Sex Ed Season 4: Laurie Nunn’s Show Continues to Make Waves in Australia’s Sexual Education Landscape

Sex Education Season 4: Creator Laurie Nunn Proud of Show’s Impact

By Megan Lawton & Riyah Collins

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Since 2019, Laurie Nunn has been crafting award-winning storylines, taboo-busting scenes, and an endless amount of sex gags for her creation, Sex Education. Now, as the fourth and final series of the show is released, Nunn reflects on the impact it has had.

A Comedy that Tackles Taboo

Sex Education, the Netflix teen sex comedy, has fearlessly explored various topics, including slut-shaming, abortion, virginity, and masturbation. From the first series, it has delved into important issues such as sexual assault, STDs, disability, and transgender identities. The show started with the basic idea of a teenage sex therapist on a school campus, which developed into the story of the inexperienced Otis and his self-styled clinic at Moordale School.

Laurie Nunn describes Sex Education as a TV show that is funny, entertaining, and sometimes outrageous, while also touching on topics that young people find important when it comes to discussing their sexuality and identity.

An Impactful Show

The viewers of Sex Education have grown attached to the characters as they navigate their sexualities and gender identities. The show has also raised awareness of little-known conditions, like vaginismus, through the storyline of Lily in the first series. Many young women reached out to Nunn to express how the show helped them in recognizing their condition and seeking medical assistance. This educational aspect of the show had a significant impact on people’s lives.

Sex Education has been widely praised for its honesty, diversity, and representation of difficult subjects. Aimee Lou Wood, who portrays Aimee, won a Bafta in 2021 for her portrayal of being sexually assaulted on a bus. It was a storyline that was particularly personal to Nunn, as she found writing it to be a cathartic experience. The positive response from the audience affirmed the impact it had on those affected by similar experiences.

The Success and Future of Sex Education

The success of Sex Education not only lies in its impact on the audience but also in the recognition it has brought to its cast. Emma Mackey, Connor Swindells, and Ncuti Gatwa have gained international fame, with Gatwa set to become the 15th incarnation of Doctor Who.

While Nunn initially did not plan for the fourth series to be the last, she felt that the characters’ stories had naturally reached their conclusion. She is happy and hopeful for their future. Among the characters, Nunn admits that she will miss Otis’ mum Jean, played by Gillian Anderson, the most due to the contradictions in her character.

A Passion for TV Writing

Although Nunn wasn’t a fan of series and box sets until her 20s, she has developed a love for writing TV during her tenure on Sex Education. She hopes to continue writing for TV in the future.

Overall, Sex Education has left a lasting impact on its viewers through its candid exploration of taboo subjects, the representation of diverse identities, and its ability to educate and entertain simultaneously.