The Grand Finale: Sex Education Season 4 Shocks and Delights, Cementing Its Legacy on Netflix

Summary

Sex Education season 4 continues the show's legacy of inclusivity and tackles a wide range of social and sexual issues with its bold, in-your-face approach.

In Season 4 of Sex Education, the show takes advantage of the new setting at Cavendish Sixth Form College to delve into the issues and obstacles that come with radical inclusivity. However, throughout the season, it also highlights the significance of kindness and empathy. Despite the hardships and trauma faced by the characters, they are able to find comfort and solace through the support and acceptance of others. This serves as a powerful portrayal of how kindness and a sense of community can aid in healing.

During the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, this piece was written acknowledging the absence of writers and actors. Without their contributions, the series being discussed would not exist.

Amidst the heightened awareness of the uncertainty surrounding streaming shows, it was a relief to discover that Sex Education, one of Netflix's top original series, had the opportunity to conclude on its own terms. After watching season 4 in its entirety, it becomes evident that the writers fully utilized this chance. The storytelling remains consistent with previous seasons, and although many loose ends are tied up neatly, there is no overwhelming urge to reach a definitive conclusion within these episodes. The characters' lives will continue beyond our time with them. However, there is a sense of reflection on the show's message and purpose, almost as if it aims to express its meaning with greater determination. These moments contribute to some of the most heartfelt instances in this dramedy, reaffirming the show's legacy as a sincere representation of the importance of inclusivity.

Season 4 of Sex Education continues from the unresolved storylines of the previous season's finale. Moordale Secondary, the main high school in the series, has permanently closed down. In its place, Cavendish Sixth Form College emerges as a progressive institution run by its own students, where popularity is determined by kindness. The core group of teenage characters - Otis, Eric, Aimee, Isaac, Ruby, Jackson, Viv, and Cal - transfer to this new school. However, Adam chooses not to pursue traditional education, while Maeve is in the United States attending Wallace University's writing program. Despite being in a long-distance relationship, Otis and Maeve are determined to make it work.

Dan Levy and Emma Mackey in Sex Education season 4

Jean (played by Gillian Anderson) is overwhelmed and desperate for a solution. The father of her baby, Jakob, is absent, and without much time off, she decides to pursue a radio hosting job. Meanwhile, Michael (played by Alistair Petrie), a substitute at Cavendish, is determined to improve himself and repair his relationship with his wife and son. The cast of Sex Education expands with new characters who disrupt the existing characters' paths. O (played by Thaddea Graham), an established student sex therapist at Cavendish, becomes an instant rival to Otis. Abbi (played by Anthony Lexa), Roman (played by Felix Mufti), and Aisha (played by Alexandra James), a popular queer trio, knock Ruby from her social prominence and provide Eric with peers who understand his experiences. Thomas Molloy (played by Dan Levy), a renowned author and Maeve's professor, challenges her in various ways. Joanna (played by Lisa McGrillis), Jean's sister, arrives to help with the baby but brings additional complications.

While there are numerous storylines to explore, the focus is on the show's thematic elements. Sex Education season 4 continues its bold and direct approach to addressing social and sexual issues. The season delves into topics such as trans identity, disability and accessibility, depression, gender dysphoria, religion and queerness, erectile dysfunction, childhood trauma, and bullying. The frank and sometimes didactic dialogue, resembling therapy sessions, adds intentionality to the show's exploration of these issues. Cavendish, with its satirical portrayal as a right-wing commentator's worst nightmare, offers the opportunity to examine the show's unique approach.

Sex Education season 4 features Thaddea Graham.

This educational institution, known for its unique social media platform and "speakers' corner" where students can freely discuss any topic, as well as its bee colonies, often exhibits a sense of silliness. Despite its progressive social environment, it remains cliquey, resembling any typical high school. There is a tendency to prioritize societal issues rather than addressing the real and practical challenges faced by the students. When taken to the extreme, the school's emphasis on positivity can turn toxic. These concerns, among others, are voiced in Sex Education season 4. The series aims to illustrate why embracing radical inclusivity, despite its flaws, is always advantageous. Each individual is grappling with their own struggles, and even a basic willingness to listen and empathize, even if full comprehension is lacking, can alleviate someone else's pain. Although Sex Education uses the realm of sexuality, encompassing its diverse preferences, anxieties, and societal taboos, as a means to convey this message, it is not the show's sole focus.

For this reason, Adam and Michael have always been the cornerstone of its crucial project. They serve as a living testament, showcasing the detrimental impact of repression and cruelty on an individual, while also highlighting the transformative power of acceptance and kindness in healing those deep wounds. In this season, they finally experience the rewards of their hard-fought battles. However, the remaining characters undergo their own unique journeys, encompassing varying degrees of the same arc, although not necessarily as the instigators. Each principal character confronts a severe setback in their lives, whether it be the malevolence of others, rejection, resurfaced trauma, or even unfortunate circumstances. The writers and filmmakers wholeheartedly adopt their perspectives, enabling us, as viewers, to empathize with their agony (this becomes particularly daring in Eric's case, rendering it even more noteworthy). Subsequently, they have to seek solace in the warm embrace of their community, the unwavering support of a friend, or (my personal favorite this season) a timely piece of advice that proves to be the perfect remedy.

Ncuti Gatwa and Gbolahan Obisesan in Sex Education season 4

However, kindness alone is not a solution to all your problems. Having your feelings validated by someone doesn't magically make everything go away. What sets Sex Education season 4 apart is its recognition that certain things cannot be fixed, only faced head-on. The 83-minute finale perfectly captures the essence of a show that, despite its comedic and exaggerated moments (there's a particular scene in the first episode that had me in fits of laughter), remains grounded to ensure its message resonates authentically. The show respects its characters, even if it means leaving us with a lingering feeling of melancholic optimism. The final lines of the series seem to convey what the creators hope the ending of Sex Education will mean to us, the viewers. Let it serve as a reminder to those in charge in Hollywood that good writing should never be taken lightly or undervalued.

All eight episodes of Sex Education season 4 will be available for streaming on Netflix on September 21st. The series is intended for viewers aged 16 and above.