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

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 4, Episode 9 “Night and Day” (B)

At the start of this episode, Nancy and Art were concerned about having to sign a nondisclosure agreement because they were going out on their own and opening a practice in New York City that would very much emulate the tactics they’d learned working with Bill and Virginia. The news that Nancy was pregnant got Art excited, no matter who the father was, and Nancy’s quickness to suggest an abortion didn’t leave much room for discussion. Those tapes really don’t do anyone any good, and Art having to listen to Nancy tell Barton that she knew the baby was Art’s and that it was precisely the reason that she was getting rid of it was heartbreaking. I can’t see how they’ll go forward together after this, and I wonder if Art will stay behind while Nancy ventures off to her bright independent future. Virginia’s father asking her to broach the subject of coming in for sexual counseling with her mother was beyond weird, and his unwillingness to acknowledge his extended affair suggested that a much deeper problem with his marriage. Bill and Virginia have come to a pretty incredible place of closeness, and it’s interesting to watch Bill take an active role in AA, tracking down Louise and helping her to get back on the wagon. Libby really has become a free spirit, and how fortuitously-timed her drive to upstate New York ended up being to truly allow her to let loose and embrace the wonder of the world in a way that is far from normative.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 4, Episode 8 “Topeka” (B+)

There was a lot going on in this episode, and it’s hard to know what’s going to change as a result. The main development that threatened to shake things up was Nancy’s behavior immediately after Bill and Virginia walked out the door. While she and Art do have their own qualifications earned well before starting their short stints at Masters and Johnson, the fact that they would be going out on their own to open up a separate shop while the partners are away specifically going after competitors who have poached their work and their approach to sex feels like a real betrayal. Nancy’s conversation with Art about their swinging also had an air of inauthenticity to it despite their intimacy, and she’s evidently trying to blame him for not being satisfied with the arrangement she has created. She’s determined to get ahead, and with an investor who loves pulling the trigger on business investments, she’s likely to go far while Art remains behind in what is, for him, far more fulfilling work. Guy is no Betty, and therefore with the bosses away, Austin tried to set up shop with his penis pump, which prompted a spiteful Lester to lash out at him and then tell Guy about how this work has affected him. Seeing Bill and Virginia in costume talking the researchers played by real-life couple Stephen Root and Romy Rosemont was really something, and what an ending to the episode that was. The look on Virginia’s face when she found out that Dody was in the motel room with Bill was intense, and that scene was framed in such a dramatic way to emphasize the strength of her feelings. Good for Libby for asserting herself and making waves, and I’m eager to see her legal skills at work.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 4, Episode 7 “In to Me You See” (B+)

Virginia’s ploy to get closer to Bill seemed like it was going to work out perfectly well when she suggested it to Art, but Bill turned it on its head when he instead posited the idea of him partnering with Art and her being with Nancy. It turns out that Art and Bill did pretty well together, and Bill let him run with Bob’s particular situation and help to resolve it in a productive way that got Barton interested after Guy alerted him to what seemed like gay conversion therapy. Nancy and Virginia, on the other hand, are very poorly suited for each other, and it’s entirely Virginia’s fault since she refuses to do the one thing Nancy has explicitly requested of her – treat her with respect. It doesn’t help that Virginia is so paranoid, and rightfully so, that there are people out to get them, and revealing what she thought to be gotcha journalists as wannabe sex therapists trying to do research was just the tip of the iceberg. It turns out that her new plan to go undercover and figure out what their competition is up to works out very well for Bill, who, prompted by the story he told Betty, decided to contact the one who got away and ended up learning that her husband has a very different perspective on what happened than he does. I can’t imagine that will lead to a happy ending for either of them, but I am interested to see where it goes. Betty getting Austin to file a petition for custody of her baby predictably went over very poorly with Helen’s parents, and it’s very sad to see Betty in such bad shape with no hope of hanging on to any piece of what she had with Helen. Bill’s AA supervisor coming to him for help with her paralyzed husband was an intriguing and unexpected development, though it appears that’s gone as far as it can.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 4, Episode 6 “Family Only” (B+)

