The captivating preview for the final and highly awaited fourth installment of the globally beloved series, Sex Education, made its debut a few days prior. This announcement was coupled with the disheartening revelation from Laurie Nunn, the mastermind behind the series, that this forthcoming season will also mark the finale of the show. She communicated to the fans through a heartfelt letter, “It became clear that this was the right time to graduate.” Despite the bitter pill that fans have to swallow, the series end is not due to a decline in content quality. In fact, Season 3 was as spectacular as its predecessors. The reasons for the series’ curtain call stem from a changing cast and the evolution of life outside the show.
Last year, the series’ followers were jolted by the news that two of their favorite characters would not return for the fourth season. This shock was compounded by the disclosure that two more key characters would also soon be exiting the show. Despite Sex Education’s primary focus on the awkward Otis (Asa Butterfield) and his sex therapist mother, Jean (Gillian Anderson), the departures of such important characters make it impossible for the series to continue. Therefore, wrapping up the series with the fourth season was the only feasible option.
The Unavoidable Absence of Lily and Ola in Season 4 of ‘Sex Education’
Lily (Tanya Reynolds), perhaps one of the most engaging characters in Sex Education, entered Otis’ school life as an extremely peculiar girl, with her primary interests revolving around the subject of sex (with a particular fondness for alien sex) and her impending loss of virginity. The two decide to share their first time together, which, unsurprisingly, turns disastrous. Otis subsequently drifts towards the new girl, Ola (Patricia Allison), who develops strong feelings for him. However, his constant fascination with the bad girl Maeve (Emma Mackey) sabotages this relationship. The series takes an exciting turn when Lily and Ola develop romantic feelings for each other, creating arguably the healthiest couple in Sex Education. Their unique story progressively occupies a significant portion of the third season’s screen time.
In an unforeseen development, Netflix announced last July that the characters of Ola and Lily would not be reprised in Season 4. Reynolds offered an understanding response to Radio Times, saying, “It’s just the natural progression of these shows — when you have such big ensemble casts and so many characters, I think you have to let a few older characters go to make way for newer ones, which is absolutely the right thing, the way it should happen.” However, this move seems illogical to many. Ola and Lily had evolved into the most dynamic parts of Sex Education, not to mention the only lesbian couple. The decision to introduce new characters when the current ones are flourishing, rather than address the existing storylines, suggests the series’ imminent end.
The Departure of Two More Stars from ‘Sex Education’
Otis’ closest companions in Sex Education are Maeve and Eric (Ncuti Gatwa). Their transformations, both within and beyond their relationships with Otis, encapsulate the essence of the series — the journey of growing up and evolving. Now, their departures further signify the closing chapter of Sex Education. Emma Mackey, who plays Maeve, informed Radio Times in February that her time in the series will end with Season 4. Her absence is understandable as her acting career is gaining momentum, with her being among the top three choices for Lois Lane in James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy. Furthermore, Gatwa, who masterfully portrays Eric, had to exit the show post-Season 4 due to being cast as the next Doctor in Doctor Who!
The Evolution of ‘Sex Education’ Beyond Otis and His Mother
The initial episodes of Sex Education primarily centered on Otis’ adolescence and his interactions with his mother, a sex therapist. However, the series couldn’t perpetually rely on the humor derived from Otis’ embarrassment caused by his mother. Hence, all characters had to undergo growth. The characters surrounding Otis were instrumental in his transformation. Without the influence of Maeve, Eric, Ola, and Lily, Otis wouldn’t have evolved the way he did. Their absence will undoubtedly impact the series, making the fourth season an apt moment to conclude the journey of Sex Education.
Even if the full cast was returning, it seems appropriate for Season 4 to be the conclusion of Sex Education. Audiences have been a part of these characters’ lives for four years now. There’s a limit to how much more their stories can be explored. It’s time to bid them farewell, to let them experience love, loss, sex, and life away from our prying eyes.
The fourth and concluding season of Sex Education is set to premiere on September 21 on Netflix.
