Series Review: Dying for Sex—A Captivating Journey Toward Love

Dying for Sex becomes an extremely meaningful viewing experience in its last half when BDSM emphasis morphs into something else.

Read the full review on socialworker.com

by SaraKay Smullens, MSW, LCSW, DCSW, CGP, CFLE, BCD

     Dying for Sex holds two primary themes—the extraordinary friendship shared by two women, and the journey toward death viewed as progression toward life’s extraordinary possibilities. The superb talent of co-creators Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock in bringing the podcast story to film life is front and center of this work, as are genius performances.

     The indomitable Michelle Williams plays Molly Kochan (her real name). With the assistance of Wondery, a highly successful podcast studio detailed later, Molly’s beloved, devoted friend, Nikki Boyer (also her real name in the series), brought honesty and authenticity to the podcast, revealing open discussions about nearly all of Kochan’s almost 200 sexual experiences in the final years of her life, in part motivated by increased libido resulting from her prescribed medications. Six podcast episodes were released in 2020 following Molly’s death at the age of 45. 

     Nikki, who sees Molly through her healing, fulfilling, captivating, and at times humorous journey to death, is played in the TV series by the extraordinary talent, Jenny Slate. Nikki, an actress totally disorganized in all aspects of her life, evolves in ways that will leave you breathless. As time passes, we bear witness as care for Molly precedes all in Nikki’s life, including a man she loves deeply and a job that is an essential stepping stone. In chilling truth, as Molly’s illness progresses, Nikki speaks of gratitude that her blood has stained most of Nikki’s clothing; this allows them to remain together.