Page 4 | Sex Education series 4

Imamumgetmeoutofhere · 2023-09-21T06:35:08+00:00

Drops today on Netflix. Is anyone else looking forward to this? The first 2 series I felt were really good and highlighted so many important issues. The 3rd series however felt a bit forced and like they were trying to cram as many current and relevant issues into it as possible. Plus the "evil" head teacher felt a bit silly too. What do we think will happen this series?

SandandSky · 30/09/2023 22:10

RE Otis - yes on many occasions he is annoying af.

IMO Maeve, Jean and pretty much the whole clan have their un likeable moments, even Eric.

But there is something I really like about how none of the main characters are perfect or portrayed as heroicly good. I love that it is more reflective of real life, where most people can be wonderful but also an arsehole.

I think that the more developed characters were also interesting because they weren’t perfect and you could understand why.

AnneOfTeenFables · 30/09/2023 22:16

Otis has always been a shit friend though - in the way that teenagers often are because they're self-obsessed and struggling with puberty/emotions/development/ issues at home. The only ones who were portrayed as consistently good friends across all the seasons were Eric and Aimee.

I actually feel I was a bit hard on this season when I'd only watched the first episode. I ended up just ignoring the new character storylines - they were one-dimensional, unrealistic and not helped by their very patchy acting abilities. I've never rated Cal's actor - and their storyline was irresponsible bullshit. I could also have done without the pee/poo/farting storylines.

But I loved all the original character stories. Although I wasn't entirely convinced by Eric distancing himself from Otis.

RandomersAssociation · 01/10/2023 03:24

I was. Completely. Can’t forget the night Eric was attacked on a night out because Otis let him down. Or the many times Otis hasn’t answered the phone because Eric was so low on his list of priorities. Or the fact that Eric craves opportunities to be his authentic self, rather than just Otis’ support animal …

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 01/10/2023 08:42

I ended up just ignoring the new character storylines - they were one-dimensional, unrealistic and not helped by their very patchy acting abilities.

I think doing this is probably the best way to make this series vaguely watchable.

RainbowZebraWarrior · 01/10/2023 08:50

I also thought Otis was a dick and didn't much care a fuck what happened to him in the end. As Random says, he was selfish and let Eric down a lot. I used to be a teenager, and although not perfect I was never a knob like that.

I guess it's often the same with the main protagonist of a story. I similarly thought Bridget Jones was a deeply unlikeable neurotic annoying arse of a character.

Thisisworsethananticpated · 01/10/2023 11:03

I actually loved this series

yea the woke cool school gang were a a bit ick and that final sex scene made me 🙈

bit I loved jean and her sisters relationship
Loved the dad and son
I basically want to be Jean

and cal and her mum totally made me 😭😭

Thisisworsethananticpated · 01/10/2023 11:04

And also loved Rubys character

RandomersAssociation · 01/10/2023 11:17

Hmm … Cal’s mother was basically afraid of them for most of the series. It was really quite disturbing.

And I didn’t much enjoy the portrayal of Jean. It was as if she was holding her breath the entire time. Made me feel tense and uncomfortable.

It was quite amusing / intriguing to see Hannah Waddingham looking so un-glamorous as Jackson’s mum. So different to her role as Rebecca in ‘Ted Lasso’.

Thisisworsethananticpated · 01/10/2023 11:45

the scenes of calls mum seeing her suffering and wanting to talk but unable to connect broke
me

i enjoyed it , watched it when I was having a sick day (partly due to my teenagers poor MH ) and for whatever reason it all warmed my heart

im also a typical generation X in how I don’t understand the gender trans issue very well

that said I’d LOVE to see a board or senior executive team ran by this this lot of teens

I’ve had way to many years of the white men automatically getting power

AnneOfTeenFables · 01/10/2023 11:52

I don't even know if the writers expected us to like the new characters. At points I thought it might be a very sly satire on those type of 'worthy/trendy/think-they're-better-than-everyone-else' teens.

midnightblue12 · 01/10/2023 20:15

ToastofLandon · 30/09/2023 11:28

They ruined s4 with diversity box-ticking. It so performative, there was no depth to the characters whatsoever.

So disappointing after the last 3 series which I loved.

