‘The Intercourse Lives of School Ladies’ Simply Gave Leighton (and Renee Rapp) the Excellent Ship-Off

The Sex Lives of College Girls simply started its third season, and we’re already saying goodbye to the beloved Leighton Murray. After it was introduced actress Reneé Rapp would tackle a recurring function in Season 3 and later depart the series to concentrate on her music profession, followers puzzled how her character Leighton could be written off the present, and Episode 2 gave her a really becoming send-off. Leighton, who arrived to Essex as a snobby closeted lesbian along with her coronary heart set on becoming a member of her mom’s former sorority, underwent a number of the most important character progress over the course of the sequence, really coming into her personal as she will get prepared to depart Essex behind. Transferring to MIT to pursue her ardour for math at the next stage – and be a part of her girlfriend Alicia (Midori Francis) in Boston. Leighton is on to greater and higher issues, although it’s heartbreaking to see her depart Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott), Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet), and Bela (Amrit Kaur) behind. Rapp’s presence will undoubtedly be missed, however we are able to take solace in the truth that Leighton’s character arc reached a satisfying, if abrupt, conclusion after coming to phrases along with her sexuality and deciding to pursue the life she needs.

Leighton Had Among the Greatest Character Improvement in ‘The Intercourse Lives of School Ladies’

When Leighton first arrived at school, she had a really specific plan for her future, following in her mother and father’ and brother’s footsteps by attending Essex and dashing Kappa. She was hesitant to get to know her roommates, seeing them as beneath her, however when her two greatest buddies from highschool deserted her throughout the first week, she began spending extra time with Whitney, Kimberly, and Bela. After drunkenly chucking a bottle of tequila at a statue on campus, Leighton did her mandated neighborhood service hours on the Essex’s Girls’s Heart, the place she met Alicia, who would turn out to be a serious a part of her popping out journey. Not like her roommates, Leighton stored her romantic/sexual life personal, secretly hooking up with a lot older girls whereas pretending to be straight in her day-to-day life. After a tough breakup with Alicia – who refused to proceed relationship somebody within the closet – Leighton tearfully got here out to Kimberly within the Season 1 finale, and Season 2 noticed her open up and embrace her sexuality in a extra significant approach, even popping out to her mother and father.

Rapp, who additionally identifies as a lesbian, shared how a lot enjoying Leighton meant to her when the information of her departure was first introduced in July 2023 with a post on X, saying, “A whole lot of queer work will get belittled — however enjoying Leighton has modified my life. I really like who I’m 10x greater than I did earlier than realizing her. I hope she gave y’all somewhat little bit of that too.”

Leighton’s character arc was outlined largely by her coming out journey, however the means of popping out additionally allowed her to turn out to be her true self. Not eager to be outlined by her sexuality, Leighton hid a serious a part of herself with a view to play the function she thought she needed to play, and her relationship (and breakup) with Alicia was a catalyst for her change in perspective on popping out, compelled to beat her internalized homophobia and the heteronormative expectations of others. Briefly relationship her lookalike Tatum (Gracie Dzienny) additionally made Leighton notice she’d outgrown her close-minded ignorance in the direction of the queer neighborhood that Alicia referred to as her out for in Season 1. Nonetheless snobby and judgmental in her personal particular approach, Leighton’s resolution to drop Kappa and get again along with Alicia within the Season 2 finale confirmed simply how far she’d come as a personality going into Rapp’s last season with the present.

Leighton’s Season 3 Departure Is Completely Bittersweet

So as to write Rapp off the present, The Intercourse Lives of School Ladies showrunner Justin Noble made certain to present Leighton a future consistent with what her character would realistically need. Recognized since Season 1 for being extremely good at math, within the Season 3 premiere, Leighton discovers the mathematics division at Essex merely isn’t superior sufficient for what she needs to pursue, and her professor encourages her to look right into a switch to MIT. This switch would align completely with Alicia’s plans to drop out of Essex to start out a promising new job in Boston, however regardless of the wonderful alternative, Leighton is devastated to depart her greatest buddies behind. By no means one of the best communicator, Leighton waits till the final doable second to inform Whitney, Kimberly, and Bela about her switch, however Jocelyn (Lauren Spencer) unintentionally spills the beans earlier than she will be able to break the information. When Leighton tearfully explains to the ladies why she’s transferring, the emotional influence of her departure actually units in, however after a soppy group hug, Bela insists they spend one last evening partying collectively earlier than she leaves within the morning.

Leighton’s last episode showcases one of the best of her character, however greater than something, how a lot she’s grown into the individual she actually needs to be. Even the bodily modifications to her hair and wardrobe in Season 3 mirror her progress, with Leighton wanting extra comfy and assured in herself as she prepares for a brand new life at MIT. We nonetheless get some basic Leighton moments, like her discomfort at discovering out Whitney’s new love curiosity is richer than she is, and her attribute bluntness is on full show when she factors out to her clueless straight buddies that Kimberly’s new love curiosity is bisexual. Although her relationship with Alicia and friendship with the ladies are an important to Leighton’s character, Episode 2 additionally exhibits a candy dialog between Leighton and her dad (Rob Huebel), whose relationship has additionally developed into one thing extra open and sincere, and he encourages her to comply with her coronary heart.

Season 3, Episode 2 already leaves us with a cliffhanger as to the id of Leighton’s substitute, however The Intercourse Lives of School Ladies‘ lovable imply woman will certainly be missed. The humor, empathy, and emotional depth Rapp dropped at her efficiency as Leighton made her a fan favourite, and Leighton’s journey was one of the compelling of the sequence. Her absence will certainly be felt, however Rapp’s last episode introduced Leighton’s journey to an finish in a heartbreaking, however satisfying approach.

The Intercourse Lives of School Ladies is out there to stream on Max in the US, with new Season 3 episodes dropping each Thursday at 9pm EST.

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