The third season of “The Sex Lives of College Girls” returns on November 21, continuing the journey of four college freshmen at Essex College. Season 3 promises more drama, love, and personal growth, so here’s a refresher on where the characters left off and what to expect this time around.
Whitney’s Academic Struggles and New Relationships
Season 2 of The Sex Lives of College Girls followed Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott) as she found herself torn between her passion for soccer and her desire to succeed academically. As the soccer team entered its offseason, Whitney sought new ways to fill her time and decided to take on the challenging biochemistry class at Essex College.
This move showcased Whitney’s drive, but it also exposed her to new struggles. The class, difficult on its own, was made even harder when Whitney’s TA kept confusing her with the only other Black student in the class. On top of that, her classmate Andrew (Charlie Hall) frequently belittled her, making Whitney feel even more out of place.
However, when Whitney and Andrew were paired for a crucial lab project, things started to shift. The more time they spent together, the more Whitney started to notice an attraction to him. This soon led to the two of them starting a casual hookup, though Whitney was clear about not wanting a relationship.
But when Andrew expressed interest in something more, Whitney grew conflicted. Their first date was awkward, confirming that they were not on the same page emotionally. By the season finale, Whitney made the difficult decision to break things off with Andrew, focusing on her own goals rather than any romantic entanglements.
Before getting involved with Andrew, Whitney had been in a relationship with Canaan (Christopher Meyer). Their relationship faced challenges, mostly because Whitney became jealous of Canaan’s close friendship with his coworker, Zoe (Aketra Sevillian).
Although Canaan reassured her that nothing romantic was going on, Whitney couldn’t shake her feelings of insecurity. The relationship reached its breaking point when Whitney caught herself snooping through Canaan’s phone at a party, which led to a breakup.
While there were a few awkward interactions between the two afterward, Whitney began to realize that she missed him. In an attempt to reconnect, Whitney followed Canaan after the last party of the year, intending to confess her feelings.
However, she saw him kissing Kimberly, and the sight left her feeling hurt and betrayed. In response, Whitney decided to move out of the dorm and into the Kappa sorority house, as Leighton had given up her spot, signaling a shift in Whitney’s social life.
Leighton’s Journey to Self-Acceptance
Leighton (Reneé Rapp) has faced some of the most significant character development in The Sex Lives of College Girls. In the first season, Leighton struggled with being in the closet. Her journey to self-acceptance began when she told Kimberly she was gay, and by the Season 2 premiere, she had come out to both Bela and Whitney.
As Leighton grew more comfortable with her sexuality, she began to show relationships with several women at Essex, but not without complications. She inadvertently spread chlamydia around campus, making her journey even more complex.
Throughout the season, Leighton continued her search for love, encountering new challenges in her dating life. She met Tatum (Gracie Dzienny), an older student who resembled Leighton in many ways and became determined to impress her.
They quickly began dating, but Leighton’s insecurities about being “cool enough” for Tatum led to problems in their relationship. When Leighton’s dad (Rob Huebel) came to visit, she finally came out to him during a tense dinner. Though her father was supportive, he expressed regret that she hadn’t been open with him sooner.
Leighton’s relationship with Tatum came to a head when they attended a party together. Tatum’s dismissive attitude towards the event made Leighton realize that they didn’t share the same values, leading to a breakup.
Later in the season, Leighton decided to leave the Kappa sorority after being elected social chair, feeling that the sorority wasn’t accepting of queer and trans individuals.
The season finale saw Leighton reconnecting with her ex-girlfriend, Alicia (Midori Francis), and using the money her mom had intended for Kappa to donate to the women’s center, a gesture reflecting her desire to build a more inclusive community.
Kimberly’s Financial Struggles and New Romance
Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet) faced a tough situation in The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 1 when she lost her academic scholarship after getting caught cheating on an exam. In Season 2, she found herself struggling to pay for her tuition, unwilling to ask her already struggling parents for help.
