The Girlfriend Experience: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 77 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 77 Ratings

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The Girlfriend Experience

Now Playing: The Girlfriend Experience

Season Details & Credits

Starz | Season Premiere Date: April 10, 2016

Summary: The drama series based on Steven Soderbergh 2009 film of the same name follows law student Christine Reade (Riley Keough) as she becomes a call-girl who provides the "girlfriend experience" to her clients.

Genre(s): Comedy, Drama, Business

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E13. Separation
Air Date: April 10, 2016
tbd
S1:E12. Home
Air Date: April 10, 2016
tbd
S1:E11. Fabrication
Air Date: April 10, 2016

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Chuck Bowen

Apr 14, 2016

The imagery is gorgeous yet curt and parred, with jagged editing complementing the declaratory dialogue and Shane Carruth's spare score. Read full review

IndieWire Liz Shannon Miller

Apr 11, 2016

There's plenty of plot to contend with, as she tries to balance multiple lives and multiple worlds. But this stark, frank look at a very real thing, that really happens all the time, does tough but oddly beautiful work with exposing this quite real ethos. Read full review

Willa Paskin

Apr 26, 2016

The show is provocative, sexually and mentally; it’s alluring and sordid, arousing and disturbing, a unique viewing experience. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

Apr 7, 2016

The Girlfriend Experience” allows for pauses that television (other than “Rectify”) often does not. Sometimes these pauses can be presented in a way that feels too self-aware, but it starts to become a show with its own voice around episode five. Read full review

Sophie Gilbert

Apr 11, 2016

Keough’s Christine is fascinatingly inscrutable, and the 26-year-old actress (Elvis’s granddaughter, incidentally) carries the series with her chilly poise and enigmatic composure. The show, written and directed by Amy Seimetz and Lodge Kerrigan, offers no exposition whatsoever, rather following Christine from scene to scene and only occasionally abandoning her when plot necessitates it. Read full review

Michael Slezak

Apr 7, 2016

The Girlfriend Experience proves more interesting than engrossing, perhaps because there doesn’t seem to be a single character willing to raise his or her voice above library-corridor volume, connect in any way that’s not ultimately about money or power, or overtly express the possible negative side effects of selling your body for cash. Read full review

Mary McNamara

Apr 11, 2016

Mostly the half-hour segments move in and out of often disjointed moments of Christine's escort-driven life at a pace that seems intentionally, and unforgivably, elliptical. Read full review

SEE ALL 27 REVIEWS

User Score

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7.7

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User Reviews

aantik4444

Apr 24, 2016

An extremely intelligent show, possibly the best I have seen in many years. I suspect the negative reviews posted here were written by those who watched it because of its subject matter; if you watch it for "soft porn excitement" it's bound to disappoint. Watch it for its interestingAn extremely intelligent show, possibly the best I have seen in many years. I suspect the negative reviews posted here were written by those who watched it because of its subject matter; if you watch it for "soft porn excitement" it's bound to disappoint. Watch it for its interesting approach to storytelling, its unique visuals and sounds and you'll find yourself mesmerised by this gem of a show.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

John935

Nov 24, 2016

I've only seen first 4 episode and I often stop watching cable dramas after 2 or 3 but I won't stop watching this one. 'Polished' is putting it mildly, and the tone of Soderbergh's 2009 film is very much in evidence. Lots of questions, unanswered intentionally. Is it formulaic? Are WEI've only seen first 4 episode and I often stop watching cable dramas after 2 or 3 but I won't stop watching this one. 'Polished' is putting it mildly, and the tone of Soderbergh's 2009 film is very much in evidence. Lots of questions, unanswered intentionally. Is it formulaic? Are WE formulaic? Does it matter? Should it? etc. Seriously addictive TV.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

jacp07

Apr 12, 2016

Great acting, smart dialogues, the 30-minutes long makes you very addicted to the plot and the visuals are so stunning. It's a very sexy and seductive show.

7 of 10 users found this helpful73

EPMD

Aug 26, 2016

I really liked the first few episodes. That premise would have been enough to carry the show for an entire season, at least for me. I found the setup interesting, but then a major plot turning point occurs, and it takes over the direction of the story. I just wasn't as interested in the showI really liked the first few episodes. That premise would have been enough to carry the show for an entire season, at least for me. I found the setup interesting, but then a major plot turning point occurs, and it takes over the direction of the story. I just wasn't as interested in the show that continued after that turning point.

I think you should watch it, though. The lead character is clever and isn't entirely good or bad. She's complicated and unique, characteristics that are sorely lacking in many other shows.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JohnMcQ

Apr 14, 2016

A brilliant must-see show of 2016. Impressive writing, acting, set design.etc. A show by Soderbergh was destined to be amazing. The show lives up to his name.

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

Qldgamer

Apr 17, 2016

If you want some cheap soft porn excitement then this is for you, but if you want a dull boring plot with the acts phoning it in then this is the one that will deliver it to you!

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

soliste

Apr 18, 2016

A plot that echos the unrealistic fantasies found in Fifty Shades of Grey, except this time focusing on the call girl profession. The main character is constantly pandered to by wealthy businessmen clients despite her plain looks, emotionless expressions, and dull personality.

The dialogA plot that echos the unrealistic fantasies found in Fifty Shades of Grey, except this time focusing on the call girl profession. The main character is constantly pandered to by wealthy businessmen clients despite her plain looks, emotionless expressions, and dull personality.

The dialog feels stilted and the characters feel more like caricatures than real people. The plot twists feel staged as if only to create some sense of drama, rather than occurring organically.
And for those intrigued by the sex appeal of the show.. even those scenes are dull and passionless.

Post production is done well though, and it's a nice looking show, albeit a bit on the dark side (everything seems to be muted shades of grey).

All in all a very disappointing show.… Expand

2 of 10 users found this helpful28

SEE ALL 12 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

77

Series Overview
Season 3

76
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: May 2, 2021
Season 2

72
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: November 5, 2017
Season 1

78
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: April 10, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E13. Separation
  Air Date: April 10, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E12. Home
  Air Date: April 10, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E11. Fabrication
  Air Date: April 10, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E10. Available
  Air Date: April 10, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E9. Blindsided
  Air Date: April 10, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E8. Provocation
  Air Date: April 10, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E7. Access
  Air Date: April 10, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E6. Boundaries
  Air Date: April 10, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E5. Insurance
  Air Date: April 10, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E4. Crossing the Line
  Air Date: April 24, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E3. Retention
  Air Date: April 17, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E2. A Friend
  Air Date: April 10, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E1. Entry
  Air Date: April 10, 2016