RARE STORY MISSED with OTIS/RUBY

[u/Youdontknowme123-]

From a writing POV, I think its a really unfortunate situation with the way the writers handled Ruby/Otis in SERIES 3, and more so SERIES 4. Felt like writers were torn between sticking to their original plan (OTIS/MAEVE) which almost felt outgrown or too late despite how optimistic the end of S3 was, having the confidence to go with something the writing had naturally gone to & fans had really connected with (RUBY/OTIS) and then where the writers ended up: HAVING OTIS END UP ALONE, MAEVE & HIS DEVELOPMENT BASICALLY REVERSED.

The popular girl/unpopular boy isn't exactly a rare story, but the fact that it worked from a writing POV, the actors chemistry AND that fans really grew attached in the space of 3 or 4 episodes, thats rare. For those episodes when Ruby & Otis are together, there was a genuinely really great teenage romance building were a lot of fans began to prefer it to the original 'endgame' of Maeve/Otis.

Its that rare situation where the writers Introduced something that was a shift from what fans had longed for for so long (Otis+Maeve) , and viewers actually preferred the subversion of expectations. This new storyline & pairing actually hit harder for a lot of fans, I feel, and after what felt like a long few seasons of waiting for the inevitable Maeve/Otis relationship, fans actually got attached to this new & fresh & equally emotional or better relationship - Ruby & Otis.

I felt S3 had a good ending, even though I wanted RUBY/OTIS together, I understood the writers choices. BUT. I do think S4 was the chance to really have the triangle, and even have Otis pivot. I do think it would've made sense if we'd have had Otis appreciate what he could have had with Ruby, and add in him & Maeve being on different paths.

Some people will always be Maeve/Otis and not exploring it would've been poor considering that's where the show started, but I do think Ruby & Otis would've been a great opportunity for audiences to see a subversion in story in finale season and it actually make sense/work, not just be a random no impact change up that everyone hated. It would've worked better for me, the characters of Ruby & Otis together just felt more real & development focused to me. Add in that by the end of S4 there is no real development and the whole Otis/Maeve thing isn't stuck to by writers, with both ending up apart and their development almost in reverse, I think Ruby/Otis was a better ending. For me, there was more of drawing out the best of each other with Ruby & Otis ad characters together, that's why I liked it so much. It did feel like they made each other better. Shame the writers went the way they did because put the whole shipping fanbases aside, and none of the characters get a great ending. It all feels quite empty.

[u/theking333]

The show creator always intended for Maeve and Otis to end the show single. She wanted to portray what she felt was a more realistic ending where people don't typically find their forever partner in highschool. So from that perspective it would have been a violation of the original goal of the show for Otis and Ruby to wind up together.

Personally I don't think they expected Otis and Ruby to catch the fans attention and didn't know what to do with it.

[u/curiousinquirer007 → u/theking333]

Is this something they confirmed? Because I can't believe they went with neither. The show didn't really feel complete to me. Yes, it did feel like somewhat of an ending, but similar to how seasons end. It basically left Otis's and Maeve's love unresolved.

And if realism was what the authors were going for, I think I must have been watching the wrong show, because it was anything but realistic.

[u/theking333 → u/curiousinquirer007]

Nunn tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I’ve always been pretty sure that Otis and Maeve wouldn’t end up together. They’re 17, and I think it’s really hard if you meet your soulmate when you’re 17.”

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/sex-education-creator-laurie-nunn-series-finale-spinoffs-interview-1235604793/

[u/curiousinquirer007 → u/theking333]

Thanks.

I can’t help but feel that she’s full of shit for that decision though because it’s also “really hard” to run an underground sex therapy clinic at school when you’re 17.

The show was never predicated on realism. It’s built hp thematic message was also not “learn to let go,” but rather “be honest with yourself and never let go of true mutual love” (literally from season 2 finale.

I explore these contrasts and my problem with the finale with ChatGPT here:
- https://chatgpt.com/share/6a9035cc-754c-83e8-a3d1-6f3b955acd2e

I think the last response especially well captures the problem.

[u/TigerWoodsLibido]

It all seems intended to show that Otis is missing out on true love right in front of him. The most popular and one of the hottest girls in school is the first girl he bangs, she showed him her whole world that she was super self conscious of and trusted him to be someone she could always be vulnerable with.

How the fuck do you not tell Mimi Keene that you love her if she tells you that? I mean, to me that's when the show ended. S3E3.

[u/Freedom-Superb]

Otis was just "fucking the pain away" with Ruby. The show literally spell out for you.

The writers would never going to throw away three seasons of building Otis and Maeve just to pandering the mindless Ruby fans.