Kimberly’s job at Sips couldn’t cover the cost, so she applied for a loan, but she needed a co-signer. When the deal with a trusted professor fell through, Kimberly made a difficult decision: she chose to donate her eggs in exchange for the money she needed.
During this time, Kimberly’s love life took an interesting turn. After Nico (Gavin Leatherwood) was expelled in Season 1, Kimberly found a new interest in her neighbor, Jackson (Mitchell Slaggert). The two began dating, and their relationship seemed promising.
However, by the end of the season, Kimberly’s feelings shifted when she realized she had developed a strong attraction to Canaan, Whitney’s ex-boyfriend. This tension grew after Canaan received an award from Essex’s economics department and invited Kimberly to the celebratory banquet.
At the event, Kimberly and Canaan shared a kiss, confirming that their mutual attraction was real. The only problem was that Whitney had witnessed the kiss, leading to tension between the friends.
The situation became even more complicated when Kimberly’s emotions started to cloud her judgment. When Whitney confronted Kimberly about the kiss, Kimberly kept quiet, refusing to admit anything. This strained their friendship, and by the end of the season, Kimberly was forced to face the consequences of her actions, including the impact on her relationship with Canaan and her friendship with Whitney.
Bela’s Struggles with Relationships and Career
Bela (Amrit Kaur) had a particularly rough season in The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 2. After leaving her position at The Catullan, Bela tried to get her own comedy magazine, The Foxy, off the ground. Her efforts, however, were constantly met with challenges.
In Episode 4, Bela made a bold move by hijacking The Catullan’s latest issue, adding a QR code that led directly to The Foxy’s website. This act of defiance angered Eric (Mekki Leeper), the editor of The Catullan, and he retaliated by hacking into The Foxy’s site.
Though Eric and Bela later rekindled their relationship and agreed to keep things casual, Bela soon found herself getting jealous when Eric started seeing other women. Realizing that she wanted something more serious, Bela expressed her feelings to Eric, and the two became exclusive.
However, things didn’t go smoothly for Bela after that. When famed comedian Dan O’Brien (John Reynolds) visited Essex, Bela tried her hardest to make a good impression, hoping for an internship. Unfortunately for her, Dan formed a stronger connection with Eric, even offering him a writing opportunity that Bela didn’t have.
In an effort to keep Dan’s attention, Bela took things too far. She showed up at his hotel and initiated sex, hoping to impress him. When Eric found out, he was heartbroken and broke up with her, refusing to forgive her.
Later in the season, Bela’s career took another hit when a student journalist from the Essex View wrote an article about The Foxy that focused almost entirely on Bela rather than the magazine’s staff.
This upset her team, and Bela’s behavior toward aspiring comedy writer Jorja (Carly Dutcher) didn’t help matters. After dismissing Jorja’s work and telling her to give up on comedy, Jorja publicly called out Bela on social media.
The consequences of Bela’s actions snowballed, and in the season finale, Bela found herself isolated. Jo (Cheyenne Perez) and Evangeline (Sierra Katow) confronted Bela about her lies, and her teammates kicked her out of both The Foxy and their apartment. With her career and relationships in shambles, Bela ended the season contemplating transferring from Essex.
Season 3 Preview
As Season 3 of The Sex Lives of College Girls begins, the characters are faced with new personal and academic challenges. Whitney, Leighton, Kimberly, and Bela are all back at Essex College, dealing with the consequences of their actions and trying to figure out what’s next for their lives.
The drama is far from over, and as the show moves into its third season, fans can expect to see more emotional growth, romantic entanglements, and perhaps even some shocking twists.
The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 3 promises to bring the same mix of humor, drama, and relatability that has made it a fan favorite. With new episodes airing every Thursday on Max, there’s plenty of excitement to look forward to as the Essex students continue their journey through college.
Season 3 of The Sex Lives of College Girls brings more drama, growth, and exciting twists for Whitney, Leighton, Kimberly, and Bela. As they continue facing college life, personal struggles, and relationships, fans can expect an engaging season filled with challenges and emotional moments every Thursday on Max.
