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| Left to right: Lizzy Caplan and Michael Sheen |
Welcome to the weekly recaps of the new Showtime series Masters of Sex that follows the history of Dr. William Masters (Michael Sheen) and Virginia Johnson's (Lizzy Caplan) actual studies of sex. Make sure to tune in every Wednesday for a dissection of the week's episode as well as thoughts of the show in general as well as potential thoughts of where things are headed. Also, please feel free to check out my recaps on Bob's Burgers every Tuesday and Brooklyn Nine-Nine every Thursday.
Plot: Among Virginia and Masters' study of masturbation, many revelations occur. Virginia's ex-husband George (Mather Zickel) tries to restart their relationship while also being one of the study's subjects under a false name in order to make some money. Masters has a dinner party where his mother (Ann Dowd), his wife Libby (Caitlin Fitzgerald), and a few associates show up. Masters' plan is to have Virginia hook up with Dr. Ethan Haas (Nicholas D'Agosoto). This backfires and Haas hooks up with Vivian (Rose McIver). With Libby pregnant, she seeks advice from Masters' mother about her thoughts on her son. Virginia and George have a falling out and she reveals to Masters the reasons behind George's involvement. This leads to some interrogation and recorded evidence that fascinates Masters over his assistant that makes him feel somewhat aroused.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
The show has been moving at an awkward pace the past few weeks, but this week did raise the question of what would things be like if the future deterred our knowledge of the episode's current events. Libby throws a party to try and get Virginia and Haas together. Along with the benefit of history, we know that Virginia ends up with Masters, and thus makes the whole occasion feel a little bit rote. While it isn't used as a big plot device, it does feel like a lackluster piece of progression in the story. However, the one benefit of the story was it got an integration of Virginia's life as a mother to mix with her life as a doctor of sex. The kids alone serving as the episode's meta commentary on the reasons Haas and Virginia would never work out was enjoyable and makes us root for her more. She's almost too vulnerable by doing so.
It is also intriguing that "Thank You for Coming" is yet another title that can be seen as a euphemism. The episode's initial look at coming is a sexual term for the climax of an orgasm, which is explored in the episode. The actual studies are more used in montages than the episode's central plot point, but I do enjoy when the series decides to go clinical and explore sex through the physical change in the body. The montages reflect this nicely and has yet to use sex as something of a gimmick.
The other coming is probably the more literal and publicly used term of arriving. The most notable coming is that of George, who has been established somewhat as a deadbeat early on. In this episode, he spends a night with Virginia and forces her to consider if seeing them naked in bed together suggests their reunion as a couple. Instead he is mostly there to become part of the study so that he can have money. At very least, this makes Virginia seem more responsible and wise to ditch him. His involvement with the studies isn't anything that out of the ordinary, save for the reveal of a recorded conversation in which George describes Virginia as a strong willed woman.
There is only assumptions to be made about the end of the episode in which Masters is seen playing it repeatedly. Knowing that they end up together in 10 years' time definitely would suggest that this is the beginning of Masters' infatuation with Virginia. We don't even know if George is dropped from the study at this point, though by everyone's insinuation, it probably hasn't happened. Maybe Masters will secretly interrogate George as a voyeuristic fetish that he has to procure information about Virginia.
The other coming is the central dinner party in which we meet Masters' mother and things begin heating up between Haas and Vivian. This whole episode is about the moments when people literally and euphemistically come together. Masters grows weary of his life with his wife due to a hectic schedule, and by George coming into his life, he begins to infatuate over Virginia. Since Libby is actually not a deep, intriguing character yet, it makes sense how the episode chooses to establish all of the cards. Libby is supportive, but we never get the sense that Masters is in love with her. It always feels more like obligation and proof of success. Even the pregnancy seems somewhat of a deterrent for him. It would be shoddy of the show to use these things as dramatic plot devices, but from the way things have been established, I wouldn't be too surprised.
The show's exploration of sex is fascinating not because of what it shows, but how it conveys character. These people are forced to research sex for a good portion of their day. It may be for science, but there could be some damage. Masters has admitted that he isn't great at understanding women. Virginia tries her hardest as a single mother, but what she really wants is the respect of her peers and won't let riding the bus late at night stop her from getting it.
