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Sex Education

Sex Education

Growth is a group project.

2019–2023Ended4 seasons32 episodes~60 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

Inexperienced Otis channels his sex therapist mom when he teams up with rebellious Maeve to set up an underground sex therapy clinic at school.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Sex Education?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Sex Education streaming on Netflix.

Subscription

Highlights

What stands out about Sex Education?

Sex Education earns 9 badges, led by Cultural touchstone and Top 10% of shows.

Show 1 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Content

Reception

Is Sex Education worth watching?

Sex Education's Midcredits score is the 94th percentile of all shows, from 414K ratings across 2 sources. 89% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

94th percentile

Better received than 94% of shows

94th percentile among Comedy93rd percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)92nd
Approval (how many liked it)91st

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

82 /100

92nd percentile of all shows

93rd percentile among Comedy92nd percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Ratings pile up at 9–10 with almost no detractors — near-universal love.

Approval

How many liked it

89% liked it

91st percentile of all shows

90th percentile among Comedy90th percentile among 2010s
89% rated it 7–1011% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

99th percentile

406K ratings across platforms

99th percentile among Comedy99th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 9% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Fans praised

  • sensitive, witty coming-of-age storytelling in seasons 1-3
  • strong ensemble cast with standout performances (Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey)
  • honest, educational approach to taboo sexual topics without preachiness

Detractors panned

  • season 4 feels forced, overcrowded, and loses the show's original charm
  • new characters are shallow and the college setting is unrealistic
  • Otis and Maeve's payoff is unsatisfying, with the romance dragged out then dismissed

What stands out

Acting85

ensemble praised for depth; Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey singled out

Dialogue75

witty, naturalistic banter in early seasons

Emotional impactDivisive72

heartfelt moments in seasons 1-3; season 4 feels hollow and preachy

CharactersDivisive70

seasons 1-3 characters layered and relatable; season 4 turns them into caricatures

OriginalityDivisive70

fresh premise for a teen show; season 4 feels formulaic and derivative

HumorDivisive70

early seasons genuinely funny; season 4 loses comedic touch

Plot and storyDivisive55

seasons 1-2 strong narrative; season 3-4 lose coherence and feel rushed

Ending25

unsatisfying resolution for Otis-Maeve; rushed and incomplete arcs

Preferred by

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 16 points higher than under-30s.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 14 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 2 points apart
  • US vs non-US even

Episodes

4 seasons

Season 4 · 2023 · 8 episodes · 6.1 average across 8 rated episodes

  • S4E1

    Episode 1

    Sep 21, 202355 minTMDB rating 6.7Season best
  • S4E2

    Episode 2

    Sep 21, 202352 minTMDB rating 5.8
  • S4E3

    Episode 3

    Sep 21, 202356 minTMDB rating 6.0
  • S4E4

    Episode 4

    Sep 21, 202356 minTMDB rating 6.3
  • S4E5

    Episode 5

    Sep 21, 202355 minTMDB rating 5.7
  • S4E6

    Episode 6

    Sep 21, 202366 minTMDB rating 6.4
  • S4E7

    Episode 7

    Sep 21, 202360 minTMDB rating 5.7
  • S4E8

    Episode 8

    Sep 21, 202385 minTMDB rating 6.1Finale

Watch experience

What is Sex Education like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you feeling good.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
ContemplativeWarmJoyful
Heaviest: middle
Warm humor
Register
WarmIrreverent · 2% of shows
Told as
Case of the week plus an arcOne continuous story
ToneThe show balances honest, heartfelt drama with warm, irreverent comedy, never mocking its characters but using humour to defuse awkwardness.
The rideThe series mixes lighthearted comedy with sincere emotional beats, with heavier arcs in later seasons, but the overall tone is warm and thoughtful.
StructureThe series uses a conventional three-act structure per episode and season, without standout nonlinear or framing devices.
Episode formatEach episode features a self-contained counseling case, while ongoing arcs follow Otis, Maeve, and the ensemble's personal growth.
Season formatThe seasons continue the same story and character development, though later seasons shift focus as the cast graduates and the setting changes.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Feel-goodHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves you smiling and reassured about the messiness of growing up, with a belief that people can change and connect.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).RebirthHealing
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7% (this title): Redemption 1% · Healing 3% (this title) · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Healing: Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).

7% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeAcross its run, the series follows young people confronting insecurities and traumas around sex and identity, each season pushing characters toward self-acceptance and healing, typical of a rebirth arc.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfComingof age
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% (this title) · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Self

Coming of age · 9% of showsIdentityFriendship
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe series centers on teenagers discovering their sexual identities, relationships, and self-worth against the backdrop of high school.
StanceThe show celebrates sexual discovery and coming-of-age with empathy and humor, avoiding judgment while affirming the characters' journeys.

The world

ContemporarySuburbanInstitutionalDomesticStylized realism
PopOrchestral modernSupportive music · hybrid · Ezra Furman
SettingMoordale Secondary School and the surrounding British town
MusicEzra Furman's original score blends indie rock with tender orchestral cues.

Content guide

Is Sex Education okay for kids?

TV-MA

Sex Education is rated TV-MA. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (34/100), sexual content at severe (87/100), language at severe (86/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (62/100) and frightening material at mild (33/100). Overall it is heavier than 67% of TV-MA shows.

Ratings in 34 other countries
  • UK18
  • Canada18+
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany16
  • France16
  • Ireland18
  • New Zealand16
  • South Korea19
  • Brazil16
  • ArgentinaSAM 16
  • Austria16
  • BG16
  • Czechia18+
  • FinlandK16
  • Greece16
  • Hungary16
  • IDD
  • IndiaA
  • LTN-14
  • MexicoC
  • MY18
  • Netherlands16
  • Poland16
  • Portugal16
  • PRTV-MA
  • RO18
  • Russia16+
  • SingaporeR21
  • South Africa18
  • Spain16
  • Switzerland16
  • Türkiye18+
  • UA16+
  • VITV-MA
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 82% of all showsHeavier than 67% of TV-MA shows
Violence & Gore
Mild
light for a TV-MA show
heavier than 17%
Sex & Nudity
Severe
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 98%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 84%
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 66%
Frightening / Intense
Mild
light for a TV-MA show
heavier than 17%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is sexual content, language, and drug and alcohol content. Everything else sits at or below what TV-MA shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Sex Education have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Sex Education?

Cast

4 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen; 2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Asa Butterfield
as Otis Milburn
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Gillian Anderson
as Jean Milburn
Established: A standing when this show came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Ncuti Gatwa
as Eric Effiong
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Emma Mackey
as Maeve Wiley
BAFTA nominee: BAFTA Award nomination — Female Performance in a Comedy Programme
Connor Swindells
as Adam Groff
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Kedar Williams-Stirling
as Jackson Marchetti
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Aimee Lou Wood
as Aimee Gibbs
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Alistair Petrie
as Michael Groff
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Mimi Keene
as Ruby Matthews
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Chinenye Ezeudu
as Viv Odusanya
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.

More like this

What are shows like Sex Education?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Sex Education include Never Have I Ever (2020), Skins (2007) and The Inbetweeners (2008).

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What other shows share a tag with Sex Education?

636 other shows share the rarest tag below, kind of show: workplace comedy. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.