It’s been a year since Sex Education took Netflix by storm with its humor and heart, and it’s finally back for Season 2 this Friday. Now for a recap and a quick preview.
If you can’t squeeze in a Season 1 rewatch before the weekend, here’s our Wiretap rundown of where the story left off.
Otis Milburn (Asa Butterworth) is a socially awkward high schooler with a sex therapist mother, Jean (Gillian Anderson). Although he’s a bit clueless when it comes to his own sex life, he has a knack for helping others work through their issues. Enter Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey), the secretly whip-smart but highly misunderstood school rebel. When she realizes Otis has a gift, they set up a sex clinic at school where they give advice to their classmates based on his knowledge and her instincts.
In the Season 1 finale, Otis started a relationship with Ola (Patricia Allison), who also happens to be the daughter of his mother’s handyman AND secret lover, Jakob (Mikael Persbrandt). As Otis and Ola’s relationship blossoms, Otis begins to experience his sexual awakening. Things were already tense with his mom after he discovered the book she was writing about his repressed sexual appetite, and although he has forgiven her, he had pleaded with her not to start a relationship with his new girlfriend’s dad.
Maeve, who was struggling to survive on her own through most of the first season until her brother came back into the picture, ended the season by taking the blame for his drug dealing at her school and putting her education in jeopardy. She pleaded her case to a panel of teachers at Moordale, including headteacher Mr. Groff (Alistair Petrie) who couldn’t see past her pedigree. Her boyfriend, Jackson (Kedar Williams-Stirling), even attempted to leverage his swim-team star status to help keep her in school, but Mr. Groff refused to be blackmailed … but only told Jackson this after he won a swim meet.
Although Maeve’s academic career was in question, Otis made a sweeping gesture and stole the essay contest trophy won by school bully, Adam (Connor Swindells), which Maeve actually wrote. After the will-they-or-won’t-they dynamic through the entire first season, Maeve was finally ready to tell Otis she loves him. But she arrives just in time to find him kissing Ola. The one good thing that came of all of this is Maeve’s friendship with Aimee (Aimee Lou Wood) – one of the popular kids who finally breaks free from her mean girl-group of friends, “The Untouchables.”
Eric (Ncuti Gatwa), Otis’ best friend, embraces who he truly is following a violent assault. He had struggled with his very religious family about his sexuality. His dad has a change of heart by the end of the season, which helps Eric’s newfound confidence. That confidence is rocked following a troubling and confusing hookup with his tormentor, Adam. Eric doesn’t get an opportunity to discuss what happened because Adam is shipped off to military school.
In Season 2, Otis is learning how to deal with his sexual urges as his relationship with Ola grows and his friendship with Maeve is on shaky ground. At the same time, Moordale Secondary is in the midst of a Chlamydia outbreak, which just shows how desperately these students need better sex education. A new group of students come into the picture and start challenging the status quo at school.
The friendship between Maeve and Aimee is still going strong, but Maeve’s world is shaken up with the return of her mom. Adam, still at military school, is struggling to deal with his feelings for Eric. Jackson, still under extreme pressure to succeed from his parents, is forced to use his mind rather than his body. Lily has put her sexual adventures on hold to focus on her creative projects, and develops a friendship with Ola. And despite Otis’ pleading, Jean and Jakob’s relationship has continued.
Here’s a sneak preview:
The second season will continue to build on this world and these friendships, and even venture into new territory without losing any of the charm that had everyone talking about this show in Season 1.
Are you excited for the new season of Sex Education? Are you Team Maeve or Team Ola? Let us know by commenting either below or by adding Wiretap to Chrome. Our FREE extension is the perfect way to get a refresher on Season 1 with comments from friends and fans. Of course, you can add your own too.
Photos & video courtesy of Netflix
