The Korean BL Therapy, released in June 2025, sparked buzz by portraying the relationship between a patient with anorgasmia, Jung Woo-Gyo, and his sex therapist, Hee-soo. The premise promised to explore intimacy, desire, and emotional vulnerability, but the execution ultimately took a controversial turn.
With only 4 episodes, the drama chooses to focus almost exclusively on sexual tension and physical contact, neglecting any meaningful character development.
🟢 Positive Points:
- Good chemistry between the actors;
- Well-produced sensual aesthetics;
- Bold concept within the South Korean BL landscape.
🔴 Frequent Criticisms:
- Lack of emotional development or solid narrative;
- Eroticism poorly justified by the plot;
- Romanticization of the unequal relationship between patient and therapist.
📺 Episode 1
The first episode of Therapy opens in a quiet and direct tone, introducing Jung Woo‑Gyo, one of the protagonists, alone in his living room while anxiously waiting for the arrival of the sex therapist. The atmosphere is tense and restrained, conveying the character’s discomfort and anticipation until the doorbell rings, marking the entrance of Hee‑soo, the therapist.
In the kitchen, the two discuss the terms of the agreement: the patient has requested four weeks of therapeutic sex sessions, with one-hour weekly meetings. During this period, he is required to complete the tasks assigned by the therapist. It’s at this moment that Woo‑Gyo realizes the treatment will involve sex with a man — something he had not fully understood when signing the contract.
Before any sexual contact, Hee‑soo begins a sort of “initial greeting” — a series of stretches performed with both wearing only underwear: the therapist in regular briefs, the patient in loose boxer shorts. The scene, though subtly stylized, serves two clear purposes:
- To physically showcase the protagonists, revealing the contrast between them — Hee‑soo, pale, with an upright and controlled posture; Woo‑Gyo, darker-skinned, with a more curved and hesitant stance.
- To initiate the process of physical and emotional closeness, which will intensify throughout the episodes.
The first session itself focuses on touch, with the therapist exploring the patient’s erogenous zones. The episode culminates in the first kiss between the protagonists, captured with camera work that emphasizes gestures and contact, highlighting the sensuality of details. The scene progresses until the therapist performs oral sex on Woo‑Gyo.
The episode ends with Hee‑soo giving the first assignment to the patient, establishing the structure that will repeat in the following episodes: an intense physical session followed by sexual “homework” to be completed afterward.
📌 THERAPY and the Role of Touch:
The first session focuses on touch and the exploration of erogenous zones — a stage that, in a real therapeutic process (or even within the context of a healthy intimate relationship), would hold deep symbolic and emotional significance. From a psychological and sexological perspective, conscious touch is a powerful tool for:
- Increasing emotional intimacy, by creating connection through physical presence;
- Reinforcing mutual consent, as the body is explored with attention and respect;
- Reducing tension and insecurity, by allowing each person to recognize their own boundaries and pleasures;
- Building safety, turning the body into a territory of trust, not just pleasure.
However, Therapy portrays this phase as choreographed and functional, with little attention to verbal consent or the emotional state of those involved. The absence of any dialogue about boundaries, discomforts, or sensations highlights the emotional superficiality of the series.
Visually, the scene aims to be erotic, but it misses the opportunity to explore the transformative potential of touch as an intimate and emotional language — something essential to healthy sexual relationships in real life.
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