I've just made a SE4 thread before finding this one! oOps 🙈

I totally agree with this point. It felt incredibly box ticking and not representative at all of everyday life... at least my everyday life.
It's like every character has something to do with LGBTQ+ or a disability.... and whislt I have absolutely no issue or stigma whatsoever towards either of these communities, I don't think it's represented them wel because it just feel forced and therefore not genuine.

But o guess it's a tv show isn't it so doesn't need to reflect reality entirely! Hopefully those characters helped someone at home who was going through something similar.

I love ruby and her development. She's definitely my favourite character from the series. I would've felt much happier seeing her and Otis together at the end 🙈

ParentsTrapped · 01/10/2023 20:33

Like so many pps I adored the Aimee and Isaac storyline and the whole Groff family. Wish there had been even more of them. Also love Eric and agree that Otis was a shit friend to him.

The trans stuff was appalling really.

Thisisworsethananticpated · 01/10/2023 21:17

No ! Ruby deserves better
she is not second best

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 01/10/2023 22:26

Ruby does deserve better! I think her character is really interesting.

HeadAgainstWall0923 · 02/10/2023 12:07

I’ve just finished watching Series 4 and I’m going to give my review without having read any of the previous comments just so I’m not influenced in any way…

I was really disappointed with this series sadly. There were some good bits but the rest just seemed a bit vapid.

For anyone who has also watched Heart Stopper, this S4 of SE left me feeling quite similar to how the latest season of Heart Stoppers left me in that it felt like some of the depth of the characters and their storylines were missing and instead it was just a way to push the current Trans/queer issues that are currently so high profile. It was as though every student in that college was part of the LGBTQ+ and although I absolutely think this an important issue to discuss and be inclusive of, it came across as so try-hard that it was awkward to watch at times.

I was really disappointed that Maeve and Otis didn’t end up together….I so badly wanted them to have their happy ending. The huge build up in series 1-3 has now just turned out to have been be completely pointless.

And at the end of the series when there was a knock on Jean’s front door I so badly wanted it to be Jakob! I was very disappointed to see Motor Bike man.

I though the whole Viv/Beau storyline could have been done much better - again there was no depth to it. I really like Viv’s character so I was disappointed she only got quite a weak role in this series.

I have never liked Cal’s character so I wasn’t invested in that storyline.

The whole Aimee and Isaac thing didn’t grab me either. I loved it when she shouted at the workmen though!!

I really like Jackson and I’ve warmed to the character of his biological mother but the character of his other mum has always grated on me and this series proved only to do the same.

Things I like from this series:

Maeve’s complicated emotions following the death of her mother - I think that was really lovey done, especially her Eulogy.
It was nice seeing Michael genuinely try to be a better man.
Seeing the issues surrounding post-natal depression and the worries women have about returning to the workplace after having a baby.
Eric’s speech at the baptism
I liked seeing more of the background behind Ruby’s character. I loved seeing a more vulnerable side to her during the series where she dated Otis so this was a nice add-on. I think she really loves Otis deep down.

The two absolute best things about the series were undoubtedly Eric and Adam!!!

Eric is amazing - the actor plays him so, so well. He has a great laugh! I loved all the Oat Cake references too. He’s the best character by far! You can’t help but smile when he’s on the screen.

And Adam was as lovey as ever, it would have been nice to have seen him more. I was secretly really hoping he’d end up back with Eric at the end though.

So overall, I did enjoy it but I didn’t feel the same connection to it that I did with the previous series.

AnneOfTeenFables · 02/10/2023 13:46

I really liked that Maeve followed her dream to be a writer and go to the US. It was a sliding door's moment for her and I loved that Jean was able to help Maeve make that choice.
The abuse stories made me quite emotional eg Aimee's, Joanne's, Viv's. They really showed that anyone can be abused.

Xrays · 02/10/2023 14:34

AnneOfTeenFables · 02/10/2023 13:46

I really liked that Maeve followed her dream to be a writer and go to the US. It was a sliding door's moment for her and I loved that Jean was able to help Maeve make that choice.
The abuse stories made me quite emotional eg Aimee's, Joanne's, Viv's. They really showed that anyone can be abused.

I liked the fact Maeve followed her dream too. I think that was more realistic than her and Otis swanning off into the sunset forever. I think most of us have those heart breaking first love experiences and it’s not pointless (as someone above said the earlier seasons were pointless as they didn’t end up together) the point is learning about yourself, your dreams and the way you tick. That’s a sex education in itself.

midnightblue12 · 02/10/2023 14:36