Netflix probes issues of sex education and societal taboos in Asia back in the 1970s in new series “Doctor Climax,” which it will upload from June 13.
Supposedly drawn from real events, the show’s central character is a skin doctor who dreams of becoming a novelist. In the meantime, he moonlights as a newspaper sex-help columnist operating behind a pseudonym.
A trailer gives viewers a taste of the sex and intimacy questions – including masturbation, premature ejaculation, foreplay, and STDs – that its protagonist fields. Storylines are inspired by actual letters from well-known newspaper columns of the era.
The doctor also begins an extra-marital affair with a woman at the paper’s art department, which threatens to cause a scandal.
Produced by Grammy Studios, the eight-part show is written by Kongdej Jaturanrasmee, writer and producer of the hit Netflix film “Hunger,” and co-directed by Jaturanrasmee and Pairach Khumwan (Netflix series,“Girl From Nowhere”). Production is by Ekachai Uekrongtham (“Beautiful Boxer”).
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The series boasts a stellar cast, featuring Chantavit Dhanasevi (“Hello Strangers,” “One Day,” “Pee Mak”) in the title role, Arachaporn Pokinpakorn, Chermawee Suwanpanuchoke, Tonhon Tantivejakul and Chaiwat Thongsang.
To recreate 1970s Thailand, the directors and production crew drew on personal memories, as well as old photos, interviews, and movies sourced from the Thai Film Archive.
“During that time, the country had just undergone political turmoil, was still in the throes of the Cold War, and other significant events were continually in the air,” said Jaturanrasmee. “People felt constrained by societal norms, yet simultaneously were striving to break free and assert their own freedoms.”
Netflix says that the show is part of its ongoing investment in Thailand, following the success of other local titles, including therecently renewed“The Believers”series about wealth in the Buddhist priesthood, and hit films like“Hunger”and“once Upon a Star.”Its 2024 Thai slate includes seven other new titles.
These include: anthology series “Tomorrow and I”; slick soap opera rom-com “Master of the House”; rom-com in a different universe “Ready, Set, Love”; horror series, “Terror Tuesday: Extreme Similarly,” and “Don’t Come Home”; a revived “Bangkok Breaking” series, and film spin-off “Bangkok Breaking: Heaven and Hell.”
Watch the trailer here.
