15 fan-favorite Netflix Original characters, ranked

8. Eric Effoing — Sex Education

When the character first appeared: In the very first episode.

A little about the character: Eric is Otis’ gay best friend — and unapologetically gay. Sure, like any 16-year-old, he has his doubts and questions, but he also wants to be himself. He loves dressing up and being loud and proud. However, he’s certainly stepped backwards now and then due to things that have happened.

Why the character is a fan-favorite: Out of all the characters on Sex Education, Eric Effoing is one of the most well-developed and positive representations on screen. In fact, he beats the majority of Netflix characters for development, class, and style.

Despite his age, Eric is somewhat certain of who he is. He knows he’s gay and he’s happy with that. Yet, he still thinks like every other 16-year-old. This is a boy who wants to fit in without sacrificing who he is.

Throughout the series, we watch as he develops his style and confidence. He goes from just another gay character on a show to being one that fans can look up to and learn a lot about. Plus, he’s one with a family story that we can get behind — the protective dad who is just worried about his son but still wants his son to be happy and himself.

Eric is loyal to Otis, but he isn’t going to be walked all over. He knows when to stand up for himself and when he needs to call on people to help. There are times our hearts broke for him, as we watched him torn down by events, but we rooted for him to stand out and be the proud teenager he is.