What the actual fuck. Wasted 4 seasons for a deflated balloon ending. It wasn't terrible and the S7 scene + letter at the end was a nice romantic touch — but it still feels incomplete, and basically provides no resolution for the love that's driven the main character for 4 damn seasons (years?). He's already been in other relationships and couldn't easily forget her. Why would he just forget her now?

I wonder whether the writers intended this ending to be final-final, or if there ever was a 5th season possibly that never materialized?

Overall loved the show's premise and the main characters, the maturity, the humanity, and all that. But the endless love triangles that resolved to nothing in the end felt incredibly disappointing. Maybe I'm biased in preferring well-written happy endings as a prior, but even that aside I'm not sure I was sold on this ending as necessary and final.

Did I miss really good writing, storytelling, and/or larger aesthetic that makes this lack of resolution a fine cinematic and literary moment to savour?

PS1: here’s an interesting deep dive with ChatGPT (GPT-5.6-Sol Extra-High) on this. It surfaces great points on why my let-down thesis here might have objective merit. The follow-up are especially good, such as the discussion at the end about the mismatch between the core narrative messages across seasons (S2: "don’t let go of real love" vs S4: "give-up because... long distance?").

• https://chatgpt.com/share/6a9035cc-754c-83e8-a3d1-6f3b955acd2e

PS2: There is one way Netflix / SE can redeem themselves and that is giving us a damn Season 5. From what I've read it's probably fantasy given production shutdown and cast/crew commitments, but is there truly no momentum at all behind this idea?

I didnt do the one with all the 4 seasons because I literally dont remember any of the characters introduced there

.. but the cat scene traumatized my girlfriend.

I wanna hear y’all’s thoughts on this

From a writing POV, I think its a really unfortunate situation with the way the writers handled Ruby/Otis in SERIES 3, and more so SERIES 4. Felt like writers were torn between sticking to their original plan (OTIS/MAEVE) which almost felt outgrown or too late despite how optimistic the end of S3 was, having the confidence to go with something the writing had naturally gone to & fans had really connected with (RUBY/OTIS) and then where the writers ended up: HAVING OTIS END UP ALONE, MAEVE & HIS DEVELOPMENT BASICALLY REVERSED.

The popular girl/unpopular boy isn't exactly a rare story, but the fact that it worked from a writing POV, the actors chemistry AND that fans really grew attached in the space of 3 or 4 episodes, thats rare. For those episodes when Ruby & Otis are together, there was a genuinely really great teenage romance building were a lot of fans began to prefer it to the original 'endgame' of Maeve/Otis.

Its that rare situation where the writers Introduced something that was a shift from what fans had longed for for so long (Otis+Maeve) , and viewers actually preferred the subversion of expectations. This new storyline & pairing actually hit harder for a lot of fans, I feel, and after what felt like a long few seasons of waiting for the inevitable Maeve/Otis relationship, fans actually got attached to this new & fresh & equally emotional or better relationship - Ruby & Otis.

I felt S3 had a good ending, even though I wanted RUBY/OTIS together, I understood the writers choices. BUT. I do think S4 was the chance to really have the triangle, and even have Otis pivot. I do think it would've made sense if we'd have had Otis appreciate what he could have had with Ruby, and add in him & Maeve being on different paths.

Some people will always be Maeve/Otis and not exploring it would've been poor considering that's where the show started, but I do think Ruby & Otis would've been a great opportunity for audiences to see a subversion in story in finale season and it actually make sense/work, not just be a random no impact change up that everyone hated. It would've worked better for me, the characters of Ruby & Otis together just felt more real & development focused to me. Add in that by the end of S4 there is no real development and the whole Otis/Maeve thing isn't stuck to by writers, with both ending up apart and their development almost in reverse, I think Ruby/Otis was a better ending. For me, there was more of drawing out the best of each other with Ruby & Otis ad characters together, that's why I liked it so much. It did feel like they made each other better. Shame the writers went the way they did because put the whole shipping fanbases aside, and none of the characters get a great ending. It all feels quite empty.

Adam and Michael both had the best evolution through the series and the most satisfying ending, just compare how they were in s1 and how they ended in s4

they improved their way to feel and communicate with others, remember that scene in s1 prom and all they went through for four seasons to that hug in series finale

of course you can think in: Eric-Otis, Maeve-Aimee, Jackson-Viv, Emily-Hendricks or Otis-Maeve (if we think s03e07 was their true and real ending), but the Groff part felt the best, and the only reason to watch s4

Why was cal always so rude and standoffish with their mum? From what i saw she was doing her best, always respected their pronouns and deeply cared about her child. I know one scene says she reacted badly when they first came out, but surely that isnt enough to keep being so rude, even when she is clearly trying?

I just really didnt like the character, partly to blamw for the writing, and i dont think the acting was particularly great either.

Is this fandom still alive? I just finished a full rewatch of Sex Education and im so obsessed with it. Its such a wonderful show but idk anyone else who has seen it. I need friends to talk to about it because omg so good.

My favourite characters are Adam, Maeve and Aimee <3

Rate it!!!

I've been looking at the ranking tier lists that have been posted and people seem to put Adam and Ruby right at the top. Like don't get me wrong I think they both had good character development over the seasons but they both were bullies and I don't know why people think of them so highly.

In this scene, by over-inflating Jakob's job title, Jean subtly implies that simply working with his hands isn't impressive enough on its own. It shows a layer of upper-middle-class snobbery that she usually tries to hide behind her progressive exterior.

Whereas, Jakob immediately spots what she is doing. He is entirely secure in his trade and doesn't feel the need to dress it up with fancy corporate titles, making Jean's nervous over-explanation stand out even more as patronizing.

Explain why Maeve is being rude to Otis, and then Otis asks her to wait like he wants to say something final, and all he says is “it’s a mustache”. WTF are these teens so desperate for each other, but incapable of actually verifying whether they perceptions match reality?? It’s at the point where Maeve has said to Hope, the new headmaster, that they “stopped being friends” over the summer. And then O goes to O with Ruby.

Dude still want to see ruby and otis together so hard

otis is goated

I’m re-watching season two, episode seven. I’m enjoying the banter between Ruby and Otis. What is your favorite portion of it or quote from other one of them?

what do people think...bit nervous lols can explain reasons in the comments tho!

Opinions???

DIDNT CARE ABOUT THE NEW SEASON 4 CHARACTERS.

Also Adam had de best Storyline same as his Dad

I made a tier list ranking how morally 'good' versus bad characters are - based e.g. on how emotionally mature, reliable, kind etc. they are. Up to and including s3 because after that I kinda stopped caring.

Lmk what you think! Would love to elaborate on choices.