Masters of Sex S1E7
WARNING: This review contains spoilers.
I think Masters of Sex is entering the plateau stage.
This episode of Masters of Sex is possibly the best hour of the young series thus far. The slow, meandering plot seems to find its course as most of the storylines of the series intersect this episode. The characters' development is reaching a critical mass where the direction of the show is becoming more clear.
Masters and Virginia have now moved into the study themselves, WITH EACH OTHER! But its not the romantically-tinged scene you would expect; instead, they are hooked up to wires as they awkwardly perform, as Masters narrates each of the four stages of arousal. Kinda icky to watch. Virginia does not orgasm during this first experience, so Masters takes this as license to continue "researching" with Virginia from different positions, so that she can achieve a clitoral orgasm.
Dr. Haas (Nicholas D'Agosto), the slap-happy protege of Masters, is continuing his relationship with Vivian Scully (Rose McIver), the daughter of closeted Provost Scully (Beau Bridges). Whose neglected wife Margaret (Allison Janney) is busy boning Dr. Langham (Teddy Sears). Provost Scully is planning an "out of town" trip, which turns out to be an encounter with the male homosexual prostitute that outed him to Masters a few episodes ago. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Margaret is giving Dr. Langham free tickets to ride her Ferris wheel. Provost Scully ends up the victim of some gay-bashing and gets a knife wound for his indiscretion. When he returns home from his "business trip," Margaret tells him to go to his room (Provost and Margaret have separate bedrooms, that's just plain weird), implying that she has some company in her bedroom. Provost does as requested, and never inquires about Margaret's activities the next day.
Meanwhile, Virginia has hired Jane (Helene Yorke) as Masters' new secretary. And she is very good at the job. Jane's addition of working in close proximity to Masters and Virginia should prove to be fun over the upcoming episodes.
Libby wants to get pregnant again, and she begins working with Dr. Haas without Masters' knowledge, using his frozen sperm. Ethan gets her to engage Masters in regular sex, so that Masters will not know that any pregnancy likely resulted from insemination. But Masters is busy servicing Virginia for the sake of science at work, so he and Libby's sexy time at home is suffering (more than usual). Virginia encourages Masters to engage his wife in some alligator dancing, after a worried Libby asks Virginia to help get Masters home earlier each night so that he will have energy (and desire) to jump rope.
This episode focuses not on sex itself, but the aftermath and effects that sex can have on peoples' lives. And the show is better for it. Looking forward to seeing where we go now that Masters and Virginia are spinning the dials together.
Random Thoughts:
- Jane as Masters' secretary should prove to be awesome!
- Dr. Langham did not seem as excited about his older plaything once she started expressing some feelings for him.
- Langham's therapist is none other than Alan Ruck of Ferris Bueller's Day Off!
What did you think?
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