Doctor Climax Review: Netflix’s newest comedy-drama series, all the way from Thailand, promises laughs and witty situations but with social commentary keeping things interesting. Created by Ekachai Uekrongtham, the series is directed by Kongdej Jaturanrasmee and Pairach Khumwan and stars Chantavit Dhanasevi, Arachaporn Pokinpakorn, Chermawee Suwanpanuchoke, Tonhon Tantivejakul, Chaiwat Thongsaeng, Somchai Sakdikul, Nimit Lugsamepong, Utoomporn Silaphan, Thiti Phum-Orn, Passorn Boonyakiart, Salita Klinchan, Awat Ratanapintha, Byron Bishop and others.
- Doctor Climax is also known as ดอกเตอร์ไคลแมกซ์ ปุจฉาพาเสียว in the native language.
- The series has 8 episodes, each with a runtime of around 60 minutes long.
- Popular actor Chantavit Dhanasevi was last seen in the Prime Video series My Undercover Chef while Arachaporn Pokinpakorn’s last venture was 2024’s Bangkok Blossom.
– No Spoilers –
Doctor Nat, a dermato-venereologist dreaming of writing his own adventure novel one day, takes up the job of a columnist in a newspaper. Known as “The Climax Question”, the raunchy new space answers taboo questions about sex and intimacy which becomes an instant hit among the masses. With this newfound popularity, however, comes the newspaper’s owner and the government to unmask Nat while he explores his own feelings as he grows closer to a coworker.
Characters and Performances
The general air of Doctor Cimax is light and exciting, with the audience getting a look at what’s about to happen and why from the opening minutes. Nat is unhappy with his life because it is truly bland and uninteresting in his eyes. His only dream is to write adventure novels but that hasn’t happened yet because maybe he somehow feels uninspired and his characters represent the life that he has lived – safe, unadventurous and cushioned. Nat is not someone you’d give a second glance to if you pass him on the road but there’s a character development waiting for him and you can smell it from a mile away!
It’s hilarious and a little endearing to watch his backstory before he joins the newspaper because you can feel his discomfort and awkwardness in every frame. Tired of living in his mother’s shadow but unable to do anything about it, Nat’s inner turmoil is nothing short of relatable. It’s made clear from the get-go that he requires excitement in his life and thus, when Linda makes her first appearance in his life, he is bathed in a different light that he has not experienced before.
Nat’s change in behaviour and his self-awareness are what make this series watchable and enjoyable. Chantavit Dhanasevi plays Nat with genuineness and a layer of innocence and begins to add a little bit of naughtiness to the mix later on. His change in demeanour keeps us invested in the story as well because, from episode 1 itself, you feel a pull towards him. It’s clear that he is unhappy and unfulfilled but will he be able to find what makes him whole?
Chantavit Dhanasevi’s chemistry with Arachaporn Pokinpakorn is crackling but sweet as well. They clearly gravitate towards each other and that is evident in the scenes in which they simply exist around one another. On the other hand, his chemistry with Arachaporn Pokinpakorn showcases the awkwardness that they share, but the quiet love that Tukta has for Nat is also evident and will make your heart melt.
Arachaporn Pokinpakorn’s poise and free-spirited nature catch both Nat’s and the audience’s eye. She’s open-minded and talented and doesn’t conform to society’s rules and regulations which becomes one of the reasons that pushes Nat to go on a journey to know his own self. Pokinpakorn fulfils that role brilliantly and makes us fall in love with her throughout the runtime. Lastly, we have Chermawee Suwanpanuchoke as Tukta, whose soft nature and submissive attitude get our pity and she plays that role gracefully.
Plot
The light and relatable storyline of Doctor Climax is both hilarious and approachable. Although it showcases topics related to sex and intimacy, it is not vulgar in any way and the series approaches these topics with sensitivity and a bit of naughtiness. There’s an air of sweetness to this messy situation, especially thanks to Chantavit Dhanasevi’s innocent portrayal of Nat, which breathes life into his character and gives him (and the story) dimension. Nat’s genuineness is what differentiates this series from a disturbing one, but of course, there’s quite a bit of sex talk here that makes this 100% NSFW!
The fast-paced atmosphere of the newspaper business is such a fun and entertaining watch that, throughout its runtime, there isn’t a moment left to breathe for viewers. Nat’s personal life is the perfect juxtaposition and is so cringy sometimes that it fuels the vitriol within to keep watching for what happens next. The storyline is staged in such an entertaining way that it is hard to look away.
However, I must say that, in spite of the funny subject matter, there are moments when the series goes a bit overboard with how these issues are showcased. Although it’s humorous and isn’t vulgar per se, it does get a bit much sometimes and does make you uncomfortable. Thankfully, the series puts down its sex facts without any malice and it’s straightforward in a “medical” sort of way so that viewers also learn something. The odd situations, furthermore, are followed by such insane sequences that audiences are simply left in splits.
Apart from Doctor Climax, Nat’s personal life changes also make for an interesting and tender watch. The drama and the marital upheavals that he goes through would be relatable to many as his repressive life itself is so darn interesting. His hopes and dreams, which he realises through the column, and his relationship with Linda, which couldn’t be more opposite than that with his wife, beg us to keep watching because the situation is realistic.
Apart from that, the beautiful colour palette makes this a further revealing watch. The cinematography is excellent, along with the wardrobe, which brings out everyone’s individual personalities and tells a deeper tale than you’d imagine. There’s a lively, youthful and positive vibe to Doctor Climax that is thoroughly infectious.
In the end, Doctor Climax makes it obvious that sex and desire are an everyday life phenomenon and treats it as such – as normal and not a big deal. It shines light on society’s double standards constantly and makes us view these things as something to accept and work on, instead of keeping them hidden and letting problems go untreated.
Doctor Climax Review: Final Thoughts
For people with an open mind, with the zeal to learn something and for those who love their humour to be a little wacky, Doctor Climax is a fun and entertaining watch with a lot of moving parts. Although it’s a bit long, which could’ve been cut down a bit, I get the merit of trying to be educational in a fun way. The characters are interesting and, most importantly, relatable which will make viewers root for them and their situations further. Focusing on some interesting topics per episode, Nat’s personal and professional lives, along with the publishing side of the series mesh together well in a high-octane, entertaining and NSFW series.
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