Sex Education Season 3, Episode 3 recap: Double Date & uniforms

The following article contains SPOILERS for Sex Education Season 3, Episode 3.

If you need to catch up, you can find Sex Education, Season 3, Episode 2’s recap here!

The theme of grief is throughout this third episode of Sex Education Season 3. Folks in this episode are grieving family members, identity, and friendships. All of the stories intertwine with one another, and it is just such beautiful television.

The morning of a school day in the Milburn household is where this episode truly starts. Aimee is participating in her first session with Jean to begin her journey of mentally and emotionally processing the trauma of her being sexually assaulted.

However, the rest of the home’s inhabitants are not courteous. Otis is arguing with Ola since she stole one of his rare vinyl’s and Jakob looks to be still getting his bearings in his new living situation. They are all yelling until Jean has to step away from Aimee and calm them all down. This scene ends with the teenagers blowing off Jean’s bonding attempts before they go to school. All textbook scenes but entertaining nonetheless.

Throughout the episode, this friction surrounding Ola in her new home is a theme, but most of it is not her fault. She gallantly stands up for her dad to Jean which I enjoyed. Ola explains to Jean that he wouldn’t get out of bed for weeks when she cheated on Jakob and took this heartbreak bad. I totally understand where Ola is coming from, especially after her mother passed away, and her confusion about why Jean is still in her and her father’s lives. I think everyone has good intentions behind their actions, so hopefully, all the ruffles will be ironed out as the episodes go on.

Sex Education Season 3, Episode 3: The divide between Viv and Jackson

Considering where we left off in the second season, I am very surprised to see Viv being the character it is hard to like compared to Jackson. Because she wants to make herself more appealing for universities after Moordale, Viv has put being Hope’s lackey ahead of her friendship with Jackson. This means Viv took over as Head Girl when Jackson did not like the changes their new Headmistress has implemented, putting a schism between the two.

However, Jackson is not alone without Viv’s friendship. After bumping into one another and sharing the sentiment of keeping a vulgarly designed graffiti wall, Jackson has developed a friendship with the new nonbinary student of Cal. After not wanting to wear a skirt or other female-designed clothes, Cal was the target of Viv’s uniform enforcing for Hope. Jackson tried to stick up for them, but both he and Cal had to compromise.

After school, however, Cal and Jackson go on an adventure and learn more about each other and themselves. Audiences and Jackson find out that Cal is from Minneapolis and feels constricted by tight clothes because of who they are but does not expect other folks to understand.

The two share some weed, Jackson’s first experience after being a high-level athlete, and that is pretty much it. Where this is going for Jackson, Cal, and Viv is yet to be seen, but I think it is the sleeper plot for this season.

Sex Education Season 3, Episode 3: Otis and Eric go on a double date

A good chunk of the second act for this episode surrounds Otis, Eric, their respective boos, and a double date at a bowling alley. Eric tries to prep Adam about appearing and speaking in a way that makes them both look appealing and presentable.

The four sit down, and one of the funniest scenes of the entire series occurs. Being on the pretentious and hipster side of society, Ruby expresses her disgust that there are no gluten-free options on the menu. Adam, heeding Eric’s advice to ask questions, asks Ruby how long she has had diabetes.

The other three are very confused by this question. It is eventually discovered that Adam confused gluten with glucose, and the whole scene is shot, edited, and performed so well.

After the successful date for all four involved, we found out Adam and Ruby bond since they both keep up with the Kardashians. The two go their separate ways. Eric and Adam walk home and discuss Eric going to Nigeria, where it is illegal to be gay, for a family member’s wedding. Adam, who has experienced his version of internal and external persecution for being gay, is worried about Eric traveling there.

This leads to Eric dismissing Adam’s fears which makes Adam recoil by bringing up Eric’s past relationship with the more confident and intellectual Rahim. Adam’s insecurities have always been at the root of his character, and I like how Eric’s self-confidence is helping him minimize those issues.

When Otis and Ruby head off following the amazing date, Ruby tries to prevent Otis from seeing her home. Using some of his mom’s tactics, he finally breaks through with Ruby’s defenses, and she allows him to come over to her house.

The building and décor are far from how Ruby was making it out, but that is on-brand for the Queen Untouchable, who is all about superficial things. Otis is around to assist Ruby with her father and his MS, and every scene at Ruby’s house is so heartwarming.

That night, after Otis heads home, Ruby calls him and thanks him for all his help and drops that big three-word phrase. After she professes her love for Otis, he does not reciprocate the sentiment. Knowing Ruby and how huge it was for her to allow Otis in her home, never mind saying “I love you” to someone, I can’t imagine she will be ok.

The one part of this episode that I am not happy about is that Maeve and Isaac look to have made up after Isaac kept Maeve’s mum around their homes so Maeve could try and rebuild her maternal relationship, the cracks of Maeve’s disdain show.

More cracks are shown when Maeve discovers Isaac painted her, and the whole exterior is blown off when Isaac admits (in the style of a mid-2000s romcom) how much he adorably knows about Maeve. Unfortunately, this means Maeve is giving the worst character a second chance, and I just hope Isaac ruins it so Maeve can eventually end up with Otis or Aimee.

Sex Education Season 3 is streaming now on Netflix.