New X-Rated Series with Extremely Graphic Scenes Blows Up Netflix
A new TV series about a legendary porn star has caused quite a stir.
Summary
- On March 6, an Italian series dedicated to one of the most prolific adult film actors was released on Netflix.
- It immediately caused a furor, and some Netflix subscribers even decided to boycott the service.
- The new series has relatively modest ratings, but critics are loving it.
Italian actor Alessandro Borghi gained worldwide recognition after Netflix released the drama series Suburra: Blood on Rome, following the original film Suburra in which Borghi starred in the same role. Then his acting career really took off when Borghi joined an international cast that included Lars Mikkelsen, Patrick Dempsey and Laia Costa in the thriller series Devils. And then came the show that is arguably the most raunchy, explicit and provocative of his entire career.
The new project, released just days ago on March 6, 2024, is both unapologetic and bold in its deconstruction of the foundations of masculinity, but it has already been criticized for over-commodifying physicality and romanticizing the porn industry. Moreover, some viewers have threatened to cancel their Netflix subscriptions if the service continues to release such 'explicit' content on its platform.
Now let's take a look at what this show is all about and why it blew up Netflix.
What Is the New Show About?
Netflix's new Italian original series Supersex is a dramatic retelling about the life of one of the most famous porn actors, Rocco Siffredi, who has been dubbed 'the godfather of rough sex.' Yeah, you've probably already figured out what this show is about and what to expect.
Siffredi has appeared in over 1,300 adult movies since the 1980s, and this is the story of his journey from growing up in a tiny Italian community to achieving worldwide notoriety and fame in the American porn industry. More than just a straightforward biographical show, this is a powerful study filtered through a feminist lens. It's also important to note that Supersex is only partially based on Siffredi's life and is an artistic interpretation of it.
The Candid Story of a Porn Star That Sickened Some Viewers
On Rotten Tomatoes, the show received an impressive 86% rating from critics, who praised Supersex for its ambitious case study: though it offers a plethora of NSFW, it does so in a smart and appropriate way. Not everyone seemed to agree with the latter, though.
The series caused quite a stir among casual viewers. Some felt that Netflix should create a separate category if they intend to release such explicit movies and series. Others felt that no matter how much it tried to appear feminist, it was really just a banal story that focused too much on sex and nudity.
How Popular Is the Show?
Supersex is not currently the most popular new release on Netflix. However, since its debut on March 6, the series has done quite well in the ratings, ranking third in the Top 10 most-watched non-English TV shows for the week of March 4-10, behind France's Furies and Germany's The Signal.
Interest in Supersex continued the following week, ranking in the Global Top 25 of all shows on Netflix and in the Top 10 in several regions outside the US. However, the popularity has already begun to wane in the US. As of March 19, 2024, here's a list of the most-watched multi-episode projects among American users:
2. Steve Treviño: Simple Man
3. The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping
4. Bandidos
5. Avatar: The Last Airbender
6. Love Is Blind
7. Iron Reign
8. Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War
9. Das Signal
10. The Outreau Case: A French Nightmare
Well, based on the ratings, we can say that Netflix does not need to create a separate category at all, as X-rated projects still have a somewhat niche audience. However, this does not negate the fact that Supersex is still worth watching, thanks to its provocativeness and introspection. The main thing is not to try to watch it with your family.