Honest and Respectful
To be honest, as someone retired, who has been involved in the counseling field, I had my doubts for a short time, that this would be another drama that would hype up the sensationalism and make a mockery out of the professional aspect and of the issues themselves.First of all, I remembered that this exceptionally versatile performer, Nakajima Kento, has always been intelligent, insightful, perceptive, dedicated to being the best version of himself, honored his craft and his fanbase. So before even viewing this, I already knew he would bring intelligence, respect, honesty, sensitivity, warmth, and the best version of himself to this role. Nakajima accomplished that, and much more.
This was no easy feat, especially in a culture where sex, intimacy is taboo, and seeking help, is also not approached, so I have the deepest respect and admiration for the thoughtful, respectful writing, the whole production team, the professional consultants involved, direction, and the extraordinary performances of every single actor who bravely took on this project and gave it their all.
Nakajima Kento, as always, didn't disappoint, as this multi-talented wonder does not in the projects he tackles.
Bravo everyone!
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"When it comes to sex, no one can be sure about it"
This was really an excellent and well-made series. It's sad that even to this day sex is considered something "taboo" and not many people are comfortable talking about it, and the ones that are open about it are mostly shamed for it.As the title suggests they tackle concerns people may face around sex, and how nice it would be for sex therapy to be accessible for us to be able to speak about these concerns without fearing to be laughed at.
Also we get to see how women are expected to especially be secretive about their sexual desires and not to comfortablely speak up about the harassment they face everyday because of their gender.
If I had to nitpick I'd say it would've been really nice to have asexual and LGBTQ+ representation, but that's just my wishful thought.
Overall, I do recommend watching this for educational purpose, and understanding some new perspectives. The romance is also decent and they look great together so makes this even more enjoyable.
Do not expect completely realistic therapy sessions though.
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SεX surprised me in the best possible way!
Α Masterpiece!I was initially drawn to its bright, romantic-looking poster and the fact that it was only seven episodes, without really knowing what to expect. What I found was a warm, intelligent and beautifully balanced series!
The subject of sex therapy could easily have been treated in a crude or overly provocative way, but S&X does the opposite. It approaches sexuality in a thoughtful and surprisingly scientific way, while keeping the story light, funny, romantic and very human. The dialogues are particularly well written and are used not only to explain the issues, but to move the story forward and reveal the characters.
What I appreciated most was the message at the heart of the series: everyone can have questions, insecurities or difficulties related to sex. No one should feel strange, ashamed or alone because of them, and asking for professional help should not be a taboo. Even the sex therapist himself has his own personal struggle, which makes the message even more meaningful.
I sincerely hope that this series will encourage people who are struggling with similar issues to seek professional help, while also raising awareness about the importance of better and more open sexual education.
Nobody is presented as perfect, and the series also cleverly touches on people who exploit insecurities. It shows that behind these issues there are real people, with fears, vulnerabilities and emotions.
Beyond the story itself, I loved the bright atmosphere and aesthetic of the series! It managed to address serious social issues without ever becoming heavy or preachy. At the same time, it gave me a small window into aspects of contemporary Japanese society and the difficulties surrounding open conversations about sexuality.
A warm, thoughtful and genuinely enjoyable series, with a very satisfying and optimistic ending. I finished all seven episodes feeling that I had watched something entertaining, but also something that had a purpose.
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Taking a Step Toward Something New
I always adore when Asian dramas step outside their usual cliché comfort zone, so when I read the description of this series, I was already intrigued. Writing-wise, this drama does quite a few interesting things. Not only with its semi-educational themes, but also by breaking away from the stereotypical tropes found in other Asian series as well. Without spoiling too much, the writer handles the second male lead in a particularly fresh and unique way. Another thing I’d like to highlight is the amazing casting overall, from the leads all the way down to the extras.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A Thoughtful, Highly Educational, and Warm Take on Taboo Topics
I went into S&X expecting a unique premise, but I ended up thoroughly impressed by how grounded, respectful, and genuinely insightful it turned out to be. Rather than relying on cheap shock value or sensationalism, the series approaches sex therapy and human intimacy with tremendous empathy. It highlights how open communication, mental health, and emotional connection form the true foundation of physical intimacy. Seeing the client cases handled with professional care made the drama deeply educational and eye-opening. Kento Nakajima brought incredible sincerity and warmth to his role, balancing the professional sensitivity of a therapist with his own vulnerabilities. The rest of the ensemble cast did an excellent job bringing real-world struggles to life without making them feel forced or exaggerated. S&X is a rare gem that demystifies topics society often avoids, turning them into a healing and deeply human narrative. I enjoyed every episode and highly recommend giving it a watch!Was this review helpful to you?
Sex ed for grownups of our time
An interesting dive in to the sexueal issues of todays society. With an adorable therapst male lead, nice side characters and a sweet female lead.This is less of a romance more of a highly educational drama which is kind of sad. The romance parts could have been so much more. With a huge focus on communication and finding the root of the problem instead of just treating symptoms.
There are a few characters that made my blood boil, something I felt I just did not fully understand and there is one episode that made me really uncomfortable in a good way I guess.
So basically decent drama with a mix of pop culture and drying up as old age approaches.
