Masters of Sex (Showtime 2013, Michael Sheen, Lizzy Caplan)

Period drama Masters of Sex is based on the real life William Masters and Virginia Johnson who were pioneers of human sexuality and follows their lives from the 1950s through to the 1970s first at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri and then in their own offices and practice.

Featuring brilliant performances from Michael Sheen as Bill Masters and Lizzy Caplan as Virginia Johnson Masters of Sex is an intriguing series. Because of the subject matters it is pretty explicit at times but it’s the human drama of the leads and those around them that draw you in.

Masters is married to Libby but he pretty much ignores her and in his obsessive pursuit to understand human sexual behavior provides nothing in the way of love or comfort to his wife. Virginia is divorced with two children and initially begins working for Bill as his secretary but soon makes herself indispensable eventually becoming his partner and lover.

The first season of the show set the action in the 1950’s with Bill working as an obstetrics specialist at a St Louis University Hospital, Bill works with Dr Barton Scully who as a married man leading a secret homosexual life has plenty of troubles. Once Bill starts working on his sex study the hospital take a dim view but for Bill the study becomes all consuming.

By the third season the action has moved to the 1960’s, Bill and Libby’s marriage is over in all but name and Bill is obsessed with not only his study but also Virginia. Their first book has become a bestseller and they have a thriving practice.

The fourth season will begin in 1968, and will move into the “swinging ’70s” during which time Bill and Virginia will take on new partners both professionally, personally and sexually.

production details
USA / Showtime – Sony Pictures Television – Round Two Productions – Timberman – Beverly Productions / 36×55 minute episodes / Broadcast 29 September 2013 – continuing

Creator: Michelle Ashford / Book: Thomas Maier / Executive Producers: Michelle Ashford, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, Amy Lippman, Judith Vernon

cast
Michael Sheen as Dr. William Masters
Lizzy Caplan as Virginia Johnson
Caitlin FitzGerald as Libby Masters
Teddy Sears as Dr. Austin Langham (seasons 1–2, recurring season 3)
Nicholas D’Agosto as Dr. Ethan Haas (season 1, guest season 2)
Annaleigh Ashford as Betty Dimello
Beau Bridges as Barton Scully
Allison Janney as Margaret Scully
Rose McIver as Vivian Scully (seasons 1–2)
Heléne Yorke as Jane Martin
Kevin Christy as Lester Linden
Julianne Nicholson as Dr. Lillian DePaul (seasons 1–2)
Ann Dowd as Estabrooks ‘Essie’ Masters (seasons 1–2)
Mather Zickel as George Johnson,
Cole Sand as Henry Johnson (seasons 1–2)
Noah Robbins as Henry Johnson (season 3)
Kayla Madison as Tessa Johnson (seasons 1–2)
Isabelle Fuhrman as Tessa Johnson (season 3)
Greg Grunberg as Gene Morett (seasons 1–2)
Emily Kinney as Nora Everett (season 3)
Sarah Silverman as Helen (seasons 2–3)
Josh Charles as Dan Logan (season 3)

THE EPISODES
SEASON ONE 29 September – 15 December 2013
1. PILOT (29 Sep 2013)
2. RACE TO SPACE (6 Oct 2013)
3. STANDARD DEVIATION (13 Oct 2013)
4. THANK YOU FOR COMING (20 Oct 2013)
5. CATHERINE (27 Oct 2013)
6. BRAVE NEW WORLD (3 Nov 2013)
7. ALL TOGETHER NOW (10 Nov 2013)
8. LOVE AND MARRIAGE (17 Nov 2013)
9. INVOLUNTARY (24 Nov 2013)
10. FALLOUT (1 Dec 2013)
11. PHALLIC VICTORIES (8 Dec 2013)
12. MANHIGH (15 Dec 2013)

SEASON TWO 13 July – 28 September 2014
1. PARALLAX (13 Jul 2014)
2. KYRIE ELEISON (20 Jul 2014)
3. FIGHT (27 Jul 2014)
4. DIRTY JOBS (3 Aug 2014)
5. GIANTS (10 Aug 2014)
6. BLACKBIRD (17 Aug 2014)
7. ASTERION (24 Aug 2014)
8. MIRROR, MIRROR (31 Aug 2014)
9. STORY OF MY LIFE (7 Sep 2014)
10. BELOW THE BELT (14 Sep 2014)
11. ONE FOR THE MONEY, TWO FOR THE SHOW (21 Sep 2014)
12. THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED (28 Sep 2014)

SEASON THREE 12 July – 27 September 2015
1. PARLIAMENT OF OWLS (12 Jul 2015)
2. THREE’S A CROWD (19 Jul 2015)
3. THE EXCITEMENT OF RELEASE (26 Jul 2015)
4. UNDUE INFLUENCE (2 Aug 2015)
5. MATTERS OF GRAVITY (9 Aug 2015)
6. TWO SCENTS (16 Aug 2015)
7. MONKEY BUSINESS (23 Aug 2015)
8. SURROGATES (30 Aug 2015)
9. HIGH ANXIETY (6 Sep 2015)
10. THROUGH A GLASS, DARKLY (13 Sep 2015)
11. PARTY OF FOUR (20 Sep 2015)
12. FULL TEN COUNT (27 Sep 2015)

SEASON FOUR 11 September 2016 –
1. FREEFALL (11 Sep 2016)
2. INVENTORY (18 Sep 2016)
3. THE PLEASURE PROTOCOL (25 Sep 2016)