Title: Masters of Sex - Season One
Starring: Michael Sheen, Lizzy Caplan, Caitlin FitzGerald, Teddy Sears, Nicholas D’Agosto, Beau Bridges, Allison Janney, Julianne Nicholson
Rated: 15 for adult content, graphic language and nudity
Format: DVD (4 disc set)
Time: 12 Episodes (totalling 10 hours, 49 minutes)
Released: 28th July 2014
Masters of Sex is the story of the beginning of the sexual revolution. It’s an intelligent drama that mixes visual style and flair with thoughtful story-lines and affecting performances from a likeable and capable cast. It tells the story of the professional careers, after-hours goings-on and often difficult home-lives of Dr. William Masters (Michael Sheen) and Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan).
Bill Masters is fertility expert investigating the biology of sexual response, that is ahead of his time and technically brilliant, but also arrogant, emotionally standoffish and socially inept. He is (heartbreakingly for his wife) unable, or unwilling, to impregnate her, despite her being desperate to start a family. Their sex life is (un)surprisingly rather detached and slightly stagnant, until it is torpedoed entirely when Masters and Johnson begin to mix work with pleasure.
Virginia Johnson is the single working mother in a man’s world who is trying desperately to be equal to the men around her. She is actually far better academically but still finds it hard to climb the greasy ladder of success in the world of work. She becomes Masters’ trusted colleague and eventually his research assistant as they delve further into their study, both becoming increasingly entangled in their work and each other, professionally and sexually. Johnson is able to relate to people on a real and emotional level, in a way that Masters never could, making her essential to the success of the research that they are performing.
Sheen is excellent as Masters, a complex character, that is condescending and arrogant, yet occasionally nurturing, loving and caring. His range is impressive and he really inhabits the role fully with genuine skill and ability. Caplan takes on one of her most impressive leading roles yet, as Johnson proving beyond doubt that she is so much more than a supporting actress in rom-coms. Their chemistry together is perfect: from detached and aloof work colleagues to should-we-be-doing-this lovers their character arcs and interactions are a joy to watch.
Despite Masters being married and Johnson having other love interests the focus on their relationship is a large part of the show. Their path from simple work colleagues to research partners to eventually lovers is well written, delightfully acted, poignant and honest.
Excellent support from a strong cast including Caitlin FitzGerald as Bill’s increasingly estranged wife, Libby, Nicholas D’Agosto as Dr. Ethan Haas, the playboy with a nasty streak, Beau Bridges as the sexually-confused University Pro-Host, Barton Scully and Allison Janney as his sex-starved, rejected wife Margaret. Their characters are all vitally important to the show, fully-rounded with interesting and developed personalities, all with their own secrets and personal motivations for their actions.
The direction is excellent and the locations, internal decor, white goods, telephones, clothing, makeup, hairstyles and cars are all beautifully aligned to the period of the 50s. It all makes the show feel real and of the moment, giving it real life and verve. And as the 50s is one of my favourite periods of history it’s a delight for me to watch.
Of course it does have probably the worst ever opening titles sequence of pseudo-sexual and phallic imagery such as a cockerel, a train going into a tunnel, a venus flytrap closing on a fly, a time-lapse of a penis-shaped mushroom growing, a cucumber, a cork popping out of a bottle with champagne following out, an erupting geyser, an erupting volcano, and curling toes in bed. It’s awful, it’s cheesy beyond belief. Surely they could have thought up something better and less tasteless.
The show was a hit with audiences and critics alike garnering amongst others awards and nominations, two Golden Globe® nominations for Best Television Series – Drama and a Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama (Michael Sheen).
Season Two comes to TV in the UK in August 2014. It is essential viewing.
Episodes:
1. Pilot
2. Race to Space
3. Standard Deviation
4. Thank You for Coming
5. Catherine
6. Brave New World
7. All Together Now
8. Love and Marriage
9. Involuntary
10. Fallout
11. Phallic Victories
12. Manhigh
