Eric Effiong is Otis's best friend and a fan-favorite character in Sex Education. He has endless reserves of energy and enthusiasm, as well as an unfailing tendency to overexaggerate and no limit of memorable one-liners.
Often known by his nickname Trom-boner, Eric is dedicated to playing the French Horn despite his awkward relationship with Swing Band. He's always around to listen to Otis's problems and support him through the tumultuous journey of high school. Even when things are bad, Eric finds the funny side of the situation. Here are ten of his funniest quotes.
"He Still Calls Me 'Trom-boner'. It's Been Four Years. FOUR. YEARS."
One of Eric's first scenes in the series is his "adequate" rendition of the school anthem at an assembly. Afterward, he's attacked by Adam in the hallway, who calls him "Trom-boner" and demands to hand over his lunch.
Eric laments the experience to Otis. "He still calls me 'Trom-boner'. It's been four years. FOUR. YEARS." Otis concedes that it was pretty funny, but Eric snatches away his bag of sweets and shouts, "It was a semi!"
"Did You Feed Her Sashimi?"
In the third episode of season 1, Maeve asks Otis to meet her somewhere after school. Eric is convinced that she's asking him on a date, but Otis isn't so sure. But when they look up the address, they notice the building is home to a sushi restaurant.
Eric says that raw fish is an aphrodisiac and suggests that Otis dress like John Hamm, but chilled. Of course, it isn't a date, and Maeve needs Otis to pick her up after having an abortion. Still, when Eric runs through the Milburn household that night, he excitedly (and far too loudly) asks, "How was it? Tell me everything! Did you feed her sashimi?"
"So, I Shouldn't Have Worn Espadrilles, Then?"
Otis's father Remi makes a return to the UK in season 2, ostensibly to see his son. He takes Otis and Eric on a camping trip, but when Eric arrives dressed as flamboyantly as ever, fedora, espadrilles, and all, Otis laughs at him.
Otis asks why he brought a laptop charger, and Eric replies that he assumed they were going to a campsite. He cheers up when Remi tells him he's going to go into the woods a boy and come out as a man of nature. They end up spending the night in a hotel.
"Crisps. Otis. Just Crisps."
Otis plans to host a small gathering of friends at his house, and even says that he's going to cook a roast chicken. Eric yells at him not to do that, but Otis doesn't let the subject drop.
Later that day, while Rahim is teaching them how to douche, Otis whispers, "If I'm not cooking a roast chicken, what are people going to eat?" With the utmost gravity, Eric replies, "Crisps. Otis. Just crisps." Still, Otis is determined: "What about dips? My guac is--" But Eric interrupts him and tells him to listen to Rahim.
"You Forgot To Save Zelda Again?"
Otis has what he thinks is an inappropriate dream about Maeve, and tries to tell Eric about it during an assembly where Mr. Groff is talking about Ugandan sanitary products. He says something very bad has happened, and Eric disappointedly asks, "You forgot to save Zelda again?"
Otis tells him about the dream and Eric yells, "That's brilliant!" Everyone looks at him and he hastily adds, "About the sanitary things, yas!" As Otis continues recounting the dream, Eric assures him that it's normal, once again interrupting Groff's speech. Eric stands, addressing the entire school: "Menstruation is a very good thing. Actually, it's good to have a good clean out."
"You Should Wash Your Hands, You Detty Pig!"
Season 2 begins with an outbreak of chlamydia, but also with Otis's insecurity surrounding masturbation and his relationship with Ola. He confesses to Eric in the bathroom, thinking they're alone - until they hear someone move in one of the stalls.
Owen emerges and says he wasn't going to come out because they were discussing something awkward and strange, then begins to leave. In a now-iconic line, Eric shouts at him to wash his hands, but Owen says he was crying.
"Now Lose The Tie. You Look Like A Mormon."
Otis's first day as a sex therapist doesn't get off to the best start. Eric notices that he's acting "particularly odd", a suspicion that becomes confusion when Otis hangs up on Maeve. Otis says he just wants to be a guy in a corner, but Eric convinces him otherwise.
He assures Otis that he wants to hang out with Maeve, but that he'll have to lose the tie. He puts his hands on his hips and speaks in a businesslike manner. "Listen, now you're gonna have to fake until you make it. Can you do that?" When Otis doesn't answer, Eric firmly says "yes" for him. "Now let's get on with our day."
"Kelly Clarkson! Poet!"
The first attempt at sex therapy doesn't go well when Otis accidentally tells Olivia a story about chinchillas giving themselves blowjobs. When the trio is sitting down at lunch break, Kyle skates by, asking Maeve for advice on chinchillas.
Otis realizes that Olivia must have told people. Maeve replies, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Eric thinks he knows what she's referencing and exclaims, "Kelly Clarkson!" Disappointed, Maeve and Otis simultaneously correct him: "Neitzche."
"Was It The Chlamydia Or Jackson That Gave You A Hard-On?"
Eric and Otis are forced to question everyone Martha and Gwen have slept with to get to the bottom of the chlamydia outbreak. Jackson is the last person on their list, and he's not on the best terms with Otis after his breakup with Maeve.
After learning that Jackson hasn't given anyone chlamydia, Jackson walks off, but Otis realizes the conversation has someone stimulated him. Eric cackles with laughter as Otis flees, calling after him, "Was it the chlamydia or Jackson that gave you a hard-on?"
"Uh, I Think That We've Had Quite Enough Of You Today. Go On. Owen. Uncalled For And Unnecessary."
Owen is the root of all of Otis's problems in the first episode of season 2. Eric soon learns that he's the source of the chlamydia outbreak, so he sends him to confess to Otis.
Owen tries to therapize Otis, encouraging him to tell Ola about his "wank problem". Eric is swift to intercede and interrupts Owen. "Uh, I think that we've had quite enough of you today. Owen. Uncalled for and unnecessary."