Sunday, November 20, 2016

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex


Masters of Sex: Season 4, Episode 10 “The Eyes of God” (B)

I’d like to start this review off by stating that this season was the best that the show has produced since its first year, which is really commendable given that it doesn’t usually work that way. Introducing Art and Nancy was a boon for the show, and an exploration of how others go about this same work was interesting. Additionally, season one’s best character, Libby, once again became the same magnetic draw, as she explored her own self-worth and embarked on a new relationship with a charismatic lawyer. What this show still doesn’t always get right is the way that it progresses through time. In episode nine, we saw Libby start off towards Woodstock and Bill and Virginia realize that they’re meant for each other. The leap to Libby driving across the country with her kids in a hippie van and Bill and Virginia getting married didn’t quite track. Additionally, we now see Bill completely in love with Virginia, but then he’s pushed by others to think that maybe she’s not right for her, and when she announces to the eager paparazzi that they’re still Masters and Johnson, he had that look on his face which always expresses that he’s in over his head and he’s ready to bail. Dody living nearby and professing her love for Bill gives him an easy out of sorts, and that’s especially disconcerting. Virginia not reporting what Art called to tell her about Bob and his non-conversion suggests that she’s all about getting ahead and not letting Bill look for a way out, so hopefully they can move forward together. Poor Art is now left all alone, while Nancy doesn’t have much to look forward to either in her solo pursuit of success. We didn’t see any more of Betty, and this show has yet to be renewed for a fifth season, which I don’t think is a slam dunk. This would be a decent finish but I think there’s more to cover here.

Season grade: B+
Season MVPs: Caitlin FitzGerald as Libby, Betty Gilpin as Nancy, and Jeremy Strong as Art

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