The 25 sexiest TV shows to watch ahead of Valentine's Day
As Hollywood loves nothing more than a love story, it’s no wonder that sex is also commonly depicted onscreen. Whether trying to convey passion, tension, or plain old comedic relief, the physical act of intimacy is a highly effective plot device for movies and television. As far as the era of streaming goes, there's a huge array of titles that are equal parts funny, erotic, and head-over-heels romantic. From classic shows like Sex and the City to eccentric coming-of-age sagas like Sex Education, scroll ahead to find the 25 best sexy shows you can watch right now.
Sex and the City
I don’t really think this show needs much of an introduction. Premiering in 1998, Sex and the City revolutionised how female friendships and sexuality were depicted on screen. Sure, it definitely has its failings and injustices when you look at it through a more modern lens, but it also encouraged generations of women to take ownership of their own pleasure.
Sex/Life
In Sex/Life, an unfulfilled suburban housewife reconnects with an ex who she used to have wild sex with. It’s been celebrated for challenging the notion that it’s always the husband who cheats, and a lot of the intimate scenes centre on female pleasure. It’s also loaded with clichés, but the sex scenes are abundant, so… you win some, you lose some.
Bridgerton
It doesn’t get much hornier than the Regency era. Think about it. Those strict social codes meant that even small gestures, like a stolen glance or the brushing of one gloved hand against another, are bursting with desire and sexual tension. It’s the ideal setting for Bridgerton, where the outward decorum of English high society meets inner chaos. Delicious.
Outlander
Picture this: A post-WWII English combat nurse goes back in time to 18th-century Scotland, where she meets a Highlander warrior. Very hot sex ensues. Outlander really set a new standard for feminist onscreen intimacy, especially in the earlier seasons and especially in the areas of female sexuality and consent. The chemistry between actors Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe certainly helps it along.
Sex Education
The teenage years might not have been the sexiest time in our lives. Actually, it was mostly awkward as hell. But that’s what makes Sex Education so endearing and hot, in its own way. Every character gets a story arc to explore gender, sexuality, fantasies, and relationships in a truly accepting, nonjudgmental way.
Gossip Girl
Few shows have quite as many salacious sex scenes as the original Gossip Girl, a show about the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite. Who could forget Nate and Serena’s illicit hookup at the Shepherd wedding? Or Chuck and Blair’s first time in the back of his limo? This iconic, admittedly-a-little-cheesy-now show was memorable for so many reasons.
Emily in Paris
Another bingeable treasure from Darren Star. While Emily in Paris doesn’t have many steamy scenes, you can cut the sexual tension with a knife, and you know what they say: Sometimes anticipation can be more sexy than the act itself. Of course, we can’t ignore the seductiveness of the setting itself—a romanticised, oversaturated version of Paris.
Devotion: A Story of Love and Desire
Carlo and Margherita are a seemingly happy couple, but cracks begin to form when suspicion and temptation creep into their lives. In this Italian drama series, both partners have to wrestle with their desires and the consequences of their actions. It’s a slow burn, but we appreciate how it represents infidelity as a nuanced hurdle that no couple is immune to.
Tiny Pretty Things
Tiny Pretty Things falls into the “so bad, it’s good” category, but it’s also the most “bonkers-level-of-horny show of 2020,” according to one reviewer. Set in the world of ballet, the story kicks off with the mysterious death of a dance school’s top ballerina. There’s rivalry and jealousy—think Black Swan crossed with Pretty Little Liars. Oh, and in the first episode, there are, like, four sex scenes in 40 minutes.
Virgin River
Don’t let the name fool you. This series, based on Robyn Carr’s bestselling novels, gets steamier as the seasons progress. Nurse practitioner Mel moves from Los Angeles to a remote town in Northern California seeking a fresh start. It’s not quite as she expects, but maybe Jack, the hottie behind the bar, can change her mind. There’s a Magic Mike–inspired strip scene, not to mention a seriously hot tryst on a pool table between supporting characters Brie and Brady in season six. It’s just been renewed for a seventh season, so you’ve got a lot to look forward to.
You
The fact that a show about a murderous stalker makes this list probably really worries Penn Badgley, the actor who plays Joe in You. But somehow we can’t help but thirst for this sinister Dan Humphrey and his psychopathic tendencies. If you ignore those particular red flags, which are so big, you could see them from space, the show is pretty saucy. It begins in the show’s first episode when Beck, dissatisfied from a romp with her boyfriend, takes care of business solo while Joe watches from the bushes outside her house.
Elite
Elite is a Spanish teen drama series that revolves around students’ lives at Las Encinas, an exclusive private high school in Spain, and the dramatic events that unfold when three scholarship students arrive. It’s quite possibly the horniest show on Netflix, and the best part is that there are eight seasons to binge.
