Netflix's Sex Education season 2 is officially available - but what happens in its ending and what does it mean for season 3? Created by Laurie Nunn, Sex Education season 1 premiered on the streaming service in 2019. The show became an immediate critical and commercial success. It garnered over 40 million viewers and dominated social media soon after its release. Equally, it earned rave reviews from critics, who praised its graphically bawdy yet deeply heartfelt approach to teenage and general sexual issues. As such, it was rapidly renewed for a sophomore outing, which was released in January 2020.
Sex Education stars Asa Butterfield as Otis Milburn, a sexually repressed 16-year-old just starting his final years at school. After a humiliating experience with the school bully, Adam, the awkward teenager has a chance encounter with local bad girl and secret genius, Maeve Wiley. Despite his myriad issues, Otis displays a keen aptitude for dispensing sexual and romantic advice to others - largely gleaned from his unconventional therapist mother, Gillian Anderson's Dr. Jean Milburn. After successfully aiding Adam with some of his emotional and (viagra-induced) physical issues, Maeve and Otis partner up to run a secret sex therapy clinic and help their fellow students for profit. Sex Education season 1 tackled such issues as homophobia, unwanted pregnancy, and bodily insecurities. The show also highlighted some lesser-known conditions like Vaginismus.
Sex Education season 2 picked up with various changes to the established status quo. Having reconciled with his childhood issues, Otis had overcome his repression. As a result, his new relationship with himself had flourished - as had the more traditional one with school newcomer, Ola. Maeve, meanwhile, having realized her romantic feelings for Otis, had broken up with star athlete Jackson Marchetti. Despite Jackson's best efforts to prevent it, Maeve had also been expelled from school after taking the blame for her wayward brother's drug-dealing. Now working for a living, season 2 found Maeve crossing paths with her absentee, addict mother, Erin. Otis' gay best friend, Eric, found himself also dealing with a love triangle - following the revelations of Adam's sexuality and the arrival of a French transfer student, Rahim. All the while, Sex Education continued the trend of addressing serious real-world issues such as sexual assault and self-harm. Sex Education season 2 also attempted to demystify such terms as asexuality and pansexuality. Each of these threads and more coalesced in a poignant season 2 finale that simultaneously opened the door for some interesting turns in Sex Education season 3.
What Happened In Sex Education's Season 2 Finale
Sex Education's season 2 finale finally saw a number of events the show had been building towards across its latest 8 episodes. Firstly, despite previously being kicked off the team, Maeve solidified herself as a member of the Quiz Heads. With an increasingly healed Aimee cheering her on, Maeve once again served alongside Steve, Viv, and Dex on a televised quiz competition. Despite the fact that the team ultimately emerged victoriously, the moment only served to emphasize the level of sacrifice Maeve once again found on her shoulders. Similar to the case when she took the fall for her brother, it fell on the teenager to protect a member of her family. In the case of Sex Education season 2, however, that endeavor was centered on her 3-year-old half-sister, Elsie. Despite spending the season scorning the toddler, Maeve had clearly bonded with the child. That fact only served to make it all the more painful when she discovered that her mother had relapsed into her addiction. In tears, Maeve was left with no choice but to call social services and report her mom, ultimately leading to Elsie being taken into care. That pain was only further exacerbated when her mother actually came through for once - turning up to support Maeve at the quiz competition. The move led to Erin declaring that she would never forgive Maeve for turning her in, ultimately costing the burdened teenager another family member.
The other big event in Sex Education season 2's ending was Lily's alien-inspired and erotic production of Romeo and Juliet. All of the characters except Maeve were in attendance - individually supporting Lily as director, Jackson as the star, and Eric in the band. The play brought a number of small plots to a conclusion - including Headmaster Groff's continued descent into outright villainy, finally resulting in him experiencing some long overdue consequences for his bullying ways. It solidified Lily and Ola's relationship, prompted Eric to make his choice between Rahim and Adam, and allowed Otis to finally make amends with both his mother and Jakob. That moderate level of redemption came following a rare honest conversation between Otis and his father, Remi - after which Otis realized what was truly important to him and what kind of man he wanted to be. Unfortunately, he remained firmly in the dark regarding some of the fireworks waiting to go off in his future.
Jean Is Pregnant With Jakob's Baby
After breaking up and then failing to reconcile with Jakob, Jean was unexpectedly overcome with emotion. Having spent years priding herself on her independence and a lack of needing a full-time relationship, Jean had been taken by surprise by the handyman. Previously succumbing to her desires, Jean made a proper go of things with Jakob. Unfortunately, given his increasing presence in her once-private space and a drunken kiss with her ex-husband, the relationship soured. While seeking solace for the revelations pertaining to Otis, the idea of rekindling their romance was rebuffed. Caught yet again by surprise, Jean gave in to tears and what appeared to be some active chest pains. In an understandable move, Jean visited her doctor.
