'Sex Education season 4 is a joyous, tearful and sex-filled goodbye to the iconic series'
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The day is finally here, the fourth and final season of Sex Education has just dropped on Netflix, and we are so not ready for this show to end. No more Eric telling people to wash their hands? No more of Maeve and Otis' awkward 'will they, won't they'? And no more of Aimee's epic one liners? What are we going to do with our lives? The series has completely transformed the teen show genre with its refreshing outlook on the presentation of sex and relationship, and we will be oh so sad to see it go.
However, we thankfully have eight more episodes full of therapy sessions, sexual confessions and heartwarming moments to enjoy before we say goodbye to the characters completely.
The final season sees some of the former Moordale students attend a brand new school, Cavendish College. And a new college means new students, new opportunities and some very interesting developments for our favourite classmates.
But before you dive head first into the new season, here's everything you need to know about it, including whether or not we think its worthy of a watch.
What is the final season of Sex Education about?
Season three ended with Moordale Secondary getting closed down, meaning the final season will see our favourite students join a brand new school for their final year. The official Netflix synopsis is as follows:
"Following the closure of Moordale Secondary, Otis and Eric now face a new frontier — their first day at Cavendish Sixth Form College. Otis is nervous about setting up his new clinic, while Eric is praying they won’t be losers again. But Cavendish is a culture shock for all the Moordale students — they thought they were progressive, but this new college is another level. There’s daily yoga in the communal garden, a strong sustainability vibe, and a group of kids who are popular for being … kind?!
"Viv is totally thrown by the college’s student-led, non-competitive approach, while Jackson is still struggling to get over Cal. Aimee tries something new by taking an Art A Level, and Adam grapples with whether mainstream education is for him. Over in the U.S., Maeve is living her dream at prestigious Wallace University, being taught by cult author Thomas Molloy. Otis is pining after her, while adjusting to not being an only child at home, or the only therapist on campus.”
Who is in the cast of Sex Education season 4?
In season four we can expect many of our favourite Sex Education cast members to return including:
Asa Butterfield as Otis Milburn
Gillian Anderson as Jean Milburn
Ncuti Gatwa as Eric Effiong
Emma Mackey as Maeve Wiley
Connor Swindells as Adam Groff
Kedar Williams-Stirling as Jackson Marchetti
Mimi Keene as Ruby Matthews
Aimee Lou Wood as Aimee Gibbs
Alistair Petrie as Michael Groff
Samantha Spiro as Maureen Groff
George Robinson as Isaac Goodwin
Chinenye Ezeudu as Vivienne Odusanya
Dua Saleh as Cal Bowman
Following season three many cast members departed the series including Simone Ashley, Tanya Reynolds, Mikael Persbrandt, Patricia Allison and Chaneil Kular.
But the good news is, this season is introducing us a few brand new cast members including Dan Levy, Jodie Turner-Smith, Thaddea Graham, Alexandra James, Anthony Lexa, Felix Mufti, Lisa McGrillis and Hannah Gadsby.
Should I watch Sex Education season 4? Our review
Going into season four of Sex Education I was a little skeptical. Season three, which aired two years ago was OK, but there was nothing incredibly memorable standing out from it and with the prospect of a brand new school and new cast members, I wondered how the final season would be able to flesh out a whole new group of characters, while also giving a satisfying ending to the cast we've become so attached to. But somehow they managed to deliver this, and so much more.
The new season drops us straight in with an update on Maeve and Otis' relationship: they're thankfully still together and busy sexting, trying things out long distance. Elsewhere Jean is struggling with new baby Joy, cabbage leaves and all, Cal is seeing the benefits - and complications - of testosterone and Aimee is experimenting with sex toys.
We then get our introduction to the new school where much of the season is set. It's a Gen-Z utopia, filled with free yoga, a slide and an environment where everyone is nice to each other, including the season's new popular crew Aisha, Roman and Abbi aka the Coven. These three newbies, along with Otis' new therapist rival O and Viv's eventual new boyfriend Beau, are a breath of fresh air. Going into the season you think you're going to miss the old cast, but by episode two you're fully invested in the new characters and their journeys, with each of them being given a complex and important storyline that explores a different issue related to sex, gender and relationships.
We then get a glimpse at Maeve's new life in America, where she is working under the instruction of professor Molloy aka Dan Levy. Maeve's storyline around getting Molloy's artistic approval in America is nice, if a little predictable. However, it's Maeve's scenes back in England where Emma Mackey really shines, giving an incredibly moving performance in episode six. I'm not in the mood for spoilers, but if you can get through that episode without shedding a tear then I have some questions for you.
The new series also had me in tears at others points, with the season delivering some very moving storylines. Eric's journey of questioning his faith felt like a natural progression for his character, while Adam and Mr Groff's relationship progression felt authentic and Aimee dealing with her assault was empowering to watch.
Elsewhere, Jackson's search for his father was a great addition, Cal struggling with their transition was heartbreaking but crucial to watch and Isaac's impassioned speech in episode seven will be a memorable moment for sure. All in all it felt like the characters' developments were accurate, not just sped up for the sake of the ending. In fact all the endings felt satisfying: none of them were tied up in a perfect bow, but you felt confident leaving the show knowing they were all going to be ok.
That said, not all the storylines were perfect. The competition to become the sex therapist on campus was far too long. Joanna and Jean's story of childhood abuse felt like it was dropped in at the last moment, and Viv and Beau's controlling relationship plot could have been given more airtime. And don't get me started on the plot of Eric and Otis' friendship breakdown. While I understand it makes sense for the story (and let's face it, Otis isn't always the best friend), it was so sad to not see these two at each other's side for the whole series.
As with every season, Sex Education was of course, naturally full of sex. However, unlike previous seasons it felt distinctly watered down with the whole series taking an approach of focusing on each individual's personal journey, resulting in a truly perfect way to close up the show that's meant so much to so many people.
Moordale High, we sure will miss you.
Sex Education season 4 is available on Netflix now
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