The third episode rubbed me wrong. They turned the camera to Erin, "A rough sex/love addict". Choking. Cropping. Fetish. She admits, "Sex has to be rough for her to enjoy it." I found myself waiting for the bad part.
Her therapy with Chris and the other clients showed that Erin had some major intimacy issues. Habitually, her relationships consist of sex alone. No conversation. No cuddling. No connection. The major problems with her love life were flagrant. However, what offended me was their need to continue to emphasize her kinky proclivities. Slicing in scenes of her purchasing sex toys and buying fetish gear. From what I seen from the show, I believe her issues were independent of her kink. Yet, the directors continued to draw this connection between her fetish and her fear of intimacy.
Her two-year relationship with a married man was the problem, not her urge to be tied up. Her ability to stay in a relationship with a man who fucks her and then sleeps on the couch was the problem, not the whips and chains occupying her toy box. Maybe I would've appreciated it if Chris assured Erin, "It's okay if you like to be choked." I think this show had an opportunity to be kink-positive and progressive, but squandered it on being sensationalist.
I think its possible to have your emotional/spiritual needs met in a kinky relationship.
I think psychological health can
co-exist with fetish.
What do you guys think about this episode?