Oh soft-core! I feel so grateful this genre exists. I love watching sexy media (it helps me remember I am a sexual being), and I love having a diversity of formats to cater to whatever I desire in the moment. Sometimes I want a full-length film, so I’ll watch a classic from the Golden Age of Pornography. If I am wanting a sitcom, or a serial drama, I have a lot of options in soft-core. Sometimes, as much as I love the hardcore stuff, I don’t need to see it, I’m looking for something more sensual, or characters I’ve been following, or I want to know what I’m getting into. Soft-core fulfills all these things.
In my soft-core, I’m looking for: (1) a compelling story with compelling characters; (2) lots of sex per episode; (3) sex that is hot and sex-positive. Ideally, there is some levity and humor, but that can be a tall order, even for television sans sex. To me, what distinguishes soft-core from hard-core (or what I may call “traditional” porn) is that the sex is all simulated. The actresses are not having sex on set, often they aren’t even fully naked, but they are making it look like they are having sex. It has a reputation for being gentler, and more woman-friendly. I don’t know anyone else who watches it, so I can’t say. Anyway, it’s like watching How I met your mother but instead of the characters stripping and the next thing you see they emerge from under the covers breathing heavily, you get to see them have sex. It feels honest and dignified to me, in addition to being way hot.
But where to begin? I was lucky that Mr. Honey curated a bunch of options for us. And now, after watching many, the following I confidently and wholeheartedly recommend if you are looking to get started, or even keep going.
Coed Confidential (2007-2010)
Aired on: Cinemax
Key Cast: Michelle Maylene, Kevin Patrick, Hannah Harper, Sandra Luesse, Oskar Rodriguez, Andre Boyer
Description: A frat house notorious for parties is turned into a co-ed residence for four freshmen under the supervision of a graduate student and her occasional boyfriend, a party animal from the closed fraternity.
Coed Confidential is (so far) my favorite soft-core show we’ve watched. Each episode is 30 minutes, and it’s a funny sitcom about college students who have sex. The characters are likeable and super hot (the women, Michelle Maylene, Hannah Harper, and Sandra Luesse especially, and the first two stick around for season 2). And most importantly, all the actors have chemistry with the people they fuck on screen. There are several sex scenes in every episode, and they are always hot. There are threesomes, girl-girl, solo-play, and lots of talk of sex and porn as well. And they mix up the characters and side characters so you get a diversity of folx and styles of fucking. It’s silly and campy at times but I like that.
Also, the music is incredible, it’s a lot of fucking to rock music which I love. And there’s lots of cunnilingus too. The people seem like they are sincerely enjoying the sex and often it’s sex with people the character cares about so it’s real feel-good stuff. It’s super relatable and there is tons of humor.
Finally, I find the message co-ed confidential sends about sex empowering. The characters help one another open their minds about sex and pleasure. To consider and engage in threesomes and whatever other fantasies one’s partner has. The women are strong, sexually charged and desirous, and they aren’t afraid to ask for sex or be powerful in bed. It shows how sex is fun and funny and can be both lighthearted and deeply passionate and romantic. If I had seen this when I was younger, it would have helped me feel more normal and less ashamed of my own sexual desires and fantasies. Highly, highly, highly recommend.
Forbidden Science (2009)
Aired On: Cinemax
Key Cast: Vanessa Broze, Joanne Alderson, Levi Freeman, Noelle DuBois, Austin Ball, Mary Legault
Description: “Set in the near future, the stories revolve around an elite corporation, 4Ever Innovations, whose brilliant young scientists download and sell memories. They replace those we’ve lost with clones and devise technology that helps us live out our greatest fantasies, from saving a failed relationship, to creating the perfect lover, to being irresistible to the opposite sex. But sometimes our deepest desires come at a terrible price. There are secrets within 4Ever Innovations that could cost you your life.” – Producer John Quinn
John Quinn produced a lot of my favorite soft-core shows: Forbidden Science, Sin City Diaries, and Lingerie. Sin City Diaries is also a part of this starter pack. I’m starting with Forbidden Science because it ranks among my favorite television shows, not just soft-core, of all time. This is a real, hard-core sci-fi show, that also happens to have lots of hot sex. The premise is summarized in the show opening below, but just in case you’re in a space or place where you can’t watch, it’s this: in the future, clones exist, and there may be a way to download of all one’s memories into a biological clone; what happens to such a clone? Is she rightfully the property of the person who funded her existence, or does she have the right to become her own person?
This show has almost all heterosexual sex. There’s a lot of it, and there’s also play with virtual-reality sex, bdsm, fantasies, dreams, and some voyeurism. Very sexy bodies, and all the characters have great chemistry. Vanilla stuff, but good stuff.
To me, this show accomplishes my vision for what television should be. The plot is incredible, there are real questions of science and scientific ethics raised, and the show makes me think. I’m still thinking about it. Is immorality possible, if your continued existence is not in your original human body? How much of our identity comes from our memories? To what lengths would I go, to keep someone I love alive, or to fund my own ideas? In addition to the fun, sci-fi plot, it also has a b-track of love, connection, and relationships. What does honesty look like as a relationship evolves? How do we accept and move beyond tragedy in our relationships? Is it love if you do not remember or know who you are? And then, on top of asking those very good questions, it also shows realistic sex. And it opened my mind to new fantasies, saying, “It’s okay” to a new set of hot images. What a feat. Bravo.
I feel I haven’t talked much on the sex. What is there to say? It’s not mind-blowing in its newness or exploration but it is sexy and sensual. Here’s a clip so you can get a sense of the vibe.
Plus, you can watch it on Amazon.
Sin City Diaries (2007-2008)
Aired On: Cinemax
Key Cast: Amber Smith, Justin Lopez, Elena Talan
Description: “Sin City Diaries follows concierge expert Angelica (played by actress and super model Amber Smith, LA Confidential – American Beauty.) From her high-rise office overlooking the Strip, Casino Owners rely heavily upon her to make their high rollers happy. As she helps clients live out their deepest fantasies in this playground and paradise we all know and love as Sin City.” – Jefferie Pittle, Creator
Sin City Diaries is unlike the other two in that it is less of an episodic. In this series, Angelica (Amber Smith) is a “concierge” of fantasy experiences for high paying, VIP visitors to Las Vegas. Together with Sasha (Elena Talan) and Matthew (Justin Lopez), the three coordinate sensual experiences for a new person or couple every episode. So you aren’t following any relationships beyond Angelica, Sasha, and Matthew, although they do develop and grow as you’d expect from any good series. Here’s the intro:
I like that the episodes showcase different people, and I find the main trio super endearing. Each week explores different fantasies, different settings, and different connections. For example, one episode is about a group of military officers the night before they go off to war. Another is about a couple reconnecting after many years a part. They are typically cute and sexy with a little bit of the heartfelt. And the episodes are quick, light, and often sprinkled with humor. In theory, these don’t need to be watched in order, but I think there is enough of a throughline across our three mains that it’s far more pleasurable to do so.
Since the premise of the show is delivering fantasies, the are a lot of sexual fantasies explored in the show. Threesomes are common, lots of cunnilingus. I wish there was even more fucking by Angelica, Sasha and Matthew, but that’s only because I find them so hot and loveable. I mean, look at Amber Smith (Angelica), isn’t she gorgeous? If you watch this series and want more of her, she is also present in Lingerie Season 2.
I can’t stress enough how feel-good this show is. Every episode ends with a little life aphorism from Angelica, which I find so cute. Like a little hug at the end of each ep. Here’s one for you.
I hope this list was helpful! Wishing you much pleasure as you enjoy😘