is truly amazing.
Similar praise must be given to the show’s cinematography. It is rare that you see a show as dynamic as “Sex Education” with such stylized visuals, and yet cinematographer Jamie Cairney and the numerous directors that worked with him throughout the season managed to do just that. Though not all of the choices always land, the show is visually stunning on the whole.
Honestly, “Sex Education” is a show without much to fault. In its second season, the show hit absolutely every beat that it should. Few shows have managed to genuinely move me or connect with me like this show has managed to do on a regular basis. Every worthwhile aspect of this show is amazing, and I cannot recommend it enough
If you have not started watching it yet, the second season of “Sex Education” just solidified why everyone needs to see this show, streaming on Netflix now.
