Copyright Us Weekly
This month, Netflix has added a fantastic series that was sent to the chopping block far too soon. In 2022, HBO Max premiered Minx, a period comedy-drama series about the creation of a women’s erotic magazine during the 1970s. The show starred Jake Johnson (New Girl) and Ophelia Lovibond (Elementary). Despite rave reviews and a second season renewal, Minx was canceled by HBO while the new season was in development. After being saved by Starz, it was canceled for good in 2024. Watch With Us is here to argue why Minx, with its great story and liberal use of prosthetic penises, is worth watching, no matter where it’s streaming. ‘Minx’ Has a Unique Premise Minx follows Joyce Prigger (Ophelia Lovibond), a Vassar-educated liberal arts graduate who aspires to launch a feminist magazine in 1970s Los Angeles. With no publisher wanting to back her political magazine, The Matriarchy Awakens, she ends up joining forces with an adult entertainment publisher to entwine her feminist writing with porn — the kind of porn geared towards straight women. Thus, the fruitful, if unlikely, partnership between Joyce and Doug Renetti (Jake Johnson) ensues, which spawns meaningful relationships and alliances in this sexually groundbreaking environment. In addition to having a face-value enticing premise, a huge part of Minx’s unique appeal is that it doesn’t shy away from full-frontal male nudity — eat your heart out, Game of Thrones. The Show’s Central Relationship Is Irresistible The odd couple pairing between Lovibond’s Joyce and Johnson’s Doug is the beating heart of Minx. Johnson excels at playing earthy, grouchy and profane characters — anyone who has seen his Nick Miller on New Girl can attest to that. Johnson brings that salt-of-the-earth vibe to Doug, as well as his knack for humor, and Lovibond matches him perfectly. Lovibond would perhaps be most well-known in America for her decidedly non-comedic role as Kitty in Elementary. As the prim, idealistic Joyce, she bounces off against Johnson’s sleazy but well-meaning Doug with both ease and levity. And she also doesn’t really bounce off against him at all, but rather sinks right in. Doug peddles smut but is eminently likable and intelligent, and Joyce is determined but needs some guidance, too. It helps that there’s such a strong sense of fun and joy in the show, giving the impression that the actors are having just as much fun with everything as their characters. ‘Minx’ Is a Sharp, Funny Exploration of Female Sexuality in the 1970s Minx manages to tackle timely social issues with humor, wit and intelligence without being overwrought or heavy-handed. By transplanting themes related to intersectional feminism, sexual freedom and equal rights into the ’70s time period, the show makes the themes relevant both for then and for now. While an extremely breezy, easy-to-digest show, Minx nevertheless interrogates sex with clear-eyed perception. Ultimately, Minx is a joyous romp that takes a look at the evolving sexual politics of the 1970s, as the women’s liberation movement was emerging in American culture. Plus, the show’s ability to be such a genuine sausage-fest feels like an act of sexual rebellion in and of itself for the 2020s. When so many modern shows and films are gratuitous with the female form, it is interesting to consider why the same can’t be said for the male counterpart. Minx tackles that gender bias and runs away with it to a hilarious (and refreshing) degree.
