Doctor Climax: Netflix’s bold new series explores taboo Thai culture

Netflix is no stranger to controversy, and their latest series, Doctor Climax, is poised to push boundaries once again. Following the exploration of Thai Buddhism’s commercialisation in The Believers, Netflix is diving into the secretive world of Thailand in the 1970s with a show that promises to reveal what was once unspoken.

Directed by the dynamic duo Kongdej Jaturanrasmee, known for Hunger, and Pairach Khumwan, a key director of Girl From Nowhere, Doctor Climax transports viewers back to a time when discussing the birds and the bees was strictly taboo. This nostalgic series is centred on Doctor Nat, a dermato-venereologist with dreams of becoming a novelist, who ends up as the writer behind the risqué newspaper column, The Climax Question.

For younger viewers, imagine a pre-internet Quora where people wrote physical letters to newspapers to have their burning questions answered. Thailand’s most famous sex column, Sep Som Bo Mi Som by Doctor Nopporn, serves as a real-life parallel.

Doctor Nat’s column bravely tackles subjects like masturbation, premature ejaculation, foreplay, and STDs, all while maintaining the anonymity of his correspondents. Amidst his professional life, an office romance blossoms between Nat and Linda, the paper’s head of the art department.

However, this budding affair is complicated by Nat’s marriage to Tukta, the perfect wife from a prestigious family. The potential scandal threatens to disgrace Nat’s old-money family.

The series boasts a stellar cast, featuring Chantavit Dhanasevi as Doctor Nat, Arachaporn Pokinpakorn as Linda, Chermawee Suwanpanuchoke as Tukta, Tonhon Tantivejakul as Permpol, and Chaiwat Thongsang as Thong Tien.

Doctor Climax marks Kongdej’s first foray into television, with creator and producer Ekachai Uekrongtham (Beautiful Boxer) providing the foundational concept, reported Bangkok Post.

“Ekachai shared with me his idea of turning a sex Q&A column into a series. Reading the published letters from that era offered a fascinating glimpse into the social issues of the time.

“Today’s viewers might wonder why a sex Q&A column was a big deal back then, but this series offers a refreshing and thought-provoking look at those times. Each episode feels like a short film with unique styles, but together they create a cohesive narrative.”

Doctor Climax premieres on Netflix on June 13.