It’s been over a year since a new season of Sex Education graced our screens and *bangs on table* I miss them, I bloody miss the messy/chaotic/beautiful kids of Moordale High. Sex Education season 3 will premiere sometime this year on Netflix – it has to, it must – so to bridge the gap between then and now, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming season.
When will Sex Education season 3 premiere in Australia?
Netflix has announced Sex Education season 3 will premiere September 17 on the streaming giant. Not long now, friends!
Has Netflix released a trailer?
Yes!
Earlier this year, Netflix also released an advertisement for Moordale Secondary. It’s noice, different, unusual.
Stay tuned for the full trailer.
And while we wait for it, Netflix also released a batch of new pictures from the upcoming season. Nobody panic, but Otis (Asa Butterfield) has the beginnings of a pornstache.
LOOK AT THIS NEXT PICTURE.
Netflix also dropped four stills from Sex Education season 3 earlier this year, if you need to catch up.
Who’s returning for Sex Education season 3?
Otis Milburn is a given, so that’s Asa Butterfield on the list, as well as Gillian Anderson as his onscreen sex-therapist mother, Dr Jean Milburn.
Joining them in Sex Education season 3 are Emma Mackey as Maeve Wiley, Ncuti Gatwa as Eric Effiong, Connor Swindells as Adam Groff, Patricia Allison as Ola Nyman, Aimee Lou Wood as Aimee Gibbs, Tanya Reynolds as Lily Iglehart, and Alistair Petrie as Mr Groff.
It’s such an ensemble cast, I can’t imagine any of these characters being cut for whatever reason.
Also, the brand new pictures confirmed the return of of Chris Jenks as Steve Morley, Jojo Macari as Kyle, Chinenye Ezeudu as Viv Odesanya, Kedar Williams-Stirling as Jackson Marchetti, Chaneil Kular as Anwar, Mimi Keene as Ruby Matthews, and Simone Ashley as Olivia Hanan.
FUN FACT: Simone Ashley has been cast as the lead in Netflix’s other horny series, Bridgerton. She’ll star as Anthony Bridgerton’s love interest in season 2.
George Robinson is part of the Sex Education season 3 cast as well. He played Isaac in season 2 and is the main reason I yelled at my TV after the season finale. More on that in a tick.
Will there be any new characters in season 3?
Yep!
In September, Netflix announced Jemima Kirke (Girls) had joined the cast as Moordale’s new headmistress, Hope.
Dua Saleh is playing Cal, a new nonbinary student who clashes with Hope, and Jason Isaacs (AKA Lucius Malfoy) is playing Peter Groff.
According to Netflix, Peter is Mr Groff’s “more successful/less modest older brother”. Perfect casting for that character, if you ask moi.
What happened at the end of Sex Education season 2?
I’m not going to spoil the whole thing, just in case you haven’t watched it yet (umm, hit up Netflix right now if you haven’t) or want to rewatch it. Instead, I’m just going to talk about the Otis and Maeve storyline, since it’s the main-main one.
I love a good will-they-won’t-they plot, but MY GOD it’s draining.
SPOILER WARNING: skip ahead to the next section if you don’t want to know what happened between Otis and Maeve at the end of Sex Education season 2.
During that house party in season 2, Otis humiliated both Maeve and Ola in front of, like, half the school. It SUCKED.
He accused Maeve of playing with people’s feelings and he told her that she’s “probably the most selfish person I’ve ever met”, which… wasn’t his greatest moment in the series.
Anywho, Otis apologised to Maeve over a voicemail. He also told her he loved her. EXCLAMATION MARK.
“It’s you,” Otis said. “It’s always been you. I love you.”
After two seasons, Otis finally said the fucking words. And then what happened? Isaac DELETED THE VOICEMAIL (because he also likes Maeve).
I spoke to Emma Mackey about it last January, here’s her thoughts on the whole thing:
“It’s not justified, but I do understand where he’s [Isaac] coming from,” Mackey said. “Maeve is someone he wants to protect and he fears for her as her friend.”
Mackey said that Isaac wasn’t “evil”, he was just trying to help Maeve.
“It’s kind of similar to what Otis said to Eric about Adam,” she continued. “Like why would you want to be with someone that bullied you and traumatised you for years, it’s friends looking out for each other.”
Mackey also opened up about Aimee’s very important storyline in season 2, which sparked a wider conversation about sexual assault.
You can read our full interview here.
What can we expect from Sex Education season 3?
Netflix announced that the new season will feature Otis having more casual sex (as well as that dreaded voicemail).
It’ll also explore Eric and Adam’s relationship, Dr Jean’s new baby, and Jackon’s new crush.
In an interview with Digital Spy last year, Asa Butterfield said he was “really happy” with the opening episode of Sex Education season 3.
He was pretty tight-lipped about it, but he did drop this interesting titbit: “It didn’t go where I anticipated it to. A few things have changed. I’m excited.”
Interesting.
Asa also shared what he wants out of season 3, and one can’t help but aggressively agree with him.
“I want more of Otis and Maeve,” he told the publication. “We didn’t get so much of that in season 2 as we did in season 1. And I always like working with Emma.
“I think it’s a great relationship – not even in a romantic sense, but they really understand each other, and they really get the best out of each other as people.”
Call it skepticism, but that makes me think the exact opposite is going to happen in season 3. I swear to God if we don’t get good Maeve x Otis content in Sex Education season 3, I’m writing an angry letter.
For what it’s worth, Butterfield said he reckons both Otis and Maeve still have some growing to do before they – if they – start dating.
Will there be a season 4?
Since Sex Education season 3 hasn’t premiered yet, it’s probably too early to say.
However, series creator Laurie Nunn previously told The Hollywood Reporter that “these characters … they’ve got legs.”
She continued, “I think I could do some more with them if we’re given the chance.”
At the time, season 2 hadn’t premiered on Netflix yet.
“[Netflix] is very supportive and really wanting us to tell the stories that we feel passionate about. It really feels like we’re on the same page, wanting to make the same show.”
Sounds promising, I reckon.
Sex Education seasons 1 and 2 are streaming on Netflix. If you’re up to date and need more bingeworthy content to feast your eyes on, check out our list of the best new Netflix series right HERE.
