Sex Education

Characters are diverse in age, race, body type, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and physical ability. Queer love stories are given depth and curiosity. A supporting character uses a wheelchair, isn't defined by his disability, and is a romantic prospect to a main character. Another has vaginismus. A minor character learns more about her asexuality in a powerful scene with the school counselor.

Violence frequently has connections to bullying, including sexual harassment: Eric is bullied and shaken down by a boy who threatens him physically, slaps him, slams him up against lockers, and more; their relationship grows more complicated as the series progresses. A girl knees a boy in the crotch after he repeatedly tells her "nice rack." A character self-harms in season two in order to temporarily evade his parents' unreasonable expectations; he recovers, and when his parents find out about the self-harm, they're able to evolve into a more sympathetic and honest relationship. A stranger masturbates while watching Aimee on a bus; she deals with the psychological effects of the assault in subsequent episodes. Additional violence includes attacks, fights, and interpersonal conflict.

Frequent, very mature sexual content. Men and women are shown fully nude, including a scene in which a boy displays his naked uncircumcised penis to a crowd at school. Characters have explicit sex, with lots of movement and noises, as well as bare breasts. They also talk frankly about orgasms, positions, body fluids, masturbation, pornography, etc. A character methodically lays out the supplies for masturbation (lube, tissues, pornography with a nude woman on the cover) before being interrupted by one of his mother's lovers wearing one of her robes. A teen girl is the subject of sexual rumors about her giving oral sex to multiple men on a dare. Viewers hear about one couple's experience with "strap-on" sex, teen boys talk at length about douching before anal sex, a boy masturbates frequently and intensely (his genitals are covered by clothes but we do see a spurt of bodily fluids when it hits a car's window), and so on. Expect kissing and dating between straight and queer characters.

Language includes "f--k," "s--t," "damn," "hell," "piss" (for urinating). Sexual words are common: "t-ts," "c--k," "strap-on," "spunk," "jizz," "hand jobs." A girl is called "slag" and "nympho," a gay teen is called "f-g."

Underage drinking and drug use is casual and frequent. Teens smoke cigarettes and drink whiskey and beer. A teen shares a joint with the mom of one of his friends. A teen boy takes three Viagra in hopes of giving his girlfriend better sex.

Parents need to know that Sex Education is an inclusive comedy about an English sex therapist (Gillian Anderson) and her semi-miserable, definitely sexually uneasy teenage son, Otis (Asa Butterfield). The overall vibe is sweet: Characters are supportive of each other, and they generally treat each other with acceptance and kindness. Notable exceptions are two bullied characters: Eric (Ncuti Gatwa), who's physically menaced for being gay and nonconfrontational, and Maeve (Emma Mackey), who's the "slag" of the school. Sexual content is extremely frank: Viewers see male and female nudity, including close-ups of genitals and body fluids. Characters have sex with lots of movement, noise, and realistic talk about orgasms, sexual practices, positions, body parts, and on and on. Straight and queer couples kiss and date; the show has a general openness around gender identity and sexual orientation, including asexuality. Women, including one in her 50s, have strong, central roles, and their desires and sexuality are represented realistically. Disability is naturally woven in through characters who use a wheelchair or have vaginismus and other conditions. Language is frequent and often sexual: Expect to hear "f--k," "s--t," and "hell," as well as "c--k," "jizz," "t-ts," "f-g," and "slag." Teens habitually drink, and smoke cigarettes and pot, including a scene in which one character's mom flirtatiously shares a joint with a teen. In another scene, a boy takes multiple Viagra pills in hopes of having better sex with his girlfriend and suffers a painful erection, which is played for laughs. Acts of aggression include bullying and fights, and a female character is sexually harassed on a bus. Bottom line? This show is mature but positive, with realistic problems and relatable characters who often show each other profound kindness.