Summary
- Maeve Wiley says goodbye to Otis in an emotional conversation, promising that their friendship is just on pause.
- Maeve is hurt by Otis' casual attitude towards their relationship and sarcastically dismisses the idea of having no feelings.
- Maeve its her inability to ask for help and push people away, showing a moment of character growth and apologizing to Aimee after a fight.
One of Moordale's smartest and wittiest characters, Maeve Wiley always has something clever to say in Sex Education. Sex Education is a British teen comedy that premiered in January 2019 on Netflix. The series follows the lives of the students, faculty, and their families as they deal with personal dramas that often have to do with romance and intimacy. One of these students is Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey), a sarcastic, pessimistic, and incredibly knowledgeable student. Maeve seems self-assured and confident on the surface, but she has many deep fears about her life and future. Self-sufficient, Maeve lives alone in a trailer park, occasionally visited by unreliable relatives.
At the end Sex Education season 3, Maeve Wiley leaves for the United States. However, she will appear again. Sex Education season 4 would be the final season. Maeve’s future is closing in fast, and she wants to ensure she gives herself the best shot at making something significant of her life. She's still Maeve Wiley, though, which means she has plenty of snarky comments to make, but also some wise ones.
Maeve Says Goodbye To Otis
"It's See You Soon."
For all of Sex Education, Maeve Wiley has wanted to escape the confines of her life and further her education. When she finally decides to go, Maeve then has to go about the difficult business of saying goodbye to her friends. Out of all the characters in Sex Education, Maeve has the closest relationship with Otis, so saying goodbye to him was always going to be the most difficult conversation. For once in Sex Education, Maeve elects not to be sarcastic or flippant and instead is honest and emotional, tearfully promising Otis that this isn’t goodbye for good, but just a brief pause in their friendship.
Otis Hurts Maeve's Feelings
"No Feelings. Sounds Cool."
"No feelings. Sounds cool," is Maeve’s ice-cold response to Otis upon learning that he has had sex with Ruby. Neither Otis nor Maeve has been able to explain their true feelings to each other, and they have accidentally, and occasionally intentionally, hurt each other. When Otis tells Maeve that his relationship with Ruby is casual with no real feelings, Maeve’s sarcastic response is perfectly in character, but it also hints at how wounded she is. Normally, Maeve may pretend not having feelings is something to aspire to but here, she’s throwing it back at Otis, making it obvious she doesn’t appreciate his cavalier attitude.
Maeve Apologizes To Aimee After Their Fight
"I'm S**t At Asking For Help And I Push People Away."
After Maeve and Aimee’s big fight over Aimee secretly paying for Maeve’s trip to , the two spend an episode at odds. Eventually, the best friends apologize to each other in a heartfelt and moving scene. Maeve its something that Aimee already knew and even accused her of during their fight: that Maeve is unable to accept help from anyone and drives people away because of her pride. itting this is not just an important way to mend the fractured bridge between herself and her friend; it’s also a necessary moment of character growth for Maeve Wiley.
Maeve Says Goodbye To Isaac
"I Still Want You In My Life If You Do. As Friends, Maybe."
Isaac Goodwin is introduced to Sex Education in season 2 and starts to have feelings for Maeve Wiley. Maeve is confused about her feelings for Isaac and for Otis, so she keeps them both at arm's length. Though she and Isaac do eventually begin a tentative relationship, it’s quickly broken off when Maeve realizes she cares more about Otis. When Maeve leaves for America, her goodbye to Isaac is uncharacteristically honest and devoid of double meaning. She does love Isaac, but not in the way he loves her, and she wants him to remain in her life, as difficult as it may be for the pair.
Aimee Helps Maeve Decide To Go To America
"Thanks, Mum."
Neither Maeve nor Aimee have good relationships with their mothers and therefore decide that they will each play the role of mom for the other. It’s a bit of a tongue-in-cheek joke, but there are times when the joke is more serious. Maeve struggles with the decision to go to America, and it’s Aimee who encourages her to chase her dream. When Maeve says, “Thanks, Mum,” she means it. Without a true mother figure in her life, Maeve relies on Aimee to give her the right advice. When Aimee provides Maeve with the courage to make the jump to the United States, Maeve’s appreciation is sincere.
Maeve Teases Isaac When They First Meet
"All Of Our Brains Are Slowly Dying. You're Not Unique."
When Maeve Wiley meets Isaac in season 2, they get off to a bit of a rough start. However, after spending some time together, they realize they have quite a lot in common, including their dark sense of humor. Isaac often makes self-deprecating jokes, but Maeve makes sure she puts him in his place. She reminds him that everyone is slowly dying, brains included, which means that to her, Isaac's disability doesn't make him special in that department, and she will not be treating him any differently because of it.
Maeve its The Rumors About Her Hurt
"Do You Know How Long I've Been Called 'Cock Biter'? Four Years."
Maeve Wiley has a reputation around campus as a "slag" and nobody bothers to find out whether the rumors about her are actually true. She's a social outcast, which she seems not to mind, but when she and Otis are investigating the incidents surrounding Ruby's leaked photo, Maeve reveals the rumors do bother her. Otis doesn't understand why Maeve sympathizes so much with Ruby because he thinks Ruby isn't a very nice person. Maeve explains to him that people have been spreading awful rumors about her since she was 14, and she doesn't wish that for anyone, not even Ruby. "This kind of thing sticks," she warns.
Maeve Muses On The Ridiculousness Of Birthdays
"Why Celebrate The Day I Got Pushed Out Of Some Random Vagina Against My Will?"
Ever the sarcastic one, Maeve's perspective on her birthday is a wry one. When Otis asks her why she doesn't like her birthday, she replies that it's a pointless celebration. Maeve Wiley doesn't have the best relationship with her mother, but on this particular birthday, Aimee and Otis make her feel special. In one of Sex Education's best romantic gestures, Otis gives her a five-year diary with her birthdays torn out, which Maeve appreciates - so much so that she almost confesses her affection for him.
Maeve Loves To Be The Cynic
"Funfairs Are Simply A Distraction From The Inevitability Of Death."
Once again, Maeve's sarcasm reveals her dark outlook on life. In Sex Education season 2, when Otis asks her if she'll go to the fair, she says it's not her thing. Otis agrees with her sentiment, though is a little surprised at its bleakness. Maeve Wiley has watched her family crumble and has faced life's challenges without much success, so she's not too optimistic about her own future. For her, something as silly and inconsequential as a fair is just a distraction from the struggle that life really is in her eyes.
Maeve Inspires The School To Stand Up For Each Other
"No, It's My Vagina."
One of the most powerful moments in Sex Education comes after Olivia claims ability for her actions. All day, Ruby has been going along with the Untouchables about the explicit photo that's been shared. It turns out that the photo is Ruby's, and Olivia shared it to taunt her as revenge. At assembly the next morning, Mr. Groff gives a warning speech about digital culture. Olivia redeems herself by announcing to everyone that it's her vagina. Maeve, ing her own speech about the derogatory names she's been called, stands up, too. This inspires many students around the hall to them resulting in a direct and funny spoof of Spartacus.