Easy
Part of Easy’s appeal is its realistic, unfiltered approach to sex and relationships. And, boy, it gets messy sometimes. This star-studded anthology series is set in Chicago and features appearances from Aubrey Plaza, Orlando Bloom, Dave Franco, and many, many others. It’s funny, a little gloomy, and sexy in a way that’s really relatable.
Dark Desire
Season one of Dark Desire is one of the most-watched non-English titles on Netflix, with one viewer crediting it to their sexual awakening. This steamy Mexican drama centers on Alma Solares, a married law professor who becomes entangled in a passionate affair with a younger man during a weekend away. If you loved Babygirl, you won’t want to miss this. While there are only two seasons, they’re long, at 18 and 15 episodes respectively.
Wanderlust
Wanderlust dives headfirst into the complexities of long-term relationships and that age-old question of how to keep the spark alive. Released in 2018, this limited series was ahead of its time, now that ethical non-monogamy and open relationships have become more mainstream. After seeing a couples therapist, wife Joy (Toni Collette) and husband Alan (Steven Mackintosh) decide to date other people. Long story short, it gets pretty hot.
Obsession
Based on the 1991 novel Damage by Josephine Hart, Obsession is a miniseries that follows surgeon William Farrow as he begins an affair with his son’s fiancée, Anna. But what begins as a clandestine romance quickly spirals into an all-consuming— you guessed it—obsession. William becomes enthralled with Anna, risking everything to pursue her, while Anna appears both drawn to and repelled by his intensity.
Young Royals
Young Royals is a Swedish drama that follows Prince Wilhelm, a teenage son of Sweden’s royal family, as he navigates the pressures of royalty, young love, and identity. After a scandal, Wilhelm enrolls in an elite boarding school where he struggles to fit in. Everything changes when he meets Simon, and while their relationship is filled with tender moments, it’s tinged with external pressures, secrecy, and fear of public exposure.
Deceitful Love
Deceitful Love, or Inganno in its native Italian, is a romantic thriller that centres on a wealthy woman in her 60s who unexpectedly falls for a man several decades her junior. The relationship ignites tensions with her family when they suspect his intentions carry a hidden agenda.
Bonding
Set against the unconventional backdrop of New York’s BDSM scene, Bonding follows Tiff Chester, a grad student by day and dominatrix by night. She recruits Peter, her best friend from high school, to be her assistant, and as she leads him into the world of fetishes, he’s forced to confront his own insecurities. The biggest letdown about this series is that the episodes are painfully short, at around 15 minutes each.
Diary of a Gigolo
Diary of a Gigolo (Diario de un Gigoló) is a Spanish-language drama that explores betrayal, emotional entanglement, and desire. Emanuel is a charming, successful male escort whose job it is to satisfy wealthy clients while keeping them at arm’s length. But when his boss, Minou, asks him to seduce Julia, his commitment to emotional detachment is derailed as he begins to develop real feelings for her.
Grey’s Anatomy
Yes, there are plenty of steamy scenes in this beloved medical soap. We’re sure hospital staff aren’t actually getting it on everywhere, as this show would have us believe, but where’s the escapism in that? Meredith and Derek’s shower session, Miranda and Ben’s will-they-won’t-they and finally getting together—I could go on, but just go watch it yourself.
Orange Is the New Black
Orange Is the New Black redefined the prison drama, making it sexy in a complex, raw, and deeply human way. Many of the relationships in OITNB were forbidden, messy, and emotionally charged, whether it was the tender romance between Soso and Poussey or the tumultuous—often toxic—push-pull between Piper and Alex.
Sense8
This sci-fi series is visually stunning and an emotional exploration of human connection. The very basic premise is eight strangers, known as “sensates,” from across the globe who discover they’re psychically linked.
Sex, Love & Goop
Who said learning isn’t sexy? Look, there have been plenty of times we should be wary of Gwyneth Paltrow’s brand of “science,” but in the case of Sex, Love & Goop, it’s a worthy watch to see couples exploring their sexuality and discovering a deeper level of intimacy. It’s a topic we’re getting better at talking about, but there’s still a bit of work to do. It’s not steamy in the traditional sense, but watching this just might trigger some conversations you’ve been meaning to have or inspire some sexual adventures you didn’t know you wanted.
Valeria
Viewers of Valeria often draw parallels with Sex and the City, and for good reason. The central character is an aspiring writer in her 30s who feels stuck in both her career and her marriage. She leans on her three best friends, Lola, Carmen, and Nerea, as she grapples with her feelings for her husband, Adrián, and finding a new connection in Victor, a passionate man who inspires her creatively.
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