BDSM representation on television does not have to be flattering. Show me unethical Dommes, abusive sadists, stupid kinksters and ignorant sex workers. Just make them believable.
In Episode 39 of Power Unleashed, Professor Vesper looks at some of the worst, shallowest and most controversial portrayals of BDSM and kink on television - from the increasingly ridiculous domination scenes in Secret Diary of a Call Girl and a deeply misleading portrayal of pain and pleasure in 1923 to an absurd chastity emergency in 9-1-1.
I also examine the recent criticism surrounding Euphoria Season 3 and Cassie’s OnlyFans storyline - and explain why, in this case, I think accusations of bad kink representation largely miss the point.
The problem is not that every kinky character needs to be ethical, knowledgeable or representative of an entire community. Ignorance can be part of a character. It should not be part of the writing.
Secret Diary of a Call Girl (2007-2011) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1000734/
1923 (2022-2025) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18335752/
9-1-1 (2018-2026) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7235466/
The scene that I am referencing:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7tXfraKz2wE
Euphoria (2019-2026) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8772296/
Lady Vesper — The Arrogant Intellectual Domme.
Psychological dominance, discipline, chastity, power dynamics, elegant authority, and the intelligence behind true FemDom.
If you want the deeper side of my mind, listen to my podcast Power Unleashed — I speak about dominance, consent, psychology, and the inner mechanics of D/s without clichés or theatrics.
