A few weeks ago, I was laying in my bed watching a creator break down and analyze aspects of my favorite TV shows on YouTube (which is way more interesting than it sounds) when I scrolled past Sex Education: Outsmarting Stereotypes. Even though there was a ton of work that I needed to do, I decided that watching this video was much more important, especially since the newest season was about to be released.
The show follows Otis Milburn, the son of a sex therapist, as he uses his knowledge of sex and relationships to help the misguided teens at his school. He pairs up with Meave Wiley, a misunderstood outcast, in order to turn his advice into a business. Aside from the fact that the teens in this show look like teens with regular body shapes, unlike the muscular characters on Riverdale and All American, the show is great in many other aspects that make it an all-around great show depicting the lives of teens.
Sex Education skillfully approaches stereotypes by giving characters storylines that go beyond their surface. A perfect example of this is Otis’ best friend, Eric. On the surface, he is a bold, gay, African teen that’s open about his sexuality, which perfectly aligns with the gay-black-best-friend trope. Beyond that, we get to see what his life is really like as he struggles to connect with his father and works his way through different romantic relationships. As the show continues, we get to do this with many other characters, including the school bully, the star athlete, and the most popular girl in school. This approach makes it easier to sympathize with characters and gives them a chance to have a greater impression on the show’s viewers.
The show is also realistic about sex and relationships. Throughout the series, we hear about different scenarios regarding teens and their partners. While some are meant to be funny, many of them are relatable and ensure viewers that many of the things that they’re facing are common issues and that there are people to help them. The reassurance that Otis gives them is purposeful and meant to help the teens watching at home become more comfortable with themselves and the issues that they face. The show subtly gives people real-life resources to help them with their relationships with others and themselves. In the newest season, the characters mention www.all-vulvas-are-beautiful.com, a website that helps women who are insecure about their vulva see that they come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Personally, I thought it was a fake site that the show created to move the plot along, but as the site was promoted on the show’s social media accounts, I found out that it was real.
While the show’s plot and some of the specific scenes may be too graphic for younger teens, it gives great insight into healthy relationships with oneself and with others. It’s a perfect mix of education and entertainment with writing that is realistic and natural. The casting was also purposeful, highlighting an array of races, ethnicities, and genders, giving each of them a chance to be seen and explored. As the show continues and more characters and perspectives are introduced, many viewers, including me, are very excited to see what’s in store for its fourth season.