This episode was all about the relationships we think we know between established couples and how they’re not actually anything like they used to be. Virginia showing up to drink and celebrate with Bill indicated her willingness to restart what they had, and he seems ready to come up with any excuse not to be around her. She has it out for Nancy, and forcing Art to tell her that they didn’t have sex didn’t have the effect she hoped it would at all, but that’s mainly because Art realizes that Nancy is into him having sex with other women even if he’s really not. Nancy and Art are actually doing great things in their new roles even if they’re not getting the recognition they deserve. Bob is playing a much bigger part in the show than I expected, and he truly does have a split personality right now, going from casual and in control to a complete drunk mess. I’m proud of Libby for not letting Keller out of their date by going with him to a nudist colony, and for realizing the liberty she needed and getting rewarded with some very passionate naked chemistry with a man who may be right for her. It was good to see Barton again, but his return was marred by a devastating tragedy. Helen’s C-section went fine, but its aftermath was heartbreaking, with Betty permitted to enter the room only to have to say goodbye to her love and then see her baby taken away by Helen’s parents.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 4, Episode 5 “Outliers” (B)

This was an involving and moving hour, but some of the developments felt a bit forced and less genuine than others. I’m speaking particularly to Virginia holding Bill’s hand after he declared himself a deviant in front of the court, which makes sense given the events of the hour but doesn’t track since Virginia wasn’t privy to the conversation that Bill and Libby had in which Libby came clean about what she knew and how she felt about her future with Bill. He was oddly laidback and happy, and their sexual adventures in bed seemed quite fulfilling. But she’s right that they don’t belong together, and she took a positive step in moving her life forward by getting Keller to ask her out. We’ve seen a lot of Betty at the office rather than at home with Helen, and prompting her heavily pregnant girlfriend to come out to her parents is sure to cause a major strain on their relationship considering the unfortunate and unforgiving outcome. Nancy and Art discovering that the office was bugged is sure to come up in a bad way now that the case has been resolved, and I’m glad that Bill gave Guy a second chance when he confessed his dishonorable discharge due to the revelation of his homosexuality. Bill really did fall on his sword, and it’s a good thing that he had the press conference to deliver his masterful speech about what it means to be a deviant after the judge took that away from him in court.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 4, Episode 4 “Coats or Keys” (B+)

If nothing else, this show does masterful character studies. We already knew that the marriage between Nancy and Art was unconventional, and there’s been a whole lot of tension brewing among all the other characters on the show, married and not. A swingers’ party wouldn’t have been my first solution to delve deep into these characters and their problems, but this is a show about sex, and so it’s far from an unnatural setting. It would have been helpful to clue in all the officemates on what kind of party they were attending, although only one of the guests ended up having sex with an unexpected partner. It was definitely a productive and therapeutic night for Lester, who has been miserable in his home life and had to deal with outright rejection when he picked the wrong woman’s coat. Betty also had a fun night spotting the other closet homosexual at the party and may well have found herself a new coworker if he’s available. Libby had an okay start with Mike Schaeffer at the party until her favorite divorce attorney arrived and blew her cover. It was remarkably satisfying to see her demand that Bill do something selfless for her after telling him that she fantasized about him being decapitated, and she’s doing an interesting job domesticating him. The most surprising part is that Bill seems happy, and he was even nice to Virginia when she finally told him that she never married Dan. Art was bold to trick Virginia into staying the night to talk to him, but I think that their lengthy heart-to-heart was actually very good for their professional relationship, and speaks volumes about Art’s relationship with Nancy.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 4, Episode 3 “The Pleasure Protocol” (B+)

This episode took an interesting direction as all four of the partners learned some very fascinating information about each other that makes it hard to believe that anyone is telling the truth. I did wonder it was Lester was so interested in photographing when he wasn’t paying close attention to what was happening in the room, and it really didn’t take long at all for Nancy and Art to have their cover blown. Bill was ready to cut them both loose, which is typically hypocritical given how much he kept from Nancy during their intake. Their trip to the movies was intense, and all the progress they made on incorporating roughness into the relationship immediately went horribly wrong when the husband displayed disturbing violent tendencies. Art and Virginia make a much more functional pair, with his excitement feeding her energy, and his burst of honesty following getting caught was impressive. Judy Greer’s return as Alice was fantastic, and she was equally excellent in her scenes with Virginia and Bill, respectively. David Walton usually appears in more comedic-leaning projects like “Bent” and “About a Boy,” and he actually fit in pretty well as a member of Bill’s legal team who nearly started a romance with Libby only to be taken down by her in the most brutal way when she realized who he was. She was the MVP of the episode in an hour of strong acting, and I’m glad to see her given such superb material again. Betty also had a good spotlight, which is nice to see.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 4, Episode 2 “Inventory” (B+)

