Sex Education

Original characters throughout; no established or source characters to swap.

Strong female characters like Maeve and Aimee, but men are not systematically vilified or written as incompetent foils as a message.

• Maeve is a sharp, capable co-lead but Otis is also central and sympathetic

LGBTQ+ themes are central and pervasive — gay, bisexual, lesbian, asexual, and non-binary characters and storylines are core to the show.

• Eric's gay coming-of-age and relationship arc is a major storyline
• Adam's bisexual self-discovery
• Cal is a non-binary character with a dedicated storyline
• Florence's asexuality is explicitly explored

Highly diverse cast in a contemporary British school setting; plausible but conspicuously curated.

• Diverse ensemble across race, sexuality, and gender identity
• Eric and Cal as prominent diverse characters

The show frequently delivers educational, message-forward content on sex, consent, identity, and acceptance, sometimes stopping for explicit lessons.

• Sex-positivity and consent themes presented didactically
• Storylines built around teaching tolerance and self-acceptance
• Cal's storyline foregrounds non-binary visibility messaging

Explores toxic masculinity through some characters but generally with empathy rather than blanket condemnation.

• Adam's arc critiques repressed/aggressive masculinity but redeems him
• Otis's father portrayed as flawed

Original series with no source material.