Just concluded the sixth Masters of Sex episode - "Brave New World" and can confidently say that this show has the goods.
Digging the show on a number of fronts...
Human Sexuality: Quite happy to see that every episode ties back into the study of Human Sexuality. Hellie informed me the other day that the show went to some great pains to let the accounts of the study unfold without taking any liberties. Between episodes 3 and 6... the study was removed from the University and then allowed to return because Dr. Masters had some dirt on the Provost...
Dr. Masters could really use a fucking solid from the wardrobe department. Everything he wears is ill-fitting. Mrs. Masters on the other hand is simply stunning.
The two central characters Dr. Masters and Research Assistant (read: no longer secretary) Virginia Johnson - have begun pioneer work of measuring Vaginal and Clitoral orgasm and the fun doesn't stop there. The team is now spitballing ways to measure sexual release. Orgasms have been reportedly achieved by cleaning ones ears / brushings ones teeth / rubbing ones tit... skies the fucking limit and Dr. Masters is all about seeing it happen from the comfort of his 2-way-mirrored glass.
Relationships and Gender Roles: Relationships and Gender Roles are what really make this show so interesting to watch. Dr. Masters is married on the show and he seem's to only be married because it's the adult thing to do. Earlier in the season, we see a young Dr. Masters at a BBQ with the Provost - where he expresses his interest in wanting to study Human Sexuality. This would be the late 1930's... and said studies in America were apparently unheard of. The Provost tells the young Dr. Masters that he would have to wait until his 40's to do that type of work. He would have to have an established career... and married to a woman. All of which seemed to turn his stomach... but it sorta rounds out the character of Dr. Masters.
He's truly dedicated to his work... He and his wife get pregnant and lose their pregnancy about 5 months (5 episodes) in and it seems to be splitting them apart. He's pretty distant to begin with... but this isn't helping.
While all this is playing out... all the characters are living in a world that seems like another planet to me. The gender roles on this show completely floor me. Which is kinda weird seeing that there are a number of period dramas - like Mad Men - that explore these themes... but there's some a little more "punctual" about the subject on this show.
The idea of Women Doctors is alien. Women producing their own orgasms is alien... I still can't wait to see the look on everyones faces when a squirter participates in the STUDY!