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Obsession (2023 TV series)

Obsession is a British erotic thriller miniseries released on Netflix in 2023.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Obsession is a British erotic thriller miniseries that premiered on Netflix on 13 April 2023. It follows a London surgeon who begins an affair with his son’s fiancée, leading to a damaging obsession. The series is adapted from Josephine Hart's 1991 novel *Damage* and stars Richard Armitage, Charlie Murphy, Indira Varma, and Rish Shah.

Premise

The story centres on William, a respected London surgeon, whose affair with his son Jay’s fiancée Anna turns into an intense and destructive obsession. The plot is framed as an erotic thriller about secrecy, desire, and family betrayal.

Source material

Obsession is adapted from *Damage*, a 1991 novel by Josephine Hart. The series reworks the novel’s central themes of forbidden desire and emotional damage.

Cast

The main cast includes Richard Armitage as William, Charlie Murphy as Anna, Indira Varma, and Rish Shah as Jay. These are the principal credited performers identified in the available sources.

Reception

Available source material describes the series as having largely negative critical and audience reception. No detailed aggregate score is provided in the supplied results, but the overall response is characterised negatively.

Key facts

  • The series is a British erotic thriller miniseries based on the 1991 novel *Damage*.
  • It premiered on Netflix on 13 April 2023.
  • The main cast includes Richard Armitage, Charlie Murphy, Indira Varma, and Rish Shah.
  • The story follows a surgeon whose affair with his son's fiancée becomes an obsessive and destructive relationship.
  • The series received negative reviews from critics and audiences.
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Canadian context

The series is available to Canadian viewers through Netflix, making it accessible to Canadian audiences as part of the platform’s streaming catalogue.[1]

Frequently asked questions

What is Obsession (2023) about?
It follows William, a London surgeon, who begins an affair with his son Jay’s fiancée, Anna. The affair escalates into an obsession that threatens his family, career, and life.
Is Obsession based on a book?
Yes. It is based on *Damage* (1991) by Josephine Hart.
Obsession (2023) cast
The main cast includes Richard Armitage, Charlie Murphy, Indira Varma, and Rish Shah.
Obsession (2023) reviews
The series was met with negative reviews from critics and audiences overall, according to the available source material.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsession_(2023_TV_series)
    Supports: Premise, format, adaptation from Damage, cast, release date, and overall negative reception.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/obsession_2023
    Supports: Synopsis describing the surgeon’s affair with his son’s fiancée.
  3. Cosmopolitan UK — https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a43578208/netflix-obsession-ending-explained/
    Supports: Erotic-story description and ending-related commentary.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18831118/
    Supports: Short plot description and relationship premise.