The name “Bettie” is a deliberate invocation. Bettie Page, the Queen of Pinups, was the woman who smiled while tied up. She normalized fetishism in the 1950s by looking like she was having fun. She was the girl next door who happened to be wearing a corset and riding crop.
Here is a deep dive into the themes, aesthetic, and cultural impact of this provocative series. The Aesthetic: Mid-Century Noir Meets Modern Fetish Bettie Bondage - This Is Your Mother-s Last Resort