‘Masters of Sex’ episode 9 review: What happened between Bill and Libby?
On Sunday night’s new episode of “Masters of Sex,” there was quite a bit that unfolded, and much of it came in the way of important conversation. We had an opportunity for some honesty to finally come into play again, and for a few other characters shelved in the background as of late to finally come back into the forefront.
Let’s start with what is the saddest part of the episode: No scenes of the Provost. This is a bummer, but it makes sense, given that Beau Bridges and Allison Janney are series regulars on other shows. We knew it was coming, but they were also two of the best characters on the show so far.
The story between Bill and Libby is engaging in its own right, but we find Masters’ wife to be in some ways very frustrating. Why is she not vocalizing what she must be thinking at this point, and how does she even fill her time during the day? Bill is so rarely even around to spend time with her, and her pregnancy felt almost melancholy this time rather than some sort of joyous occasion. Then, you had his mother starting to sniff him out on his sleeping with Virginia, and he responded in the way that a cheater would: Blunt denial.
Masters’ lack of likability is one of the show’s biggest challenges, especially since there are few other characters that also fit this bill. Virginia knows what she is doing to Libby every time that she sleeps with Masters, and while we admire her gumption in trying to make a name for herself, she often chooses to go about it the wrong way. We do understand her feeling crushed in some ways about Bill’s perception of her role in the study, just as we understand Ethan being frustrated with his role in setting up a marriage that he really was never in control with to begin with. He simply went along for the ride, and now he has broken that off.
“Masters of Sex” is a show that is real in as many ways as a show can be; it lacks happiness or whimsy, but makes up for them in stellar performances and great writing. We just wonder how much more of the dark and depressing storylines the viewers will take. Even “Mad Men” at times surfaced for air, and “Breaking Bad” had a hero buried within a part of someone.
This was probably the worst episode of “Masters of Sex” in weeks, mostly because it doesn’t quite feel like there was that much that really happened. Sure, Ethan is single and Bill knows that Libby is pregnant, but you knew that those events were coming. We’re still waiting for the presentation, or the moment where Bill finally comes clean about his feelings. Those are the stories that are being kept on a holding pattern, and while the other stuff is compelling, it simultaneously is but a distraction. Grade: B-.
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Photo: Showtime