Dying for Sex
Dying for Sex arrives with a title that is as bold as it is literal, offering a provocative and dramatic exploration of mortality, desire and self-discovery. Adapted from the popular podcast of the same name, Disney+’s eight-part drama, created by Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock, follows Molly Kochan (Michelle Williams), a woman facing a terminal Stage IV metastatic breast cancer diagnosis with a cathartic response. She is supported by her reliable but emotionally stunted ex-husband, Steve (Jay Duplass), and by her best friend, Nikki Boyer (Jenny Slate) – the real-life best friend of Kochan who co-created the podcast and now serves as the show’s executive producer.
The opening scene wastes no time in setting the tone. Molly receives the life-altering call while sitting in couples therapy. Without hesitation, she stands, walking out of both the session and her marriage in one swift motion – propelling us into a story that is both profoundly personal and unexpectedly epic. It’s a gripping introduction, working grief, heartbreak and dark humour together with a certain cinematic confidence. Williams brings a sense of vulnerability and naivety to her role, while Duplass brings a quiet sensitivity in his portrayal of Steve, making him surprisingly sympathetic despite his insensitivities.
While the episodes readily indulge in Molly’s escapades, they are far from being just about lust. Instead, sex functions as a vehicle for existential reckoning – a way to reclaim agency in the face of powerlessness. There’s a refreshing openness in how the series depicts heterosexual intimacy, presenting it as raw, exploratory and reflective of the full spectrum of human desire and vulnerability. At its heart, Dying for Sex is about relationships – romantic, platonic, and, perhaps most poignantly, the journey of understanding oneself. Molly’s journey toward self-discovery, as she grapples with mortality, emerges as a quietly powerful exploration. Steve and Nikki serve as contrasting yet complementary forces in her life: Steve, caught up in the practical realities of her illness, struggles to understand her choices and grounds her, while Nikki offers unwavering, if sometimes misguided, encouragement and liberates her.
Beyond its provocative premise, the miniseries offers a deeply moving meditation on mortality. Through the final stages of grief – acceptance and peace – it presents an unflinching exploration of what it means to live in the face of death. Dying for Sex achieves a seemingly impossible feat: a story about death that feels bracingly alive.
Christina Yang
Dying for Sex is released on Disney+ on 4th April 2025.
Watch the trailer for Dying for Sex here:
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