Despite Jean's self-diagnosis that she was perimenopausal, the doctor insisted that it was likely more a broken heart. It seemed to be a valid belief given how the symptoms seemed to strike whenever Jean thought of Jakob. Further tests revealed that Jean had been right. She was perimenopausal. The results also offered up a secondary shock, however: she was pregnant. Given that her dalliance with Remi had been brief and never went beyond a kiss, the child is almost certainly Jakob's - despite it being conveyed that he'd had a vasectomy previously. Though Sex Education revealed early on that Jean had had a string of lovers across the show's run, the relationship with Jakob was a committed one that had lasted quite a while.
The news prompted another wave of tears, and a declaration that the broken heart she felt over Jakob would now be infinitely more complicated. It remains to be seen whether, like Maeve in Sex Education season 1, Jean chooses to pursue an abortion or keep the baby. Should she opt for the latter, however, the new dynamic will also have a major impact on Otis too. He has, after all, spent his life after an only child and center of his mother's universe - however much be battles against it at times. Otis said as much when apologizing to Jakob, revealing that not being his mother's number one priority was hard for him. Therefore, experiencing that more prominently with a sibling will provide a wealth of fresh conflict. Equally, there's more than a little sense of irony. Given how much Otis was teased for dating Ola, the daughter of his mother's boyfriend - making them an oddly incestuous family unit - it will be interesting to see how things unfold with an actual, now-direct, familial connection between them all. If and when Jean reveals the secret, that is.
Why Eric Chooses Adam Over Rahim In Sex Education Season 2
The animosity between Adam and Eric served as a large portion of Sex Education season 1. It was explained early on that Adam had bullied Eric for a number of years. As the first batch of episodes rolled on, however, the layers were peeled back on Adam's character. At first, it became clear how much Adam envied Eric - especially regarding the openly gay teen's infinitely more loving relationship with his father. The season 1 finale then took this a step further, revealing that much of Adam's resentment was a projection that stemmed from the denial of his own sexuality. The tensions between them culminated in a brief tryst before Adam was shipped away to a military academy. In that time, Eric garnered the attention of Rahim.
While Eric and Rahim bonded and became an official couple, it was thrown into disarray when Adam returned. Ever-so-slightly more comfortable in his own skin, Adam took Eric on a number of unusual late-night dates. After speaking with Otis, Eric would attempt to shun Adam and solidify his relationship with Rahim. It remained clear, however, to whom Eric's true feelings belonged. Not only did he keep a memento of his time with Adam but even his mother stated the belief that Eric never truly sparkled like his true self when with Rahim. Similar to the Sex Education season 1 finale, things between Adam and Eric came to a head when the former made a romantic dash to the school play (at which Eric was performing) and made his feelings public. With Rahim watching on, Eric reciprocated Adam's feelings.
The moment understandably shocked and upset Rahim dramatically. Storming out, he tearfully lamented the breakdown of his relationship outside of the school. A lot of fans' sympathy, of course, went out to Rahim. After all, he was never anything but loving and supportive of Eric, the perfect boyfriend in every sense of the term. That being said, it's easy to see why Adam was ultimately Eric's choice. Even outside of Adam's commitment to bettering himself and fighting for redemption, he and Eric just naturally share a sense of humor (and even a love of musicals) that Rahim just didn't, as witnessed when Eric and Adam had the same initial thought over the school's Romeo and Juliet poster. Equally, as much as Adam used to torment Eric, there were always signs regarding Adam's true feelings and just how much he saw Eric as a person. Adam and Eric just have a history that has challenged both of them as people - allowing them to find inner strength and be their authentic selves. That's something Rahim just could never match, especially as a newcomer. It's understandable for fans, like Otis, to not get why Eric would have feelings for someone who once tormented him. That being said, as Otis once offered in advice, people can't control who they are attracted to and sometimes the heart just wants what it wants. Whether Adam and Eric's official relationship will flourish in Sex Education season 3, however, or is doomed to fail as Rahim warned, will have to remain to be seen.
Is Sex Education's Sex Clinic Over?
