REVIEW: ‘Sex Education Season 4’ Isn’t The Same But Finishes Strong

Sex Education Season 4 is the final season of the teenage comedy series, bringing the Netflix Original to a close. The show was created by Laurie Nunn and stars Asa Butterfield, Emma Mackey, Ncuti Gatwa and Gillian Anderson. With Moordale gone and Maeve (Mackey) in America, Otis (Butterfield), Eric (Gatwa) and a few stragglers from the school make it to the fancy and accepting Chattendale College. But they are all small fishes in a much larger and very different pond.

The structure of this seasons may be similar to the previous 3, but this last chapter has a lot of new elements. The setting is different and many of the characters are scattered. So whilst the familiarity of the ensemble is there, the series starts somewhat cold and takes time to warm up. The old tropes of the series are made fun of, from cycling into work to the almost frantic nature of the sex in the early episodes of each season. But Otis and Eric are having to cycle further, and the sex is happening across the world, not just within a tiny little town. The pacing of the show has always been smooth and comfortable, getting into a rhythm and settling in a way that is immersive. The show unfolds over a length of time, a full term. 

The narrative always strives to move forward, it has to be due to it being about school years. But these are teenagers, who often bear grudges and keep problems pent up over a long period of time.  That growth and struggle is plain to see throughout the characters, and the problems seem to get worse. There are those formative events that happen in your late teens that make you become an adult.

The structure follows many characters at the same time, intertwining them through the year as they deal with issues relating to sex, identity and life in general. There does seem to be less sex included in the episodes, and it’s less intense than it was previously. Perhaps that is another sign of maturity. The past three seasons were scandalous and frenetic as the initial forays into sexual experiences get explored. All of them are approached with thoughtfulness and enough grit to make the journey seem worthwhile.

All those stories must come to an end, however, and that is not a task that can be envied. There are so many character arcs to conclude, and so many of them are incredibly fulfilling. And then there is the big one: Maeve and Otis. This season started with them as a couple but on different continents, always toying with and tearing them apart. The conflict has been there constantly over the seasons, getting tiresome at some point, but every part of Sex Education is built on uneasiness. It’s an ending that might be the most definitive of the lot and, upon reflection, is arguably what’s deserved. But there is also a huge part of it that is painful and brutal, and aggravating after so much time.

Sex Education has consistently been a series that isn’t dependent on just one character and that continues in Season 4. Instead, the writers are able to make a story arc out of dozens of characters over the course of the show. They’ve gone through a journey together, parallel to each other as time has gone past, and that evolution is what shone in this huge ensemble cast. Which is why it can be deflating to see how many were left behind. The school was closed, so the recurring characters, both large and small, are gone completely. A handful of the most prominent students made their way to Chattendale, and there are those outsiders who left but are still given storylines, namely Maeve and Adam (Conor Swindells). 

But those voices, although they were petty and could be annoying in the moment, actually provided some of the heart of the book. That British silliness, powered by the likes of Jim Howick, is dulled slightly. The characters aren’t forgotten about, but they are missed. It can’t always be helped, as many could have been cut due to scheduling or other production-based reasons.

The most brutal exclusion is the other half of Otis’ new family. Jakob (Mikael Persbrandt) was pivotal for the last part of Season 3, and his daughter Ola (Patricia Allison) is also sorely missed. And actually, Anderson’s character arc is ruthlessly damaged because of it. The circumstances of her baby have been altered in a way that feels wrong and disappointing, whilst the woman herself is restricted to roughly two locations throughout the whole season. She’s not really included alongside the rest of the cast, bar from those involved in her circle.

The characters that have remained are the most powerful and important, with some of the best performances happening in their final appearances. Butterfield and Mackey have been fantastic and complicated leads, with their chemistry tampered largely due to being separated. It’s easy to suggest that Maeve is the standout character of the whole property and is much more likable as a main character than Otis.

He is intentionally horrible to people, frequently, even though his role as a sex therapist requires him to be considerate and kind. Those mood swings are violent and make him genuinely nasty at times. Eric has had an excellent journey as one of the main characters for the whole length of the show, with an ascendency that is glorious to behold. All of the plotlines for the younger characters are well worth telling, as they are meticulous investigations of more than just sex, but deciding who you want to be in general. And it should be mentioned that the locals from Chattendale, new to the show, have a succinct and open character arc that results in them being just as valued as the regulars. 

The real star of the show is Aimee, expertly portrayed by Aimee Lou Woods. The most exuberant and expressive being in any room, the development of this character is the embodiment of what the show was trying to achieve. Aimee is loving but endlessly complex, going through pain and confusion whilst actually constantly trying to be someone new and express herself. Where she started and where she finished is remarkable. 

What hasn’t changed in Sex Education Season 4 is the gorgeous cinematography, set designs and scenery. The locations continue to be absolutely stunning, set in rolling forest hills with strangely beautiful rusted bridges, with sweeping highways. And what has always raised a smile is the blending of American and British culture into one.

There are elements of school culture that are more commonly found in the UK, whilst also featuring some concepts that would be understood more. Likewise, it has always been fun to see the blending int the points in time. Many of the cars seem much older than they should be in a show set in the present day. These may seem like oddities and make the world less real, but that and the locations have always added to the charm and individual style of the show.

Sex Education Season 4 isn’t the same, but it finishes strong. There could be some arguments made that the more natural ending for the show was the end of Season 3, and it felt like a bigger example of the school situation being brought to a close. The location of Moordale School was part of the personality and design of the show. The massive swab of characters that have been omitted are sorely missed, but it was owed to many of the stalwarts to round out their stories beyond just sexual awakenings. Not all of them land properly, especially some of the huge threads that have been burning for four seasons now. 

Ultimately, the characters can’t be these conclusive statements for their final moments as these characters aren’t the finished articles. This series merely opened the door for them to discover themselves, not to know who they are completely. This group of actors should be celebrated as a magnificent ensemble, exploring topics that may be completely underrepresented before. The strength of the performers is what might have led to the show coming to a close. The likes of Mackey and Gatwa ventured off into Barbie and Doctor Who, and so the schoolyard must be left behind.

Sex Education Season 4 is available now on Netflix.