Dying for Sex review, lots of sex but only one death

Dying for Sex stars Michelle Williams as Molly, a woman dying of cancer. Her response to the news that she is terminal is to finally throw off every sexual restraint and try to find sexual satisfaction at long last with someone – anyone – who can give her an orgasm.

Dying for Sex is based on a true story. Michelle Williams as Molly and Jenny Slate as her best friend Nikki both shine in this surprising and funny drama.

When the story begins, Molly is married to Steve (Jay Duplass). Since her bout with breast cancer three years ago, he hasn’t touched her. Even when he did, she never had an orgasm. Now the cancer is back worse than ever.

Molly dumps Steve. Her best friend Nikki takes over helping with appointments and other medical needs. Nikki is an actress who gives up a role in a Shakespeare play on Broadway to care for Molly. She’s not a good caretaker, but she learns.

There’s lots of sex in this series. Frank language, nudity, the works. The intimacy coordinator on this set (Claire Warden) had a big job with all the touching and exposure the actors had to deal with.

Under that patina of sex, something else was going on. Molly was struggling with a childhood trauma that still interfered with her ability to enjoy sex, or even love another human. (Not counting Nikki, who she loves without reservation and who returns that love in kind.)

Molly’s discovery of kinky sex is actually a way to gain control, be on top, dominate. She moves into a strange new world with an array of partners who want to be controlled and berated in various ways. Being in control makes her feel good at last. One of her many new sex partners lives in the adjoining apartment. He is Neighbor Guy (Rob Delaney). Neighbor Guy is the most important of Molly’s new sex toys because he becomes more than just a toy.

There are other important characters. There’s Nikki’s boyfriend Noah (Kelvin Yu). There’s Molly’s estranged mom Gail (Sissy Spacek) who doesn’t show up until near the end. That relationship ties back to the childhood trauma Molly is processing.

Molly’s oncologist is Dr. Pankowitz (David Rasche). Her palliative care nurse is Sonya (Esco Jouley). Esco Jouley was a new face to me, a brilliant nonbinary actor that I can’t wait to see in other things. Molly’s very enthusiastic death doula (Paula Pell) describes the dying process to her in vivid detail.

Michelle Williams was absolutely brilliant in this. She’s been nominated for 5 Oscars already but hasn’t yet taken home the statue. Maybe this time will be her turn. Jenny Slate was also wonderful.

The majority of the episodes were directed by Shannon Murphy. It was an all women writers’ room on this series created by Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock. You will find it streaming on Hulu with all episodes available.