Netflix has hit a home run with their successful British comedy series Sex Education. Starring the likes of Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, and Emma Mackey, the show has become a success in the eyes of audiences and critics alike.
Sex Education has been praised for its acting, writing, dialogue, themes, LGBTQ+ representation, and more. To figure out the cream of the crop for the series through the show’s history, it’s worth taking a look at the ratings given to episodes on IMDb and ranking them based on it.
Episode 3.6 (8.4)
With the pressure mounting on Hope (Jemima Kirke), the new headteacher opted for harsh punishments. She forced Adam (Connor Swindells), Lily (Tanya Reynolds), and Cal (Dua Saleh) to wear shame signs around their necks, embarrassing them and then suspending Rahim for voicing his opinions on her decisions.
It was a case of the show’s antagonist going one step too far and helping to spark the eventual rebellion against her. This installment was also interesting for how it gave Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) his own time to shine as he embarked on a trip to Nigeria with his family and dealt with the fact that being gay in his home country was illegal.
Episode 2.3 (8.4)
The main focus of this season 2 episode was on Aimee (Aimee Lou Wood), as her bus ride to school was ruined when a man sexually assaulted her by masturbating on her leg. She seemed unbothered by it but Maeve (Emma Mackey) got her to go to the police station to report it.
As the hour ended, Aimee broke down alone at home, showing that it clearly affected her. This moment would change everything going forward for Aimee. The episode also gave viewers the hilariously awkward dinner between Otis, Jean, Jakob, and Ola, as well as a fun storyline involving Olivia and her intimacy issues with her boyfriend, which helped to cut the tension of the more serious subject matter.
Episode 1.8 (8.4)
Season 1 ended with a bang and this episode was proof of that. Following the dramatic events at the school dance, Otis (Asa Butterfield) and Maeve saw their relationship fractured. However, he sent her the essay prize that was rightfully hers and she rushed off to confess her true feelings for him.
Unfortunately, she arrived to see Otis kissing Ola (Patricia Allison), giving fans the cliffhanger ending to the season. This episode also saw Eric and Adam surprise everyone by hooking up during detention. Their potential romance was stymied when Adam arrived home to find that he was being shipped to military school, again adding more intrigue to what would be coming down the line.
Episode 1.3 (8.4)
This episode received praise for the way it handled the controversial subject of abortion. Maeve opted to go that route after finding out that she was pregnant with Jackson’s (Kedar Williams-Stirling) baby. All she needed was someone to take her home afterward since she didn’t tell Jackson about it.
Maeve selected Otis, who thought they were meeting up for a date. Though she chastised him for it, he stuck around and made sure to be there for her at the end. This was one of the first instances of Maeve realizing that Otis was someone special who would always be there for her.
Episode 3.4 (8.5)
Most fans seem to agree that the breakout star of season 3 was easily Ruby (Mimi Keene). Her relationship with Otis was more heartwarming than anyone expected but they were on the rocks here since Otis couldn’t say that he loved her back. It came to a head when they finally talked at the end of the episode.
Ruby broke down as Keene gave a powerful performance, showing a vulnerable side fans weren’t used to from Ruby. She let Otis into her life in a way that she did with nobody else and he broke her heart. This installment also saw a particularly touching scene where Maeve got intimate with Isaac (George Robinson).
Episode 2.6 (8.5)
Although Otis agreed to break contact with Maeve at the request of Ola, Ola dumped him, leaving him without both ladies in his life. To get over it, he threw a party and found a way for both girls to show up for different reasons. Unfortunately, Otis got ridiculously drunk.
That led him to make an announcement in front of everyone where he explained his emotions towards Ola and Maeve and hurt their feelings, proving to be Otis’s low point. The party was also the setting for Jackson’s emotional breakdown over the pressure he was under, which shed new light on his character and strengthened his bond with Viv (Chinenye Ezeudu).
Episode 3.2 (8.6)
With the news of Otis and Ruby’s hookups going public, the two embraced it but Ruby tried to change everything about him and control him. In a big moment, Otis stood up to her that he wanted to be himself but that he also liked her and they began to date.
Although that was adorable, sinister things were going on at Moordale. With the news of uniforms being implemented among other things, Hope’s status as an antagonist became known for the first time. This was also a big episode for Adam and Eric’s relationship, which they tried taking to the next level.
