With Sex Education season 3 just around the corner, fans are anticipating more laughs, hijinks, and awkward moments. While the show mainly focuses on its young cast, some of the parents are just as important and just as interesting to the storyline.
Otis' mum Jean is one of the most well-rounded characters on the show and is a standout in many episodes. On the other hand, Adam's dad Michael is a key source of conflict throughout the series. Some of the parents, like Jean, are highly supportive of their children, while others have a more distant or irresponsible parenting style.
Michael Groff
Michael is the headmaster of Moordale and the father of Adam. Michael has a stern and strict approach to running the school, and his approach to parenting isn't much different. Michael is cold and distant towards his son, which ultimately leaves Adam feeling dejected.
Michael's style of parenting clearly had a huge impact on Adam; at the beginning of the series, Adam is cruel and intimidating to his fellow students, which probably stems from the way his father has treated him. Also, Adam struggles to accept his sexuality, which most likely results from the lack of support from his father.
Erin Wiley
Maeve is one of the best characters in Sex Education, but she certainly didn't have the best start in life. Maeve's mother Erin has been largely absent from her daughter's life and whenever she turns up, chaos ensues.
Erin is an addict and constantly vows that she is going to change; because of this, it's easy to see why Maeve is so distrusting and afraid of getting hurt. Maeve is later forced to ring social services, as she feels she needs to protect her baby sister from her mother. Erin is an absent parent who constantly gives her daughter false hope, only to let her down again.
Sofia Marchetti
Sofia is one of Jackson's mothers and is extremely forceful and quite overbearing as a parent. She seems to live vicariously through Jackson, constantly pushing him to train harder and to do better.
Sofia's intense nature puts a strain on her relationship with her wife and pushes Jackson to his limits in season 2. Jackson tires himself out trying to impress his mother and never feels like he's good enough, no matter how hard he tries. While she means well, Sofia is a little too forceful in her parenting approach, which damages her relationship with Jackson.
Remi Milburn
Otis' father Remi lives in America, so he doesn't play an overly active part in his son's life. When Remi does appear, he tries his best to connect with Otis, but seems unable to do so as he is emotionally distant and self-sabotaging.
As a child, Otis walked in on his father cheating on his mother with one of his clients, which would have been traumatic for the young boy. This could also partly explain Otis' uncomfortable and awkward relationship with sex at the beginning of the series. Although Remi's mistakes allow him to provide sound advice to Otis at times, he ultimately fails at being a present and supportive parent.
Mr. And Mrs. Effiong
Eric's parents are deeply religious and don't approve of many of his choices. Although Eric is one of the funniest characters in Sex Education, his family shows a more vulnerable side to his personality.
Eric's mother seems disappointed by his lack of faith and she also appears to disapprove of his dress sense. Eric's father also struggles with his son's eccentric fashion choices, worried that he may get attacked for the way he looks. Mr. and Mrs. Effiong struggle to understand Eric but do seem to want the best for him.
Jakob Nyman
Jakob is a handyman who develops a relationship with Jean, but he is also Ola's father. His relationship with Jean made Otis and Ola's even more awkward than it already was. While he embarrasses his daughter sometimes, he is genuinely caring and protective towards her.
Jakob has made mistakes in the past, like turning to drink when his wife got sick, which left Ola to care for her. Despite this though, the two have grown to have a close and fairly warm relationship and seem able to rely on each other.
Maureen Groff
Maureen appears to be a caring and doting mother towards Adam. That being said, she does struggle to stand up to her husband in season 1 when he mistreats both her and Adam.
In season 2 though, Maureen realizes her own self-worth and decides to leave Michael. In the next season, it will be interesting to see her reaction to Adam's new relationship with Eric which will hopefully prove just how warm and supportive she really is. Although she sometimes failed to defend Adam when he needed it, she more than made up for this later.
Roz Marchetti
Jackson's other mother Roz is much more relaxed than her wife, which leads to tension within the Marchetti household. Roz seems genuinely concerned about her son's welfare and tries to reign in her wife's behavior.
Roz is one of the characters fans want to see more of in season 3, as she hasn't featured in the show much so far. Although her constant arguing with her wife doesn't provide the greatest environment for Jackson, it is certainly justified. Roz seems to be a solid support to her son and may have the power to make her wife realize just how damaging her overbearing nature has been to him.
Jean Milburn
Having a sex therapist as a mother isn't an ideal situation for a teenage boy like Otis, but Jean certainly gives parenting her all. Even though she doesn't always get things right and often embarrasses Otis by being far too involved in his life, everything she does comes from a place of love.
Jean regularly invades her son's privacy by going through his room, but she is still one of the most likable characters in the show. She may not be the perfect parent but she always tries to do what she feels is right by Otis and is always there to support him. If it wasn't for Jean's profession, Otis and Maeve would never have started up the sex clinic, which means she plays an important role in the show.