Masters of Sex - "Manhigh" Review

by Lee Padrick, December 16, 2013
Masters of Sex S1E12

Smoking in the boy's room

WARNING:  This review contains spoilers.

Masters of Sex finishes up a great first season.

Going into the season finale, there were lots of loose ends to address, as well as the need to pave the road for the upcoming second season.  A lot of expectations to meet.  Fortunately, "Manhigh" met most of them and gave us some resolution to most of the situations that have developed over the second half of the season.

Masters of Sex - "Phallic Victories"

by Lee Padrick, December 13, 2013
Masters of Sex S1E11

WARNING:  This review contains spoilers.

As Masters of Sex hurtles toward the end of the first season, Virginia shows us just how important she is to this world.

Masters of Sex has spent the past ten episodes showing us how vital Bill Masters is to this show.  And Virginia, because of Masters being front and center, has suffered, as her character has slowly developed.  But all of this changed in this penultimate episode.  What we have suspected all along is now universally accepted; Virginia is the glue that holds this show together.

Masters of Sex - "Fallout" Review

by Lee Padrick, December 9, 2013
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.

Masters of Sex - "Involuntary" Review

by Lee Padrick, December 9, 2013
Masters of Sex S1E9

WARNING:  This review contains spoilers.

Performance evaluations are due this week.

Masters of Sex delivers a great episode, as the characters continue to develop into real people, with real successes and failures.  Michael Sheen continues to shine (see what I did there?) as the titular lead and Masters, no matter his past or station in life, still comes across as an asshole.  Sheen plays Master's peculiar nature perfectly, and it is a testament to his portrayal that the viewer, after nine episodes, still does not like him.  This is not a guy you want to have a beer with or take fishing.

Masters of Sex - "Love and Marriage" Review

by Lee Padrick, November 23, 2013
Masters of Sex S1E8

WARNING:  This review contains spoilers.

Lots of unhappiness in relationships as Masters of Sex finds its raison d'etre.

Masters of Sex - "All Together Now" Review

by Lee Padrick, November 13, 2013
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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Masters of Sex - "Brave New World" Review

by Lee Padrick, November 13, 2013
Masters of Sex S1E6

WARNING:  This review contains spoilers!

We're going to Florida!  Is this Boardwalk Empire or Masters of Sex?  

Libby (Caitlin Fitzgerald) and Masters decide to take a vacation to Miami, to clear their minds after the loss of their unborn.  Libby is game for some fun in the sun; Masters is more interested in the old couple having sex on the other side of the thin-walled hotel room.  He even gets caught glancing at the clock as Libby tries to get him in the mood for sexy time.  She finally gives up on Masters, and sends him home, so she can enjoy the rest of the week without her uptight husband serving as a buzz kill.

Masters of Sex - "Catherine" Review

by Lee Padrick, October 31, 2013
Masters of Sex S1E5

WARNING:  This review contains spoilers.

Tragedy strikes Masters of Sex, and Masters is powerless to stop it.

Masters (Michael Sheen) and Virginia (Lizzy Caplan) are moving to the next stage in their research, couples.  Dr. Langham (Teddy Sears) eagerly signs back up, hoping for more research with Jane (Helene Yorke), the young woman who is only interested in a tryst with a married man if its for "scientific research."  But Masters and Virginia are experimenting to see if there is more than just the physical condition during sex; the hard-to-quantify chemistry variable.  So they match Dr. Langham with an unknown partner, and he is unable to perform.  When they rematch him with Jane, he is still unable to perform, offering a comedic subplot to an otherwise dark episode.

Masters of Sex - "Thank You For Coming" Review

by Lee Padrick, October 29, 2013
Masters of Sex - S1E4

WARNING:  This review contains spoilers.

Remind me not to invite Masters over for dinner.

This fourth episode of Masters of Sex was a strong showing.  The main characters are coming more in focus, as we see what tends to shape them into who they are.  This episode also reminds us that this is the mid-1950's and things that we take for granted are quite shocking, when disclosed, 60 years ago.

Masters of Sex - "Standard Deviation" Review

by Lee Padrick, October 24, 2013
Masters of Sex, S1E3

WARNING:  This review contains spoilers.

