Sex Education: What the Must Watch reviewers think

Tuesday 14 January 2020, 11:18

Every week, the Must Watch podcasters review the biggest TV and streaming shows alongside 5 Live presenter Nihal Arthanayake.

This week, Hayley Campbell and guest reviewer Lauren O’Neill shared their thoughts on the return of Sex Education – Netflix’s hit comedy series, which is back for a second season on the streaming service from Friday 17 January 2020.

The show stars Gillian Anderson as a sex therapist and Asa Butterfield as her son, who uses the knowledge he’s picked up from her to become his school’s resident sex guru – despite his own practical shortcomings...

Listen to the latest episode of the Must Watch podcast on BBC Sounds.

Subscribe here, and never miss an episode.

(Photo: Netflix)

Hayley says: “The buzz from something being a bit rude dies down after a while”

"It’s very stylistically American - to the point where the kids are writing on yellow legal pads. I like seeing Gillian Anderson – she’s an underrated actor - but I’m not a huge fan of this show.

"As with the first series I think this would be funny if you were younger, but as I’m old and nearly dead I found it hard to get into. I just feel like the buzz you get from something being a bit rude dies down after a while.

"I just didn’t get anything from it apart from really liking Gillian Anderson and wanting to see her in more stuff."

(Photo: Netflix)

Lauren says: "The performances are so charming, it gets me"

"I like it purely because I like things that are nice and light but also can pack a punch when they’re supposed to have a dramatic arc. The actors in the show are so charming. Gillian Anderson is amazing, Asa Butterfield is so good in the lead role, Ncuiti Gatwa, who plays Eric is brilliant whenever he’s on the screen, I can’t take my eyes off him.

"All of the other performances are really good, from lots of young new actors. The American-ness jars a little, but the performances are so charming, it gets me.

"It’s really different [to something like Skins]. It’s much more light-hearted. Skins had its issues with realism. A lot of people watched it because it represented a more exciting version of their late adolescence. This isn’t as exciting. It’s more true to the awkwardness of being a teen, but also a lot more eventful and Americanised.

"It’s a welcome antidote to January being a grey, boring time. TV should offer this kind of escapism - it’s like real life but animated and a bit sillier."