Netfix has a new show coming out later this month that might appeal to the typical reader of this blog. It’s called ‘Bonding’ and, as described by Netflix, it’s the story of a New York City grad student moonlighting as a dominatrix who enlists her gay BFF to be her assistant. You can see the Netflix intro here and a trailer for it here.
I find the premise a little odd, despite the fact it’s apparently based on the real life experiences of actor Rightor Doyle. I know of pro-dommes who have behind the scenes assistants to clean their studio or run errands. I also know that offering ‘forced’ bi scenes requires the occasional stunt cock or two. However, generally speaking, I get the impression that an obvious male presence in a pro-domme business wouldn’t be at all popular. Clients are often nervous about their privacy and sharing their kinks. It’s a very intimate thing. A male assistant sounds like a total business killer. I’d suspect that the number of men who hire dommes and also have fantasies about the domme’s nervous gay BFF showing up in their scenes is non-zero but very small.
On the plus side, Zoe Levin does look great as the domme. There’s also a chance it might be a mainstream series that shows kinky sex in a funny but positive light. So I’m definitely willing to give it a shot and hope for the best.
It’s not that uncommon in the UK, I’ve visited several Mistresses who have male assistants around. My Mistress has a gentleman in the house frequently although he usually stays in the background unless requested. I’d been visiting her for well over 15 years before she decided that she would enjoy seeing me punished by a man. It is a very unusual experience to go over the lap of a man for a bare bottom spanking or to bend over a bench whilst he straps and canes you whilst she issues instructions and encouragement.
That’s interesting and also really surprising to me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in the US. I’ve known dommes who have slaves to do chores or clean-up, but they’re never around sessions or active in the background. I’m no more likely to interact with them than I am another client of the domme. I wonder if it’s a UK/US thing or just a function of the different dommes we’ve both seen.
Doing a submissive scene to another man (directed by the domme) definitely seems like a rarer kinky dynamic! I see a lot of forced bi stuff, and deference to the bull in a cuckold dynamic, but not physical punishment driven by another submissive. Sounds like a very intense scene. Needs a lot of trust on all sides.
Thanks for sharing your perspective.
-paltego
“There’s also a chance it might be a mainstream series that shows kinky sex in a funny but positive light. “
I hope you’re right. I’m a bit skeptical, because pretty much every femdom trope I’ve ever seen on TV or in film has ended up making the men look pathetic, or humiliated in some fashion.
Yes, the track record isn’t good. I don’t actually mind some laughs at the strangeness of kinky desires, because they can be kind of funny. I’ve no objection to laughing at myself. I think the problem is when they only capture that element, and nothing else.
I guess we’ll see if this series can capture a more rounded representation. It does’t have to be balanced, but it at least needs to capture something of the genuine intensity and sensuality of submission.
-paltego