Even when Leighton begins a secret relationship with Alicia ( Midori Francis), who is out and proud, it eventually crumbles because Leighton isn’t willing to come out. Though Leighton doesn’t continue trying to make things right with her old friends, she puts up the same wall with her new friends, unwilling to share parts of herself.
Over the course of the season, Leighton’s struggle with accepting her sexuality (which is more than likely to continue into the second season) is handled beautifully with such care and compassion put into every moment. The series has more than proven that it’s capable of tackling important topics, and another one that is particularly touching to many fans is Leighton’s journey as a closeted lesbian. Kimberly is caught cheating and nearly expelled from the college, Bela is sexually assaulted by the Co-Editor of the comedy zine she has joined, and Whitney is forced to deal with the fallout of an inappropriate relationship with her Assistant Coach. Throughout the 10-episode first season, which takes place over half of the first semester, the girls face an incredible amount of challenges and difficulties. HBO Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls follows Kimberly ( Pauline Chalamet), Bela ( Amrit Kaur), Whitney ( Alyah Chanelle Scott), and Leighton ( Reneé Rapp) as they begin their freshman year at the fictional Essex college in Vermont.
