9 SHOWS WITH NUANCED PORTRAYLS OF SEXUALITY THAT YOU NEED TO WATCH

SCHITT'S CREEK

Schitt's Creek is not about sexuality, and yet it has one of the most subtle, profound, insightful, and most importantly wholesome portrayals of sexuality on TV. This show takes you to a world that's free of bigotry, free of prejudices, free of judgement. And with that comes a lot of freedom. It educates you in ways that feel like regular everyday conversations. It approaches sexuality with the same kind of ease that it uses for other themes - like romance, family, or work.

GIRLS

At the very early stages of the show, Girls invited some comparison with Sex and the City, because of a similar premise. Both shows involve the lives of four women in the city, and closely follow the sexual experiences of the female. characters. Personally, I find Girls to be a much better show, much more nuanced and respectful in its portrait of sexuality. Even when you are laughing at the comical circumstances of the show, you are never led to misjudge the complexity of sexual experience. The first two seasons, in particular, are sharp and hard-hitting, sentimental and practical all at once.

EASY

Easy is so diverse and vast in its storytelling that it's crazy to imagine that all of it comes from the same mind. Through its multiple different stories, Easy depicts how different everyone's sex lives are, & how it correlates with our personalities & individual battles. It's very easy to take Easy for just a racy Netflix show (although the racy part of it is pretty good too), but it is such an evolved and insightful piece of storytelling. With the right blend of writing & filmmaking, it makes sure that it presents the diverse range of sexual choices that people make without judgement. The show is just a silent observer that allows us to look, and in return compels us to reflect on our lives.

MRS FLETCHER

This is probably one of the weaker shows in this list in terms of its writing, but I have added it because there is a lot of nuance & novelty specifically in its portrayal of the sexuality of a middle-aged woman, and how she rediscovers her desires for the first time after decades of being married. Sexuality here means liberation, reconnecting with yourself, & being able to redefine what it means for you.

SEX LIVES OF COLLEGE GIRLS

From the title, it may seem like this show is the women's college equivalent of all the American Pie films, but it's far from it. For a show with the word sex in its title, it barely has any nudity or sex (believe me, that's the reason I started watching too). That's because this show is less about the act of sex itself and more. about the stories around it how it's connected to our self- esteem, our identity, our relationships, the different kinds of relationships etc. It also focuses on the importance of consent in intimacy, and the various layers of understanding it. But generally it's a good comedy show to watch over the weekend.

SEX EDUCATION

Something very interesting has happened with the way we have watched Sex Education. Most viewers got into the show because it follows the escapades of young adults with scandalous detail. Most viewers got hooked to it because it demystifies sexuality, breaks myths, and shows you that what is generally considered to be scandalous is often just human. By pointing out the many ways in which people experience desire, and how that affects their lives, Sex Education provides a matured, playful, graceful portrait of young adults.

FEEL GOOD

I still think this is one of the most under-appreciated shows on Netflix. It is funny, it is comforting (staying true to its title), but also extremely layered. It speaks about how we spend our whole lives attaching ourselves to different coping mechanisms instead of finding healthy ways of dealing with trauma and grief. It looks at sexuality in two ways as a means of comfort, and its relationship with our identity.

SKINS

Before there was Euphoria or Elite, there was Skins. This British show is the predecessor of all racy teenage shows that talk about sexuality, except it was way more nuanced, the writing was much better. Its portrayal & understanding of teenage sexuality genuinely has a lot to offer, & doesn't use it for sensationalism or just... the aesthetics.

SHAMELESS

At its heart, Shameless is a funny, heartbreakingly moving comedy-drama about a dysfunctional Chicago family. But it is also an incredible study of sexuality. This is a show that uses sexuality as a primary marker for its characters - to mark their growth, their fears, insecurities, joys, sorrows. Every character has a different relationship with sex. It reminds us that sex is so much more than just an act of pleasure.