June 25, 2021 (2021-06-25) – March 2, 2023 (2023-03-02)
Sex/Life is an American drama television series created by Stacy Rukeyser for Netflix. The series is inspired by the novel 44 Chapters About 4 Men[1] by BB Easton[2] and it premiered on June 25, 2021.[3][4] In September 2021, the series was renewed for a second season, which was released on March 2, 2023.[5][6] In April 2023, the series was canceled after two seasons.[7]
Premise
Promotional materials described the show as what happens when "a suburban mother of two takes a fantasy-charged trip down memory lane that sets her very married present on a collision course with her wild-child past."[8]
Cast and characters
Main
Sarah Shahi as Billie Connelly, a former Columbia University psychology PhD candidate, mother of two, and housewife in an affluent suburban Connecticut community who is suffering from a severe midlife crisis, yearning for the fast-paced life she had with her ex-boyfriend Brad. It is later revealed that her maiden name is Mann. She ends up with the happily ever after life that every woman dreams of but questions if that is really what happiness means.
Mike Vogel as Cooper Connelly, Billie's strait-laced husband who is an investment banker. He is a good guy kind of character, supportive no matter what.
Adam Demos as Brad Simon, Billie's ex-boyfriend who is in her life again and trying to win her back despite the fact that Billie is married with children. He is a famous music producer and CEO of a record label he founded.
Margaret Odette as Sasha Snow, Billie's best friend who is a psychology professor and living the single life. She tries to convince Billie that a good wife life is all she needs to be happy.
Cleo Anthony as Kam (season 2),[9] Sasha's ex-fiancé from 17 years ago who now a medical doctor that runs an international medical non-profit known as First Do No Harm
Darius Homayoun as Majid (season 2),[9] Billie's new love interest who owns a restaurant
Recurring
Jonathan Sadowski as Devon, Cooper's colleague and friend who is a swinger
Meghan Heffern as Caroline, another fake happy mom from the suburbs
Amber Goldfarb as Trina, Devon's wife who is also a swinger and not happy about her married life
Hannah Galway as Emily, Cooper's ex-girlfriend before his marriage to Billie
Li Jun Li as Francesca, Cooper's boss who has feelings for Cooper and a successful businesswoman who knows what she wants
Wallis Day as Gigi (season 2),[9] Brad's new girlfriend who is pregnant with their baby
Dylan Bruce as Spencer (season 2),[9] Cooper's older openly gay brother who is a divorce lawyer
Craig Bierko as Mick (season 2),[9] Sasha's agent who is helping Sasha taking her career to the next level
Billie Connelly is a housewife living in Connecticut, married to her husband Cooper and with two young children. While loving her husband and family, Billie cannot stop herself from consistently reminiscing about her past as a wild party girl. The longing for her previous life grows ever stronger as her relationship with Cooper continues to disappoint her sexually. Despite the counsel of her best friend Sasha, Billie also keeps thinking back to her former relationship with Brad, a record producer. Billie documents her desires on her laptop, and this is discovered one morning by Cooper, leading the two to have passionate sex for the first time in years. However, after Cooper leaves for work, Billie impulsively goes to New York City to confide her feelings to Sasha. Upon arrival, Billie is left devastated when she sees Sasha slept with Brad the previous night.
2
2
"Down in the Tube Station at Midnight"
Patricia Rozema
Stacy Rukeyser
June 25, 2021 (2021-06-25)
Billie and Sasha reconcile after the revelation of Sasha's casual hookups with Brad. On her way back to Connecticut, Billie reflects on how she first met Cooper and her reasoning for settling down with him, namely the stability he offered. Billie also reflects on the origins of her relationship with Brad and how she could not resist him. In the present day, Cooper takes Billie out into Brooklyn for a date night, where she again reminisces about how she misses Brad but also is reminded of how she loves Cooper. On their way home, Cooper sneaks them both into a secluded backyard pool where they have sex, seeking to give Billie the kind of thrills she wrote in her journal. However, they are caught by the owner and narrowly escape the police, heightening the thrill even more for them. On returning home, Billie is elated, but Cooper is privately disgusted with himself. Brad also calls Billie unprompted, admitting that he still loves Billie. She denies wanting him in return and ends the call, though she is distressed about doing so, and Brad challenges her over text about her feelings.
