“You know in rom-coms, when the guy finally realizes he’s in love with the girl; and he turns up with a boom box outside her house, blasting her favorite song, and everyone in the audience swoons? Yeah, that makes me sick.” The legendary Maeve Wiley from Netflix‘s super-hit show Sex Education is not your stereotypical, edgy-goth feminist character. To be honest, the entire show is about breaking the norms and shedding light on real issues often overlooked by society in general.

It is not every day when a show about teenage school-going kids causes a tide this powerful; Netflix‘s Sex Education is indeed more than just a regular entertainment medium; it is a commentary on society, culture, and politics. The drama has efficiently ignited a spark among its audience about topics like sexuality, gender identity, sex, and much more without a shed of preachy-ness.

Sexuality and Gender Identity

Back in season two of the Netflix Original, Jean talks to Florence, one of the students in Moordale, about asexuality. In a very inspiring and hopeful tone, Jean says, “Sexuality is fluid. Sex does not make us whole and so, how can you ever be broken?”

In the latest season of Sex Education, we met a very powerful character named Cal. With her introduction, Moordale witnessed a very vocal and much-needed voice of genderqueer people. Be it her demanding a gender-neutral restroom, or taking a stand for what she wants to wear; Cal speaks power. And of course, the scene where she teaches Layla how to use a binder is really heart-warming and beautiful.

Sexual lives of adults

We have an abundance of movies and mediums that show how the various aspects of adult life professional, personal and social operate; but boy, oh boy, do we lack an adequate representation of adult sexual lives. Sex Education manages to very candidly talk about all the issues, moments of happiness, and aspects of sex-lives the parent generation is living.

Sex Education and its portrayal of disability

The way in which they show sexual intimacy between Issac and Maeve is truly magnificent. The ease both the characters feel, giggling and talking while they are together; no fake sympathy or pity, but a pure and beautiful representation of love, and of course, people with disabilities. One would really pause the scene for a second and drop a tear, cause it is actually that beautiful.

No victim-blaming in Sex Education

When Aimee finally seeks professional help after the infamous bus incident, the show gave us one of the most memorable and powerful scenes of all time. Jean, in her typical fashion, explains to Aimee, “What that man did to you on the bus has nothing to do with your smile or your personality and is only about him. And it is absolutely not your fault.” Jean also explains that therapy is no one-session fix, but it is a gradual and slow process.