Creators:
Michelle AshfordComposer:
Michael PennCast:
Michael Sheen, Lizzy Caplan, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Teddy Sears, Nicholas D'Agosto, Heléne Yorke, Beau Bridges, Julianne Nicholson, Rose McIver, Allison Janney (more)VOD (2)
Seasons(4) / Episodes(46)
Plots(1)
"Masters of Sex" sheds a light on the professional and personal lives of Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson. Together they become pioneers in the science of sex by undertaking a groundbreaking study of the physiological aspect of the human sexual response. As with most visionaries, their personal lives are arguably more fascinating, complex, and revealing than the risqué research that touched off the sexual revolution and took them from a mid-western hospital to the cover of Time magazine. The drama is heightened by the surrounding cast of hospital coworkers, loved ones and neighbors struggling to comprehend and find their place in the brave new world of Masters and Johnson. (Sony Pictures)
(more)Reviews of this series by the user Necrotongue (35)
Masters of Sex (2013)
After Mad Men, this was another excellent series set in the 1950s to 1970s in the most democratic country ever. The first season absolutely blew me away with its perfect atmosphere of obscurantism and hypocrisy. Unfortunately, later on it started to fade a bit, but the story was enjoyable even without it. I don't think things have changed that much since the fifties. We have the space program, the Internet, and whatnot, but for many men, the word clitoris still seems to be a foreign word. The series could be enlightening for many people, but I’m guessing that in the US it’s R-rated, or else it might cause some irrevocable damage. Given my moral depravity, I greatly enjoyed the whole series. I just found the second season weaker, but the seasons after that were great again.
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Season 1 (2013) (S01)
The first season of the show was near perfect. As early as the 50s, the most democratic of all the world's democracies provided far more rights to women than to the rest of the kitchen equipment. The series reminded me of Mad Men, which had a similarly great atmosphere of hypocrisy. It's not surprising considering the fact that even these days nobody minds violent scenes on TV, but what happened to Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl was almost likened to a terrorist attack. And that's exactly what the show captures, and it does so brilliantly.
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Pilot (2013) (S01E01)
Definitely worth watching. I love it when a show tackles topics that get the uptight puritans riled up – you know, the religious folks, typical Americans, self-appointed moralists, and the like. So, after just one episode, I can confidently say this series is going to be a lot of fun for me. Plus, Lizzy Caplan is in it…
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Race To Space (2013) (S01E02)
I can just imagine the prudes banging their heads against the wall in frustration. The script, direction, and acting are all top-notch, and the 50s atmosphere is absolutely fantastic. Honestly, I can’t think of anything to criticize; I just thoroughly enjoyed it.
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Standard Deviation (2013) (S01E03)
The temporary "laboratory" is still running smoothly, and Dr. Masters' interviews with prostitutes must have seemed incredibly insightful and fascinating to him. To me, they were just entertaining. I love how the show highlights that mainstream opinions in the 50s were not all that different from medieval ones. It's a bit disheartening to realize that not much has changed even today.
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Thank You for Coming (2013) (S01E04)
Turns out a little bit of blackmail can really benefit science. This episode dives deeper into personal relationships and family dynamics that felt almost feudal. Despite the intense focus on these themes, I have to give it full marks because it was incredibly well-done and fascinating.
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Catherine (2013) (S01E05)
I enjoyed Mad Men and I’m really into this series as well. I guess I have a thing for retro dramas set in a country that's technologically ahead but historically held back by prejudices and the influence of the church. Average American citizens can't really point fingers at the typical residents of an Islamic village when it comes to this.
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Brave New World (2013) (S01E06)
ven though it's a drama, I found myself laughing out loud at times. The sexology lecture at the beginning of this episode is a prime example. The vacation in Florida proves that a scientist deeply immersed in the mysteries of their field doesn't really get a break.
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All Together Now (2013) (S01E07)
The research is progressing nicely, despite the hiccups in finding a new secretary. The atmosphere remains spot on, and I can’t help but admire Dr. Masters, who’s willing to put himself on the line for the sake of science. Meanwhile, his deviant superior indulges in some rather unsavory practices.
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Love and Marriage (2013) (S01E08)
The focus was on family matters this time. The study is still ongoing, but this time it serves as a backdrop for shopping for expensive jewelry, dance lessons, and the conception of a new life. There's also the filming of a very detailed nature documentary, but since it's happening on university grounds, it must be all good, right? I've enjoyed all eight episodes so far and hope the fun continues.
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Involuntary (2013) (S01E09)
Episode nine brought another stunning result of puritanical upbringing: a twenty-year-old is terrified after encountering a foreskin. This drama could be an excellent comedy if these revelations weren’t so sad and if I didn’t realize that not much has changed even today. Episode - 5 stars, society - a big fail!
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Fallout (2013) (S01E10)
This episode felt a bit weaker to me, as the study took a back seat and relationship issues came to the forefront. It's not that the episode was uninteresting, but it lost some of the usual atmosphere, even with the constant looming threat of a nuclear attack.
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Phallic Victories (2013) (S01E11)
I was thoroughly entertained, but I missed the pervasive atmosphere of puritanical hypocrisy that I enjoyed so much. I really hope it makes a return and that Dr. Masters' annoying hallucinations fade away.
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Manhigh (2013) (S01E12)
Well, look at that, the disgustingly hypocritical atmosphere is back in full force! The creators returned to Dr. Masters' scientific work, and it was a great move. The reaction to the "horrifying" ability of women to have orgasms without the involvement of a stud male was predictable, but it amused me. I was also relieved that I'm not gay and don't have to choose from the delightful array of reeducation options. The ending was nicely open, leaving me eager for what's next.
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Season 2 (2014) (S02)
Overall, I'm happy with the second season, but unlike in the first one, I did notice some flaws this time. What annoyed me the most was that the great atmosphere connected to the all-pervading hypocrisy was gone. I was annoyed by the third episode which seemed to lack a plot and dealt too much with issues that could have been spread over more episodes. The two final episodes were excellent, though, bringing serious themes. Things were lightened up a bit by Dr. Langham, a character with great comedic potential.
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Parallax (2014) (S02E01)
It felt like a tallying of losses after the catastrophic impact of the study on the research team. Dean Scully begins to explore the "treatment" for his problem, and the hypocritical atmosphere remains strong. The episode smoothly continues from where the first season left off.
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Fight (2014) (S02E03)
This episode really missed the mark for me. I couldn't quite grasp what the creators were aiming for. The plot dragged on, there was a lot of boxing, and endless conversations that led nowhere. In summary, Dr. Masters had two climaxes and Ms. Johnson had three. That's pretty much all there is to it.
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Giants (2014) (S02E05)
A delightful episode. It’s always interesting to see that celebrated American democracy in action. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Betty's storyline, and Elizabeth is turning into quite the fierce character. I’m curious to see if they’ll actually try to scrub Coral’s pigment off with a steel brush, as it seems to be heading in that direction.
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Mirror, Mirror (2014) (S02E08)
Dr. Masters selflessly shifts the study towards dysfunctions. Despite the episode being packed with psychology and unexpected family reunions, it kept me engaged, and I appreciated that the creators didn't resort to any overly sentimental moments.
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Story of My Life (2014) (S02E09)
Bill Masters slowly descends into despair, while Libby decides to go for maximum contrast. The themes introduced in the eighth episode continue to develop, and since there were plenty, it made for a compelling watch.
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