Sex Scenes and Their Place In Stories

Sex scenes in cinema goes all the way back to the short film ‘The Kiss’ from 1896, though calling ‘The Kiss’ a sex scene to modern viewers might be seen as an overstatement, as it is just an 18-second long clip of a kiss. But if we hopped in a time machine and interviewed the general public about the short film, we would quickly find out just how scandalous it was seen in its time. Scandalous? Yes. But oh so popular at the same time, it even led to spin offs! Then in 1943 with ‘The Outlaw’ there was new controversy! As now Jane Russell’s cleavage had been introduced to viewers. In 1969 Andy Warhol then made ‘Blue Movie’ the first erotic adult film which had a wide theatrical release in the United States. 

Since then movie after movie, and show after show, have been made depicting sex scenes. But let’s turn our attention to same-sex sex scenes. This genre has a shorter history (believe it or not no one was making BL/GL in the 1800’s) going back to the 2000’s. With ‘Brokeback Mountain’ in 2005 and ‘Blue is the Warmest Colour’ in 2013. 

I am not very interested in the mechanics of sex scenes, they can be realistic, unrealistic, funny, serious, whatever the director wants (as long as everyone is on board). What I’m more interested in is how these shows make use of sex scenes. Why are these sex scenes here? How do they affect the story? Do they add anything?  

Spoilers for: ‘KinnPorsche’, ‘Love in the Air’, ‘Bed Friend’, ‘Roller Coaster’,  ‘The Eighth Sense’ and (very very minor spoilers) for ‘Love Design’.

Sex scenes that are necessary for the story

These are the type of sex scenes where their inclusion is needed for the plot. For the viewer to understand what is happening between the two characters involved. My example of this being from ‘KinnPorsche the Series’, a mafia action drama from 2022. 

Most of the sex scenes in KinnPorsche are necessary for us to understand the relationship between Kinn and Porsche. Watching them go from an encounter in episode 4 where Porsche is too drunk to consent (I spoke more about that in my post on BL Manhwa, Smut & Consent), to them jumping each other's bones (and eating bread in the process) in episode 8. Truly an odd show. 

But I want us to take a look instead at the side ‘couple’ of Vegas and Pete. For the unaware, Vegas is a part of the mafia of the Minor Family, and Pete is a bodyguard in the Major Family. Vegas kidnaps Pete and tortures him over multiple days if not weeks, yet the two end up sleeping together (in episode 12) when Pete gets the chance to escape. 

Hmm.

The question then becomes ‘can you consent if you have been locked up and tortured and have perhaps developed Stockholm Syndrome?’ I am on the side of no, no you cannot. However, I do believe that the actual scene between Vegas and Pete was needed to show the audience to what capacity Pete was participating. 

The tone of the entire scene is eerie, from the creepy music, to the shots of a bandaged Pete (remember he was tortured) smiling at Vegas. The scene - I would argue - is necessary to see just how consumed with Vegas Pete is in that moment. He has been so broken by the torture that he ‘allows’ his kidnapper to chain him up again in now a sexual context. The tone of their encounter is important, it leaves me feeling gross and sad for Pete. Why the two of them end up together I do not know. But KinnPorsche wanting perpetrators of sexual assault to end up with the people they have assaulted is apparently par for the course.  

Sex scenes to show the development of a relationship

Sex scenes that are used to show us the development in a relationship do not come as a one-off, for the scenes to be used in such a way multiple are needed. Think of it as an evolution of a relationship seen as to how they act in the bedroom, office, shower or wherever the hell they might go at it.

My example of these types of sex scenes are of course from ‘Love in the Air’  (including the special episode), a sexy romance from 2022. The couple in question are Prapai and Sky, a business man and a university student who start out with a one night stand, but with Prapai pursuing the cold Sky his walls start to lower and a relationship blossoms. 

Important note! This is not going to be a review of Love in the Air, I certainly have my issues with Mame’s writing, but now is not the time for that - but I might do that one of these days.

The first sex scene between Prapai and Sky takes place in episode 8. After meeting at the car race where both Rain and Sky get into trouble, Prapai tells Sky that he will help him out “but it depends on what you can offer me”.

I simply must add another side note; I believe in this situation that Prapai is just being flirty, him seeing this interaction as playful, fully okay if Sky told him to fuck off. Sky has a history of sexual trauma, and reacts to this as if this is a situation he might not get out of. He then seemingly decides that if he is the initiator he can remain in control, which is why you see him take the lead in this encounter.