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not to glaze but
this show was really amazing, I’ve learned a few things and it honestly gave me a new perspective. and I’m pretty sure it can give anyone else who watches this one too.the story was lowkey well written. I think the show really shows real situations that many people could’ve experienced. and how talking to a professional could help. so I hope watching this brings trust too, when it comes up to therapy. and then ichito backstory, was also well written. it was quite crazy too. they did a good job showing the struggle n problem he had and how he has overcome it. in my opinion this is worth a watch
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Well done series on a sensitive topic
If you are looking for a provocative, soft-porn series, this is not it. This series does a good job with several different sexual topics that are relevant today. While it has an overarching plotline concerning the romance thread and sexual trauma, much of it is episodic in nature. The main character is Ichito Shimotori (Kento Nakajima) who is a psychiatrist specializing in treating sexual mental health disorders. The first several episodes introduce the romantic thread but are primarily about Shimotori treating several different sexual mental health issues. The last few episodes delve into the relationship of Shimotori and Yumi Ichinose (Yuko Araki) – both in the perspective of their personal and professional lives.The series is very well done. The sub-stories are somewhat provocative but handled in a manner that is interesting without crossing the line. The romance thread is a bit light and can be confusing at times as there is a lot to unpack yet only 7 episodes in which to do it....and much of that is absorbed by the sub-stories. But KN & YA are excellent in their roles and provide a believable performance.
Overall, a series well worth watching.
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This review may contain spoilers
Thought provoking educational and brilliantly acted.
Loved this series, great script great acting and dealt with such a sensitive topic with delicacy. This series dealt with sexual problems from addiction to harrassment. It was interesting to learn about the practise of upskirting and lack of understanding of consent. I'd watched a documentary about the experience of a Japanese journalist Shiori Ito who had been raped and her campaign to improve things in Japan which some of those topics were covered here in slightly different format. In this series Shimotori Ichito is a sex therapist at Shimotori Clinic and some of the issues raised in the documentary I watched were shown in this series in a very human way: explaining consent etc... The series is very short only 7 episodes where we meet some of his patients and how he helps them overcome their sexual problems - even his mentor had to be 're-educated' about his own behaviour towards a junior female colleague. I'd never seen the actor who played the ML nor indeed the actress who played the FL in anything before but loved their nuanced acting and will definitely try and find some of their other works... I found all roles were wonderfully played by the actors even if there were two who were repulsive: the tabloid journalist (which we never found out incidentally how his wife got on after her therapy sessions with Shimotori) and the ML's father (barbaric is the only word I'd use for his behaviour).. The series was thought-provoking, educational, non-judgemental but clearly showing how a lack of education and communication can have serious impacts on people's sex lives.Was this review helpful to you?
Uma Surpresa Inesperada: Um Drama Diferente, Profundo e Necessário
Não sou muito de assistir a esse tipo de drama japonês, mas confesso que esse me surpreendeu bastante. Desde o começo, achei a proposta diferente e fui ficando cada vez mais interessado na história. Gostei muito do drama do início ao fim. Foi uma história bem detalhada, com vários pontos bem desenvolvidos e fechados, sem deixar aquela sensação de que algo ficou sem explicação.É um assunto que pouca gente comenta e que muitas pessoas talvez até tenham vergonha ou dificuldade de falar sobre, então achei muito interessante a forma como o drama abordou isso. Foi uma temática realmente diferente e inovadora, mostrando um lado que eu, particularmente, nunca tinha visto ser trabalhado dessa maneira em um drama japonês.
Uma das coisas que mais gostei foi justamente a forma como os personagens secundários também tiveram importância na história. Não ficaram ali apenas como personagens de apoio; eles também tinham seus próprios problemas, conflitos, inseguranças e situações para resolver. Foi muito bom acompanhar essas histórias paralelas e perceber como cada personagem tinha algo a aprender e superar.
Também achei muito interessante a mensagem de que, muitas vezes, é importante simplesmente parar e conversar sobre os problemas. Às vezes, a pessoa guarda tudo para si, cria preocupações, interpreta situações de uma maneira errada e acaba tornando o problema ainda maior. Quando existe diálogo, muita coisa pode ser esclarecida e resolvida. O drama mostrou isso de uma forma muito natural, sem parecer que estava simplesmente dando uma lição de moral.
Outro ponto que achei muito interessante foi mostrar que procurar ajuda de um especialista não é algo ruim ou vergonhoso. Pelo contrário, existem situações que realmente precisam de alguém preparado para ajudar, orientar e explicar determinadas questões. Achei muito legal o drama mostrar esse lado, porque é um assunto que quase nunca vejo sendo abordado dessa maneira. Foi, sem dúvida, uma das partes que mais me chamou atenção.
E os protagonistas também foram um dos grandes pontos positivos. Gostei muito da química entre eles e da maneira como o relacionamento foi sendo construído. Eles tinham seus próprios problemas e dificuldades, mas aos poucos foram entendendo um ao outro, conversando, enfrentando essas questões e conseguindo resolver as coisas. Isso deixou a história muito mais interessante.
Geralmente não sou muito fã de filmes e dramas japoneses, mas esse realmente conseguiu me prender. Foi uma história diferente, com uma temática que eu nunca tinha visto ser explorada dessa forma, personagens secundários muito bons, protagonistas com ótima química e uma mensagem interessante sobre diálogo, compreensão e a importância de buscar ajuda quando necessário.
No final, gostei muito e realmente achei que valeu a pena assistir. Foi bom demais e acabou sendo uma surpresa muito positiva. É aquele tipo de drama que, além de entreter, faz você pensar um pouco sobre situações que muitas pessoas passam, mas que quase nunca são discutidas abertamente.
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10/10 ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE!!
10/10 ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE!!I don't think I've ever come across anything so utterly brilliant, touching, deep and meaningful. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. It's hard to describe in words - this series is funny, honest, entertaining, confronting, courageous, intelligent, thought-provoking, complex, educational, heartwarming, heartbreaking, compassionate and full of wisdom. All the actors, especially the main leads, did an absolutely amazing job. This goes far beyond entertainment - I think it'll actually help many people heal deep wounds in real life. I couldn't recommend it more highly! Absolute must-watch that is likely to have a positive, valuable, lasting impact. From the bottom of my heart I want to thank and congratulate the geniuses behind it for creating something so extraordinarily special.
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