If you ever need a more compelling sign that you could earn heaps of money to supplement your studies or quit your day job, then look no further, because Season 2 of Bonding is here.
When season 1 of this dark-comedy, Netflix Original appeared on my recommended suggestions, I was not expecting whips, chains and things that excite me. The title Bonding suggested a romance or a friendship plot, which you do get, but the title actually refers to bondage – not the bond of a relationship.
Having someone pay to cook and clean for you, as well as metaphorically kiss your feet as Tiff (Zoe Levin) gets , does seem like an easy and appealing way for some extra income and a household maid. Bonding manifests our sexual desires, lets us in on the dominatrix community and makes us want to be a part of it too! Watching the series made me want to set up a Tinder profile and find the lucky man to serve me all day.
The series is timely, with more people accepting and appreciating womxn sex work as a genuine and liable career, seen by the sheer amount of support sex workers received when Bella Thorne gentrified OnlyFans, a platform where sex workers can sell photos and videos.
"The end of Season 1 shows us that men do not own her. Tiff owns them."
Having a strong womxn lead reclaims sex work and re-writes it from a womxn’s narrative. Tiff gives off pure feminist vibes. Yes, she is a sex worker primarily paid by men, but the end of Season 1 shows us that men do not own her. Tiff owns them.
In season 1 we meet Tiff a student who is moonlighting as a Dominatrix and her gay best friend Peter (Brendan Scannell), who is a failing stand-up comedian. Tiff recruits Peter as her Dominatrix assistant and Peter is let into Tiff’s world. From leather outfits to peeing on clients, Peter really gets stuck in. Although he was reluctant at first, he begins to enjoy the newfound confidence it gives him.
The plot is excitingly engaging and hilariously funny, we get to watch the two pioneer their double lives and learn things about each of the characters along the way. Peter has stage fright, social issues and is scared of experiencing a gay relationship, but his confidence on the stage and in gay relationships becomes apparent by the end of the season.
Bonding is a mini-series and only has 15-minute episodes which means the character development was never quite as developed as hoped, often leaving the viewer red-faced and hot-headed with a lust for more insight into Tiff and Peter’s personal lives. The first season is more about the dominating and less about the characters’ inner turmoil, friendships and relationships, but it was a welcome change to see this pick up in Season 2.
In the second season, Tiff has to battle with her commitment issues and own the fact that she enjoys the life of a Dominatrix, whilst Peter gets over his stage fright and gets on top of (literally) his relationship problems – meeting a man named Josh who is not out of the closet. They represent imperfection in their lives, relationships and work life that is relatable and makes both the characters more likeable.
In season 1 there was always a hint that the characters carry some heavy emotional baggage and season 2 unpacks that and leaves it for everyone to see. Season 2 reveals issues that young people are likely to face today. For example, Tiff’s dark past with her mother was revealed and Peter is worried about not making it in his dream career as a comedian.
Episode 5, in particular, explores how difficult and sensitive coming out can be. A side character, Josh, who is Peter’s boyfriend, is finally about to come out to his friends and more importantly, his dad who is a big investment banker and his boss. Before this, Josh was pretending to be straight around his colleagues and friends, by acting like a loud stereo-typical ‘geezer.’
Of course, in true Bonding style, when Josh did come out to his dad, the entire thing was made into a joke and the limelight was stolen. It was revealed that Josh’s dad was also a player in the world of Dominatrix and was a lot closer to Peter than Josh had ever thought.
Among the sarcastic and jokey humour, the real relief was that Josh’s dad did accept him and wished his son had told him sooner. This side plot would resonate with viewers who are struggling with their sexuality or are afraid to come out to their loved ones.
"Why is there a white-dominated cast in a show about sex work, which is an ethnically diverse community?"
Though Bonding is a good series which represents the sex industry which is still somewhat a taboo subject, it is overwhelmingly under-representative. One criticism is the lack of diversity in the cast. Why is there a white-dominated cast in a show about sex work, which is an ethnically diverse community?
Sex workers have criticised Bonding to say that it is not representative of their community and that consent was not touched on enough and even completely dismissed in one scene. Tiff says to Peter after a client, “if I told you what we were going to do before we did it, then you wouldn’t do it.” Consent is extremely important within the BDSM and Dominatrix community, and this should be reflected in a series of this nature.
Nonetheless, Bonding is light-hearted, witty and interesting. I was reeled into the world of the Dominatrix, and like Tiff’s subdominants’, I had a taste for more.
After watching Season 2, I must admit, I wanted to recruit my best friend and begin a dominatrix empire, but I might just stick to writing for now.
Watch Bonding on Netflix now.