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.
Still from The Sex Lives of College Girls (Credit: Max)
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.
Still from The Sex Lives of College Girls (Credit: Max)
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.
The penultimate episode of From Season 3 continues the eerie and suspenseful atmosphere of the series, preparing viewers for the intense events that will unfold in the season finale.
This particular episode focuses on the townspeople’s growing concerns as they search for Fatima (Pegah Ghafoori), who went missing in the previous episode after being tricked into leaving a shack by Elgin (Nathan D. Simmons).
The sense of dread and unease builds as the town tries to uncover the truth behind Fatima’s disappearance, while various personal dramas unfold among the residents.
The episode opens with Boyd (Harold Perrineau) and Ellis (Corteon Moore) racing through the woods. They are visibly shaken and confused, struggling to understand what happened to Fatima, who had previously been holed up in a shack.
In the previous episode, Elgin had convinced Fatima to leave her hiding place with him, but she vanished without a trace. Boyd and Ellis pause their frantic search for a moment to discuss Boyd’s worsening condition, as his battle with Parkinson’s disease continues to take its toll.
As the two men continue their search, Elgin works to convince Fatima that her abduction was actually meant to help her, but Fatima is clearly unconvinced. Despite her disbelief, her intense thirst for blood overtakes her, and she ultimately succumbs to her cravings, taking the jar of blood Elgin offers.
The Town Struggles with Fatima’s Disappearance
Back in the town, Donna (Elizabeth Saunders) contemplates revealing Fatima’s dark secret to the other residents. Fatima’s actions—particularly the murder of someone in her care—have been kept under wraps, and Donna is faced with the dilemma of whether to expose her.
Despite threatening to tell the town, Donna’s soft-hearted nature prevails when a memory resurfaces. She recalls a moment from From Season 1 when the town celebrated Fatima’s one-year anniversary. Donna remembers how Fatima’s kind nature and green thumb had made a lasting impact on everyone around her.
This memory convinces Donna that no one should know about the woman Fatima has become, broken by the horrors of this cursed place. When Donna tells Boyd that she won’t expose Fatima’s past, Boyd shares more troubling news: Fatima is still missing, and no one knows where she is.
As the search for Fatima intensifies, Sarah (Avery Konrad) suddenly bursts into the room, shaking with fear. She explains that after working on a snowman outside her home, she was plagued by the same painful and disorienting voices that tormented her in Season 1.
The voices told her that Fatima had been taken by someone and that she is nearby, though they won’t be able to find her in time. Sarah shares that the voices had laughed ominously, signaling that hope is in short supply in the town. Undeterred, Boyd and Donna call for a town meeting outside the diner, rallying everyone to form a search party and increase their efforts to find the missing woman.
The Town Divides into Search Parties
Just before the meeting, Julie (Hannah Cheramy) and Ethan (Simon Webster) return from the ruins, with Julie being checked over by the town’s doctors after fainting in the previous episode. While she recovers, Jim (Eion Bailey) attempts to have an important conversation with Randall (A.J. Simmons) about their experiences in the ruins.
Still from From (Credit: MGM)
Jim is eager to find a way out of the town, and this conversation gives him renewed hope of escape. He pushes back against Randall’s pessimism, who believes they should focus on more immediate concerns like teaching Julie how to drive. Jim’s optimism fuels his determination to help Julie and Ethan, and he begins to see a possible future for them beyond the town’s horrors.
Julie, Ethan, Jim, and Tabitha (Catalina Sandino Moreno) try to maintain a sense of normalcy at the diner, despite the mounting tension around them. Although Julie is skeptical, Jim and Tabitha finally agree that they must follow their instincts and any visions that could lead them out of the cursed town.
When the meeting is called to organize the search party, residents are encouraged to pair up. Julie and Tabitha decide to go off on their own, while Jim teams up with Ethan. Julie confides in Jim about how Ethan feels guilty for supporting her decision to enter the ruins.
