‘Masters of Sex’ season 1, episode 6 review: Virginia’s shocking move on Bill Masters
We have been waiting for a show like “Masters of Sex” to come to TV for a long time. Many shows have no problem showing violence, murders, and sexual assaults, but when it comes to the topic of sex most networks shy away from the subject. This is why we are giving props to Showtime for not only deciding to tackle the subject, but to do it in a way that reminds us of what “Mad Men” delivered in it’s heyday… shockingly good drama.
On tonight’s episode we saw Bill and Libby go to Miami on a vacation to try and move forward from the loss of their baby. Bill of course cannot leave his work back at the hospital and is not only analyzing the elder couple having sex 3 times a day in the room next to theirs, but is taking calls from Virginia when she comes up with new theory that may debunk Freud’s. Libby ends up sending Bill back home while she stays in Miami and learns what life is like without him.
Bill and Virginia decide to start up their couples study again, but when Langham is set up with a new partner he can’t perform. They later bring back Jane, but Langham has the same issues. Just when he feels that all is lost he meets up with Margaret Scully at the movies and he moves past whatever problem he was having and sleeps with Barton’s wife. Will Barton be upset when he finds out? He seems too concerned about the young man he is sleeping with blabbing about their affair all over town to really take notice, so we don’t assume there will be much fall out from this if he ever finds out.
Virginia is having a difficult time with her son as he wants to live with her ex-husband George. Unfortunately she is finding a difficult balance in keeping him happy at home without telling him that George doesn’t want him living with him full time. When her son goes missing, Ethan finds him and offers to help Virginia, but she is skeptical because she doesn’t want him thinking their relationship will pick back up. Ethan has deflowered Barton’s daughter (unknowingly) and tells Virginia that they are dating so she has nothing to worry about anymore even though he’s thoroughly confused about what to do with Vivian.
The shocker of the episode came courtesy of Virginia. When one of the subjects reveals something that they never thought possible, she strips down in front of Bill and puts his hand on her. Even though moments before she did this Bill had changed her title from secretary to research assistant, it didn’t seem like enough motivation for her to be the test subject herself, especially since she has had so many reservations about being with Bill through out the entire season so far. It was a little off the wall for her to do this… even in the name of science. Grade: B
Were you surprised to see Langham and Scully hook up? Was it shocking to see Virgina give herself over to the study while she was alone with Masters? If you are looking for more news and scoop on “Masters of Sex” just be sure to click here.
Photo: Showtime