Masters of Sex

Season 1 – 60% – A wonderful concept for an engaging miniseries, which grows increasingly diluted over the generous length of twelve hour-long episodes. It has enough room to explore everything positive and negative related to the effort to be different in medicine, particularly in the 1960s when you are a woman or an innovative pioneer. At the same time, it thoroughly examines not only the great characters and storylines (the central research of Bill and Virginia, the fate of Barton Scully), but also the somewhat tired (Libby) or even uninteresting ones (the overconfident Doctor Langham). There is generally a slight problem with the male characters, although it is influenced by the time period. However, this does not change the fact that it is occasionally difficult to root for conceited Ethan and stubborn creator Bill. Hopefully, the continuation will delve into the characters and their relationships with greater intensity and passion. At the outset, I am entertained by all the motivations and desires, but genuine emotions are awakened in me only rarely. Season 2 – 70% – The more 60s, the better. While the start suffers from the same flaws as the previous season, Libby's storyline is almost annoying and everything is at a standstill, a complete turnaround occurs in my favorite episode, Asterion. The time jump provides an opportunity to develop entirely new storylines, bring back familiar faces, and finally allows both Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan to fully showcase their talent. I still can't shake the feeling that Masters and Virginia are mainly interesting through their research and their personal lives must have been wildly twisted by the writers (thus disregarding real events). However, as long as the pace continues to rise steadily and the characters continue to deepen pleasantly, I have no reason to hold onto historical prototypes. Season 3 – 70% – Solid as a rock in terms of dialogue, surprisingly insecure in its mood swings, and actually in the same place as before in terms of the appeal of the characters. The third stage of the narrative about an extensive effort at enlightenment suffers from the same issues as the previous years. Perhaps everyone who is at the center of the story for even a moment, not only my favorites Betty, Lester, and Barton, but also Libby, Tessa, Paul, or Dan, is more likable or admirable than Bill and Ginny. And that is a serious mistake in moments of absolute despair or love tactics of the main protagonist. The creators' balancing act between significant milestones in the lives of the main characters and completely invented (and therefore somewhat cliché) wanderings is quite questionable. Do not get me wrong, the use of historical setting to tell (a)typical human stories still works. But a good series needs just a little bit more. However, there is still plenty of potential, so I still believe there will be at least one truly great season. Season 4 – 90% – For the first time, it feels like a portrayal of the era and a functional and meaningful relationship drama, for the first time I care about everyone finding their happiness, and last but not least, for the first time, it brought tears to my eyes. Masters of Sex has found its ideally balanced mood, it doesn't exaggerate with Bill being in the center of all the relationship issues, and in the storylines of Betty or Libby, it surpasses everything that the series has portrayed about women in an unsympathetic society so far. The episodes in the middle of the season (starting with the coat party) are so perfectly illustrative that I can't believe I have been watching the same series for the past three years. The unexpected cancellation by Showtime feels like a bad joke, but for very few shows, it holds true that they clearly end on a high note. (18.06.2015) (weniger) (mehr)