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best tv shows to watch if you liked sex education

Looking for more shows that blend humor, heart, and honest portrayals of teenage life? If you enjoyed the frank and funny approach of Sex Education, there are plenty of other series waiting for you.

Atypical
On My Block
Derry Girls

Sex Education struck a chord with audiences for its refreshingly open and often hilarious look at the awkward, confusing, and sometimes painful journey through adolescence. It tackled everything from sex and relationships to identity, mental health, and finding your place in the world, all anchored by memorable characters and a unique retro-modern aesthetic.

The success of shows like Sex Education highlights a growing appetite for teen dramas that aren't afraid to get real. While the genre has been around for decades, think classic coming-of-age stories like Freaks and Geeks (which, despite its short run, is now considered a benchmark), newer series are pushing boundaries, exploring complex issues with greater depth and diversity.

Whether you're interested in shows that delve into the nitty-gritty of high school politics, explore different facets of sexuality and identity, or simply capture that specific blend of cringe comedy and genuine emotion, this list offers a range of options. Some lean more into the dramatic side, exploring darker themes, while others find humor in the everyday struggles of growing up. What they share is a willingness to look honestly at the teenage experience, much like Sex Education did.

14. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018)

Based on the Archie comic series, chilling adventures of sabrina is a dark fantasy horror series that reinvents the story of Sabrina Spellman, a half-witch, half-mortal teenager who must choose between the witch world of her family and the human world of her friends. While it starts with Sabrina navigating high school, the series quickly delves deep into supernatural horror, occult themes, and complex mythology.

It features a high school setting and explores themes of independence, identity, and relationships, but the core of the show is firmly rooted in witchcraft, demons, and cosmic battles, which is a significant departure from the grounded (albeit quirky) realism of sex education.

While it shares a young female protagonist and touches on themes of choice and identity, its genre is entirely different. If you enjoy high school dramas but are also looking for a heavy dose of dark fantasy and horror elements, chilling adventures of sabrina offers a supernatural twist on the coming-of-age story, far removed from Moordale's sex clinic.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

13. American Vandal (2017)

American vandal is a unique mockumentary series that uses the format of true crime documentaries to investigate juvenile pranks and mysteries within a high school setting. The first season focuses on the investigation into who spray-painted phallic images on 27 cars in the school parking lot, leading to the expulsion of a known troublemaker.

While it takes place in a high school and features teenage characters, its primary focus is on the investigative mystery and satirizing the true crime genre, rather than the relationship and identity themes central to sex education. However, it does offer interesting insights into high school social dynamics, reputations, and the impact of accusations.

The humor comes from the serious approach taken to a seemingly trivial crime and the accurate replication of true crime documentary tropes. It's a clever and surprisingly engaging watch. If you enjoy school-based shows with a quirky premise and a focus on solving a mystery, american vandal offers something quite different from the typical teen drama.

American Vandal

12. Degrassi: Next Class (2016)

Part of the long-running Canadian degrassi franchise, degrassi: next class continues the tradition of following a group of diverse high school students as they navigate the typical challenges of adolescence. The show is known for tackling a wide range of social issues relevant to teenagers, often dedicating episodes to specific topics.

Like previous iterations, degrassi: next class covers relationships, sexuality, mental health, social media issues, and identity. It aims for a realistic portrayal of teenage life, often featuring a large ensemble cast with rotating storylines.

While sex education often uses humor and specific character arcs to explore themes, degrassi: next class maintains the franchise's more episodic, issue-of-the-week structure. It shares the commitment to addressing relevant teenage problems directly and features a diverse group of characters. If you appreciate shows that tackle a broad spectrum of adolescent issues in a school setting, this series continues a legacy of doing just that.

Degrassi: Next Class

11. Euphoria (2019)

HBO's euphoria, created by Sam Levinson and starring Zendaya in an Emmy-winning role, is a highly stylized and intense drama series depicting the lives of high school students grappling with issues like addiction, trauma, identity, and relationships. It's known for its striking cinematography, bold visual style, and mature themes.

Unlike the often comedic and warm tone of sex education, euphoria is significantly darker, more dramatic, and deals with the heavier, more painful aspects of adolescence. It doesn't shy away from depicting drug use, sex, and violence in explicit detail.

While both shows explore the complexities of teenage life and relationships, euphoria operates in a much more heightened and artistic reality. If you are drawn to the exploration of teenage struggles and identity but are looking for a much more serious, visually experimental, and dramatically intense experience than sex education, euphoria offers a powerful, albeit challenging, look at contemporary youth.

