*Spoilers from episodes 6 and 7.*
All the major plots today involve big things that happened in the last episode, so I will be spoiling some of those events today, but I’ll avoid spoilers for the actual season finale. I was mixed on this episode, which has been kind of a refrain for me this season. There are parts of it I really like, but other aspects of it are underwhelming.
Okay, so much happened in episode 7, which spills over into this one. Otis and Maeve finally got together after three seasons of feelings tag, at which point Otis was immediately called to the hospital with the news that Jean went into labor and then suffered a hemorrhage. We open the finale on him anxiously waiting to hear if his mom is going to pull through. Eric and Adam aren’t speaking after Eric admitted that he kissed another guy in Nigeria, and Eric thinks long and hard about what he wants. After circling around Cal most of the season, Jackson has to consider what a relationship with them would actually mean. And all the students learn about the consequences of their sex-positive protest at yesterday’s open day.
We’ll start with a scattershot of the great points. I love the way Cal beams and shouts, “Holy fuck!” when they appear to have at last beaten Hope, and they later have a couple of nice nonbinary bonding scenes with Layla. Asa Butterfield’s acting during the hospital scenes is topnotch throughout. While most of Eric and Adam’s plots are down to relationship stuff, we also get some lovely moments between Adam and his mom. And Ola, who’s been dealt a lot of emotional difficulty this season, finally gets taken care of a little by the most important people to her.
On the other hand, I’m not really impressed with how most of the romantic plotlines resolve. I’m neutral on Otis/Maeve, but otherwise, it’s a lot of, “Huh, really?” and, “Well, that happened.” (Familial relationships and friendships definitely get the better narrative deal in this episode.) Also, it’s a little cliched that Otis, Jakob, and Ola all have angst in the hospital about conflicts they had with Jean shortly before she experienced a health crisis. And I like Hannah Waddingham too—season 3 of Ted Lasso when???—but while she has some good scenes in this episode, her appearance made me wonder if we’ve ever seen a scene specifically between Jackson and his Black mom, and I couldn’t answer that to my satisfaction.
When they’re in a good place, Otis and Eric’s friendship is one of the best things about this show, and with Otis going through such a hard time, it means we get absolutely terrific interactions between the two of them here. I like that Eric is there for Otis in every way possible, warm and encouraging but also fiercely protective when he needs to be. Even funny at times—after he gives a stranger hell for rudely interrupting an emotional moment between them, the timing with which Ncuti Gatwa throws up his hands and exclaims, “Unbelievable!” is just superb.
And for all that, Otis is there for Eric too. He at first asks about Eric’s Adam drama to distract himself from his fears about Jean, but he quickly lends a kind and nonjudgmental ear to Eric, assuring him that he’s not a bad person for having kissed someone else.
As far as the actual Eric/Adam stuff goes, I wouldn’t say the resolution of this story is altogether satisfying, but there are parts of it that are excellent. What I most appreciate is that, as it goes on, it’s clear that this really is about Eric: his desires, his choices, himself as a person. For much of the season, his stories have often felt in service to Adam, but he’s nicely centered here, and Gatwa of course plays it wonderfully.
There’s a fourth season of Sex Education on the way, but there’s no word yet on when it’s coming out, so I’ll do my wrap-up thoughts now.
Recommend?
In General – I probably would, as long as you’re okay with lots and lots of storylines about teens and sex. The quality can be up and down, but I think it comes down on the side of good more often than not.
Ncuti Gatwa – For sure. Even though it’s a supporting role, Gatwa plays it for all he’s worth, infusing his scenes with life, humor, and emotion. Seeing his work here, I’m even more excited to see him as the Doctor.
Warnings
Copious sexual content (much of it involving teens,) language (including sexist and homophobic slurs,) scenes of violence (including sexual assault,) drinking/smoking/drug use, and thematic elements.
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