A little something something for that extra spicy night in
Normal People, screenshot via IMDb.
Sex and TV go together like popcorn and candy. Popcorn’s great on its own, but with a little candy on the side, the flavours really pop out. Whether or not you’re looking for something for a spicy first date, a Netflix ’n’ chill night in, or just want to see how weird on-screen sex can get, we’re sure you’ll find great pleasure in these recommendations for things not to watch with your family.
For Netflix and Chilling: Easy (2016–2019, Netflix)
Easy has one of the most fitting titles of any TV show, as it’s incredibly easy to watch. This anthology series about love and romance in Chicago has plenty of dramatic moments and steamy scenes to keep you invested and entertained. It’s also perfect for throwing on in the background if you happen to be preoccupied with something else.
(Hint: skip to episode 6 of season 1 if you’re a fan of shirtless Orlando Bloom.)
For some true heartbreaking romance: Normal People (2020, Amazon Prime)
This critically acclaimed and wildly popular adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel is the Irish love story that’s been missing from your life. The single-season show chronicles two young adults falling in love as their paths cross and intertwine through college. The sex scenes are some of the most wholesome and realistic of anything we’ve seen in recent years.
If you want something awkward and thought-provoking: Her (2013, Amazon Prime)
Filmmaker Spike Jonze eerily captured the loneliness that comes with the advancement of technology back in 2013 with Her. Scarlett Johansson lends her distinct voice in the role of an AI assistant beside Joaquin Phoenix in his phenomenal performance as a lonely writer. As the two of them bond, what results is probably some of the most awkward sex scenes ever to grace the screen.
To weird out your roommates: Midsommar (2019, Netflix)
You should probably warn anyone around you about what they’re getting into before putting on this two-and-a-half-hour horror epic. The absolute beauty of the Swedish countryside is juxtaposed with the most gruesome and horrifying scenes that you’ll see on this list. Plus, there’s some great grad-student-themed humour thrown in, too. Without giving too much away, there is a scene near the end that you’ll need to see for yourself to really understand, or even believe, and it’ll probably have you turning down your volume in awkwardness no matter where you’re watching it.
If you’re into fantasy: Carnival Row (2019–2023, Amazon Prime)
Sherlock Holmes mixed with fantasy — that’s pretty much all you need to know about Carnival Row, the Amazon Prime original that flew under many people’s radar. With mystery, action, romance, steampunk, and faery sex, there’s not much more we can ask for. The show will see its second and final season aired later this month, but luckily, there’s no shortage of Orlando Bloom’s ruggedness to go around. (Noticing a trend?)
If you want to feel like a teenager again: Ladybird (2017, Amazon Prime)
Nostalgia is one of the most powerful feelings out there, and Greta Gerwig’s Ladybird utilizes it to its fullest capacity in this coming-of-age story about a high school senior with big dreams that will have you feeling all different kinds of ways. This movie will have you crying, laughing, and cringing, remembering the “better” days, as a teenager with the world in front of you. The only unfortunate thing about this movie is that it’s the only one that gets Timothee Chalamet put on this list.
Your new guilty pleasure: The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021–present, Crave)
Is this show good? No. Is it entertaining? Hell yes. What’s not to love? You get to nosy in on four first-year girls who are living together in college and getting up to endless drama, hijinks, and sexcapades. The short episodes are perfectly bingeable and will have you wondering how you ended up so invested in this pile of pure shlock in the first place.
