The Girlfriend Experience

The show is delivered in a cold, unemotional manner that sets the tone. It seems similar to Mr. Robot and American Psycho in a lot of ways. People going through motions of life but mainly pretending. There is no intro for the show - the episodes start and eventually the title of the show displays on screen.

Christine is a law student and dresses in boring and mundane business attire, has basic professional hair, and seems pretty boring. You can tell she is intelligent however.

From the first sex scene we see the lead character's need and desire for control. Control of men, control of situations, and control of opportunity. What follows is the delving into the world of sex for hire, and beyond that a "Girlfriend" experience. Christine dives into this secretive world with both feet and develops an persona named "Chelsea". Chelsea is beautiful with long flowing hair, is feminine, attractive, well dressed, and poised; almost a counterpart to her day to day self. Her clients get to feel that they are important and cared for in her presence. For her it is an act. She is always on top; in the bedroom and in the relationship. She takes notes to remember small details of her clients, she edits her words and reactions to her client's wishes.

We see the main character position herself to always profit in some way in her interactions. In reality she is cold, distant, and calculating. How far will she go? How deep will she sink to get what she wants? What will the ultimate price be?

I've only seen 4 episodes of the season but it shows great promise. It may not live up to expectations in the end but I hope it does.

I loved season 1 but I have no idea what they were thinking this season. It is boring as hell and I want the story line from season 1 back please. Season 2 is a mess.....it is uncomfortable and just plain boring to watch. Riley Keough in season 1 was so good. She is beautiful, dark, and mischievous. She really carried this show. Louisa Krause in season 2 is not suited for a part like this. I am so mad this show has been ruined.

Very interesting series, well crafted, thought-provoking, both intriguing and depressing to watch... As I see it, it's very much about being obsessed about material wealth and the independence in having money and how that can be a very addictive substitute for real intimacy and trust in one's life. And it's about being addicted to different sorts of short-term pleasures, arising from as well as creating more loneliness. And it's about power, having control and protect oneself in an environment, where everyone are objects or means to an end for each other... The world of lawyers, corporates etc. And it's about a modern society, where basic human needs for connection, sharing our whole being including our sexuality, are capitalised... A society where friendship and love often are substituted by professional relations... The series main focus is on sexual relations and the sex business - but the same dynamics also applies to how therapists, coaches and other professionals can be substitutes, when there's a lack of trust in friends and family...

Season 1 had a lot of sex, even too much sex to the point that it got repetitive. But what it had was an intriguing probably sociopathic character who tries out being an escort and getting a little more than money from it. Interesting, complex character study, with an actual plot with good secondary characters as well. 7 or sometimes 8 out of 10 for me.

Season 2 is split into two parts with two completely different stories and to be honest I just sped through the first part and didn't watch the second. Still, a lot of sexually explicit scenes and this time more variance with a bisexual escort and her lesbian lover. Gorgeous clothes but rather empty otherwise and not much plot. Still, an attempt was made to explore something psychological between the two lesbian lovers about love and infatuation and power. So 6/10 for first part only.

Season 3 has nearly no sex until you get to like the second half of the show. This is a strategy that could have been refreshing and different, but it exposed some of the weaknesses of the show that we would have been distracted from had there been more sex. Such as a weak plot, one-note acting and lack of overall emotional warmth that a terminally sick parent can't make up for and that increasingly gaudy fashion can't disguise. The pilot gave a strong start and lots of potential in the protagonist's acting ability, but unfortunately her character didn't really develop much farther from there. Or it did, and somehow the writing didn't take us on that journey from novice to expert escort that we needed to be a part of to invest in the protagonist's character. 6/10

While a cold and passionless show in a story about the ultimate form of passion, sex, The Girlfriend Experience does overall offer something unique and I think it's worth checking out even if you have to speed through some repetitive scenes or weak plot. There is something insightful in odd moments.

Wow l never known her from before this but Riley Keogh was amazing in it I started to watch second season not knowing she was not in it ...when I realised I stopped watching . WTF were they thinking . !!! She was the show.