Sex Education Premiere Recap: A Giant Sexting Fail Serves As One Cringey Cautionary Tale — Plus, A 'Maevis' Update!
If you thought the premiere of Sex Education's final season felt more like a spinoff or a backdoor pilot, you're not alone! When the Netflix dramedy returns for its fourth go-around (all eight episodes are now available to stream), things have changed quite a great deal in Moordale. Maeve is in America, Otis and Eric are starting at a new college that feels more like a hippie cult or summer camp for horny teens, and Jean's busy dealing with her new bundle of joy, Joy.
There's a lot to dive into, so let's do just that!
As mentioned, Maeve is studying abroad in the good ol' U.S. of A., and her teacher (played by Schitt's Creek's Dan Levy) is a bit arrogant, to say the least. Sure, he could possibly help her get ahead with her writing, but he's also one of those, "Hey, I'm assigning my own book for you to read, so you have to buy it and tell me how amazing I am" types. He also throws Maeve's phone out the window, which is soooo not cool. (Why doesn't anyone on this show ever have their phone on silent? Monsters, I tell you!) Meanwhile, Maeve and Otis are doing the long-distance thang, which includes plenty of sexting — with photos — which causes Otis a whole lotta stress.
Jean has a job interview to host a new radio show about sex, but mommy brain is affecting her ability to function. However, when she lands the gig, her new boss (played by Hannah Gadsby) wants her to start immediately, which is less than ideal for the new mom, whose home life is seemingly falling apart. (Jakob split once he found out the baby wasn't his.)
The kids' new school is called Cavendish College, which Eric says feels like Amsterdam. Everyone seems happy and "super queer" (according to him), and that's mostly true. The place is a total vibe, but a very unrealistic one. We meet some of the new cult members students, including Abbi, Aisha and Roman. They're the new popular kids, but they make it clear that they operate in a "gossip-free zone," projecting positivity wherever they go. Kinda nauseating, innit? Regardless, Eric seems to fit right in. He's a natural, that one!
Otis is looking to restart his sex clinic on campus, but isn't aware that Sarah (known around the halls as "O") has a lock on the whole student sex therapy thing. So Otis gets on stage to introduce himself to his new peers, only when he connects his phone to the big screen, a picture of his (flaccid) penis that he meant to send to Maeve is displayed to the entire crowd. It wouldn't be Sex Education without a healthy helping of cringe, right?
Eric asks all of the right questions, so we don't have to: "WHY was your penis flaccid? Also, why were your pubes shaped in that strange pattern, and why was the camera SO FAR AWAY?!" (Eric, please, please, please help your boy out!)
Despite Otis' major faux pas, Cal comes to see him to talk about their body dysphoria, an issue that will be further explored in the season's subsequent episodes.
Former headmaster Groff (Adam's dad) is also back, only now he's substitute teaching at Cavendish, which not only seems convenient story-wise, but also odd, seeing as a sub is needed on... Day 1? (It's better not to ask too many questions this season, my friends.) As for Adam, he's still working on getting over his breakup with Eric. The relationship between father and son is still heavily strained, despite how hard Mr. Groff is trying to be a better man and father. Time will tell!
In the episode's final moments, Otis apologizes for ghosting Maeve's texts all day. Since photos aren't his thing, the two engage in a bout of phone sex, before Maeve casually says she's off to grab pizza with Tyrone, a new friend from school. It takes Otis mere seconds before he's on his phone Googling the guy's name.
In other news, Isaac is also attending Cavendish, where he has an awkward run-in with Aimee in the elevator, while Viv meets a new love interest.
Now it's your turn! What did you think of Sex Ed's (final) season premiere? Grade it below, then speak your truth in the comments section!