Their first sexual encounter is meant to be a one night stand, one round of passion before they never see each other again. There are no gentle caresses, no sweet kisses, just two hot people getting what they want out of the other.

Then we move on to their next sex scene in episode 11, the two have since grown closer, both developing feelings. Prapai has reassured Sky that he won’t grow bored of him, which is Sky’s biggest fear. Sky does initiate the encounter again, Prapai this time around needing reassurance that this is what Sky actually wants. But this time what Prapai wants is not only his body but his heart as well. We see how their relationship has developed with this scene, going from purely physical to now having their hearts involved.

The next sex scene we see of the two is in the Special Episode, this time they have been in a committed relationship for a while, the trust is there as well as the feelings. So whilst it contains passion, spice and a conference table, I view it as a couple still remaining playful and happy, even with everything they have gone through. 

This was perhaps the most that has ever been written about these two fictional characters sex lives. But I hoped to show how sex scenes can in fact be used to show the evolution of a relationship.  

Educational? Kinda

Sex scenes in romance media are not known for their realism and should not be seen as sex education (if you want a show such as that I suggest watching ‘Sex Education‘ which is also a very good show). But there are times where the show takes a little extra time to educate the viewer, and to that I say hell yeah. 

My first example of that is ‘Bed Friend’ from 2023, a show about two co-workers who after a one night stand become friends-with-benefits, as the show goes on the two start developing feelings for each other (shocker I know). It is by no means a favorite of mine, but I will give it its flowers for a moment that takes place in episode 2. 

The vibes between King and Uea are a bit awkward after their night together, the two of them alone in an elevator neither really saying anything, that is until they simultaneously suggest that they get a blood test. Their trip to the hospital being the closest they’ve had to a date at that point. We see both characters answering questions from their respective doctors in regards to whether they used a condom, and asking questions about symptoms of STIs. 

The show might not have been great but this it did right.

On the topic of safe sex we shall now turn our attention to ‘Roller Coaster the Series’ from 2025. This is a phenomenal show, and truly deserves its own post, but here we are going to focus on one specific element. The show focuses on Pure, an artist who is deeply in love with her ex Air, Air having chosen to marry a man to please her family. Whilst processing her grief as well as where that leaves her and Air, Pure develops a relationship with Loft (who turns out to be Air’s sister-in-law). 

In episode 4 Loft and Pure have protected sex, introducing a dental dam! This is the only time I have ever seen a GL highlight safe sex in such a way, truly hats off.

Whilst on this topic we will take a very, very quick look at a moment ‘Love Design’ from 2025, which in episode 6 talks about the HPV vaccine. The side couple Vee and Tetris having met at the doctors office whilst waiting for their HPV vaccine, and we see a nurse explaining the process of getting vaccinated. They also end the episode with Rin talking to Aokbab about them getting vaccinated “Even if it’s not risky it’s good to protect ourselves”. Again hats off to Love Design. 

Other types

There are truly so many other shows I could talk about, shows where sex plays a very central part. Shows such as ‘My Stubborn’ from 2025, where they really just went at it. ‘Knock Knock Boys!’ from 2024, a show where each character had a different relationship to their sexuality, bonus points for pan representation. ‘Warp Effect’ from 2022, a show that tackles sex, consent, and how both of those are treated differently depending on your gender, truly a fantastic show. 

Now which type is my favorite? Thanks for asking.

I don’t necessarily want nor need a sex scene in a show, oftentimes skipping them if I don’t feel like they add anything. But a scene type I will never skip? That’s the type of scene you see in ‘The Eighth Sense’ (2023) episode 6. This scene takes place after Jae Won lets his walls down with Ji Hyeon, the two of them having camped on the beach the night before and spending the day surfing. At night we see the two together in a hotel room overlooking the ocean, they cuddle, spend time looking at the view, and seemingly just enjoying those gentle moments that are just as intimate as the sex itself.

I don’t need a ‘My Stubborn’ (2025) sex scene here, but seeing them exchange drowsy kisses, talking late into the night, and exploring hands - now that’s what I’m talking about! Not only is the scene beautifully acted, the entire setting of the scene, from the dimmed lighting, to the music it just all works. These are the types of scenes I want more of. I will always be more interested in the moments between sex than the actual sex itself.