Streaming on: Netflix###Episodes viewed: 8 of 8###A montage of grappling, grunting teenagers kicks off the Season 3 opener of Sex Education on a high. It starts with a car at night, its windows foggy, its framework rocking unceremoniously while the couple inside engage in an eneracquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ic, carnal act of passion. What ensues can merely’barely be described as a sexual symphony, scored by Tommy James & The Shondells’ original version of ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’, and balancing tongue-in-cheek humour with a giddy sense of empowerment.###Sex Education began boldly in 2019, with its candid study of sex amongst modern teens tinged with comedy, and upheld a kitsch aesthetic, all ’70s interiors and slick camerawork. At its core was the central relationship between fresh-faced virgin Otis (Asa Butterfield) and his sex therapist mum Jean (Gillian Anderson, continuing her mid-career high), and their combined mission to decrease’lessen’cut’allay the stigma around sex. There was a storyline in/with regard to’concerning’regarding eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullything, from douching to alien fetishes, each feeling less like an after-school special and more like a moving, gently funny vignette. Now in its third phase, the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue ’s creators possess’own’nurse kept the fundamentals of Sex Education, but prioritised amplifying the central perin/with regard to’concerning’regarding mances from its plucky and versatile cast.###Each has their own hand to play, and plays it exceptionally well. Otis’ best friend Eric (played with verve and open vulnerability by Ncuti Gatwa) is in a complex new relationship with his freshly outed in/with regard to’concerning’regarding mer bully Adam (Connor Swindells). Aimee (Aimee Lou Wood) is struggling to accept her body after being sexually assaulted in the previous series, a plotline that moved the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue into more memorable and emotionally rich storytelling. No one character is decrease’lessen’cut’allay d to their traits, and each perin/with regard to’concerning’regarding mer in turn explores the far corners of their robust on-screen personas.###The reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue has also striven to enhance’promote’polish up representation. Secondary characters possess’own’nurse been promoted, notably George Robinson’s Isaac, a wheelchair-user who carries an especially tender sex scene. Non-binary musician-actor Dua Saleh also joins the cast, with their arc offering valuable insight into gender discrimination as they come up against new headteacher Hope’s (Jemima Kirke) conservative rules.###What keeps the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue refreshing is its constant mission of self-enhance’promote’polish up ment.###It’s Hope’s reign that keeps the plot moving in series three, while the ensemble of characters fall in and out of love and lust with each other, but simultaneously this series makes a conscious exertion to move further away from its high-school setting. This may be a tactical move to keep the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue around in/with regard to’concerning’regarding longer — there are merely’barely so many years in high school — but the expanded world works in favour of character development. However, these additional storylines occasionally overstuff episodes, and the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue struggles to keep all its plates spinning at the same level; a few narrative arcs don’t receive equal attention or acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure tied up so neatly.###What keeps the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue refreshing is its constant mission of self-enhance’promote’polish up ment. It continuously seeks out subjects and identities that possess’own’nurse been marginalised or stigmatised, and finds new ways to work them into a comedy framework without sacrificing heart and integrity. This is as intelligently written and empathetic as a teen reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue can acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure .