Biggest Reason Otis & Maeve Just Don't Work as a Couple on Sex Education
Season 4 only confirmed what we had suspected all along.
The finale of Sex Education left numerous fans feeling devastated. The relationship between Otis and Maeve, which had been developed over three seasons and seemed to be the inevitable endgame, transformed into a season-long heartbreak. It concluded with Maeve departing for the US to chase her dream of becoming a writer, leaving Otis alone clutching a heartfelt farewell letter.
This final twist, however, wasn't entirely unexpected. Although some dedicated fans of the couple continue to hope that Otis and Maeve will reunite in the future, there is a strong argument to suggest they won't. The issue is these two never really worked as a couple.
Otis and Maeve Grew Apart
The two characters had a compelling shared storyline in Season 1, but they never really clicked as a couple then, and starting in Season 2, their individual arcs began to drift apart: they were no longer getting much screen time together.
Otis and Maeve might have stood a chance had they become a couple sooner and then grown together through various challenges, such as Maeve's mistrust of people or Otis's lack of sexual experience. However, that never happened, and instead, the characters embarked on independent journeys where they matured as individuals, not as a couple.
Due to the adversities she has faced, Maeve appears to have grown emotionally at a much quicker pace than Otis. The death of her mother in Season 4 and the realization that she is fully capable of pursuing her dreams only cemented this evolution.
As for Otis, the birth of his baby sister seems to have reverted him into a self-centered child who prioritizes his own wants and issues over those of his friends and girlfriend. Not once in Season 4 did he genuinely listen to what Eric or Maeve had to say. Even Ruby eventually decided to sever ties with him.
As a result, by the series finale, the main couple had drifted so far apart that they functioned much better as friends rather than as potential romantic partners. Even if they did reconcile, their relationship would likely be short-lived.
All of this renders the Sex Education finale a surprisingly realistic portrayal of life, demonstrating that adolescent infatuation doesn't always result in a stable relationship or marriage. People evolve, grow apart, and move on.