Euphoria

10. Skins (2007)

The original UK version of skins (particularly the first two generations) is a raw, unflinching, and often controversial portrayal of a group of teenagers in Bristol, England, dealing with everything from mental health and substance abuse to sexuality and family issues. Each episode typically focuses on a different character, offering diverse perspectives on the tumultuous teenage years.

Skins is known for its fast-paced editing, distinctive soundtrack, and its willingness to tackle difficult subjects head-on. It launched the careers of many notable actors, including Nicholas Hoult, Dev Patel, Kaya Scodelario, and Daniel Kaluuya.

While sex education approaches its themes with a blend of comedy and sensitivity, skins leans more into intense drama and realism, often pushing boundaries. It shares the focus on diverse teenage experiences and the exploration of complex relationships and identities. If you found the character-driven focus and willingness to discuss challenging topics in sex education compelling and are looking for something grittier, skins is a landmark teen drama.

Skins

9. The End of the F***ing World (2017)

Based on Charles Forsman's graphic novel, the end of the f**ing world* is a darkly comedic road trip series following James, a 17-year-old who believes he's a psychopath, and Alyssa, a rebellious and angsty classmate. Seeking escape from their mundane lives, they embark on a journey that quickly spirals into unexpected and dangerous territory.

While it shares the focus on teenage protagonists navigating complex relationships and identity issues like sex education, its tone is significantly darker and more existential. It's a story about two deeply troubled outsiders finding connection in the most unconventional circumstances.

The show is known for its sharp writing, distinctive visual style, and compelling performances from its two leads. It's a binge-worthy series that is both funny and surprisingly poignant, exploring themes of trauma, connection, and rebellion. If you enjoyed the slightly offbeat nature and focus on troubled youth in sex education, you might appreciate the unique world of James and Alyssa.

The End of the F***ing World

8. Freaks and Geeks (1999)

Though tragically short-lived, freaks and geeks is widely considered one of the greatest high school shows ever made. Set in 1980, it follows siblings Lindsay and Sam Weir as they navigate the social hierarchy of their suburban Detroit high school – Lindsay falling in with the 'freaks' (burnouts) and Sam with the 'geeks' (nerds).

Created by Paul Feig and executive produced by Judd Apatow, the show boasts an incredible cast who would go on to become huge stars, including Linda Cardellini, James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segel. It stands out for its authentic, empathetic, and often heartbreaking portrayal of teenage life, avoiding typical sitcom clichés in favor of grounded realism.

Like sex education, it delves into the complexities of identity, friendship, and family during adolescence. While perhaps less explicitly focused on sexual education, it captures the genuine struggles of finding your place and understanding yourself during those formative years with unmatched sincerity and a perfect blend of comedy and drama. It's a timeless classic for a reason.

Freaks and Geeks

7. The Inbetweeners (2008)

Hailing from the UK, the inbetweeners is a cringe-comedy masterclass following the misadventures of four socially awkward teenage boys navigating sixth form (the last two years of high school). It's brutally honest, often hilarious, and painfully relatable to anyone who felt slightly out of place during their school years.

The show centers on Will, a suburban kid who's forced to transfer to a public school and quickly befriends Simon, Jay, and Neil – a motley crew of lovable losers. Their attempts to fit in, impress girls, and generally not embarrass themselves form the core of the series. It's less focused on deep emotional arcs than sex education, leaning heavily into observational humor and the awkward realities of male teenage friendships and budding sexuality.

It shares sex education's British sense of humor and its willingness to delve into the awkward specifics of teenage life, particularly concerning sex and relationships, albeit from a more overtly comedic and often pathetic angle. If you enjoy laughing at the sheer awkwardness of growing up, the inbetweeners is a classic.

The Inbetweeners

6. Everything Sucks! (2018)

Transport yourself back to 1996 in Boring, Oregon, with everything sucks!. This charming, albeit short-lived, series centers on the students of Boring High School's A/V club and Drama club. It's a nostalgic look at teenage life before the internet took over, focusing on finding your place, first loves, and navigating social cliques.

The show follows Luke O'Neil, a freshman in the A/V club, who develops a crush on Kate Messner, the principal's daughter and a sophomore in the Drama club. Their intertwining stories, along with their friends and the quirky adults around them, capture the awkwardness and genuine emotion of teenage years.

It shares sex education's focus on exploring identity and relationships in a high school setting, but with a distinctly 90s flavor. The soundtrack is full of era-appropriate hits, and the fashion and technology (or lack thereof) add to the authentic feel. It's a sweet, funny, and sometimes poignant series about finding your people and figuring things out.

Everything Sucks!

