Bonding is not for viewers that are easily embarrassed about sex.
Netflix’s new show tells the story of Tiff (Zoe Levin), a dominatrix, and Pete (Brendan Scannell), her roommate and best friend. In the first episode, “Old Friends, New Names,” we are introduced to Tiff’s dominatrix alter-ego, Madame May.
For Pete and Tiff, life outside the sex-dungeon is normal. Pete is a gay man and struggling stand-up comedian in desperate need of money. Tiff is a grad student, who is studying psychology. Eventually, Pete follows his friend’s lead and turns to the BDSM industry for rent money. Unfortunately for him, he also happens to be completely uncomfortable with the entire enterprise.
Each episode is around 15 minutes, which means the entire series can be finished in two hours. However, you shouldn’t binge watch the series because it will run thin quickly. The subject matter is interesting, but the execution doesn’t get interesting until two-thirds into the episode. Then, the rest of the episode provides the best scenes, yet climaxes faster than their client.
If the short format of the series allows Pete to grow as a person, he will either get used to the fact that he dresses in leather and insults kinky men for money as well as mine the experience for stand-up material. Otherwise, the writers will rehash the same concept repeatedly. Pete’s discomfort was funny the first time. It won’t be funny the eighth time.
Rating: 7 of 10