Bill and Virginia deciding to find new partners was going to mean new characters, but I didn’t expect them to be quite so opinionated and intriguing. Virginia micromanaged Dr. Leveau during her interview and then she blew her away with actual medical knowledge that far outweighed her interpersonal skills. After she aggressively went after John Billingsley’s Dr. Madden and then made sure he felt terrible about himself, Virginia too went with an eclectic choice – Dr. Dreesen – who had no advanced degrees but was more than qualified for the job. As if Bill lying outright about his relationship with Virginia to Dr. Leveau wasn’t enough, it turns out that the two new hires are actually married to each other! That’s a cool twist, and one that I imagine will come to light soon and not in a good way. Dr. Leveau grabbing Bill’s hand while watching Dale and Darleen try to overcome Dale’s obsession with shoes was intense, and I think it is good that he’s having some human contact aside from his disapproving sponsor. Betty stood her ground to an oblivious Virginia, and I guess she does deserve the extra pay and respect given how she manages to keep things afloat with her very blunt style. The best confession was the one that came from Libby, who finally got the chance to speak her mind to Bill and tell him that for all the years that he was having an affair with Virginia she was having sex in every room of the house. That scene felt pretty Emmy-worthy to me, but I don’t think that’s actually likely.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex (Season Premiere)

Masters of Sex: Season 4, Episode 1 “Freefall” (B+)

It’s hard to believe that this show is already in its fourth season, but I am pleased to note that this premiere indicates a positive direction that could mean a substantially better year than the past two seasons. With Dan noticeably absent from this episode, Virginia had a great moment embarrassing a sex guru with a reality check, even getting recognized by other attendees of the show as the noted intellectual that she is. She’s made such incredible strides and seems confident in herself, and it’s therefore very disheartening to see her column concept disregarded simply because she’s a woman. That’s doubly true because she went to the effort of dumbing it down and pandering to her audience even though she realizes that it’s far more sensational than scientific. Deciding to operate in the same building as Bill but with different teams – and partners – is an intriguing decision, one that I’m sure will lead to plenty of conflict. Betty did do her best to deflect as much as possible while her two employers were out of the office for an extended period of time, and it will be good to have them back. I enjoyed seeing Rich Sommer as a man only aroused by the sight of women in high heels, a very particular brand of sexual stimulation. I’m excited about the new Libby that we’re seeing since I think her character went so far downhill in recent years. Defiantly divorcing Bill to the point of giving away his clothes wasn’t even the best moment – not being so into taking off her bra and then doing it was a great triumphant moment of transformative freedom.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex (Season Finale)

Masters of Sex: Season 3, Episode 12 "Full Ten Count” (B-)

What a rollercoaster season this has been. At this point last season I was ready to cast this show out entirely, and there’s definitely been a resurgence in the fourth season. There’s no question that the strongest part of this season has been Dan Logan, who at first was alluring and mysterious and then turned out to be fully in awe of Virginia and ready to give her the kind of recognition and respect Bill had always denied her without having to be asked. In this episode, he went to Mexico to get divorced and then promptly showed up to propose marriage to Virginia, asking her father for permission in the process. He was even keenly aware enough to ask Virginia whether she hoped Bill would show up or whether she hoped he wouldn’t. Bill offered Virginia what she wanted far too late and for all the wrong reasons, and his decision to get out of the car and not even try to stop her at the airport demonstrated that he finally realized he was headed down the wrong path. Hopefully the Little Brown Man won’t derail both their careers fully because they’re not on stage, though it’s going to be hard to pick up the pieces no matter what. It’s good to see Barton and Jonathan happy thanks to some prompting from Jonathan and meddling from Betty, but it does seem strange on such a sexually explicit show for this forbidden romance to feel so sterile. Paul’s sudden disappearance is a disappointing shock, but Libby did a great job standing up for herself and leaving Bill to sit in jail when he decided that he needed to confess his affair at that point as a way of exonerating himself. Virginia refusing to listen to Nora’s attempts to justify her actions made for a great scene, and I’d like to note that Lizzy Caplan has done truly terrific work this season, rebounding from poor season two material and really doing her best with everything this year. I’m intrigued for season four but not waiting with baited breath. At least this season is leaving a much better and more promising taste.

