The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 3 Is the Most Disappointing One, Here's Why

The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 3 Is the Most Disappointing One, Here's Why
Image credit: HBO Max

We say goodbye to Reneé Rapp.

Season 3 of The Sex Lives of College Girls is in full swing on Max. Kimberly, Leighton, Bela and Whitney are entering their sophomore year and once again face the joys and sorrows of growing up.

Showrunner of the project remains Mindy Kaling. The main cast also returned to their roles – although there were some surprises. And one of these surprises is the reason why the show is starting to lose its charm.

Reneé Rapp Left the Project

It became known that Reneé Rapp would leave the project in the summer of 2023. The writers carefully took Rapp's character out of the show to complete the storyline. Leighton leaves for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, harmonious and confident.

And yet, the character's disappearance hurts the show's vibe. Strong and vulnerable, generous with gifts and jokes on the verge of toxicity, the girl was part of this girly foursome.

She overshadowed Kimberly's simplicity, Bela's carelessness, and Whitney's constant mental anguish. In the end, Reneé Rapp gave Leighton her charm. So when the actress left the show, some of that charm inevitably went with her.

Leighton Is Replaced by a New Character With an Intriguing Arc

Of course, Leighton's place will not be empty. The showrunners are moving a new neighbor named Kasey to live with the friends. In the reality of The Sex Lives of College Girls, her arc at least looks fresh.

It turns out that Kasey has a policy of not having sex before marriage and wears a special purity ring. She transferred to Essex for the sake of the guy she is going to marry. But things do not go according to plan.

And although Kasey's story promises to revive the project, without Rapp it will be completely different. The farewell night in the second episode breathes not only warmth, but also bitterness.

The Sex Lives of College Girls Loses Its Spark and Courage

The previous seasons started off very fast. The girls studied, hung out, dated guys, got used to each other and got closer. Now the intrigues have become less intense.

The girls are still going to classes, discussing sex and the future after college. But Whitney, Kimberly and Bela continue to exist by inertia. Something is happening in their lives, but it is no longer breathtaking.

In the early seasons, the drama and comedy were like emotional swings. Themes like poverty and harassment were abruptly replaced by healing jokes. Now there is more than enough drama, and the comedy has faded.

Perhaps this is the price of growing up? The girls have suddenly become boring because their characters are evolving. Bela realizes that she has treated people very badly in the past. Whitney wants to focus on her studies and takes a break from dating. But is being an adult the same as being boring?