TV Show Review - Sex Education (Season 3)

Season: 3
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2021
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, Connor Swindells, Kedar Williams-Stirling, Aimee Lou Wood, Tanya Reynolds, Patricia Allison

Description: Teenager Otis (Asa Butterfield), with a sex therapist mother (Gillian Anderson), teams up with high school classmate Maeve (Emma Mackey) to set up an underground sex therapy clinic at school.

Review: To the sounds of “I Think We’re Alone Now”, we look inside a dozen or so bedrooms where people are, with great pleasure, having sex. In every conceivable way, in every possible combination and physically viable position. Straight, gay, solo, all genders, colors and preferences pass by. This sets the tone immediately and it’s clear “Sex Education” is back.
Yet again the sexual awakenings of the students of Moordale Secondary School offer more than enough to enjoy. Especially when their newfound freedoms and carefree self-expression come under pressure with the arrival of a new principal: Hope Haddon. She must restore the neat reputation of the so-called ‘sex-school’ and reassure concerned parents. She does this by a far-reaching restriction of freedoms, with a fascist tenor: discipline, censorship, self-control and uniformity are paramount. Students must wear school uniforms, and expressions of personal taste or preferences are prohibited. Violation is punished with humiliation. The creators bring a fine contrast with the introduction of two non-binary characters, with whom the question of school uniforms is immediately an impossible one.
It's a simple scenario, with urgent underlying themes, at a time when conservative forces are sometimes frighteningly easy to dismiss progressive values and achievement. Season 3 is a long ode to those values. And yes, it’s still needed.
In addition to this sympathetic social agenda, this time the creators also manage well to further deepen the characters’ storylines.
In the process, the writers cleverly manage to debunk every stereotype or prejudice. Mean girls turn out to be vulnerable, angry boys are actually sweet, and the friendship between Otis and Eric who talk very candidly about their emotional lives. This is a rarity on TV. I love the heartwarming transition of Adam, who went from a complete jerk to a love-struck kindhearted young man.
“Sex Education” is still daring and the writers don’t shy away from any complicated subjects. I loved season 3, it didn’t disappoint one bit.

Movie Review - Emma.

Director: Autumn de Wilde
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Mia Goth, Bill Nighy, Johnny Flynn, Josh O’Connor, Callum Turner, Amber Anderson, Tanya Reynolds, Miranda Hart, Gemma Whelan, Rupert Graves, Myra McFadyen, Esther Coles, Suzy Bloom, Suzanne Toase, Nicholas Burns, Lucy Briers, Anna Francolini, Connor Swindells, Isis Hainsworth

Description: In 1800s England, the well-meaning but selfish young Emma (Anya Taylor-Joy) meddles in the love lives of her friends.

Review: The popular rich daughter Emma Woodhouse tries in her wat to boost the love life of the people around her. Jane Austen’s stories have appeared on the big screen so often in so many different forms that filmmakers have to look for new interpretations of her work. As far as I’m concerned, they’ve succeeded that with “Emma.” (the point is deliberate).
Emma is a slightly arrogant and stubborn woman who wants to interfere in the personal relationships of her surroundings, because she seems to know it all. The people around her all love and adore her and don’t really see her real intentions. Apart from nobleman George Knightly, the only opponent who gets in Emma’s way.
For a film that actually takes too long, “Emma.” is a funny film that stands out and keeps you entertained. Nice to see are the very subtle jokes that are in contrast with the light-hearted comedy, especially brought by Bill Nighy.
“Emma.” has a great cast, with Anya Taylor-Joy shining as the titular character. Not one of the best Jane Austen book-to-movie adaptations, but a pleasant watch and certainly worth your time. If you like Austen novels that is (and I do).

Rating: 3,5 / 5