In 1966 the book "Human Sexual Response" by Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson, was published to much fanfare and controversy. Unlike Alfred Kinsey, who published his famous reports on male and female sexuality in 1948 and 1953, Masters decided that relying upon people to tell the truth about their sexual activities was unwise. He wanted to go farther by measuring the physiological responses of men and women while actually having sex. Virginia Johnson, a divorcée with two children who was hired to be Masters' secretary, proved to be an invaluable part of the studies and she became his research assistant. The complex and fascinating story of Masters and Johnson is being told in a Showtime series called Masters of Sex, and Season Two is now available in a superb Blu-ray edition from Sony.
Studio: Sony
Distributed By: N/A
Video Resolution and Encode: 1080P/AVC
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA, French 5.1 DTS
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French
Rating: Not Rated
Run Time: 11 Hr. 27 Min.
Package Includes: Blu-ray, UltraViolet
Blu-ray Flipper Case with SlipcaseDisc Type: BD50 (dual layer)
Region: ABC
Release Date: 05/05/2015
MSRP: $65.99
The Production Rating: 4.5/5
Dr. William Masters (Michael Sheen) is a prominent and prestigious doctor of obstetrics and gynecology at Washington University Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He has been married to Libby (Caitlin FitzGerald) for a number of years, but they are childless. Masters loves his wife, but his first love is his work. He has in mind the idea of doing so radical and innovative that his name will become synonymous with it. Into his life comes a new secretary, Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan), whose ambition exceeds her education. A divorced mother of two, Ginny (as she is known to her friends) is something a free spirit and she is uninhibited about sex. She goes out with Masters' protégé, Dr. Ethan Haas (Nicholas D'Agosto), and she surprises and pleases him by her willingness to have sex with him.
Masters is aware of the fact that sexuality is a subject which has been largely ignored by the medical community. The provost of the university, Dr. Barton Scully (Beau Bridges), is sympathetic with the need to study human sexuality, but he balks when Masters tells him that he plans to use human subjects. Masters is forced to conduct his studies in a local house of ill repute, which turns into a fiasco. However, Masters gains the upper hand when he discovers that Scully, who has been married to Margaret (Allison Janney) for many years, is a homosexual. Masters essentially blackmails Scully into allowing him to use the hospital for his study, but he has to keep it a secret. One of his male volunteers is Dr. Austin Langham (Teddy Sears), who is less interested in advancing science than in having sex with the young women who volunteer to participate in the study.
Numerous complications arise, both personally and professionally. Ginny breaks up with Ethan Haas, who then becomes engaged to Scully's daughter, Vivian (Rose McIver). However, he cannot get Ginny out of his mind. Ginny's professional relationship with Masters is compromised when she agrees to become a subject of the study with him as her partner. As the study progresses, Masters and Johnson are able to debunk a number of myths. However, when Masters finally decides to make a presentation of their findings to the hospital administration and staff, the response is one of condemnation. Masters loses his position at the hospital and the study seemingly is over. Ginny, meanwhile, has ceased working with Masters and is now assisting the hospital's only female physicians, Dr. Lillian Depaul (Julianne Nicholson).
This brings us to Season Two. Masters professes his desire to resume his relationship with Ginny, even as his wife Libby finally is able to give birth. Masters struggles to get his career back on track, while Scully, who has managed to keep his position as provost, decides to undergo controversial "conversion therapy" to overcome his homosexuality. Masters takes a position at Memorial Hospital, but he runs into roadblocks in trying to get Ginny to resume being his assistant. The issue of racism, which is only hinted at in Season One, comes to the fore in Season Two. Ginny is threatened with losing custody of her children because of her work with Masters. This season also introduces some new actors to the cast, including Sarah Silverman and Adam Arkin in a few episodes, as well as Breaking Bad's Betsy Brandt. Arkin also directs two episodes, but the most prolific director of Season Two episodes is Michael Apted.
Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan are perfectly cast as the two leads, and Caplan is gorgeous, both while dressed and undressed. Beau Bridges is fine as the tormented Scully, and Allison Janney (who won a Primetime Emmy Award for her performance) is touching as his unhappy wife who learns that her marriage has been a sham from the start. It is impossible to not be moved by Caitlin FitzGerald's performance as Libby, who is given all the economic benefits of being a successful doctor's wife but whose husband is emotionally distant. The supporting cast also is uniformly excellent.
Video Rating: 5/5 3D Rating: NA
Audio Rating: 4.5/5
Special Features Rating: 2.5/5
The extras on this Blu-ray set include a featurette about the history of sex. Blu-ray exclusives include "The Men of Sex: Actors' Roundtable" and "The Women of Sex." The latter focuses on the show's female cast members.
As was the case with Season One, there also are deleted scenes for several of the episodes.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Masters of Sex is a highly-praised series which will air Season Three beginning on July 12, 2015. This is not the sort of series which you will want to begin in the middle, so if it is new to you the best option is to start with Season One.
As noted, this is a very explicit show with nudity, simulated sex, and frank discussions about sexual subjects which may be taboo in some homes.
Reviewed By: Richard Gallagher
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