Season grade: B-
Season MVP: Josh Charles as Dan Logan

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 3, Episode 11 “Party of Four” (B+)

Whatever else you or I can say about this episode, I think this was the most honest hour of television I’ve ever seen. With every single plotline, we saw characters coming clean with each other, first trying to put up fronts but then taking them down and telling the complete truth. Bill and Virginia fighting before they even sat down at their ambush dinner was bad enough, and it only got worse when Dan and his wife showed up. I was delighted to see Judy Greer as Dan’s wife Alice, and it was especially great after a lackluster season of “Married” to see her playing a malcontent married woman with considerably more depth. Bill telling Virginia that she’s entitled to a life outside work but just doesn’t want one after she defended her hiding of her affair so that he wouldn’t cut her out was cruel, and he was the only one in this entire episode who didn’t get angry or upset, gloating the whole time about the way that he manipulated events to his advantage. Dan telling Alice that he loves Virginia and her responding by saying that he used to be better was a moving moment, and both guest actors were truly superb (“Is there a good way to meet your husband’s mistress?”). The fact that Libby and Paul were playing house while all this was happening was fascinating, and Libby confessing that she was most afraid that Bill wouldn’t care when she asked for a divorce was an intense but well-founded fear. The detective coming by to interview Johnny about Bill’s alleged sexual abuse got Johnny to speak his mind about his relationship with his father, and I do hope that doesn’t lead down a bad road for Bill, despicable as he is. Showing Dan and Bill sitting at the table verbally sparring showed their true colors, and Bill trying to share his feelings for Virginia before running home to his family was the example both of bad timing and of the enduring bond between them. And to cap it all off, somehow Virginia ended up with a fancy dinner all by herself after all was said and done. As if there weren’t enough bombshells, Dan decided it was finally time to leave his wife and now Virginia will have to decide in the season finale what she really wants.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 3, Episode 10 “Through a Glass, Darkly” (B-)

This was another massive hour in terms of its content, including a number of sexual experiences of all different varieties, most of which weren’t successful in the end. Dan walking in to Virginia’s house to find Tessa about to have sex on the couch with a boy and forcing them to stay put until Virginia got home was probably the most jarring and intense, just the latest sign that Virginia will never be able to earn back the respect of her daughter and that Dan does appear to be the real thing. Bill, on the other hand, revealed just how much his affection for Virginia has weakened him, and nearly had a passionate moment with Nora, only to have it ruined by her need for him to tell her that he loved her. Getting his wife the gift of a trip without him was truly boneheaded, and it’s no wonder that someone else is proposing to her since he can’t be bothered to do anything even remotely selfless to try to make her happy. Paul has an uphill battle ahead of him, though something makes me think that Bill wouldn’t fight hard if given the option of an easy out. Jonathan bringing Barton to a bar before a fight broke out because of his gay friends’ flamboyant behavior was never destined to work well, and fortunately Betty made sure that her ill-timed same-sex request was coated with just the right amount of sincerity and lack of judgment. I don’t know what Nora’s religious connection means, but it can’t be anything good.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 2, Episode 9 “High Anxiety” (B-)

I like this show less when its players devolve into caricatures, and that’s what happened here with a few of the characters. The worst offender was Austin, who called Betty to complain because he couldn’t eat his favorite cereal in the morning after he crashed at their place following the loss of custody of his kids. I don’t know why Austin needed to come back since he was an intriguing character when he was an uncontrollable philanderer but is now just a sopping mess. Libby trying to set Paul up felt very forced, particularly because all she did was draw attention to something which she should not have been interested in. Bill also got a bit too explicit about how possessive he is, ordering Betty to spy on Virginia and prey into the depth of her relationship with Dan when all she was ready to do in the name of honesty was tell him that he needed to modernize his wardrobe. Despite the harsh talking-to she got from Bill for not following protocol, Nora truly is a star student and quite reminiscent of Virginia. Bill’s partner is not happy at all about the surrogacy study, and Bill’s clinginess feels especially excessive as we see more of Virginia being a legitimate equal for Dan, able to suggest new ideas and pioneer projects without having to defend her concepts as worthwhile. Trying to find a reason to stay indicates that he really cares about her, and I worry how Bill will react to that. Learning from his dad, Johnny found the perfect way to best the bully his dad had started to mentor by viciously outing a personal problem at school in a scene that was far from pretty.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 3, Episode 8 “Surrogates” (B+)

