“Sex Lives of College Girls” - Season 3, Episodes 2 & 3 Review

Three episodes into this season, and it feels like not much has happened of real substance.

Episode 2 was largely focused on closing Leighton’s chapter due to Renée Rapp’s exit from the show, which was handled in a way that felt genuine.

The emotional "goodbye" scene between Leighton and Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott) stood out, highlighting the closer bond between the two actors.

Beyond Leighton’s departure, the season feels a bit scattered in terms of focus. The rest of the episode centers around Lila (Ilia Isorelýs Paulino) debuting her new clothing brand at a fashion show.

This could’ve been a great opportunity to dive deeper into her hilarious character, but instead, it’s overshadowed by some of the other stories. The show seems to be trying to make multiple plotlines work at once, but they somewhat fail to give them enough time to truly develop.

The girls, however, have a great time at the show before learning of Leighton’s transfer, and they share one last pre-game in their freshman dorm, reminiscing on their good times together.

Whitney and Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet) are taking an African American Studies class, where Whitney meets Isaiah (Devin Craig), who shows a strong interest in her.

Though initially put off by his wealth, Whitney makes a scene when confronting him about this but he explains how his family worked hard for their money. She apologizes and the two agree to hang out in the future.

Bela (Amrit Kaur), now an RA, deals with a new student, Taylor (Mia Rodgers), who Bela reports for being a bad roommate. Taylor escalates the situation by accusing Bela of discrimination, but when Taylor ends up in the hospital due to an alcohol problem, Bela promises to help, softening their previous tension.

In Episode 3, the girls meet their new roommate Kacey (Gracie Lawrence), who transferred to Essex to be with her boyfriend. She tells the girls that they’re waiting for marriage and are very lovesick, making her a less frequent presence in their lives.

Meanwhile, Kimberly is navigating a relationship with Eli (Michael Provost), a bisexual man, but she makes some awkward assumptions about his sex life that lead to tension, though they eventually work things out.

Bela meets Arvind (Nabeel Muscatwalla), a fellow RA she bonds with, but she struggles to accept his kindness. She finds herself falling for him when he saves someone who is choking, only to discover he is already in a relationship.

Whitney’s professor praises her for her work and encourages her to double major, but Whitney again embarrasses herself in a conversation where she dismisses the value of studying African American history in favor of her STEM major.

It’s surprising how much the writers seem to want to embarrass Whitney this season, given that she’s portrayed as a smart, capable student. Many of these situations feel forced and out of character.

In the episode's final moments, the girls discover Kacey’s boyfriend cheating at a party and decide to tell her, which leads to a breakup. Kacey, though initially distant, appreciates her new roommates for looking out for her.

While this season has been funny and stays true to the show's tone, some of the plotlines feel stale and too easily resolved, leaving the show feeling like it’s running in place rather than progressing.

It's clear the writers are trying to juggle too many storylines at once without letting any of them truly breathe, and it’s leaving the season with an unfortunate lack of real impact.

Rating: 3/5

Madison Rush is a third-year majoring in public relations. To contact her, email mkr5957@psu.edu.