Sex/Life season 2 review: A banal romance drama

In the second season of Sex/Life, Billie needs to start over in her life after losing both Cooper and Brad. The show is now streaming on Netflix.

Story

When Billie goes to Brad’s house, he rejects her advances and tells her that he has moved on. He now has a girlfriend, and he is starting a family with her. She returns home, and Cooper tells her that he does not want to be with her anymore.

In the middle of a messy divorce, Billie meets a man named Majid, who wants to be with her despite everything. However, their relationship is not smooth sailing because Billie has her fair share of baggage.

Cooper and Billie now take turns living with their children. Cooper is not just hurt but also angry, which results in him making one wrong decision after another, hurting others in the process.

Sasha, who is a best-selling author, runs into her ex-fiancé and realizes that there is still something between them. She has never loved another man the way she loves him, but she is forced to choose between her career and him.

With new and old love interests, Sasha and Billie try to navigate their complicated relationships and lives, only to realize that letting go of their one true love will leave them with a lifetime of regrets. 

Performances

Sarah Shahi as Billie gives a mediocre performance that fails to leave an impact on the audience. However, Margaret Odette as Sasha gives a convincing performance; she seems like a successful woman who is too scared of losing her independence.

Mike Vogel, who plays Cooper, performs his part well; he is angry and hurt, as the script demands, but Adam Demos, as Brad, brings nothing to his character. His below-average performance makes his character look extremely bland. 

Similarly, Darius Homayoun’s performance leaves much to be desired. Wallis Day, as Gigi, and Cleo Anthony, as Kam, still give adequate performances. The show could have been improved with better performances.

Positives

The show questions the idea of attaching shame to women’s sexuality, something that has been used to control women for ages. This is the story of a woman reclaiming her sexuality and letting go of the shame that has disrupted her life.

The show also depicts other issues that affect women, including sexism in the workplace and the issue of blaming women for choices made by men throughout history. At times, it manages to get the message across.

The problems in the show are presented with all their complexities, making them seem realistic. The audience can relate to the difficulty of Sasha choosing between her personal and professional life and Trina trying to get a job after sacrificing her career for her children. 

Negatives

A lot of relationships, including that of Billie and Brad’s, lack emotional depth, which is sacrificed in favor of physical attraction. The viewers cannot get invested in these relationships when they seem shallow.

While the second season has a better plot than the first season, it could have been even better if the writers focused more on plot development instead of unnecessarily focusing on sexual relationships and providing convenient conclusions. Billie and Brad’s relationship is supposed to be central to the plot.

However, even when they get the much-awaited chance in the end, it seems too convenient and out of place because the show does not give much time to the development of their relationship; Brad appears here and there, but he never seems to be central to the plot.

Verdict

The second season of Sex/Life takes up some important issues in terms of women’s lives, but their depiction, along with the romantic relationships, is not exactly unique. However, it can be enjoyed when one wishes to watch a trashy romance drama.

Sex/Life season 2
Sex/Life season 2 review: A banal romance drama 1

Director: Jessika Borsiczky, Sheree Folkson, Rachel Raimist

Date Created: 2023-03-02 23:17

Editor's Rating:
2

Also Read: Sex/Life season 2 ending explained: Does Billie end up with Brad?

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