Aug 24, 2026 10:06pm IST
‘S And X’ Review: Kento Nakajima, Shōgo Kusano’s Series Dives Into The Psyche Of Sex and Emotions With Cinematic Sobriety
Everyone in the world has sexual concerns. This forms the basic premise of writer and filmmaker Shōgo Kusano’s series, “S & X.” The series is an adaptation of the webcomic authored by Kisei Tada. Kento Nakajima plays the role of Dr Ichito Shimotori, a sex therapist with brains, empathy and a unique creative streak. While battling his own demons around the idea of an intimate relationship with intercourse, he addresses his patients’ problems and tries to resolve the deep-seated psychological issues that mar their attempts at sexual sobriety.
Actress Yuko Araki plays Yumi Ichinose, a news reporter and former victim of upskirting, who wants to bring awareness towards the long-term consequences for victims of sexual crimes. Upskirting is one of the most common sexual offences in Japan, where women are secretly photographed by people around them who sneak their phone cameras below their skirts or dresses.
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“S & X,” which has seven episodes, grabs your attention from the word go with its relatable quotient. From the stigma of being a sex doctor to finding pleasure through virtual reality sex, parasocial intimacy with anime characters, and commonplace sexual harassment, it touches upon a wide spectrum. Shōgo Kusano executes the episodes with a dose of comedy as Dr Shimotori and his male nurse, Yuta (Ryota Miura) create simulated situations to understand the psyche of their patients. Writers Tomoko Yoshida, Ruriko Matsushima, Takumi Haba, along with Kusano, approach the subject with a humane outlook, showing how individuals with sexual deviations and trauma both have their own struggles. Kosuke Yamada’s cinematography deserves a mention with the use of dim lighting to show Shimotori’s introverted nature and the red room where Araki and Shimotori discuss their innermost thoughts with a rare passion.
As Dr. Shimotori takes on challenging cases in every episode, his relationship with Yumi Ichinose grows deeper in terms of emotional bonding. The two characters worry about sex while believing that love is something truly valuable in life. As Yumi’s relationship with a sex therapist gets exposed, Dr Shimotori is forced to break the shackles of psychological and social taboos.
Performance-wise, Kento Nakajima is earnest as Dr Shimotori. Known mostly for his romantic dramas, Nakajima slips into the character of therapist with honesty. Yuko Araki is equally good as Yumi, a woman who wants to explore her sexual needs but is ready to wait for Ichito till he is ‘ready’. Ryota Miura as Yuta brings comic relief as the male nurse who whines about his duties but does a bloody good job of whatever he’s been assigned to do. Sawako Fujima plays the female nurse-receptionist, Natsume whose practical outlook stands the doctor in good stead.
The storytelling is not devoid of tropes like childhood connection, past trauma, jealous co-workers and so on. Audiences might find some of the methods used by Shimotori’s character as a therapist a bit too outlandish but those are minor gripes. The fourth episode stands out with its raw depiction of the obsession of upskirting and the pain victims live through.
“S & X,” comes with an adult certification with its theme of sex, sexual violence and nudity. If a viewer is looking for a series that is a wild ride with characters’ love and lust transcending the screen, this is not meant for them. Kusano’s series is more like a social commentary on how sex, often seen as a human connection to add color to life, can also be a cause of huge psychological battles. Does it hit the right spot? A resounding ‘Yes!’
The series streams on Netflix.
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