Dying for Sex: Is the Neighbor Guy Based on a Real Person?

FX on Hulu’s ‘Dying for Sex‘ uncovers the true story of Molly Kochan, a woman in her 40s who decides to dive into a world of sexual exploration after being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, intent on enjoying her remaining years devoted to what makes her happy. The show peels back the layers on Molly’s promiscuous encounters as she throws caution to the wind in an attempt at self-discovery and self-love. As such, we are introduced to a catalog of men who are willing to indulge in their kinky fetishes with the protagonist’s aid, including some unconventional role-play situations. A prominent player in this regard is Molly’s nameless neighbor, who grows increasingly close to her throughout the narrative while engaging in sexual proclivities that are personal and deeply intimate in their making.

The Neighbor Guy is Seemingly Inspired by a Number of Molly’s Bed Partners

Although accurate in an overall sense, ‘Dying For Sex’ is a dramatized version of Molly Kochan’s true-life experiences, which were captured in the eponymous podcast series hosted by Molly’s friend, Nikki Boyer. The show deviates in certain places, including events and characters, to create a more entertaining and thematically resonant narrative. To that end, the neighbor guy who becomes an integral part of Molly’s journey is a blend between fiction and reality. The real-life Molly encountered numerous men during her sexual escapades, including one man who liked to be kicked around his testicles, which the neighbor guy shows an affinity for. She also met other men with completely different types of requests. Thus, the neighbor guy can be viewed as a composite character meant to represent an assortment of men she slept with during her adventures.

As the narrative progresses, the neighbor guy and Molly start engaging in more intimate and emotional moments together, highlighting how they are growing more and more comfortable with one another, even to the brink of romance. What begins as a purely sexual encounter slowly becomes more meaningful and even results in the protagonist realizing more profound things about herself and the trauma she has held on to. It all culminates in a tender sexual scene at the hospital, where Molly ignores her nurse’s recommendations to engage in a tryst with her favorite neighbor guy. Molly had similar encounters on her hospital bed close to her real-life passing, albeit with different people. It helped her feel “alive” and “as normal as possible,” even though she might have been stuck in the hospital for a long time.

In conclusion, the neighbor guy’s inclusion in the story helps showcase Molly’s tender side and her innermost desire to find connection and control in a period where a disease had robbed her of everything. Despite the overwhelming odds, the protagonist forges ahead and tries to find a positive side to everything, starting with an infectious enthusiasm and energy to rise above her issues. Although he may be a small part of that inner drive, the neighbor guy helps Molly reconnect with her inner romantic and engage in a sweeping love story that feels natural to both of them. Their slow transition from spiteful neighbors to a lovebound couple feels personal and human, even though the dynamic is fictionalized to bring a sense of closure to the narrative. According to her own admission, Molly never experienced a real-life love affair with someone else before her passing.