Bill Masters is interested in sex research because he does not understand it.  The flashback with Masters and Scully gave us insight into how and why he is driven to research a taboo subject in the 1950's.  

Lots of stuff happening, leading to a scattered episode.  We see an idealistic Bill Masters in the flashbacks, excited about his work and future research opportunities, contrasted with the present-day Masters, who is cynical, burned-out, and frumpy.  The opening scene where a young bride-to-be comes into the office for some discrete advice about birth control reminds us that the 1950's was a stuffy place.  This young woman is embarrassed talking about sex with her betrothed, and the look on her face when Masters shows her to apply a condom is priceless.  Masters explains her alternatives, including a cervical cap, and the young woman asks, "Where's my cervix?"  That's good stuff.

Masters of Sex - "Race To Space" Review

by Lee Padrick, October 8, 2013

WARNING:  This review contains spoilers.

The second episode of Masters of Sex continues on the path of character development and world building.  We are immersed in 1956, with all the trappings of societal mores during this period in time.  A period where its OK to hit a woman, as long as you're apologetic the next time you see her.  A world where doctors and nurses smoke in the lunchroom of a hospital.  A time when couples sleep in separate twin beds.  A strange world.

Masters of Sex - "Pilot"

by Lee Padrick, October 3, 2013

WARNING:  This review contains spoilers.

Come for the nudity, stay for the drama.

A show about groundbreaking sex research in the 1950's?  Sign me up.  Although, I must admit, even in 2013, I'm concerned that my parents may find this post and read my thoughts about a show entitled Masters of Sex.  Sounds like a title I see in the Pay-Per-View menu on my Tivo, followed by Big Butt Girls in Rio 8.  

This new Showtime period drama is unlike anything else I've seen recently.  While most networks are signing up for the latest anti-hero or omnipresent criminal genius drama series, this new show is a breath of fresh air. Other than an obvious Mad Men similarity, primarily because it takes place around the same era, Masters of Sex gives us some new water cooler fare.  In between our ramblings about whether Walter White got his just desserts or the contrived brilliance of Reddington from The Blacklist, we know can openly discuss orgasms and plateaus.  OK, maybe we can't (and shouldn't, in the workplace).

Fall 2013 - What's In The TVPhile Zone?

by Lee Padrick, Friday, September 13, 2013

The mornings and nights are getting cooler, the leaves are turning brown, and football season has started.  What does that mean?  The fish are feasting for the winter ahead and TV shows are premiering.  Its a beautiful time of the year.

Fall, just a few years ago, meant the broadcast and cable networks kick-started stalwarts and unveiled new scripted fare.  That "new show/fall" mentality has been upended somewhat over the past ten years, but this is still the time of year that most networks refresh themselves. 

Between now and the Christmas break, I'll be reviewing some select shows.  Those on my list include:

- Homeland (Season 3)

- Masters of Sex (Season 1, new on Showtime)

- Walking Dead (Season 4)

- Boardwalk Empire (Season 4)

TV shows often are at their peak in seasons three and four.  Many theories abound, but I believe that networks, producers, writers, actors, and fans have sufficiently built a world with well developed characters within the show by 24 - 36 episodes, and all are at their creative peak.  We'll test this theory over the next 3 months together.   

I'll also be talking about shows that are finishing up their seasons, like Dexter, Ray Donovan, The Bridge, and The Newsroom.  I have a few Tivos full of stuff I've been trying to find some time to watch, like Hell on Wheels, Low Winter Sun, Broadchurch, and the History Channel's Vikings (which has been sitting in a folder on a Tivo, only gotten through 4 episodes thus far). Plus, I'll be watching random stuff on Netflix and I'm sure I'll feel compelled to write about it.

So keep checking back regularly and enjoy some of the best TV that we may ever see.  The Golden Age of TV is here!


Random Thoughts:

- Had to edit Broadchurch because I spelled it "Broadchuck."  Did I mention I'm going to miss Yvonne Strahovski when Dexter ends?

- Richard Harrow (Jack Huston) deserves a spin-off.

- Jesse "Todd Landry" Plemons is cast in a potential HBO project called The Missionary.

- Scandal is going to be my guilty pleasure this fall.   

What will you be watching?  

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