Similarly, it's difficult to see how Sex Education's original conceit can possibly continue - at least in the same form. A large portion of season 2 saw Maeve and Otis' business actively disrupted by Jean's presence as a sexual health advisor at the school. With more and more students turning to her free advice, their client list went dramatically down. It wasn't entirely a bust, with Otis still dispensing the occasional pearl of wisdom that his mother was unable to - especially in helping Olivia with her issues of self-consciousness. The clinic also saw an unlikely helping hand in the form of Headmaster Groff. After he discovered his wife's fledgling friendship with Jean, he continually blamed the renowned therapist for ruining his marriage. Seeking revenge, he leaked all of Jean's notes - and therefore students' secret shames - around the school. For a time, it had the desired effect of ruining Jean's appeal to students and driving her away from the school grounds.
Instead of benefiting Otis, however, it led to Jean discovering the truth regarding her son's underground therapizing. Understandably appalled, it was clear that Jean wouldn't allow such a thing to stand. Though Jean will be somewhat distracted with bigger things going forward, it would be uncharacteristic if she stopped monitoring the situation. That goes double given that Headmaster Groff openly expressed his grudge and put himself on the outs. Simultaneously, his outburst served to swing Jean more positively back into student favor.
Even more than that, having realized just how deceptive he had become, Otis went on a small journey of discovery. Realizing he was becoming more and more like his father, Otis reaffirmed his desire to be an actually good person. As such, it wouldn't be too much of a surprise if he stopped his advice-for-profit business. Also, the original concept was a way of bringing Maeve and Otis together. Now that they have evolved beyond being business partners and into something deeper, it is likely unnecessary on a story level. After all, Maeve has found opportunities and passions elsewhere. That being said, Sex Education season 3 will no doubt still have students seeking the wisdom of the famous "Sex Kid" as and when needed - be it for humor or something more poignant - especially if Otis no longer offers it for selfish financial gain.
Isaac Deletes Otis' Message Because He Loves Maeve
Unfortunately for those eager to see Otis and Maeve finally make good on their feelings, a new antagonist revealed himself in Sex Education season 2. As a fellow resident of the trailer park where she lives, the wheelchair-bound Isaac debuted as a new friend for Maeve. Despite a penchant for lies regarding how he came to be in a wheelchair and a capacity for conning people, Isaac seemed like a good friend. He took Maeve to a dance class that he and his brother teach and supported her in the face of Otis' drunken tirade. Isaac and Maeve also bonded over their lackluster parents and the scars they had accumulated as a result - both physical and emotional. As such, Isaac seemed every bit the loyal friend when he began spying on Maeve's mom, already sensing that she was up to no good. Because of Isaac, Maeve was able to learn that not only was her mother lying about having a job but had indeed returned to drugs.
Things took a much more insidious turn in the Sex Education season 2 finale, however. After sending Maeve to the shop to buy some supplies for him, Isaac actively steered Otis away from getting a chance to talk to Maeve. Isaac vowed, however, that he would honor Otis' request to have Maeve listen to her voicemails. It all proved to be a ruse, no doubt born of Isaac's own love for Maeve that bordered on obsession (although it's also worth remembering that Isaac's only experience of Otis was him drunkenly hurting Maeve at the party). After listening to Otis' declarations of love towards Maeve, Isaac cruelly deleted the message so that she would never learn of it. As a result, fans all across social media immediately turned their ire upon Isaac. Equally, fans are more eager to see whether Isaac's interference will continue in Sex Education season 3 or if Maeve and Otis will ever get a happy ending.
How Sex Education Season 2's Ending Flips Season 1's
The ending of Sex Education season 2 was actually a perfect inversion of the season 1 finale. In the latter, Maeve had finally realized her feelings for Otis and, after breaking up with her boyfriend, went to tell him. Unfortunately, what Maeve found was Otis kissing Ola in an apparent act of moving on. The moment served to provoke Maeve and Otis to go their separate ways for a while. While Otis never had to deal with the visual of Isaac and Maeve kissing, Sex Education season 3 could see the pair experience another friendship hiatus - with Otis now, instead of Maeve, thinking they have been cut out. After all, until he learns truth and Isaac more openly reveals himself, it will appear to Otis that Maeve is simply ignoring his declaration of love. All of which will lead to fresh tensions and arguments.
The results will no doubt be painful for fans to watch as the show drags out Maeve and Otis getting together a while longer. That wait will also be exacerbated by the myriad of aforementioned secrets yet to reveal themselves to Otis. Still, though Netflix has yet to renew the show, it's highly likely that a third outing will eventually come to fruition (the first season was among Netflix's most popular series of 2019). As such, there is much to look forward to and hope for once a release date is unveiled. In the meantime, many fans will no doubt be wishing painful repercussions towards Isaac and hoping that the third time is officially the charm for Maeve and Otis as a couple - whatever form the next stage of their respective journeys take when Sex Education returns.