Ross and Rachel. Daphne and Niles. Dawn and Tim. Carrie and Big. Kurt and Blaine. Kermit and Miss Piggy. TV history is riddled with a litany of will-they won't-theys that are often the only thing that has people coming back to watch, episode after episode, year on year. As Sex Education enters its third season, the intrigue behind Maeve and Otis, friends and former renegade sex therapists at Moordale Secondary, has become either the driver that keeps audiences hooked or is a huge pain in the butt that needs to get over itself.

Still, it all seemed academic given that Maeve (Emma Mackey) was now falling for Isaac (George Robinson) even if viewers are the only ones to know that he pulled a dastardly one at the climax of last season by deleting an emotions-fully-on-the-table voicemail left for Maeve by Otis (Asa Butterfield). And in any case, Otis has attempted to grow a moustache over the summer break that is likely to result in him never having a sexual partner ever again. Except he's only gone and got it on with Ruby (Mimi Keene), one of the 'populars' who is determined to keep this embarrassing tryst a secret for as long as possible.

While there are ructions going on in relationships all over the place (and we haven't even mentioned the problems and pleasures being experienced by Adam and Eric, Aimee and Steve or Lily and Ola), Moordale Secondary undergoes vast changes when a new head teacher sashays onto the stage in the shape of Hope Haddon (Jemima Kirke). She may initially appear to offer an open door to the more vulnerable of these kids, Hope soon reveals a reactionary dark side which threatens the liberated vibe of the school, even venturing into shaming territory that could teach Aunt Lydia of The Handmaid's Tale a thing or two.

But as the show navigates new issues in its third batch (non-binary characters get more of a look in this time around), can it be running out of steam? There are perhaps too many conversations in too many episodes that go along the same lines each time about uncertainty, doubt, shame, finding yourself and alien sex fantasies. But hey, that's what being in your mid to late teens is all about, right?

As has always been the case with Sex Education, there is a strong heart beating away in a show that's effectively about people finding not just a sexual partner but a path to discovering who they themselves are and trying to stay true to that. And even if you get a glimpse of the real you, there are literally dozens of ways in which you can mess it all up. Sex Education continues to work hard on exploring those faultlines and make them both funny and human.

Available now on Netflix.