Shocking Exits and Unexpected Twists: What's Next for Sex Education Season 4 without these Beloved Characters?

Summary

Sex Education season 4 introduces new characters and experiences some major cast shake-ups, with several beloved characters not returning.

The season fails to provide an explanation or resolution for the missing characters Ola and Lily, resulting in their stories and relationships being left untouched and unexplored.

Nevertheless, Sex Education season 4 manages to preserve the beloved quirky, awkward, and entertaining tone that fans have grown to adore, despite the alterations in the cast.

Spoilers ahead for season 4 of Sex Education. Netflix's popular series, Sex Education, will be returning for its fourth season. However, fans may be disappointed to learn that several key actors will not be reprising their roles. Despite this, Sex Education has received widespread acclaim and has served as a launching pad for the careers of its cast members. Notably, Ncuti Gatwa, who plays one of the principal characters, has landed a role as the lead in Doctor Who, while Emma Mackey has been cast in Greta Gerwig's upcoming Barbie movie.

Set at Moordale Secondary School, Sex Education delves into topics ranging from sex and sexuality to love and friendships, exploring various personal issues along the way. Season 4 of Sex Education takes a slightly different approach due to the events of the previous season. At the end of season 3, Moordale closed its doors, leaving the students to seek education elsewhere. This closure also brought about significant changes in the relationships of key characters, with Eric and Adam ending their romance and uncertainty surrounding Otis and Maeve's status following Moordale's abrupt closure and Maeve's acceptance to Wallace.

Sex Education’s Moordale has witnessed many changes for season 4, and it's not just limited to the storyline. Four significant actors have chosen not to return for the next season. While the show explores multiple narratives, certain characters have become an integral part of the Netflix series, often intertwining with others. For instance, as Jean and Jakob's relationship grew, Otis' and Ola's two families joined together. Now, let's take a look at all the actors who did not make a comeback in Sex Education season 4.

Simone Ashley And Chaneil Kular Did Not Return As Olivia And Anwar In Sex Education Season 4

Olivia and Anwar, the beloved characters from Sex Education, have bid farewell to the Moordale halls in season 4, as both actors embark on new ventures. In the case of Ashley, her remarkable breakthrough as Kate Sharma in Bridgerton season 2 has led to her decision not to return to Sex Education for season 4 (via Radio Times). The enormous success of Bridgerton season 2 was evident, with 251 million hours of viewership in its first week alone, making it understandable that Ashley would choose to continue with such a show, particularly considering the numerous upcoming Bridgerton seasons. As for Kular, although no official announcement was made regarding his departure from Sex Education, he has snagged a prominent role in the film Accused, which likely accounts for his absence.

When it comes to Sex Education season 4, Ruby briefly mentions Olivia and Anwar. Specifically, Otis visits Ruby's house to collaborate on his sex counselor campaign, and Ruby deceives him by claiming she has plans with Olivia and Anwar. However, later Ruby admits that these plans were fabricated, as Olivia and Anwar no longer spend time with her due to making new friends at their new school. Consequently, it can be deduced that the two have reverted to their previous mean and popular ways, causing Ruby to confront this change head-on.

Patricia Allison Did Not Return As Ola In Sex Education Season 4

Patricia Allison confirmed that she would not return as Ola in season 4 of Sex Education, and she didn't. Ola is a significant character in the show, especially in season 3, where she had storylines with her father Jakob and their newly blended family with Otis and Jean. She also had a relationship with Lily and a strong friendship with Adam. Allison's departure is evident in season 4, and while the dynamic between Ola and Lily may have been the weakest, Allison revealed that she left the show to pursue other projects. This means that audiences can expect to see more of Allison in the future.

Unfortunately, there is no acknowledgement of Ola's absence in Season 4 of Sex Education. Upon their arrival at Cavendish College, Otis, Eric, Aimee, and Ruby briefly discuss the missing Moordale students, but fail to mention even Adam, who has his own storyline in this season. As a result, Ola is treated unjustly in Season 4. Since there is no clear explanation for her absence, it can be assumed that she enrolled in a different school and possibly moved away from Moordale following Jakob and Jean's breakup.

Tanya Reynolds Did Not Return As Lily In Sex Education Season 4

Regrettably, Tanya Reynolds did not reprise her role as Lily in season 4 of Sex Education. Lily, the most eccentric character in the series, underwent significant character development over the first three seasons. This involved embracing self-acceptance and addressing the psychological challenges related to sex. Unlike Ashley and Allison, Reynolds confirmed (via Radio Times) that her departure was a result of her character being written out of the Netflix show. While it is understandable that Lily's character had reached a natural end, given her prominent presence in the earlier seasons, her absence is still felt by fans.

Yet again, Lily's absence remains unaddressed in Sex Education season 4. Similar to Ola, the omission of Lily's presence at Cavendish is never acknowledged, leading audiences to speculate that she likely enrolled in a different school than the rest of the Moordale crew in season 4. It is rather surprising that Lily's story was left unresolved, particularly considering that the Sex Education creators made a deliberate choice to write her character off. Although she had a somewhat conclusive ending in season 3, it would have been satisfying to at least have one line explaining her whereabouts. Regrettably, this did not occur, serving to exacerbate the impact of her absence.

Mikael Persbrandt Did Not Return As Jakob In Sex Education Season 4

Mikael Persbrandt did not reprise his role as Jakob in Sex Education season 4. Jakob, the enigmatic handyman at the Milburn residence, made his first appearance in season 1. He embarked on a passionate affair with Jean, which became a chaotic yet integral part of Otis' life. Unfortunately, their relationship came to an end after season 3. Persbrandt had not previously revealed his intentions regarding a potential return to Sex Education. Consequently, it remains uncertain whether he chose to depart from the show or if Jakob's character was written out. Regardless, the outcome left fans disappointed.

How Sex Education's Missing Characters Change Season 4

Sex Education season 4 witnessed significant changes in its cast, as certain characters bid farewell to pursue new projects while new characters made their entry. Although the absence of these characters may have been perplexing, the introduction of unique and eccentric characters like Abbi, Roman, and Aisha helped mitigate the impact of these departures. Nonetheless, the departure of beloved characters was a tough pill to swallow for the audience, who longed for their presence. Furthermore, the show neglected to address the unresolved plotlines of these characters. For instance, Ola's absence in season 4 and the lack of acknowledgment of the time they spent together as a family were entirely overlooked.

The departures of Sex Education's cast members ultimately had a significant impact on the dedicated fans who deeply cared about these characters. Their absence created noticeable voids within certain aspects of the show. However, thankfully, the dynamics among the remaining cast members remained unchanged, and as a whole, the series maintained its familiar essence. Season 4 of Sex Education continued to embrace its inherent quirkiness, peculiarity, and awkwardness, which ultimately contributed positively to the show's overall appeal.