Masters of Sex S1E10
WARNING: This review contains spoilers.
Nuclear annihilation is at hand.
This week's episode of Masters of Sex continues the season's arc toward ... something, but it stumbles more so than other recent episodes. This is not the show's finest moment, but the further development of the secondary cast renders it watchable, and at times, enjoyable.
The hydrogen-bomb drill works as a plot device to bring all of the characters together, then send them off to have quiet moments. But the pace of the show is jolted when the opening scenes are time jumps. Ethan and Virginia now are reunited, and have been for some time. How much time, we don't know, and that opening time shift is disorienting.
Michael Sheen is doing an incredible job of portraying top-shelf assholery, as Masters becomes even more unlikable. Not only is he mean to his mother, his wife, his co-workers, and his friends, he turns a cold eye to the plight of one of his research subjects, who is undergoing a significant life-changing crisis because of 1950's birth control. Masters views the young woman as a number in an index card file, while Virginia offers the compassion that most people would expect. The divide between Masters' and Virginia's level of compassion is not subtle.
Langham finds out that he has impregnated Flora, thanks to Virginia's intervention. And he does not know how to process this news. Similarly, Margaret finds out through a chance encounter with a prostitute that her husband is gay. The look of relief on Allison Janney's face is priceless, as Margaret realizes that her husband has not lost interest in her; rather, he never had interest in her. At least not on a sexual level. It is clear that Barton loves his wife, but he can't really love his wife.
Jane's volunteering (this girl rarely finds something she is not willing to volunteer for) for the leader of the Bomb Drill provides us with needed humor in an episode littered with despair and desperation. And Lester seizes an opportunity for happiness, years before "no regrets" becomes a staple of country music.
This episode misses the mark often, and Dr. DePaul's attempts at connecting with decision makers does not save it, but offers us an example of what the show is capable of when it does find the target.
Looking forward to next week's penultimate episode to see if this great new show can get back on track.
Random Thoughts:
- You can't help but smile at the introvert DePaul and her attempt at cajoling of the Chancellor, which he interprets as an attempt at flirting.
- What is the perception of "those folks on the fourth floor?" Does the rest of the hospital think that's where all the perverts hang out?
- Masters takes a backseat to the other characters this week. Which is thankful, considering how much I don't like him.
What did you think?
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