Episode 3.1 (8.7)
Fans waited for a year for new episodes of Sex Education and season 3 began here. This was key to establish where everyone was at this point, including Maeve not being close with Otis, the history of Ruby and Otis casually hooking up, Hope as the new headteacher, Jean (Gillian Anderson) telling Jakob (Mikael Persbrandt) about her pregnancy and more.
While there weren’t as many major moments in this episode as some others, audiences were just happy to be back in this world. It also did a remarkable job of setting the stage for some of the best and most important storylines of the rest of the season.
Episode 1.7 (8.7)
The penultimate episode of season 1 brought everything to a head at the school dance. Maeve got all dolled up but Jackson was distracted and didn’t even notice. Otis did, but he was on a date with Ola. Maeve and Ola had their first interaction and it led to Otis saying the wrong thing to Ola, causing her to leave.
Otis then delivered an emotionally rousing speech to help a fellow student but it paralleled his feelings for Maeve, leading to Maeve and Jackson splitting up. This episode not only hit on many emotional levels romantically but it also was massive for Eric, who proved to his father that he should be able to be himself out in public.
Episode 1.5 (8.8)
On the sex clinic side of things, Otis and Maeve helped Ruby when an explicit photo of her was sent around. Her face wasn’t in the photo but before the person in the photo can become public, the women in the school all stand up and admit it belongs to them. It’s a masterful display of women being there for each other, something this show does well.
On the friendship side, things between Otis and Eric reached a boiling point. Otis chose to help Maeve, leaving Eric alone on his birthday and dressed up for Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Eric got robbed and beaten, all the while Otis is having a good time. The two argued and didn’t speak again for several episodes.
Episode 3.8 (8.9)
Sticking the landing on season 3 was a tall task but Sex Education mostly pulled it off. Although romantic relationships didn’t get their moments, other things worked. Maeve leaving to America for a better future instead of staying with Otis was totally in character and right for the bright girl.
Meanwhile, Eric and Adam broke up but Adam did get some great moments. He did well in his dog competition and came out to his mother. There were other cliffhangers as well, including Jean (who survived surgery after giving birth) finding out that Jakob is likely not the father of her baby and Moordale closing.
Episode 3.3 (9.0)
Sometimes, the viewers just want to watch the characters had a good, wholesome time. This episode gave them that, as Otis and Ruby went on a double date with Adam and Eric. The four bonded more than you’d expect and the scene of them bowling together is as adorable as it gets.
Otis and Ruby also deepened their bond when he saw her home and met her dad but everything came crashing down when she said she loved him and he couldn’t reciprocate. It was a heartbreaking scene as Ruby had quickly become a fan favorite. This episode also had the important moment of Aimee starting her therapy with Jean.
Episode 2.7 (9.1)
Following his party, Otis woke up in bed next to Ruby, who he unexpectedly lost his virginity to the night before. Unsure if they used a condom, they headed out for the morning-after pill and had some surprising scenes that turned out to be incredibly moving. It set the stage for their season 3 romance.
The other and more important plot involved Maeve, Ola, Aimee, Viv, Lily, and Olivia being held in detention. It paid homage to The Breakfast Club and saw the girls bond over shared experiences of sexual assault after Aimee broke down about what happened to her. They ended the episode with them all joining Aimee for a bus ride to help her get past some of her troubles in a great showing of women coming together.
Episode 3.7 (9.2)
Hope’s reign of terror had to come to an end and it did in spectacular fashion. The Moordale students came together to rebel against her strict and harsh rules, putting on a performance where they proudly called themselves the “Sex School.”
Hope took things to the next level out of frustration, getting physical with Cal, Eric, and Ruby, though Ruby ultimately took her down by spraying perfume in her eyes. Jean went into labor in this episode and Otis and Maeve kissed once more, seemingly preparing to become an official couple.
Episode 3.5 (9.3)
As noted, the main focus of the series so far has been the relationship between Otis and Maeve. Fans finally got what they’ve been waiting for here as the two were stranded on a field trip and confronted their feelings before kissing for the first time. Of course, it was bittersweet as Ruby watching them embrace was crushing.
This was also a big episode for Adam, who took the fall for something Rahim (Sami Outalbali) did. There was also Cal and Jackson’s possible romance getting stronger, Ruby telling Otis that things were harder because she doesn’t hate him for what he did, and Jakob wanting a paternity test.
