The episode opens with Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey) working on her laptop in the campus library. Seeing a couple making out inspires her to text Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield) who says he’s doing research for his new clinic. En route to her dorm, Maeve sees couples making out. She Otis is he thinks about their first kiss. She soon finds her dorm mate being intimate. Otis claims to think of their first kiss before wishing he could see her. They send each other nudie selfies. In the kitchen, he voices concern about Jean Milburn (Gillian Anderson) so soon after giving birth to baby Joy. Jean assures him that she is fine when she remembers it is his first day at a new school.

Outside, Eric Effiong (Ncuti Gatwa) comments on Otis looking tired. Holding out a pamphlet for his new sex therapy clinic, Otis stresses the need to continue helping people. Eric voices concern about them looking like losers at the new school. Otis assures him they won’t.

Cal Bowman (Dua Saleh) accesses and documents his 6-month testosterone progress. Elsewhere, Aimee Gibbs (Aimee Lou Wood) documents and rates her masturbation experience a 3.5. En route to school, Otis tells Eric that he hasn’t responded to Maeve’s boob selfie. Eric warns that he will violate sexting etiquette if he doesn’t return one. Otis admits to feeling anxious about his selfies. Eric claims to have sent nudie selfies to people on dating apps. He invites Otis to the Labour Club’s gay night which he accepts.

At the campus, Eric prevents Abbi (Anthony Lexa) from getting hit by a car driven by Ruby Matthews (Mimi Keene). Aimee claims to have heard rumors of Anwar Bakshi (Chaneil Kular) and Olivia Hana (Simone Ashley) attending Taylor’s Secondary in Northbury. Inside, Roman (Felix Mufti) gathers the Moordale students. Abbi identifies herself, Roman, and Aisha (Alexandra James) as “Sixth Form Reps.” Handing out tablets, Aisha explains how to utilize “Dolly” to access their schedules. Vivienne Odusanya (Chinenye Ezeudu) is troubled to learn students aren’t individually ranked. Jackson Marchetti (Kedar Williams-Stirling), urges her to save it for later. Abbi gives them a tour of the facility. Otis is stunned to learn that any service can be offered on campus if there is an available room.

Handing out his sex therapy pamphlets, Otis and Eric encounter Isaac Goodwin (George Robinson) who points out that the school is paperless. When the bell rings, Eric urges Otis to respond to Maeve’s nudie selfie. Stuck in the elevator, Isaac gets frustrated when Aimee doesn’t recognize him as Maeve’s ex. After identifying himself, he learns Aimee has an interest in art like him.

Michael Groff (Alistair Petrie) asks Eric how Adam Groff (Connor Swindells). Is doing. Eric says they are no longer friends. As Michael starts to take attendance, a student informs him that the students do it through “Dolly.” Michael asks if Dolly is the receptionist when the students explain it is a social media network. When Vivienne’s tablet malfunctions, Beau (Reda Elazouar) offers to take notes for her.

Maeve receives a text from Aimee saying she ran into Isaac. Maeve urges her to get to know Isaac because he is a good guy. She overhears students talking about Professor Thomas Molloy (Dan Levy) picking an intern who goes on to get published. A student suggests Molloy will pick Tyrone (Imani Yahshua). Later in class, Thomas warns that only a handful of the students will write a successful book. Maeve’s honesty attracts Thomas who later tosses her phone out the window after it rings.

Cavendish – Art students paint a live female model. The instructor praises Isaac’s use of form and light while urging Aimee to not be so literal. Sexually frustrated, Cal asks to be excused. Elsewhere, Adam mopes while looking at photos of him and Eric. Maureen Groff (Samantha Spiro) is cut off by a call from Jean requesting her to keep an eye on Joy. She tells Jean that she has a self-defense class commitment before the call ends. Holding out job center papers, Maureen urges Adam to do something with his life. The Farm Apprenticeship Program instantly grabs his attention.

Apologizing, Maeve assures Thomas it won’t happen again. He claims to have heard her application was impressive while Tyrone eavesdrops. While they look for her phone, Tyrone appears annoyed with Thomas. Finding her phone, Maeve asks her classmates for their opinion about sending a nudie to a boyfriend who doesn’t respond. They immediately suggest dumping him.

While posting flyers around Cavendish, Otis finds a suitable location for his free sex therapy sessions. He receives a text – “?” – from Maeve.

In an interview, Jean is asked by a recruiter (Hannah Gadsby) to explain why their podcast rating is down and how to spice things up. As Jean attempts to explain, the secretary arrives with a screaming Joy. The recruiter asks when she can start. Jean accepts readily accepts.

Cavendish – Aisha asks Ruby to move because it is Abbi’s favorite table. Recognizing Ruby from earlier, Abbi suggests they sit together. Abbi urges her to get a bike before walking away. Ruby takes her lunch to a bathroom stall. Michael Groff is eating his lunch in a nearby stall. Back in the cafeteria, Abbi tells Eric that he is her savior. Eric claims Cavendish students are much nicer. As the art teacher passes, she gives Aisha’s arm a squeeze. Aisha admits to being on Tinder. Abbi demands she put money in the charity donation gossip jar. Eric explains how Otis is working on his own sex therapy sessions. Abbi asks if Otis’ knows about “O.”

Otis is in his new office when a girl arrives looking for “O,” Sarah “O” Owen (Thaddea Graham). He believes she is referring to orgasm. Eric arrives with the news of O whose sex therapy is in high demand. O offers to move Otis into a cancellation spot. After accepting, he learns that she knows about his new clinic and his mother’s work. Feeling relaxed, he tells her about Joy and Jean’s desire to return to work. After receiving a text from Maeve asking if he is ghosting her, he tells O about her. He accuses O of stealing his idea and demands she abandon her practice.

Ignoring Eric’s advice, Otis tries to tell the students about his new sex therapy clinic. He shows the students his penis selfies before leaving to sulk in his office. Cal arrives asking for advice about being turned on all the time. Cal explains his spontaneous orgasms. Otis assures him that it will pass with time. After the session ends, Otis texts Maeve.

Vivienne tells Jackson that they need to focus on their studies and forget dating. She later gives Beau her social media details. Elsewhere, Jean informs Otis of her new job. Otis is none too happy about babysitting Joy while she works. He tells her that he won’t have time before leaving. He calls someone to say he is concerned about Jean.

Beatrice Effiong (Doreene Blackstock) urges Eric to get baptized by their new progressive pastor. Eric promises to think about it. Abbi pings him on Dolly.

Michael asks Maureen why Adam didn’t tell him that he wasn’t planning on attending college. She claims Adam is scared of him. He admits to being in therapy.

While checking her mail, Maeve receives a call from Otis apologizing for not sending her a nudie. He admits to being worried that she won’t return home. She assures him that she will. He suggests trying other things because nudies may not be his thing while undoing his pants. After pleasuring themselves, she receives a call from Tyrone. Otis looks at Tyrone’s profile as the episode ends.

 

Sex Education Review

Wow! I thought developers were good at packing content into 20 or 30-minute sessions, but Sex Education takes the cake. I understand this is the first episode and the stories are being laid out with new characters being introduced, but good god! There seems to be so much packed into every scene and every encounter. This is the first episode I’ve watched, so the other might be similar, but no one can there is a lack of content here. Granted, it’s all fairly interesting and the humor isn’t as raunchy as what one might expect from a contemporary teen drama. I didn’t feel like the acting was bad either. For that, the episode deserves a 5.6 out of 10.

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