TV

Everyone Is Obsessed With Eric And His “Dirty Pig” Line From ‘Sex Education’

And in that moment, we were all detty, detty pigs.

by Michelle Rennex  29 January 2020
sex education you detty pig eric

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Eric Effiong is, without a doubt, the best character on Netflix’s Sex Education. 

In the first season of the show, we watched Eric navigate through all aspects of his sexuality, with a focus on the struggles of acceptance. In the second season, Eric’s story revolves around his unexpected love triangle. But throughout both seasons of Sex Education, Eric has stayed unapologetically himself, which is the main drawcard of his character.

*Extremely mild spoilers for Season 2 ahead*

What A Line, What A Moment

Played by the talented Scottish-Rwandan actor Ncuti Gatwa, Eric uttered his iconic line in the first episode of the new season. The second season of Sex Education opens with a school-wide chlamydia “epidemic” facing the students of Moordale High.

In the absence of Maeve, Eric convinces Otis to continue his secret sex clinic to get to the bottom of the STI spread. While discussing the potential carriers, Otis ducks under his desk to hide from his girlfriend, Ola.

So Otis and Eric head to the bathrooms to have a private chat about what happened between them. While there, Eric tells Otis that he should try and sort the wanking problem that has led to his inability to get hard for his girlfriend. During the hilariously endearing encounter, the pair hear a rattling in a bathroom stall and out walks Owen — the person we later find out to be one who started the spread of chlamydia at Moordale.

“Well, I wasn’t going to come out, because what you’re talking about is very strange and embarrassing and I thought it would be awkward,” Owen blurted out.

In response, Eric then said the most iconic line of the entire series: “You should wash your hands, you dirty pig!”

Owen then hit back in what is probably the second best line uttered in 2020, and shouted: “I didn’t do a poo. I was crying.” Which, honestly, is just hugely relatable.

Later on in the season, when everyone’s confidential sex confessions are stuck on the school walls, Eric repeats the line again. After learning from Jean’s notes that Connor Pearson masturbates up to 17 times a day, Eric walks away exclaiming: “17 times? Dirty, dirty pig.”

Huge Detty, Detty Pig Energy

After watching Sex Education, people quickly shared their love for “dirty pig”, with some even turning the insult into a meme. But thanks to Eric’s mixed African and English accent, the words “dirty pig” quickly snowballed into “detty pig” — which suits everything so much better.

But beyond the delivery and the choice in words, Ncuti’s treatment of his character was also highlighted online. As Eric has both Ghanaian and Nigerian descent, Ncuti’s choice to slip in and out of an African accent throughout Sex Education has been praised for its authenticity.

“When Ncuti allows Eric’s accent to slip into an African one to accentuate emotion without becoming a caricature or self-mockery…ugh….the authenticity.. flaVOUR!!!! The ZEST!,” Bolu Babalola tweeted about Ncuti’s take on Eric.

In conclusion, Eric is the best and we are all Detty, Detty Pigs at heart.

You can stream Season 2 of Sex Education on Netflix now.