Unnecessary Cancelation

By Ashley Diaz Ramirez

Season three of “The Sex Lives of College Girls” ended on January 23, 2025. Mindy Kaling and Justine Noble created the show, which was released on November 18, 2021. 

The show follows four roommates who attend Essex College in Vermont. It displays their relationships and hardships, all while having witty humor.

The third season starts with four main characters: Whitney Chase, Kimberly Finkle, Bela Malhotra, and Leighton Murray. Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur, Alyah Chanelle Scott, and Reneé Rapp play the main cast.

Having watched the two previous seasons I was anticipating the third season, so when I found out that one of the main characters in the show, Leighton, would not be in the whole third season but only for two episodes, I was bummed out. 

I wasn’t sure if the show could continue without one of its main characters, but I was wrong. One thing the show gets right is developing a story without a character that still makes sense. In the first two episodes, we learn how Leighton is transferring to MIT because they have a better math program that will help her career in finance. 

One of my favorite scenes in the show is in episode two, “ Lila by Lila,” when the three roommates say goodbye to Leighton. It was an emotional scene, especially when you’ve followed these four girls in the past two seasons and see how they’ve deepened their friendship.

In the newest season, you could tell the show was directed differently. I appreciated how the show used a more raw lens. You could see texture on people's faces and harsh lines; it just felt more real.

The way the show was shot and the script made it feel like you were watching someone’s real life. In episode three, “ Four to a Suite, “ Whitney, Kimberly, and Bela get a new roommate named Kacey Baker. 

I loved how the script displayed reality, especially in the following episodes. While Leighton, one of the girls' best friends, left, the three girls moved on. I especially enjoyed seeing this because in real life, friends come and go, so it was refreshing to see a show display that, while still showing how the girls missed Leighton or brought her up in their ways, without making her absence a disturbance. 

The show, known for its humor and realistic plot, does a fantastic job of writing and developing characters. These realistic characters make the show, at times, a complicated watch. Not in a bad way.

The realistic characters and plot made me feel second-hand embarrassment because I could see this playing out in real life. The show sometimes felt too real, and for a second, I forgot that this was just a show and not real life. 

One of those hard-to-watch moments was in episode eight, “The Good Partner Test,”  when the four girls tested each other’s partners to determine whether they were good partners. One test was to ask their partner to peel an orange for them. The goal was for their partner to peel the orange without complaining or saying no. 

Whitney was dating Isaiah, the son of a tech billionaire, at the time of the show. Whitney tosses the orange to Isaiah and asks him to peel it for her. However, Isaiah says, “I don't work for you. Peel your own damn orange,” and then tosses it back to her. I was cringing at that moment. Not only did he not peel the orange, he also embarrassed her in front of her friends. It was definitely a moment when I died inside. 

I also appreciate that the show is a place where girls can make mistakes, have multiple partners, and express and explore themselves, not only sexually but emotionally. 

This is a show where you can turn off your brain and enjoy the humor, emotion, and acting. The diverse cast of characters also amplifies the show even more. 

"The Sex Lives of College Girls" is a 10/10; every season is impressive. Not only are the plotlines, humor, and characters on the show incredible, but it also does an amazing job of demonstrating healthy relationships, showcasing that it’s okay to be sexually liberated, and the importance of friendship. 

Although it was announced that the show would be cancelled and not get a fourth season, I would still highly recommend “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” which you can watch on HBO MAX.