Sex Education

Now it knows exactly what it is. The writing, and particularly Taylor’s direction, ooze confidence as we flit from heartfelt tête-à-têtes that could be from a Nineties romcom to some riotous comic set-pieces. It is terrific fun throughout.

In its third outing, the series remains cringingly honest and engagingly heartfelt, with just the right amount of pathos and the occasional outrageous sight gag.

Season three builds on the magnetism of the two previous installments to become the show’s best offering yet.

Sex Education isn’t just unafraid of awkwardness; it embraces it earnestly and turns it into a wonderful thing.

The drama that springs between characters isn’t as earthshaking as the drama rising at Moordale, and this may be “Sex Education”s most important detail. ... Nunn makes the world rumble with her overarching plot instead, and so “Sex Education” lets us feel, put in a word, good. But it doesn’t ask us to look away from all that makes us feel bad, either, and that’s even better.

The series is still funny and, if you’ll forgive the pun, spunky. But it veers dangerously into the territory of trying too hard, of doing too much. There’s a lot to enjoy in season three, but simply not enough room for its brilliance to breathe.

None of it is soapy, but almost all of it is funny, or at least tinged with humor.

Season 3 gives the show’s multifaceted ensemble cast more room to run riot while pushing forward with its ever-diverse storylines. Proof you can never have too much of a good thing.

It would be nice to have Otis and/or Maeve more directly involved in what’s happening at the school, but their various conflicts (involving one another as well as their respective families and love interests) are emotionally effective in their own right. On the whole, it’s a very satisfying bounce-back year.