Why is everything in Sex Education so OLD??

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

I'm talking about the Netflix show, the cars, the furniture, the decor, the clothes, it's all so old and dated! But they all have smart phones and fancy computers/laptops, so it's obviously set in modern times. I just find it so odd and it's been bugging me since season 1

We wondered this. I wonder if it’s to stop the series ageing? All the cars etc are ancient!

Apparently it's an homage to the John Hughes teen movies of the 80s. There are lots of slightly odd things about the setting - none of the kids wear uniforms, although it's clearly set in the UK.

I think it’s fab! Takes a bit of getting used to but I love how it looks. Gillian Anderson looks amazing in every single outfit.

I love it!

I absolutely love it, when that lad picked up the goat!
Gillian Anderson is amazing, but I adore the crazy music teacher

It's in homage, but also to make it less distinctly British so it appeals to more countries.

Having said that the season 3 plot with the uniforms etc is so strongly entrenched in British educational trends recently it might have lost a bit of that there.

I love it though. The houses are amazing.

I think it's purposefully anachronistic because they want to reflect the disjointedness between the fluidity of modern sexuality and freedom around sexual activity in the younger generation to the more repressive framing of sex/sexuality that older generations and societal structures often reinforce.

I love it, but yes its a odd mash up of American/UK and 80's/2020's. Its very funny and has some really healthy messages regarding consent and supporting friends

I know what you mean. When I first saw it I thought it was set in the 1980s, then I realised technology al up to date .

@SushiGo

It's in homage, but also to make it less distinctly British so it appeals to more countries.

Having said that the season 3 plot with the uniforms etc is so strongly entrenched in British educational trends recently it might have lost a bit of that there.

I love it though. The houses are amazing.

I absolutely love Otis' house, the view is incredible from that balcony!

@Mull

I think it’s fab! Takes a bit of getting used to but I love how it looks. Gillian Anderson looks amazing in every single outfit.

She really does, I love her. Also I just found out 2 minutes ago that she's actually American

It's stylistically gorgeous, is what it is

I think it's to make it timeless? Some things are very now, other stuff pure 70s or 80s.
I love that it's not clear where it's set either, end of the f*ing world was the same, British accents but lots of locations look like they're in Canada or America or anywhere but the UK!
Bloody love it, great show

@TheLovleyChebbyMcGee

I love it, but yes its a odd mash up of American/UK and 80's/2020's. Its very funny and has some really healthy messages regarding consent and supporting friends

It really does! Every episode has something that makes me want to shout yessss!! I love that my teens watch it, they and their peers love it, which is such a positive thing.

@snowgirl1

Apparently it's an homage to the John Hughes teen movies of the 80s. There are lots of slightly odd things about the setting - none of the kids wear uniforms, although it's clearly set in the UK.

I went to school in central London in the 1980s. We didn’t have uniform, it was fairly common not to have uniform.

A few shows have this retro vibe now. The End of the F*ing World is another one.

You can hire Otis’ house - I think the inside scenes are filmed somewhere else. It’s a stunning setting but very £££ to rent.

I love that about the show, adds to it's charm