5. Derry Girls (2018)

Set in Northern Ireland in the 1990s during the Troubles, derry girls is a side-splittingly funny comedy about a group of Catholic school teenagers dealing with everyday adolescent problems against an extraordinary political backdrop. While the setting is specific, the awkwardness, friendships, and family dynamics are universally hilarious.

The show follows Erin, her cousin Orla, and friends Clare, Michelle, and Michelle's English cousin James (the 'wee english fella'). Their misadventures at school and home are pure comedic gold, driven by sharp dialogue, physical comedy, and brilliant performances. It perfectly captures the absurdity of being a teenager, from trying to sneak into parties to navigating strict nuns.

While not explicitly focused on sex education, it shares sex education's knack for finding humor in the awkwardness of growing up and features a strong ensemble cast with fantastic chemistry. It also offers a unique historical context that adds depth without sacrificing the laughs. It's an absolute must-watch for anyone who enjoys witty, character-driven comedy about teenage life.

Derry Girls

4. On My Block (2018)

On my block is a fantastic series centered around a group of street-smart teenagers navigating the challenges of high school and life in their rough inner-city Los Angeles neighborhood. It's a coming-of-age story deeply rooted in friendship, resilience, and the specific realities of their community.

The show is brilliant at blending comedy and drama, often within the same scene. One moment you're laughing at their awkward attempts at romance or fitting in, the next you're on the edge of your seat due to the dangers they face. The core group of friends – Monse, Ruby, Jamal, and Cesar – are incredibly well-developed, each with distinct personalities and struggles.

Like sex education, it explores themes of identity, relationships, and growing up, but adds layers of cultural specificity and the added pressure of their environment. It also features a quirky, often hilarious, storyline involving a treasure hunt that adds a unique flavour. It's a show with a lot of heart, sharp writing, and memorable characters you'll quickly become invested in.

On My Block

3. Atypical (2017)

Atypical offers a truly heartwarming and insightful look at growing up, focusing on Sam Gardner, a teenager on the autism spectrum, as he decides he's ready to find a girlfriend and gain more independence. This decision sends his family on their own journey of self-discovery and change.

The show does a fantastic job of portraying not just Sam's experiences, but also the lives and challenges of his family members – his overprotective mother, understanding father, and fiercely loyal sister. It handles complex themes like family dynamics, identity, independence, and relationships with sensitivity and humor.

While sex education focuses broadly on sexual and romantic relationships, atypical provides a specific, nuanced perspective on navigating social interactions and personal growth, particularly from a neurodivergent viewpoint. It's a show that's both educational and deeply moving, with a strong ensemble cast that brings these characters to life beautifully. Prepare for moments that will make you laugh out loud and others that might just bring a tear to your eye.

Atypical

2. Never Have I Ever (2020)

Created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher, never have i ever is an absolute delight! This show centers on Devi Vishwakumar, a first-generation Indian-American teenager navigating the complexities of high school, family expectations, grief, and, of course, her desperate desire to be popular and find a boyfriend. It's narrated by none other than tennis legend John McEnroe, providing a uniquely quirky and insightful perspective into Devi's often chaotic mind.

The series masterfully balances laugh-out-loud comedy with genuinely poignant moments, exploring themes of cultural identity, friendship, and dealing with loss. The characters are wonderfully written and incredibly easy to root for, even when they're making questionable decisions.

It captures the universal awkwardness and intensity of teenage years with such charm and specificity. If you appreciate the blend of humor, heart, and relatable coming-of-age struggles found in sex education, never have i ever is a must-watch that will leave you smiling.

Never Have I Ever

1. Big Mouth (2017)

Oh, big mouth! If sex education pulls back the curtain on puberty with wit and heart, big mouth kicks the door down with glorious, grotesque, and hilariously honest abandon. This animated gem takes the awkward, confusing, and often mortifying experience of hitting puberty and turns it into a star-studded, monster-filled musical-comedy-drama.

Featuring a phenomenal voice cast including Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, and Maya Rudolph (who won an Emmy for her role as Connie the Hormone Monstress!), the show personifies puberty with Hormone Monsters, Shame Wizards, and Depression Kitties. It tackles everything from masturbation and menstruation to anxiety and body image with a level of frankness that is both shocking and incredibly relatable.

It's not just crude humor; the show delves into the emotional turmoil of growing up, exploring friendships, family dynamics, and burgeoning identities with surprising depth. Be warned, it's explicit, but its commitment to showing the messy reality of puberty is its superpower. If you loved the candid discussions in sex education, you'll find big mouth's no-holds-barred approach a perfect, albeit much wilder, companion.

Big Mouth

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