On a side note, I am not entirely understanding the point of Haas at this point. While we do see him start a relationship here, he hasn't necessarily felt like a crucial plot point yet. Maybe it is due to my lack of familiarity with the studies, but he just feels like another doctor much the same way that Barton Scully did. Maybe this relationship will somehow bring him more central to the story and make his purpose known. For the time being, I just wonder why Ethan Haas has to be so important to be recognized on the show.
The performances are strong and we get a better sense of who these people are in this episode. It isn't just that they study sex. They have lives that are admirable and worth hearing about. Virginia is especially strong in this episode as she proves that she can handle her own affairs both literally and metaphorically. This episode makes her seem stronger in both the home and office environment and makes a good case for the series as a whole. Masters continues to improve and what gives him a shine is the small ticks and nuances that reveal deeper conflict. We may not understand him entirely yet, but as he was cleaning up the bathroom at the dinner party, we got a sense that he wanted more.
On a side note - Congratulations to Masters of Sex for getting picked up for a second season. That means we'll get to explore the story even more and my contemplation on the story going too fast or slow won't be drawn out week-to-week as it had been. This is exciting, especially as the series has just produced one of its finest episodes to date. Can't wait for more.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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| Left to right: Mather Zickel and Sheen |
It is also intriguing that "Thank You for Coming" is yet another title that can be seen as a euphemism. The episode's initial look at coming is a sexual term for the climax of an orgasm, which is explored in the episode. The actual studies are more used in montages than the episode's central plot point, but I do enjoy when the series decides to go clinical and explore sex through the physical change in the body. The montages reflect this nicely and has yet to use sex as something of a gimmick.
The other coming is probably the more literal and publicly used term of arriving. The most notable coming is that of George, who has been established somewhat as a deadbeat early on. In this episode, he spends a night with Virginia and forces her to consider if seeing them naked in bed together suggests their reunion as a couple. Instead he is mostly there to become part of the study so that he can have money. At very least, this makes Virginia seem more responsible and wise to ditch him. His involvement with the studies isn't anything that out of the ordinary, save for the reveal of a recorded conversation in which George describes Virginia as a strong willed woman.
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| Caitlin Fitzgerald |
The other coming is the central dinner party in which we meet Masters' mother and things begin heating up between Haas and Vivian. This whole episode is about the moments when people literally and euphemistically come together. Masters grows weary of his life with his wife due to a hectic schedule, and by George coming into his life, he begins to infatuate over Virginia. Since Libby is actually not a deep, intriguing character yet, it makes sense how the episode chooses to establish all of the cards. Libby is supportive, but we never get the sense that Masters is in love with her. It always feels more like obligation and proof of success. Even the pregnancy seems somewhat of a deterrent for him. It would be shoddy of the show to use these things as dramatic plot devices, but from the way things have been established, I wouldn't be too surprised.
The show's exploration of sex is fascinating not because of what it shows, but how it conveys character. These people are forced to research sex for a good portion of their day. It may be for science, but there could be some damage. Masters has admitted that he isn't great at understanding women. Virginia tries her hardest as a single mother, but what she really wants is the respect of her peers and won't let riding the bus late at night stop her from getting it.
On a side note, I am not entirely understanding the point of Haas at this point. While we do see him start a relationship here, he hasn't necessarily felt like a crucial plot point yet. Maybe it is due to my lack of familiarity with the studies, but he just feels like another doctor much the same way that Barton Scully did. Maybe this relationship will somehow bring him more central to the story and make his purpose known. For the time being, I just wonder why Ethan Haas has to be so important to be recognized on the show.
The performances are strong and we get a better sense of who these people are in this episode. It isn't just that they study sex. They have lives that are admirable and worth hearing about. Virginia is especially strong in this episode as she proves that she can handle her own affairs both literally and metaphorically. This episode makes her seem stronger in both the home and office environment and makes a good case for the series as a whole. Masters continues to improve and what gives him a shine is the small ticks and nuances that reveal deeper conflict. We may not understand him entirely yet, but as he was cleaning up the bathroom at the dinner party, we got a sense that he wanted more.
On a side note - Congratulations to Masters of Sex for getting picked up for a second season. That means we'll get to explore the story even more and my contemplation on the story going too fast or slow won't be drawn out week-to-week as it had been. This is exciting, especially as the series has just produced one of its finest episodes to date. Can't wait for more.
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