2023 · Based on 1 season, 4 episodes through April 13, 2023 ·
Obsession follows William Farrow, a respected London surgeon whose life changes after he begins a secret affair with Anna, his son Jay’s fiancée. William is married to Ingrid, while Anna is meant to join the family through Jay. The affair grows into a dangerous obsession that damages the whole family. The show uses a serious, dark, and highly sexual tone.
The series gives Anna more control and a clearer personal history than the original novel and film. The story presents the BDSM relationship as based on rules and consent, with Anna often setting the limits. William later breaks those limits because he cannot control his desire. The show also looks at male power, family duty, sexual freedom, trauma, and the harm caused by selfish choices.
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Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Obsession.
Woke representation / casting
Not present in this title.
0%
Woke political dialogue
Not present in this title.
0%
Identity-driven story themes
Anna receives a stronger voice and more control than she has in the original story. The show frames the BDSM relationship around consent, rules, and Anna’s power to set limits. The story also gives attention to female sexual desire and trauma. These ideas shape the relationship, but the show does not turn them into a wider political message.
32%
Western institutional / cultural critique
William’s male power and sense of entitlement cause much of the damage. The show presents marriage, fatherhood, and professional respectability as roles that William uses to hide his selfish actions. The story criticizes his loss of control, but it does not attack Western institutions or present a broad activist view of society.
24%
Woke character or canon changes
The series changes the source story by giving Anna more personal history and a stronger point of view. The original novel and film mainly follow the male character, while this version gives more weight to Anna’s choices and sexual control. The change is openly linked to female perspective and empowerment, so it is more than simple plot shortening.
38%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Not present in this title.
0%
Creator track record context
Morgan Lloyd Malcolm has a strong feminist track record and has written about women being erased from history. The other cached creators have low or mild woke scores and no strong activist profile. Malcolm’s ideas fit the show’s focus on female perspective and sexual power, but the wider creative team does not show a strong shared activist pattern.
25%
Production
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