Secret Diary of a Call Girl - TV Series Review

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Secret Diary of a Call Girl is a British television drama series that premiered on ITV2 in 2007, running for four seasons, wrapping up in 2011. The series is based on the memoirs of a high-class call girl, Belle de Jour, who wrote about her experiences as a sex worker in London. The show stars Billie Piper as Hannah Baxter, a young woman who juggles her double life as a call girl and a regular person with a personal life, friends, and family. The show was praised for its frank and honest portrayal of sex work, its nuanced portrayal of the complex relationships between sex workers and their clients, and its realistic and nuanced depiction of the personal and professional lives of sex workers.

The show begins with Hannah (Piper), a young woman in her mid-twenties who is working as a legal secretary in London. Hannah is introduced to the world of high-class prostitution by her friend and agent Stephanie Charlton (Cherie Lunghi), who convinces her to try her hand at being a call girl. Hannah is hesitant at first, but she soon finds that she is good at the job and enjoys the money and the freedom that it provides. Hannah adopts the persona of "Belle de Jour," a high-class call girl who caters to the needs of wealthy clients in London.

As the series progresses, Hannah becomes more comfortable with her double life and begins to enjoy the perks of her job. She has a close relationship with Ben (Iddo Goldberg), her best friend and ex who works as a fashion photographer, and is unaware of her secret life. Hannah's professional life is also complicated by her relationships with her clients, some of whom she grows attached to and others who treat her poorly. She also navigates the challenges of her job, including dealing with difficult clients, facing harassment and violence, and dealing with the stigma of her profession.

The show is notable for its frank and honest portrayal of sex work. While many shows and movies that deal with sex work often portray sex workers as victims or exploiters, Secret Diary of a Call Girl presents a more nuanced and realistic picture of the industry. The show depicts sex work as a job, one that is often empowering for the women who do it but is also fraught with danger, stigma, and challenges. The show also explores the complicated relationships between sex workers and their clients, portraying both the positive and negative aspects of these relationships.

Another key aspect of the show is its focus on Hannah's personal life. While many shows about sex work focus solely on the professional lives of their characters, Secret Diary of a Call Girl gives equal weight to Hannah's personal relationships and struggles. Hannah is portrayed as a complex and multifaceted character, one who is struggling to balance her personal and professional lives and to find happiness in both. She is shown to have a range of emotions and motivations, from desire and pleasure to fear and vulnerability.

The show's treatment of sex and sexuality is also notable. The show portrays sex in a frank and honest way, without shying away from nudity or explicit scenes. The show also portrays a range of sexual experiences and desires, from vanilla sex to BDSM and kink. The show does not judge or shame its characters for their sexual preferences, instead presenting a range of different experiences and desires in a non-judgmental way.

One of the most powerful aspects of Secret Diary of a Call Girl is its portrayal of the stigma and discrimination faced by sex workers. Hannah is shown to face discrimination from both her clients and from society as a whole. She is subjected to harassment, violence, and abuse because of her job, and she is constantly battling against the stereotypes and prejudices that surround her profession. The show presents a powerful critique of the stigma and discrimination faced by sex workers, challenging viewers to question their own assumptions and biases.

Despite its frank and nuanced portrayal of sex work, Secret Diary of a Call Girl was not without its criticisms. Some critics felt that the show was too glamorized and did not accurately represent the realities of sex work. Others felt that the show was too focused on Hannah's personal life and did not delve deeply enough into the broader social and political issues surrounding sex work.

One of the most controversial aspects of the show was its depiction of the relationship between Hannah and her clients. While the show did not shy away from portraying the sexual aspects of these relationships, some viewers and critics felt that the show did not adequately address the power dynamics at play in these relationships. Some argued that the show romanticized the idea of a sex worker falling in love with a client, obscuring the fact that sex work is often exploitative and can be dangerous for women.

Despite these criticisms, Secret Diary of a Call Girl remains an important and ground-breaking show in its portrayal of sex work and sexuality. The show challenged societal taboos and stereotypes surrounding sex work and presented a more nuanced and complex picture of the industry than had previously been shown on television. The show also contributed to a broader conversation about the rights and safety of sex workers, helping to destigmatize the industry and give a voice to those who had previously been silenced.

In conclusion, Secret Diary of a Call Girl is a powerful and important television show that tackled a taboo subject in a frank and nuanced way. The show's portrayal of sex work and sexuality challenged societal norms and stereotypes, presenting a more complex and nuanced picture of the industry than had previously been shown on television. While the show was not without its criticisms, it remains an important and groundbreaking work that contributed to a broader conversation about the rights and safety of sex workers.

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