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| Left to right: Lizzy Caplan and Michael Sheen |
Welcome to the weekly recaps of the 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.
Plot: Masters and Virginia begin to worry about the CBS video when they discover that there has been some censorship applied. They still want to have their study out, but things are looking dour. Meanwhile, Barbara Sanderson (Betsy Brandt) and Lester Linden (Kevin Christy) begin seeing each other in a platonic way while Lester tries to find connection in films. Dr. Langham (Teddy Sears) discovers from Flo Packer (Artemis Pebdani) was just using him and that their relationship was a sham. Virginia discovers that George Johnson (Mather Zickel) wants custody of the kids because he feels that she is a neglectful mother. Word gets out that there's an additional study being made that is far more successful on similar subject matter. Masters admits defeat. Libby Masters (Caitlin Fitzgerald) continues to see Robert (Jocko Sims) and becomes intimate, revealing that she knows about her husband's affair. Masters and Virginia realize that all that they can do is move forward with the study using Lester and Barbara. Virginia gives George custody of the kids. Langham listens to John F. Kennedy's inaugural speech.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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| Left to right: Caitlin Fitzgerald and Caplan |
It is a dumb complaint, but one that I felt was warranted: what happened to Barton Scully (Beau Bridges)? While it made sense for him to disappear after the season progressed in its specific direction, there was still this sense that he was too important to give up entirely. Speaking as he was having shock therapy, there had to be some closure on if he became a vegetable or if he was fine. There's no discussion of his sexuality throughout the episode, but he does come back in an excellent way to discuss how Masters has done and what he needs to do. This back half of the season has been all about the failure of people and society. For better or worse, that theme sort of influenced the season into a bit of a mediocre slump.
In this particular episode, a lot of the problems that were cropping up all season get resolved. Virginia has seemed like a negligent mother, but it was never discussed. While George may have seemed worse in the first season, there's some logic here in him becoming the main parent for his kids. He has more availability and there's still an unsure understanding of what exactly he did this season. Even then, it seemed like Virginia was more wrapped up in work. When she wasn't she was busy having an affair with Masters. Loving mother or not, her true intentions were made clear rather quickly and in a tragic way, her losing the kids was a rather cathartic payoff.
Of every story this season, the only one that felt at all substantial from beginning to end was Libby's growing acceptance of blacks. Look at her at the start of the season. She has a maid that she has an uncomfortable time with. Through the course of the season, she befriends them, helps their causes, and even forms an intimate relationship with a man. This payoff is rather shocking given her ignorance at the start of the season. It also helps that this is the perfect payback for Masters cheating on her. Up until now, we didn't even know if Libby knew. Now that we did, the whole method has an inspired twist to it that adds weight. Unlike everyone else on the series, she progressed as a character. There's only a question of what this means for the next season when both affairs are likely to come forward.
Still, there is something aggravating about the Masters/Virginia story. Yes, the whole point was that they were failures and had to accept fate. There's even some poignancy in their desire to move forward and try something new. But the fact that since the phenomenal "Flight," it has been a little bit of a standstill. Yes, Barbara and Lester's relationship has an interesting room to grow. Maybe Betty DeMello (Annaleigh Ashford) can do something beyond the sassy secretary role. However, listening to Masters complain about his personal life didn't really do much compelling for more than maybe five minutes an episode. There's a lot of filler that unfortunately keeps me from really liking this season.
That isn't to say that Masters of Sex is worth writing off. It still knows how to use sex as a tool. The nudity in this episode reflects the varying stages of each couple's relationships. Libby and Robert as well as Masters and Virginia are both stark naked, reflecting open embrace. Barbara and Lester are partially naked, representing familiarity but not acceptance. Langham and Flo are fully clothed because, well, they aren't really seeing each other anymore. When the series wants to explore sex as a metaphor, it is unsurpassed in a lot of ways. There were moments in this season that this was the case. However, I feel like the only reason that this episode satisfies is because it closes up the meandering plots and recognizes that the egos needed a serious clash of humbling. The results were excellent.
Please stay tuned next week when I will be writing a TV Retrospective on season 2. Trust me. Even if I have been down on the season as of late, there's plenty of positive to remember.
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