In Sex Education season 4, Joanna is Jean’s sister. Otis calls her to help Jean, who is struggling to find balance in her life with Joy’s arrival. Lisa McGrillis plays Joanna.
Otis calls Joanna once he observes that his mother desperately needs help managing Baby Joy and her new job as a radio show host. However, Jean knows that Joanna is going to bring more trouble than help.
Joanna is seen using the clothes Jean has without asking and spending money on things she doesn’t really need. At the same time, she visits the bank to get a loan, only to fail.
Joanna also hops into a relationship with Dan, and according to Jean, Dan is not the first person Joanna thinks is the one.
When Joanna comes back home drunk after Dan stands her up, she reveals that she is in a lot of debt and is here to seek a loan from Jean, who saw this coming and now regrets letting Joanna stay.
Jean eventually agrees to lend Joanna the money she needs if she signs a sister contract that Jean has written.
Joanna’s dark past
Jean is always controlling when it comes to Joanna because she likes to think Joanna has terrible judgment. She buys expensive stuff while she is in debt and needs to find structure in her life.
Joanna’s destructive behavior has to do with an experience she had when she was 12. During a party, her mother’s boyfriend touched her inappropriately and even abused her.
Since then, Joanna has never felt happy or secure. She has never liked staying in one place, and hence, she travels a lot. She is afraid that if she stops moving and starts properly talking about what happened, then the experience might catch up on her, and she won’t be able to pretend that she is okay anymore.
Joanna and Jean reconcile
It’s not like Joanna has always brought trouble for Jean. Many times, she has noticed that Jean is always sad and tired. Jean clearly needs help, but she won’t admit it.
The two soon get into a fight where they confront each other about what they are not willing to talk about. Joanna walks out of Jean’s house, and when she returns to pick up her stuff, Jean admits that she is in a mess because she has been trying to block out the feeling of wanting everything to work with Jakob.
Jean also offers Joanna the money she needs. Before leaving, Joanna lets Jean know that she has ended things with Dan and that Jean is a great mother.
On Jean’s radio show, Joanna joins as a caller seeking advice, where she talks about the trauma she is suffering from. Jean also confesses that she is suffering from postnatal depression and advises Joanna to lean on her friends and family. Joanna, who planned to skip town, decided to come back to Jean.
Also Read: Sex Education season 4 summary and ending explained
