Sex Education

Overall, season four of Sex Education delivers a welcome final lesson for all involved—and, in the process, puts a nice little bow on everyone’s stories.

Despite the fact that Sex Education has gone through some big changes this season, it’s still very well worth a binge for the genuine laughs and heartfelt emotion that each episode brings.

New characters bring a freshness to the season, with their relentless positivity and openness, and they are well-cast. They adore Eric from the first moment, but they’re less convinced about Otis, which creates some nice tension between the loving friends whose bond has been a highlight of the series.

Imperfections notwithstanding, Sex Education season 4 is a wholly satisfying conclusion to one of Netflix's best original shows to date. Nunn successfully launches a raft of new characters at this late stage, while taking much of her existing roster into bold and compelling new directions.

The sprawling cast is still a lovely highlight, able to handle all the material here whether it's ludicrous or wholeheartedly dramatic.

This concluding season is — unlike many of the things experienced throughout the show — confident, satisfying and memorable for all the right reasons.

Season 4 was not always what I wanted it to be, but the series finale was. It brought those silly small moments back. It made me remember why these kids were so endearing in the first place, and why I’ve loved watching this show for so many years as I grew up alongside these characters.

While Sex Education does stumble with a lot of changes in its fourth season, the show does, eventually, hit its stride near the end. Isn’t that what teenagerhood is all about too—figuring life out after big changes?

Nunn and her creative team clearly want to do something different for their send-off; and they also want to do too much. And while the show’s heart remains intact, like one of its characters, Season 4 opts to sacrifice some of it to make a statement. The result? “Sex Education” at its weakest and most uneven, even as the cast remains in top form.

This season tips the scales toward preachiness. .... What saves the series from collapsing into earnestness is its unexpected swerves.