Movies

Dying for Sex

BBG News

The central plotline of FX’s series, “Dying for Sex,” revolves around a terminally ill cancer patient engaging in as much adventurous sexual encounters as possible. This narrative is inspired by real-life events.

Michelle Williams portrays Molly Kochan, a woman who passed away in 2019 at the age of 45 due to metastatic breast cancer. In 2020, Kochan, along with her best friend Nikki Boyer, created the podcast “Dying for Sex” which discusses how her stage IV breast cancer diagnosis led her to transform various aspects of her life. Upon discovering that her cancer was incurable, Kochan chose to leave her dissatisfied marriage and embarked on an expedition of self-discovery, particularly focusing on her sexual experiences.

In the debut episode of the FX series, a hospice worker poses the question about Molly’s bucket list to her, sparking a frank conversation about their aspirations. During this discussion, Molly comes to terms with prioritizing intimate relationships and self-discovery. Her first move is ending things with her husband (Jay Duplass), who has proven ineffective, followed by enlisting her closest friend, Nikki (Jenny Slate), as her main caregiver, whom she asks without reservation and who readily accepts.

As a film critic, I had the opportunity to converse with Boyer, who in actuality served as a devoted caregiver for Kochan before her passing. During our discussion with TIME, he shared insights into their unique bond and offered his take on how the show successfully captures—yet sometimes falls short—of portraying their incredible story.

Why Molly was so horny

Following surgical procedures and radiation sessions, Kochan began a hormone treatment intended to reduce her sexual desire. However, this therapy unexpectedly intensified her libido instead. As she put it during an episode of the podcast, “I felt an overwhelming urge to mount everything and everyone I came across.

In the novel “Dying for Sex“, Molly, a character portrayed by Williams, expresses that her husband hasn’t been intimate with her for years, which she attributes to the emotional impact of her cancer battle. She confides in her therapist about her lack of experience with achieving an orgasm through sexual encounters with others, and her strong desire to experience one before she passes away. Boyer admits that this plot point was a creative license, but Kochan did discuss on their podcast about experiencing a disconnect in their sexual relationship during cancer treatment, and not being able to rekindle it once her libido returned.

For quite some time, during my relationships, I excelled at understanding and delivering what others desired sexually – a skill that caused difficulties in my marriage. However, I was often unaware of my own preferences.” (said on the podcast)

What happened during Molly’s sexual adventure

When Molly chose to end her marriage, she began dating men she met on the internet. These encounters sometimes included explicit photographs, such as Snapchats. The characters in the show who have an affinity for kinky sex are amalgamations of various men with fetishes that Molly actually encountered. While Molly did indeed date a man who enjoyed being kicked, she did not sustain a broken femur from this experience as portrayed on the show. However, she was popular among those seeking dominant partners in the bedroom, and on the program, she is shown issuing commands to potential suitors—even going so far as to bark orders, with one man preferring to role-play as if he were a pet.

According to Boyer, the genuine Molly actually encountered a man who desired her to treat him like a pet dog and reside in her house within a cage. This idea led to an episode titled “My Pet.” The show creators then expanded on this character concept, envisioning a person dressed as a dog appearing during a chemotherapy session.

In her final moments, Molly found a sense of vitality and creativity following her dates, as she shared these experiences on her podcast. Although no one actually visited her hospital room dressed as a dog, she did engage in intimate relationships from her hospital bed near the end of her life. As Boyer explains, “She sought to feel truly alive and maintain a semblance of normalcy, so it didn’t seem like she was confined to the hospital for extended periods.

Boyer proposed they record a podcast following their morning 9 a.m. breakfast date with Molly, as he believed Molly had numerous fascinating stories that warranted documentation. (However, it’s worth mentioning that while the show generally stays true to facts, Boyer points out one creative license it took: in one instance, Slate’s Nikki misplaces her friend’s medical records. In reality, Boyer is quite meticulous, a person who tidies up when feeling anxious.)

Molly retained her quick wit and humor throughout her life, as portrayed in the show. She once jokingly questioned a young-looking doctor if he had parental permission to be there, given his youthful appearance. In the podcast, she humorously commented that dating someone with terminal cancer was ideal for those afraid of commitment, saying “if you’re commitment-phobic, I’m your girl.” When inquired about her apprehension towards welcoming strangers into her home, she humorously responded, “What’s the worst they could do? Murder me? I’m already dying!

In moments when she felt her cancer was dominating her life, finding control in intimate relationships served as an escape for her. As Boyer puts it, this was a means for her to “regain her autonomy over her body.” She admits that when she felt powerless, she engaged in particularly enjoyable activities with men.

She expresses her expectation that the show will inspire individuals to explore new sexual experiences as long as they don’t hurt others, and also to reflect on their personal goals. In other words, “Molly” shares her sentiment that she discovered love within herself, and encourages everyone to pursue whatever is on their list of life experiences, for it should not be delayed.

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2025-04-03 23:06

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