There are some parts of this show I’m not always thrilled about, like Lester and Jane inserting their personal lives into the study and Bill having to act like a disapproving parent, but there were a number of strong plotlines that I found very effective in this hour. Austin was all too willing to try to deceive Bill in order to get Helen and Betty on his side in his custody battle, but Bill saw right through their scheme and quickly deduced that he and Helen had never had sex despite their claims of having tried to get pregnant for several years. I like that Betty stood up for herself and even brought up Bill’s affair with Virginia that he brought up keeping private lives private. It was great to see Emily Kinney from “The Walking Dead” as Nora, Bill’s new star pupil who used to live down the street and was sleeping in the office because she’s more than a bit late on her rent payments. Libby was not fond of having her participate in the study, but she’s engaging in her own secret behavior, sleeping with Paul and pretending that he’s her dearly departed Robert, who we learned was hit by a car after surviving Freedom Summer. I was pleased to recognize Rob Benedict from “Threshold” as Scully’s new assistant who was very keen on the fact that he too liked musical theater. Dan spiriting Virginia away to a business pitch was a real treat, and I like that he referred to her as a partner after she nearly derailed the meeting and stuck with her as a respectable agent of his operation. Turning down the contract because he doesn’t want to leave St. Louis suggests a major attachment that might prove problematic given her relationship with Bill. The way he handled himself with the burglar was impressive, and kudos to Virginia for opting to give the poor kid a second chance instead of calling the police on him.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 3, Episode 7 “Monkey Business” (B-)

There’s no denying that what’s happening on this show is interesting, but it’s also more than bit bizarre and also rather unfocused, bringing back plotlines from previous episodes and seasons without much warning. The return of Sarah Silverman’s Helen was one such example, as she expressed her desire to have a baby and then ended up nearly being inseminated by Betty at 2am before being introduced to a very welcome familiar face, Austin, at a strip club. Jane also showed up with her impotent theater pal Keith, who didn’t pass muster with Bill because he was single but ultimately got what he needed thanks to Jane opting to step in and help out a friend in need for the sake of the work. Bill, as usual, is not subtle about his desire to keep Virginia away from anyone else, and Dan didn’t stand for it, insisting that Virginia herself tell him that she couldn’t come out with them and then dressing up in a gorilla suit to charm Virginia and make her laugh. Tessa flirting with Dan and keeping her identity a secret was quite something, and he did his best to hide his complete shock when he found out who she really was. Virginia needing to motivate Gil was interesting, to say the least, and she did not seem pleased at all. In less significant plot developments, Johnny burning Bill’s baseball card seems like an ineffective form of silent protest, and Libby and Paul, following her hurtful outburst, are now on a path towards needing each other, inching ever closer to their inevitable affair.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 3, Episode 6 “Two Scents” (C+)

Who would ever have imagined Bill as a high school football coach? With his latest extracurricular activity, Bill has demonstrated that he is capable of being just as cruelly oblivious as he is cruel and unfeeling, welcoming in the boy who beat up his son and bonding with him in a way that he’s never been able to do with his own son, all with his son watching from the next room. It’s as if Bill has legitimized his actions by equating them with being acceptable the more they get a rise out of Libby. She too was unkind in the way that she revealed how Joy had planned to leave Paul before she suffered her accident, though she was spurred on by his demeaning tone and general ignorance of any rights or opinions of women. Celebrity clients were the perfect impetus for a bit of introspection on the part of Bill and Virginia, though he took something much stronger away from it than she did. It’s clear that he’s in love with her and considers her the partner he should have, while she continues to be independent while feeling all too tethered to any one person in her life. Despite Bill’s transparent attempts to intervene, Dan and Virginia finally had a sexual encounter, one that didn’t seem to exactly invoke the pheromonal power of Lester’s sweat scent but emphasized that sex always seems to be the endgame in any relationship, no matter what its original nature or either party’s perceived desires.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 3, Episode 5 “Matters of Gravity” (B)

