(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Series: "Sex Education"

Where You Can Stream It: Netflix

The Pitch: Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield) is awkward, bumbling, and deeply uncomfortable in his own skin. He has no real sense of style, no flashy talents, wears the same jacket every day, does just fine in school, and he's had the same best friend since childhood. In other words, he's your typical teen drama protagonist. So what sets Otis apart? His mom is a sex therapist. There's probably a more technical term for her job position and a psychologically complex explanation of her field, but the teens of Moordale High bubble it down to this: Jean Milburn (Gillian Anderson) "helps people bone better."

Now you're probably glancing back at the title of this show and thinking through the logical plotline for this series: Otis and friends come of age and learn sex ed from a professional! But perhaps you aren't familiar with the realities of public school: sex ed sucks! It doesn't answer any of the real questions. That's where Otis comes in. At first, his mom being a "sex guru" is exactly the kind of ammo perfect for taunting poor Otis into oblivion. Because he's been in the trenches of high school long enough, Otis tries his hardest to keep his mom's professional life a secret — but eventually, word gets out. But! Instead of becoming a laughingstock, Otis starts a makeshift sex therapy practice of his own. Yes, despite being a virgin and having absolutely no romantic experience to speak of, Otis becomes the go-to person for all teen sex concerns. Then, with the help of savvy rebel Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey), he turns his therapizing into a profitable business and starts doling out sex advice to anyone with cash. With teen troubles ranging from first kisses to too much Viagra, the hilarity of "Sex Education" is endless.

Why It's Essential Viewing

"Sex Education" is f***ing delightful. There's a lot of darkness in teen TV right now — which I wholeheartedly welcome and champion. Coming-of-age tales can contain multitudes, and getting into the nitty-gritty of suffering has been a thrilling fad … but if the weekly "Euphoria" pain fest is starting to weigh on you, then head on over to Moordale! You haven't experienced true joy until you've embraced the wholesome chaos of "Sex Education."

Let me be clear: by absolutely no means does this series shy away from the difficulties of growing up. Expect to grapple with teen pregnancy, sexual harassment, homophobic bullies, and so much more — all the usual suspects are running rampant. But "Sex Education" isn't interested in shocking you. The writers aren't trying to horrify you with the plights of 21st century teenagers. They're just being honest. Growing up is hard! Sex is confusing! Bad things happen! But in the wonderful world of "Sex Education," everyone is doing their best — or at least trying to be better. They're always growing, changing, and developing, and they're always helping one another along the way. And all of this is so wonderfully effective because this show also boasts an impeccable cast.

"Sex Education" has no weak link. First off, it stars Gillian Anderson and she's clearly having the time of her life delivering Jean's dryly hilarious dialogue. Other than being a sex therapist, Jean is just your average mom: She plops down on the couch beside her son and says totally normal things like, "I've noticed you're pretending to masturbate and I was wondering if you wanted to talk about it." So as you can probably guess, their relationship is … complicated.

In theory, this is a show all about Otis, Jean, and Maeve. We see Jean's life as a professional and we also see her as a mom, trying to mend that complex mother-son dynamic. Meanwhile, Otis is a walking paradox — terribly uncomfortable with his own sexuality, but happy to help everyone else through theirs. He also has a crush on Maeve, who's really confident on the surface but has a complicated home life that forces her to fend for herself. That's more than enough to fill a series, so it would be easy for these three to be the backbone of the show, with a supporting cast lifting them up. But "Sex Education" makes big plans for every character that crosses the screen.

A Vibrant Ensemble Comedy

Otis, Jean, and Maeve are just the beginning of what this show has to offer. I haven't even mentioned the incredibly magnetic Ncuti Gatwa as Eric Effiong, Otis' best friend. Eric is one of the show's brightest stars. His impeccable fashion choices are to die for, and you gotta love how he routinely cackles at Otis' life going hilariously wrong. Plus, Eric's story is loaded with gratifying nuance. Coming from a religious Ghanaian-Nigerian family, Eric is navigating his queerness and trying his hand at glittery makeup and expressing himself as a source of joy, all while trying not to upset his parents or catch the attention of his school bully, Adam Groff (Connor Swindells). I routinely beam at every story beat along Eric's winding path. Black queer representation is rare enough, let alone in stories so rich and complex as his.

But wait, there's more! Remember Adam, the previously mentioned bully who openly bristles whenever Eric expresses his queerness? If you've been around the teen drama block, you can probably guess where this is going. We've seen the bully-turned-love-interest trope so painfully often and it's especially hard to swallow when it has that homophobic tint, but "Sex Education" puts in the work to navigate these rocky waters. Swindells gives a beautifully restrained (and generally hilarious) performance as Adam, who had quite a bit to work through before we really see his heart of gold. And the show gives time for him to grow at his own pace — Adam has more to figure out more than just his sexuality, and watching him break those mental boundaries is delightful.

Other highlights include the cosplay-loving, hentai-drawing gem Lily (Tanya Reynolds), charismatic jock-turned-actor Jackson (Kedar Williams-Striling) who struggles with anxiety, and Aimee (Aimee Lou Wood), a ditzy but nurturing best friend to Maeve who throws popularity away to bake and raise a goat. "Sex Education" definitely falls on the chaotic good section of the TV alignment chart. Expect to stare at this show with a permanent face-splitting grin, especially as the cast widens and the once supporting characters take center stage. This is one of those rare shows that gets exponentially better by the season: The writers are well-attuned to what people want and which characters deserve more time to shine. Oddly enough, there's always room for everyone to get in on the spotlight and never a case where a character is needlessly thrust forward. Every time it seems like a someone has served their purpose or wrapped up their arc, "Sex Education" swerves. There's always more room for growth! Characters like Maeve and Adam start out as shadows of cliches — rebel girl and closeted jock — but behind those titles are endless reserves of depth. With its ensemble, its empathy, and an incredible sense of humor, "Sex Education" always has more tricks up its sleeve.

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The post The Daily Stream: Sex Education Is A Sexy Teen Romp With A Heart of Gold appeared first on /Film.