Sex Education Season 4 Leaves Fans Begging for More: A Bold Move or a Missed Opportunity?

Summary

Sex Education season 4 received lower ratings and is considered the weakest season, despite still providing a satisfying send-off for the characters.

The show's dynamics and storytelling were affected by the departure of key cast members and the transition to a college setting, leading to a season that had less of an impact. The season 3 finale of Sex Education was widely considered to be the pinnacle of the show, showcasing well-developed character arcs and a forward momentum, suggesting that the series should have concluded at that point.

Interestingly, the fourth season of Sex Education confirms that ending the show was the right decision. Created by Laurie Nunn, the initial season of the teenage sex comedy revolves around Otis Milburn, a high school student who surprisingly lacks interest in sex, partly due to his mother Jean, a suffocatingly sex-positive sex therapist. However, when Otis' crush, the intelligent and rebellious Maeve Wiley, seeks his help, he follows his mother's footsteps and establishes a sex therapy clinic at school. With a talented ensemble cast, including Eric Effiong portrayed by Ncuti Gatwa, Sex Education explores much more than just Otis' dilemmas throughout its four-season run.

Although season 4 of Sex Education receives the lowest score on Rotten Tomatoes, it still gives a remarkable and fitting farewell to the memorable characters of Moordale. Serving as a slight deviation, the fourth chapter witnesses Otis, Eric, and their peers adapting to a new school environment, while Maeve pursues her writing studies overseas. Despite introducing fresh interpersonal conflicts, important narratives, and beloved characters, season 4 of Sex Education becomes overwhelmed by its new elements. Unfortunately, it is now time for the series, like its teenage protagonists, to graduate and move forward.

Sex Education Season 4 Is The Show's Weakest Season

The final season of Sex Education has received a critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes that is consistent with its first season at an impressive 91%. However, it falls short in comparison to the second and third seasons of the show. The audience score is even more disappointing, with a low 39% compared to the high ratings of the previous three seasons. While Sex Education season 4 has its strengths, it struggles to reach the same heights as its predecessors.

Before the fourth season, several key cast members announced their departure or reduced involvement due to other projects. Gatwa, for example, will be directing the latest chapter of Doctor Who and also appeared alongside his former Sex Education co-stars Mackey and Connor Swindells in the blockbuster film Barbie. This significant cast shake-up has had a noticeable impact on Sex Education season 4, making it the weakest season of the series, especially considering its strong ensemble approach.

Sex Education Doesn't Work As Well With The Characters In College

Dan Levy and Emma Mackey in Sex Education season 4

A persistent challenge for shows centered around teenagers has always been figuring out what to do when their close-knit group of friends, rivals, and romantic interests move on from the chaotic world of high school. While Sex Education was refreshing in many ways, it still struggles to overcome a common issue within the genre. In particular, although the ending between Otis and Maeve in Sex Education is fitting and realistic, the absence of Mackey is deeply felt throughout the final season as she remains mostly isolated from the rest of the cast.

While this does provide more opportunities for Sex Education to develop characters like Ruby (played by Mimi Keene) into some of its strongest ensemble members, it also disrupts the established dynamics of the series and forces it to revisit familiar storylines. Otis, for instance, doesn't seem to have much new territory to explore: in season 4, he becomes lovesick and fixated on Maeve again, while also dealing with a rival at his new school's sex clinic. While there are some moments of brilliance in this, the show feels lacking without the entire ensemble facing these moments together, in person, at Moordale.

Sex Education Season 3 Already Had The Show's Best Ending

In Season 3 of Sex Education, the students at Moordale unite to defy the oppressive rule of head teacher Hope, played by Jemima Kirke. Alongside the show's signature exploration of interpersonal relationships, sexual dilemmas, and moral conflicts, this season showcases the students finding strength in one another while still maintaining the show's delightful and risqué elements. Striking a delicate balance, Sex Education season 3 achieves this flawlessly.

Despite the students' successful efforts to challenge Hope's authority and impart some valuable lessons to her, her story takes an unexpected turn. Against the objections of her husband, Hope decides to undergo another round of IVF treatment at the hospital. Throughout the season, Hope is portrayed as a controlling figure, but it becomes clear that her professional demeanor stems from her own powerlessness. This twist adds a clever layer to her character: while her cruel actions are not excusable, she is also not merely a one-dimensional antagonist.

The end of Sex Education season 3 brings disappointment and division among the teens when the developers purchase Moordale. Eric realizes he has outgrown Moordale, while Maeve sets her sights on a writing program in the United States. The conclusion wraps up in a realistic manner, with characters experiencing transformative revelations that are typical of young adulthood. In retrospect, this sheds an intriguing light on the actual ending of the Sex Education series. The season 3 finale suggests that returning to Moordale is no longer possible, regardless of how much it is missed. This serves as an important lesson that Sex Education season 4 should have taken into consideration.