3
3
"Empire State of Mind"
Jessika Borsiczky
Jordan Hawley
June 25, 2021 (2021-06-25)
The morning after their night together, Cooper secretly masturbates to passages from Billie's journal about sex with Brad, although he later feels ashamed and is cold to Billie before leaving for work. After dropping Hudson at pre-school, Billie is asked to stay and help the class for the whole day by Hudson's teacher, as Hudson isn't yet acclimatising to being away from Billie. She continues to think about Brad, and in anguish, she calls Sasha for advice. Sasha advises Billie to ditch Brad, stating he is great for sex but toxic in relationships. Billie is reminded of her first meeting with Brad's mother and stepfather, which ended acrimoniously in an argument between Brad and Billie, sparked by Brad's animosity towards his stepfather. It led to a brief breakup, but Billie soon took Brad back after an emotional apology. While he is supposed to be working, Cooper instead covertly follows Brad to the gym. It further stirs Cooper's frustration when he sees how endowed Brad is. Billie and Cooper have sex later that night, but Cooper suffers from erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, leaving Billie unsatisfied. Brad visits Sasha to initiate a sexual encounter, but covertly also uses her phone to FaceTime Billie and have her watch their liaison, which arouses her.
4
4
"New New York"
Jessika Borsiczky
Jessika Borsiczky
June 25, 2021 (2021-06-25)
Billie feels anguish regarding Sasha, as they never hid secrets from each other before Brad. Cooper confronts Brad about Billie, but Brad is unrepentant about contacting Billie. During a visit to the city with some of the mothers from Hudson's school, Billie reflects on her past life and confesses her problems to the other mothers, who sympathise and confess similar experiences. Billie confesses to Sasha that she watched her have sex with Brad, though Sasha isn't upset and instead urges Billie to cease contact with Brad given his effect on her. Cooper's friend and coworker, Devon, takes Cooper on a night out to relieve his stress. He attempts to set Cooper up with Emily, an ex, but Cooper cannot commit. However, he does flirt with his boss, Francesca, and considers sleeping with her. Brad calls Billie again and tells her about his confrontation with Cooper, leading Billie to realise she still can't quit him.
5
5
"The Sound of the Suburbs"
Samira Radsi
Jamie Dennig
June 25, 2021 (2021-06-25)
After a failed attempt by Cooper to replicate a sexual move he learned about from Billie's diaries, the couple argue. Billie lies and claims Brad is dating Sasha to relieve Cooper's suspicions, leading to a suggestion that the four have dinner together. The dinner is tense, as Brad challenges Billie about her domesticated lifestyle and makes sly references to their exciting past. It results in an argument between the four, with Cooper and Sasha storming off in disgust at Billie's continued attitude to Brad. After Brad drives Billie home, he asks to see her children, making Billie remember the time when she became pregnant by Brad. Cooper arrives in the city to charm investors at Francesca's request, and after a successful presentation, the two nearly kiss before Cooper decides to spend the evening in Francesca's company.
On August 19, 2019, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a series order for a first season consisting of eight episodes. The series was created by Stacy Rukeyser who was also expected to executive produce alongside J. Miles Dale.[3] On September 27, 2021, Netflix renewed the series for a second season.[5] On April 7, 2023, it was announced that the series was canceled after two seasons.[7]
Casting
On January 30, 2020, it was announced that Sarah Shahi was cast to headline the series.[10] On March 5, 2020, it was reported that Mike Vogel, Adam Demos, and Margaret Odette were cast in starring roles.[11] On February 28, 2022, Wallis Day, Dylan Bruce, Craig Bierko, Cleo Anthony, and Darius Homayoun joined the cast in recurring roles for the second season.[9]
Filming
Principal photography for the series was originally scheduled to begin in spring 2020, but was later postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] Filming for the first season began on August 31, 2020, and ended on December 9, 2020, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.[13][14] Filming for the second season began on February 7, 2022, and concluded on May 6, 2022, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[15]
Release
The first season of Sex/Life was released on June 25, 2021.[4]
The second season premiered on March 2, 2023.[6]
Reception
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 21% approval rating with an average rating of 5.5/10, based on 24 critic reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Suffocating its more provocative ideas with steamy interludes and melodramatic writing, this erotic drama is too obsessed with sex to ever fully come to life."[16]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 45 out of 100 based on 11 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[17]
On September 27, 2021, it was reported that the first season of Sex/Life was watched by 67 million households in its first four weeks following its release on June 25.[5] Season 2 of Sex/Life featured in the Netflix global top 10s for 4 weeks amassing 126.80M hours.[18]
References
^ abEaston, B. B. (November 19, 2019). 44 Chapters About 4 Men. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN978-1-5387-1832-2.
^ abEaston, BB. "about". artbyeaston. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023. she fell down the romance rabbit hole until she stumbled upon a glorious subgenre called 'bad-boy romance'
