Initially I was drawn to this title for its outrageous premise. While I think the setting delivers and provides some interesting insights into BDSM lifestyles, the story lacked the focus it would need to deliver anything more interesting than average. On the one hand I really enjoyed Pete's story and was satisfied with its conclusion in season 2, however I really struggled to relate to Tiff and I think her character was assassinated the hardest by the sheer amount of melodrama in the story.
My biggest problem was that she wasn't endearing and yet everyone seemed to be bending over backwards for her (Doug & Pete), while I think this was the right direction for Pete's character there ended up being not enough foil to Tiff that could challenge her beliefs or at times toxic behaviour. The story tries to fix this by "redeeming" Tiff's character, sort of apologising to everyone, but I would've much preferred if she embraced a mean identity unapologetically, which in my mind is what being a Dominatrix is all about. For comparison I found Josh a much more interesting "dominant" character, he's charming and charismatic and you can see why Pete who feels insecure would attach to him very easily.
In an attempt to humanise Tiff being a dominatrix I feel like they lost this charming and charismatic qualities that would explain why people are bending over backwards for her and that would have been a much more gripping narrative in my opinion. There are still some really powerful moments, usually monologues, Frank's speech in season 2 was in my mind phenomenal, and so was Carter's in the S2 finale to Tiff, but these are only masterful in the context of those moments and not the wider show. It also does a good job at normalising a lot of things that we think of as outrageous and I think that's a good thing. Would I recommend it? Not urgently, but I think you very quickly see if it's something you like or not so why not try it.
My biggest problem was that she wasn't endearing and yet everyone seemed to be bending over backwards for her (Doug & Pete), while I think this was the right direction for Pete's character there ended up being not enough foil to Tiff that could challenge her beliefs or at times toxic behaviour. The story tries to fix this by "redeeming" Tiff's character, sort of apologising to everyone, but I would've much preferred if she embraced a mean identity unapologetically, which in my mind is what being a Dominatrix is all about. For comparison I found Josh a much more interesting "dominant" character, he's charming and charismatic and you can see why Pete who feels insecure would attach to him very easily.
In an attempt to humanise Tiff being a dominatrix I feel like they lost this charming and charismatic qualities that would explain why people are bending over backwards for her and that would have been a much more gripping narrative in my opinion. There are still some really powerful moments, usually monologues, Frank's speech in season 2 was in my mind phenomenal, and so was Carter's in the S2 finale to Tiff, but these are only masterful in the context of those moments and not the wider show. It also does a good job at normalising a lot of things that we think of as outrageous and I think that's a good thing. Would I recommend it? Not urgently, but I think you very quickly see if it's something you like or not so why not try it.