The two have a heartfelt conversation in the RV where they first arrived in the town, and Jim reassures his son, helping him feel less responsible for the dangerous choices they’ve made.
Meanwhile, other pairs are facing their own difficulties. Donna is stuck with Acosta (Samantha Brown), who is not only difficult to work with but also antagonizes Donna during their search. Despite Acosta’s resistance, Donna eventually manages to shut her down and continue their search.
Boyd and Kenny (Ricky He), on the other hand, are able to rekindle their relationship, despite Boyd’s declining health. Although Kenny doesn’t want to take over as sheriff if Boyd’s condition worsens, he accepts his old role as deputy once again.
In an unexpected partnership, Jade (David Alpay) and Henry (Robert Joy) team up to search, but their focus shifts to an important conversation. Henry wants to mend his relationship with Victor (Scott McCord), and Jade, still disturbed by hallucinations of Christopher and Jasper, gives Henry some tough advice.
She urges him to stop trying to fix Victor and instead accept him for who he is now, using a well-timed Tarzan analogy to make her point.
Fatima’s Desperate Struggle and Elgin’s Mysterious Role
As the search for Fatima continues, she tries to escape her captivity. While being held by Elgin, Fatima uncovers a trap door in the floor. She uses all her strength to pull at the handle, struggling to escape, but she is unable to break free.
Just as she is about to make a breakthrough, the kimono lady appears and physically restrains her, preventing her from escaping. The kimono lady forces Fatima back onto the bed, covering her cries as she remains trapped.
Fatima’s desperate attempts to escape emphasize the horror and hopelessness that pervades the town. Elgin, however, remains an enigmatic figure. Although he tries to convince Ellis that abducting Fatima is an act of mercy, his words only deepen Ellis’s suspicions.
He tells Ellis a story about a missing child from his past who was later found playing in a park, but Ellis is skeptical. He presses Elgin about the importance of Fatima’s pregnancy, raising doubts about Elgin’s true motives. The atmosphere becomes increasingly tense, and it’s clear that their search for Fatima is likely doomed from the start.
Tabitha’s Connection with Victor’s Past and New Revelations
As the episode unfolds, Tabitha has her own experiences that shed light on the town’s mysteries. After Julie shares her strange dream with her, Tabitha confides in her daughter and reveals that she, too, has been haunted by disturbing visions.
One particular vision leads her to follow a dead child through the woods, which ultimately leads her to an underground cellar. Inside, she and Julie find Victor in a deeply distraught state.
Earlier in the episode, Victor had been violently tossing his belongings, claiming that the information he had shared with his mother had led to her death. He seems consumed with guilt and fear, frightening the residents of Colony House.
When Kenny tries to calm Victor, he grabs an ax and threatens to cut down a tree. The boy in white appears once again, offering a warning. The boy’s appearance has changed, a sign that things are continuing to shift in the town. He tells Victor that he is still his friend, but to truly understand what is happening, they must find out for themselves. This cryptic message leaves everyone in a state of confusion, unsure of what is to come.
In the cellar, Tabitha tries to comfort Victor, but as she touches him, she experiences a strange sensation. Her mind is transported to the past, where she witnesses a young Victor and his sister hiding in the dark, terrified of the monsters outside.
Through this vision, she realizes that she is seeing events from Victor’s mother’s perspective. She watches as she tries to protect her children by going to the faraway tree, only to be intercepted and killed by a night creature. This revelation leaves Tabitha in a state of shock, and her screams fill the cellar as both Julie and Victor panic, unsure of how to help her.
Still from From (Credit: MGM)
The emotional and supernatural tension in this episode leaves viewers on the edge of their seats, eager to see how these dramatic events will unfold in the season finale.
The penultimate episode of From Season 3 builds tension and reveals deep emotional and supernatural conflicts among the townspeople. As the search for Fatima continues and past traumas resurface, the boundaries between hope and despair, reality and illusion blur, setting the stage for an explosive finale that promises to unravel the town’s darkest secrets.
From Season 3 is available to stream on MGM+ in the U.S.
