7 Lives Xposed: Season 1 Review

Reviewed by Endorphin  on  9/9/2007

7 Lives Xposed is a show that has played on Playboy TV for several seasons. As far as I know only the first season was released on DVD. I purchased the 1st season at Playboy’s web-store for around $15.

This DVD set is quite unique and, quite frankly, I consider it to be a remarkable and fascinating achievement. I was even engaged by the flaws. Each episode starts with the following message: “This series has been made from surveillance and documentary footage shot in a webcam loft in Silver Lake California. What you are about to see is the next step in reality television”. Each episode ends with credits that show that Patty was played by Cassie Townsend, for instance. In between 7 Lives Xposed tries its best to maintain the illusion that it is real. Imagine watching the Real World where even the names are fake and people are not cast because producers hope there will be sex, but rather the cast is told that they are expected to have sex, frequently. Nudity and sex are an integral part of the show and it is not limited to seven people (they add other naked people through parties and other ways. The best scene is the scene with Devinn Lane and Dee). Actually, most, if not all, of the sex is faked and it can be quite obvious at times. However, there are often many moments that arouse in ways that hardcore often doesn’t. The trick is to allow yourself to believe despite hip placements that just don’t fit. What you hear can be quite appealing. The moans usually sound quite real and they are not competing with music. Also, there is some verbal interaction and the reality TV camera style provides a voyeuristic feeling.

I like my soft core and loved being able to watch 13 some hours filled with a lot of nudity. However, my fascination goes beyond that. Imagine if seven people decided to live in a loft and have their sex lives taped and they were expected to explore their sexuality. What would that be like? This show is fake, but the script leans more towards an accurate reflection of what probably would happen rather than some fantasy. Fantasy would be that for 90 days (I think that was the time frame) seven roommates, previously unknown to the viewer, just suck and fuck and talk about how great it is to be sucking and fucking for all of those viewers out there. But in reality, there probably would be a dark side. Jealousy and power struggles would probably creep in. 7 Lives Xposed ‘feels’ real because it doesn’t over-glamorize sexual exploration. Seven characters walk in, filled with anticipation and some trepidation of sexual exploration, but it doesn’t take long before human nature sets in. Characters embrace having it all, but often are disturbed by the fact that others want more than just them.

I do think 7 Lives Xposed was a bold project, but I found myself wondering why they weren’t bold enough to make it real. However, while watching it, I found a better understanding. They might have been able to have seven professionals, but there arguably wouldn’t be much sexual exploration involved. So why not have Devinn just guide six amateurs? Well, upon viewing it you might see why. By the end of this scripted piece you may think that it showed what might really have happened if it had been real while not putting people in a situation that they would later regret. There is the aforementioned jealousy. There are relationships torn apart (two characters come in to the loft together). There are power struggles. And there actually is a case of impotence. All of the dark factors culminate in the orgy scene near the end.

Of course, no matter how well thought out the themes are the viewer won’t be captured unless the actors can pull it off. Though I won’t argue that these actors were snubbed by the Emmys, there is some great acting by porn standards. The least believable characters were possibly more the result of writing than acting. Each character can easily be labeled and may remind you of ‘reality’ stars of the past, but it was only the black men that felt like caricatures.

Let me take a few moments to kiss Devinn Lane’s ass, figuratively, though I would prefer literally. First of all, she is damn fine and the hottest of the cast. Though, ‘Jillian’ gave her some competition once she lost her curling iron. Second, I commend her for taking on such an undertaking. If I were to meet her I would first want to taste her, but I would also really like to ask her many questions about 7 Lives Xposed because it really fascinated me. Third, I think she was quite bold allowing herself to come across as a bitch at times, given that PlayboyTV tried its best to maintain the illusion that it was real.

Extras:
There is a short featurette that wasn’t advertised. It would have been really nice to see a real Behind the Scenes featurette. This series was obviously quite an undertaking and unique. I would have loved to have seen some of what happened behind the scenes. Note on Sex Rating: There is little, if any, real sex, but the fictional sex can be quite arousing. Note to PlayboyTV: Please release more seasons on DVD. Bottom line: It is a great achievement in soft-core porn. If there is anything else like this on DVD I would love to know about it. email me