There were parts of this episode that worked well and others that felt a bit forced. The opening scene with Tessa doing everything possible to get her mother caught in the act with Bill by inviting her grandparents over to surprise her was equally immature and conniving, and it’s clear that she is very angry at her mother and isn’t soon going to let go of that aggression. The most startling part of the entire thing was how Virginia’s mother reacted when put it together that her daughter was engaged in an affair with Bill, applauding her for sleeping her way to the top and encouraging her to get Bill to divorce his wife so that she could be successful with him. Bill had his moment of triumph over those who signed the petition to get him fired, one that seemed to satisfy him a whole lot less than tracking down the boy who bullied his son and terrifying him so much that he peed his pants out of fear. Bill continues to be an immensely unlikeable character, and it’s hard to sympathize with him when he’s such an emotionless robot who doesn’t seem to care about anyone else. It was obvious that Margaret’s love triangle wasn’t going to last long, and the sexual success she was having with Graham just brought to light the lack of a true attraction that would make him pick her over his travel agent. At least she reunited with Barton as a friend and convinced him to call his daughter to come clean and rectify their relationship.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 3, Episode 4 “Undue Influence” (B+)

My enthusiasm for this show waxes and wanes each week but I think this was definitely one of the more compelling installment. Bill reading “How to Make Friends and Influence People” helped to shape him into a less selfish and awful person, and it made for a handful of tragically awkward moments in which he was smilingly uncomfortably or putting too much effort in to try to be nice to those around him, an act he previously invested nothing in making happen. Getting Virginia a fur coat was a particularly grand gesture, especially since she isn’t his wife, and her reaction was one of total shock. It’s become clear that he thinks very little of Libby, and isn’t trying anymore to deny that he is madly in love with Virginia. Tessa’s discovery of their affair really broke her, and coming in to the office to do filing is very poorly-timed since she won’t be able to look at either Bill or Virginia the same way ever again, even with Betty’s coaching about the industry. Bill isn’t Virginia’s only suitor, as Dan Logan is all about paying her compliments which seem to be working. Helping her get the information about her son was a kind gesture but also one that bolstered her opinion of him and made Bill’s similar idea much later sound useless. It was good to see both Scullys once again, with Tate Donovan as the overeager new beau for Margaret and the difficult discussion of Barton’s sexuality and how he couldn’t bring himself to let her talk about it or even talk about it himself.

What I’m Watching: Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex: Season 3, Episode 3 “The Excitement of Release” (B)

As usual, this was a pretty packed episode in terms of its developments even if it didn’t span as much time as previous hours have, but I’m pleased to report that it felt much more thematically relevant. The introduction of three new potential investors – Eddie Jemison’s massager developer, Josh Charles’ perfume man, and John Gleeson Connolly’s Hugh Hefner – makes it clear that this business is going somewhere, and, as the biggest star among the three, Charles’ Dan Logan appears to have won out, asking the poignant question of what sex smells like and how he can put it in a bottle. Bill’s idea to have the book used as a textbook was a strong one, but peddling it to Wash U and trying to drag Scully bag into everything was hardly the best use of his time and dealt a particularly unforgiving blow to his ego. Showing Paul his card collection was heavily awkward, and I thought that Bill was going to mistake his affection for Paul as a signal that he should make a move which would have had disastrous results. I’m not sure if we’re supposed to take Joy’s medical collapse as an indicator that Paul found out her plan and was abusive or a subtler signal that escape is never truly possible from the banality of married life. Lester and Jane found a great way to connect through the erotic content of letters written by fans and haters alike, which is nice to see. By the end of the episode, I had forgotten all about Bill’s ugly double standards about Virginia being married, even though it ended with an all too comfortable shared moment in bed. Tessa’s story is what spoke loudest in this hour, as a fun game of talking about her mother’s book led to her being forced to do something she really didn’t want to do and apparently accepting it as something that might just happen again.