Sex and the City proved that women can also talk about sex and vibrators without beating around the bush. The L Word and Queer as Folk allowed an entire LGBTQ+ generation to gain visibility and recognition during a time (the 2000s) when the subject was less discussed. Secret Diary of a Call Girl, on the other hand, introduced the public to the world of escort services. Regardless of what we think, each of these shows have created a dialogue and impetus for a real social and cultural revolution. The proof is in the pudding.
Sex and the City
Sex and the City needs no introduction. More than an ordinary cult series, it was a true TV breakthrough in the 1990s. Throughout six seasons and two movies, we followed the adventures of Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Miranda Hobbes, and Charlotte York. Without hesitation, the four women recounted their experiences with men, whether good or bad, chatting about threesomes, orgasms, vibrators and more. Some good news for the fans, a sequel titled And Just Like That... will be released next December. Stay tuned.
The Idol
With Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd in the title roles, The Idol promised to be a hit. Presented at the latest Cannes Film Festival, this sultry series is set within the Hollywood music industry and focuses on the complicated relationship between a rising pop star and a nightclub manager who turns out to be the leader of a cult.
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The L Word
In the same vein as Sex and the City, which normalized sex and -more importantly - put women at the forefront, The L Word paved the way for a new kind of series. This series offers a whole new visibility regarding the LGBTQ+ community. This was precisely the goal of the show's creator and executive producer Ilene Chaiken: to shake things up and evolve peoples' mindsets. In The L Word, we follow the daily life of a group of lesbian/bisexual and transgender women in the West Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Note that a reboot, simply titled The L Word: Generation Q, was released in 2019.
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Sex Education
With Sex Education, Elite and Riverdale, Netflix offers sophisticated (if sometimes a little trashy) teen dramas. Within the space of just three seasons, Sex Education has already established itself as a cult series. It recounts the adventures of a young high school student, Otis Milburn, who lives with his mother Jean, a sexologist. It's no surprise that the main topics of the show range from sex to relationships.
Elite
With five seasons under its belt (the latest just released on Netflix), this Spanish thriller series has already established a cult following. In a similar vein to Gossip Girl, it follows a group of privileged high-school students during their years at the prestigious Las Encinas school. Beyond the drama, sex plays a major role: threesomes, homosexuality/bisexuality, Skins-style parties… Hot scenes ensue between Carla, Lu, Patrick, Samuel, Guzmán, Ander, Omar, and Cayetana, to name but a few of the main characters.
Queer as Folk
Cast your minds back to the dawn of the 2000s. A new British series, both daring and light-hearted, has hit the screens. It is Queer As Folk, created by the director Russell T Davies, which follows the adventures and love experiences of three young homosexuals from Manchester: Stuart, who racks up his conquests, Vince, who does not confront his sexuality, and Nathan, a young man who is uncomfortable in his own skin. This avant-garde series marked an entire era with its liberating themes, and the American adaptation was also a hit.
Californication
For seven seasons and 84 episodes, New York novelist Hank Moody (played by the sexy David Duchovny), is living in exile in the city of Angeles. He has kept us entertained with his bluntness, sarcasm, and questionable lifestyle. Taking comfort in drugs, alcohol and sex, the failing writer wants only one thing: to get his wife and daughter back.
Secret Diary of a Call Girl
This 2007 British series, which has four 8-episode seasons, created a buzz when it was released. The reason? Hannah, a legal secretary in London by day, and a call girl by night. At dark, she refers to herself as Belle and keeps a diary in which she reveals her experiences, speaking directly to the viewers. The result was daring for the time.
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