Review: 'Sex' Treats Youthful Desire Honestly

Compelling and realistic, "Sex" has some of the most honest work I've seen surrounding young adulthood and sexual desire. Cathrine's life as a swoon-worthy Copenhagen twenty-something seems ideal: She's a university student working at a sex information hotline and living with her equally hunky and loving boyfriend Simon. Yet, for some reason, he has stopped initiating or responding to her sexual requests, and it makes her nervous. She develops a passionate and mutual crush on Selma, another staff member at the hotline. Thankfully, she has her best friend, Nanse, to support her as she tries to figure out exactly what she wants, and how to get it.

Cathrine is not deified. The protagonist can drink too much, swear too much, have sex outside of conventional relationships, and in general make questionable decisions while still making good choices and being the best person possible. She may not speak up when something terrible happens, even if it makes her feel awful, as the production lets us know either through the use of music or manic bouts of texting.

Americans can call this show truthful, but only in contrast to the way that many American television producers have attempted, and failed, to bring shows that depict actual sexual activity and substance use to market. I would caution an American audience member to not consider a show like this pornography, but rather to recognize that sexual behavior is normal and having sexual behavior be present in this show is, after all, the point of making it and watching it.

"Sex" puts equal judgment on the way Cathrine treats the people around her, whether there is a positive or negative effect. She is clearly trying her best while being pushed and pulled by her own desires.

The fact that she is lusting after a woman is not treated as scandalous; even her boyfriend seems to understand. There are a lot of great reaches in the writing to connect hotline conversations with the main thrusts of the storyline. The soundtrack is dreamy and sounds European, but perhaps not uniquely Danish, although there are Danish artists included. Much of the production is geared towards conveying maximum emotional impact, which makes the episodes feel much more substantial than their running times.

For some real-world exploration into desire, click here.