Fun
Sex Education
Dear Ann,
Today we reach a dubious milestone: this will be the raunchiest entertainment Lazy Sunday has ever recommended, and yes, I remember that we have also recommended a smashing trash masterpiece called Versailles. (Most Moisturized Mom was shocked at the licentiousness of Louis XIV’s court. She also watched 20 episodes back to back, twice.)
But for those who are not easily embarrassed. this is a great one. I heard about Sex Education, a Netflix original series, on Friday night, when Christiane Amanpour interviewed one of its stars, Gillian Anderson, and showed a clip.
Saturday morning I cued it up and laid down row after row of stockinette on my Calligraphy Cardigan, giggling and gasping. It’s really good.
Don’t take my word for it. Here’s the New York Times review, which praises its honesty and de-centering of the teenage male perspective, even though a teenage male is the protagonist. The throughline in each episode is empathy for every stereotype of teenage society. If you are fond of classic teen movies like Risky Business, Clueless and The Breakfast Club, you’ll hear a lot of echoes in Sex Education.
It’s funny, well written, beautifully set-decorated and filmed. Gillian Anderson is deadpan and hilarious.
I repeat: it’s embarrassing. From the first scene! After an initial bout of pearl-clutching and saying “ew how vulgar, can we just NOT,” I acclimated, as the characters and clever, nuanced story drew me in.
This is going to see me through the final weekend of Bang Out a Sweater, and I’m grateful.
Love,
Kay
Our son, a millennial, recommended this show although commented that he wouldn’t want to watch it with us. Fair Warning!
Love this show! Have you ever watched Reign? That’s a slightly anachronistic saga of Mary Queen of Scots’ and her entourage’s teenage dramas. Pretty people and lots of intrigue.
Thank you for this! I no longer feel alone in enjoying this show (and, yes, I did have to cover my eyes a time or two). I’ve been recommending it to my kids and to all my friends, who just look at me as if I’ve truly gone over the edge. I’m pretty sure that not a single one has followed my recommendation!
We love this show!
This show is very funny. We’ve watched all of the episodes and hope there will be a 2nd season soon!
Agreed!! The title put me off but then I watched one episode and was hooked! The character development was terrific and I found myself laughing out loud on numerous occasions. The perfect series for sitting and knitting. Now I’m binging Mozart in the Jungle.
You are truly authentic. Love your recommendations, embarrassing or not, you are always spot on!
This show is great!!! Anything with Gilllian Anderson is a must for me. The ways in which her son is completely but so lovingly mortified are countless. A must see! I finished it in nights because sadly it’s a very short season. I’m currently on Schitts Creek and it is by far the funniest show I have watched ions. It just keeps getting funnier. A must watch if you haven’t seen it already!!
OMG love Schitts Creek! Turning everyone I know on to it. I’ll have to try this one
Just what this winter weary world needs!
Its a wonderful show! Just be creful you don’t spit your drink on yuour kniting!
We’re halfway through the first season and it’s genius! The episode with the abortion subplot was particularly good, written beautifully. A second season has just been given the green light, bring it on!
You neglected to mention that it’s also British!! As I am also a fan of Risky Business, Clueless, and The Breakfast Club, I am in! (Not to mention Say Anything.) Oh, and another, more recent (2010) addition to the genre, Easy A, with Emma Stone and Stanley Tucci, is also excellent and well worth watching.
The last scene in Easy A is a nice homage to Say Anything too (Penn B does a decent John Cusack impression).
OMG! Penn B was in Easy A? Well, I am just going to have to add this movie to my small, but carefully collected movies! And I LOVED Easy A! I may have fallen in love with Stanley, sigh…
OKG, I just watched it last night and I love it. I laughed so hard. I love all the characters. Thanks for turning me on to this gem.
Yes! I am even bravely watching it with my 13-yr-old daughter, and we have broached some good topics as a result.
This show is hilarious and I can’t wait for season two!
My millennial said she would watch it (again) with me – but certainly not with my husband It is hilariously straightforward on the subject, particularly the agonies of teen self esteem and the uncontrollable preoccupation with sex. We howled.